[Colorado-Talk] Love Conquers Hate

Thu Jun 4 20:15:34 UTC 2020

Dear friends,

Don't worry. There is no fundraising appeal here. Of course, if you want .. 

We wanted to call to the attention of our community of members, friends, and
allies a couple of items we think are of interest to many. We appreciate
your active support and I appreciate your reading this. 

First, many of you have read the beautiful and powerful open letter to the
members of the National Federation of the Blind from NFB President Mark A.
Riccobono. In the face of pandemic and in the midst of struggle, we who are
blind are extraordinarily proud of the words and actions of the National
Federation of the Blind. We are exceedingly proud of the powerful example
for all Americans embodied in the letter from President Mark Riccobono. On
one level, it speaks clearly, decisively, and lovingly to the hearts of the
members of the National Federation of the Blind. But his passion,
principals, and persuasiveness transcends our membership. You may wish to
circulate this letter far beyond the blindness community. I am pasting the
letter below. 

Second, if you have ever wanted to experience a convention of the National
Federation of the Blind without getting on an airplane, July is your lucky
month! It is such a perfect opportunity for all of our members, blind people
who are not our members, people with vision and people with low vision,
blind youth, seniors, and professionals in the field of blindness to
register for and then enjoy parts or all of the convention. Registration
<https://www.nfb.org/registration>  is free. You can even win door prizes
and be eligible for other goodies. Will you please consider registering by
June 15th? In fact, right after you read President Riccobono's letter, just
click over and register <https://www.nfb.org/registration> . We guarantee
there will be something of interest to you during the convention. I
particularly encourage teachers, administrators, members of non-profit
boards who have interest in issues and opportunities related to blindness to
register. When the agenda comes out peruse it. Pick your pleasure and join
one of the sessions between July 14 and July 18. And, no! Guide dogs are not
eligible for door prizes. But all other family members are. So register them
all! Let's make Colorado #1 in registration. 

National Federation of the Blind of Colorado has a number of education
opportunities in collaboration with our own Colorado Center for the Blind.
Do you want to learn about BELL, do you want to learn about FAST. What?
Parents and teachers of blind children may be asking, "What is BELL? What is
FAST?" Please contact Director of Youth Services Martin Becerra-Miranda
<mailto:mbecerra at cocenter.org>  for all of the fun details, 303.778.1130
Ext: 223. 

If you know of blind youth or blind folks interested in some introductory
orientation and mobility instruction we urge you to listen to Breaking Blind
Podcast. David Nietfeld is part of the amazing CCB staff. He has put
together some wonder short episodes offering some basic instruction in cane
travel. Sometimes you can even hear David's 20-month-old, little Logan
chiming in. These are short and wonderful podcasts for all ages. Just
download from your usual podcast platforms. 

Thank you so much for reading this special announcement. We will have a new
Blind Coloradan for folks next week. But, for now, as I always say, Forward,
Always Forward. Please enjoy and share the open letter from our President.
It has brought me great comfort this week. 

  <https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/nfb-logo-for-email-template.jpg>

An Open Letter to the Members of the National Federation of the Blind

I write this message to you as the elected President of the National
Federation of the Blind. I also write it to you as an American who is
struggling this week. I call upon members of our organization to recognize
the solidarity we share as blind people and that the value we place on love
within our movement is needed more today than at any other time in our
history. 

I watched the horrific video shot by a brave seventeen year-old of the
killing of George Floyd, a citizen of our great nation. Before I watched the
video, I wondered what I could do and how I could contribute to healing the
pain. I had no answers. After I watched the video, I realized I still did
not have the answers and I was sad, angry, scared, frustrated, and without
hope. Then I realized that we share tools in the National Federation of the
Blind that can help. We cannot look away and we need to share what we know
from our experience in this people's movement. 

Our movement has been sustained for the purpose of serving as a vehicle for
collective action by the blind of the nation to promote the vocational,
cultural, and social advancement of the blind; to achieve the integration of
the blind into society on a basis of equality with the sighted; and to take
any other action which will improve the overall condition and standard of
living of the blind. While racial equality in our nation is not within our
mission, we also recognize that blindness affects all races and that the
society we live within has an impact on our membership.

