<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto">Passing this along. Thank you.<br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div dir="ltr">Chris Walker<div>Vice president, Winchester Federation of the Blind of Virginia<br>540-303-0080<br>chrisvinson1@gmail.com</div><div>nfb.org</div><div>NFBV.org</div><div>Stronger together!<br></div><div></div></div><div dir="ltr"><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><b>From:</b> "Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind" <IOF@nfb.org><br><b>Date:</b> February 17, 2025 at 1:21:43 PM EST<br><b>To:</b> Chris Walker <chrisvinson1@gmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>Imagineering Our Future: Center Blind People</b><br><b>Reply-To:</b> Bounces+r.24506.10990128.77ebeff2d3481338@mailings.nfb.org<br><br></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><p><br>
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<td style="background-color:transparent"><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37557&qid=10990128" rel="nofollow"><img alt="National Federation of the Blind Logo - Go to NFB.org" src="https://nfb.org/sites/nfb.org/files/logo%20rect_blog_0.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: currentcolor; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; display: block; height: 194px; margin: 0px; width: 500px;" data-unique-identifier=""></a></td>
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<h1><strong><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 24pt;">IMAGINEERING OUR FUTURE</span></strong></h1>
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<h2><strong><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 20pt;">President's Letter</span></strong></h2>
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<td style="vertical-align:top"><span style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><img alt="Mark Riccobono speaking with a U.S. Senator at the Washington Seminar" src="https://nfb.org/sites/nfb.org/files/iof/Riccobono%20Washington%20Seminar.JPG" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: white; border-style: solid; border-width: 3px; display: block; float: left; height: 120px; margin: 7px; width: 240px;" data-unique-identifier=""></span></td>
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<p><span style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:18px">It is crucial to get the perspective of blind people, individually and collectively, when addressing the challenges we face. Who knows what blind people need better than we do? <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37558&qid=10990128" rel="nofollow" style="color: #002f6d; font-size:18px">More from President Riccobono</a>.</span></p>
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<h2><strong><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 20pt;">Center Blind People and the Blind People’s Movement</span></strong></h2>
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<td style="vertical-align:top"><span style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><img alt="Members of the NFB Board of Directors with their long white canes and guide dogs" src="https://nfb.org/sites/nfb.org/files/iof/Baltimore_NFB%20Board%20Meeting_2024%20(4)_IOF_Images_240x120.jpg" style="background-color:transparent; border-color:white; border-style:solid; border-width:3px; display:block; float:left; height:120px; margin:7px; width:240px" data-unique-identifier=""></span></td>
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<p><span style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:18px">“I like educating the public about the positive truths about blind people. I was faced with so many misconceptions that any chance to minimize these for others is one I enthusiastically embrace.” <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37559&qid=10990128" rel="nofollow" style="color: #002f6d; font-size:18px">Learn more about our blind leaders</a>.</span></p>
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<h2><strong><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 20pt;">Latest News at the NFB</span></strong></h2>
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<td style="vertical-align:top"><span style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><img alt="A young boy shows off his tactile model at STEM2U" src="https://nfb.org/sites/nfb.org/files/iof/stem2u-maryland_baltimore_2024%20(37)_IOF_Images_240x120.JPG" style="background-color:transparent; border-color:white; border-style:solid; border-width:3px; display:block; float:left; height:120px; margin:7px; width:240px" data-unique-identifier=""></span></td>
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<p><span style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:18px">Work to make Meta accessible, program dates and registration for youth STEM program announced, and disability organizations respond to baseless and irresponsible blame of deadly plane crash on disabled workers. <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37560&qid=10990128" rel="nofollow" style="color: #002f6d; font-size:18px">Read the latest news</a>.</span></p>
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<h2><strong><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 20pt;">Take Action this Month</span></strong></h2>
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<td style="vertical-align:top"><span style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><img alt="Members of the 2024 scholarship class" src="https://nfb.org/sites/nfb.org/files/iof/scholarship%20class_240x120.jpg" style="background-color:transparent; border-color:white; border-style:solid; border-width:3px; display:block; float:left; height:120px; margin:7px; width:240px" data-unique-identifier=""></span></td>
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<p><span style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:18px">Read the latest issue of the <em>Braille Monitor</em>, register for the IEP Academy or an upcoming Accessibility Boutique, and share information about our national scholarships with a blind student. <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37561&qid=10990128" rel="nofollow" style="color: #002f6d; font-size:18px">More ways to get involved</a>.</span></p>
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<h2><strong><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 20pt;">Important Dates</span></strong></h2>
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<td style="vertical-align:top"><span style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><img alt="Speakers and audience at the disability law symposium" src="https://nfb.org/sites/nfb.org/files/iof/tenbroek-law-symposium_baltimore-maryland_2024%20(230)_IOF_Images_240x120.JPG" style="background-color:transparent; border-color:white; border-style:solid; border-width:3px; display:block; float:left; height:120px; margin:7px; width:240px" data-unique-identifier=""></span></td>
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<p><span style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:18px">We certainly are a busy organization. Tune into the next Presidential Release Live, register for the Disability Law Symposium, and mark your calendars for more upcoming deadlines and events. <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37562&qid=10990128" rel="nofollow" style="color: #002f6d; font-size:18px">Check out the calendar of events</a>.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37558&qid=10990128" rel="nofollow" style="color: #002f6d; font-size: 18px; font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Read the complete issue online</a></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:18px">The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines blind people or their future. Every day we raise the expectations of and for blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. We can live the lives we want; blindness is not what holds us back. Please join us in our work by becoming a member, attending an event, sharing this newsletter, or supporting our programs.</span></p>
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National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD 21230 | 410-659-9314 </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 25px;"> <td colspan="8" align="center" style="color: white; font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold"> <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/unsubscribe?reset=1&jid=24506&qid=10990128&h=77ebeff2d3481338" title="Unsubscribe" style="color: white; font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold">Unsubscribe from this mailing list</a> | <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/optout?reset=1&jid=24506&qid=10990128&h=77ebeff2d3481338" title="Opt Out" style="color: white; font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
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