The Federation's Code of Conduct specifically emphasizes our commitments to
diversity. In short "We respect differences of opinion, beliefs, identities,
and other characteristics that demonstrate that blind people are a diverse
cross section of society...In promoting a diverse and growing organization,
we expect integrity and honesty in our relationships with each other and
openness to learning about and experiencing cultural diversity. We believe
that these qualities are crucial to fostering social and intellectual
maturity. Intellectual maturity also requires individual struggle with
unfamiliar ideas." This week, I have been struggling to comprehend the fear
and anger that black members of my Federation family are experiencing. I do
not, and never can, have the authentic lived experience that you have, but
yet I am also completely outraged by the hate and injustice that fell upon
George Floyd on Monday. I recognize there are many centuries of painful
layers wrapped up in that moment. I recognize that George is neither the
first nor the last in a chain of injustices that need to be addressed. I
want you to know I stand with you in facing the injustice that persists
against you because of the color of your skin. I want you to know that I
love you and I struggle with not being able to fully know your pain and
fear. I want you to know I am prepared to be guided by you as to how I can
make a difference. I cannot say that I have not become desensitized in times
past, but I can tell you I will never turn away again.

While our organization is dedicated to advancing the rights of blind people,
we should not act as though race does not exist. As our chapters attempt to
do business, as we urge our members to take up our priorities, we should
recognize that thousands of our members are impacted by the painful
realizations of this week. As a people's movement, we cannot pretend that
our people only have one characteristic. Now is the time to let each member
know we love them and we recognize their hurt. Now is also the time for us
to recognize, as individuals, that we carry implicit bias learned from the
society around us, and to seek the training that will enhance our awareness.
Now is the time to give love to our black members so that we might learn how
we can do better in building the understanding that powers the organized
blind movement. 

Now is not the time for us to use our organizational communication tools to
offer position statements about the activities playing out on the streets of
our nation. it is easy to write messages and posts of solidarity without
having a true understanding of the issues. It is easy to suggest that we
share the concerns of our black members. The harder thing for us to do is to
consciously listen and seek understanding while supporting others in their
pain and frustration. The Federation has never been known for merely doing
what is easy. The priority today is to ensure all of our black members know
they are welcomed and loved in this movement. In fact, we should extend that
same truth to any others who feel the real pain sweeping our nation. Please
do not use organizational assets to enter the dialogue around race. That is
not our purpose as an organization and we may unintentionally make it worse.
We need to continue to coordinate messaging and to be guided by the wisdom
of our diversity and inclusion committee. As leaders of our movement, we
should also be conscious that our public posts may be misunderstood as
representing the Federation. Our personal feelings and misunderstanding
around the death of George Floyd, the protests sweeping our nation, and the
underlying systemic discrimination may hurt and divide members of the
organization. We cannot let that happen and we must be careful as leaders
not to add to the pain our members are experiencing. As it relates to our
public messaging, let us stay focused on the priorities of the organized
blind movement. As it comes to our cherished friends, let our priority be to
reach out personally to listen and offer our hands in support.

I have had the opportunity to gather virtually with some of our top black
leaders-a group who will continue to guide my actions related to these
issues. I asked them for wisdom and love in finding ways that I could guide
our membership during this trying time in our nation. Their message was
clear. Our movement is built on love and love always conquers hate. The
Federation family needs to shine a light for the rest of the nation by
continuing to demonstrate that the love, and solidarity, that we share with
each other in this movement makes all the difference. They also noted that
our organization has always valued civil disobedience and persistent pursuit
of equality. They urged that we continue to pray for peace, justice, and
equality. I could not agree more with these friends I have been blessed to
learn from in our movement. Furthermore, I am thankful that we have a
movement that provides us a meaningful opportunity to know people whose
lived experience is so different from our own while sharing a common bond as
blind people.

In the National Federation of the Blind we know that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines us or our future. Blindness is the thing that
brings us together but it is not the thing that makes us want to stay
together. That, in a word, is love.  We have love in our movement and we
strengthen it by giving it. We have some wisdom and we strengthen it by
continuing to seek greater understanding. We need more of both love and
wisdom at every opportunity. Let's continue to share love, hope, and
determination with each other so that together we transform our dreams into
reality. One of those dreams still left to be transformed is that of a
nation where we can join together regardless of our unique characteristics.
That is a dream I am struggling to help my own children understand so they
may do better than I in making it come true. I speak for all of our national
board members when I say we sincerely believe that the love and togetherness
demonstrated in our movement can go a long way in contributing to that
dream. It can be hard to remember that in this moment when so many of us are
hurting, angry, frustrated, and scared. Let us continue to support each
other in the Federation family. Let us avoid the harmful language that will
only serve to divide us in this time. Let us go forward together, love one
another, and change the world for the better. 

Sincerely,
Mark A. Riccobono, President
National Federation of the Blind

At Your Service,

Kevan Worley

Manager, Project Literacy

303-929-2369

 <http://www.nfbco.org/> www.nfbco.org 

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