[NABS-L] Don't forget to register! Midwest Student Seminar is fast approaching!

[Ammar Tarin]

Hey Students!



I hope everyone’s 3 day weekend is off to an amazing start! This is just a
reminder to register for the 2025 National Federation of the Blind Midwest
Student Seminar, hosted by the National Association of Blind Students.

Here is some information about two of our awesome Professional Volunteers
that will be joining us at the seminar!

Emeline Lakrout:

Emeline’s favorite song is More by Usher. One fun fact about her is she
read 100 books in 2023!

After earning her bachelor's degree in marketing at the University of Texas
at Austin in 2020, Emeline began her career as an Associate Brand Manager
at Unilever in New York City. She spent nearly five years working on
influencer campaigns, business analyses, and product innovations on several
brands including Simple Skincare, Hellman's, and Dove. In tandem with her
marketing work, she's been a prolific disability rights activist, pursuing
legislative advocacy, litigation, and awareness campaigns to fight for
disability justice globally. Her work has led her to speak at institutions
like the European Investment Bank, the UK's National Health Service, and
One Young World, and she's worked on projects like Degree's Trainers for
Hire, teaching over a billion people worldwide about adaptive fitness.
Emeline is also an elite athlete, being the reigning national rock climbing
champion for her category and silver medalist internationally, and races
triathlons and marathons recreationally. Emeline now spends her time
focused on her life's mission to fight for the joy, rights, and dignity of
every single disabled person.

*Elizabeth Sheeler*

Elizabeth’s favorite song is You Say by Lauren Daigle. A fun fact about her
is that she has two hermit crabs named Petunia and Herman! And one more is
she completed a bike ride across the whole state of Wisconsin in 2 days 225
miles. Starting in La Crosse and ending in Milwaukee.

Elizabeth Sheeler is an artist, educator, and researcher whose work spans
multiple disciplines, including performance, installation, sound-based
media, and social practice. She holds an MFA from The University of
Wisconsin–Madison, where she cultivated her passion for immersive
storytelling, blindness culture, and the intersection of art and
accessibility. Currently, she serves as a lecturer at the University of
Wisconsin–Madison while also teaching middle school art at O’Keeffe Middle
School. In addition, she teaches community art classes through Madison
School & Community Recreation and runs an after-school art program at
LaFollette High School. Her diverse teaching roles allow her to engage with
students of all ages, fostering creativity and exploration in a variety of
learning environments. Deeply committed to inclusive and transformative
education, Elizabeth finds immense joy in each of her teaching experiences,
as they offer unique opportunities to inspire, connect, and cultivate
artistic expression.

If you want to learn more about Emeline, Elizabeth, or any of our other
professionals, join us in Chicago for the National Federation of the Blind
Midwest Student Seminar, hosted by the National Association of Blind
Students. The registration deadline has been extended, and registration now
closes in just a few weeks on February 28! You can find all the
registration info below!

As blind students, we are encountering unique daily realities that often
remain unrecognized or misunderstood by the people around us. The National
Association of Blind Students is thrilled to invite you to Beyond the
Handshake: Networking in the Windy City, where we will explore these shared
experiences with students from across the region. It will be an engaging
weekend packed with opportunities to challenge your perceptions and network
with blind peers and mentors alike.

Have you ever wondered how to navigate non-traditional career paths or
build a professional network that truly understands your journey? This
year’s theme focuses on career exploration and planning, offering practical
insights and strategies to help you thrive. Together, we’ll dive into how
to forge meaningful connections, open new doors, and envision possibilities
beyond the expected.

You can expect a mix of interactive activities, thought-provoking
conversations, and riveting presentations—with topics covering everything
from securing accommodations to finding identity as a blind person. This
journey promises to empower you to identify new ways of living the life you
want. Regardless of where you are in your education, we hope you will join
us for a weekend of growth and fun from March 7 – March 9, 2025, at the
Holiday Inn Chicago O’Hare Area:

Holiday Inn Chicago O’Hare Area

5615 N. Cumberland Ave. Chicago, IL 60631

You can register at the following link:
https://nabslink.org/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&id=5. Registration
closes on February 28, 2025, so don’t delay!

Rooms can be booked at the following website using the code “NFB”.
www.hiohare.com. Alternatively, you can call (800-465-4329) or
(773-693-5800) to reserve a room by phone using the group name “National
Federation of the Blind Student”. Room rates for a room with two queen beds
are $119.00 per night, and rooms must be booked by February 28, 2025.

The National Association of Blind Students prioritizes its members' health
and safety in all its events. For the safety of all participants, we ask
that if you are feeling ill, please remain home. These policies are
consistent with the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois’s policies
on in-person gatherings.

We are also committed to keeping all members safe. As such, we follow The
Code of Conduct, which you can find here:
https://nfb.org/about-us/history-and-governance/code-conduct, as well as
the Youth Program protection Policy, which can be found here:
https://nfb.org/about-us/history-and-governance/code-conduct/youth-program-participant-protection-policy,
which is upheld  by the National Federation of the Blind.

Alternative Payment Options: We in no way want the $100 registration fee to
prevent any student from attending. If the fee poses a challenge, please
contact Joshua Olukanni at 678-313-1543 or joshuaolukanni2002 at gmail.com.

Please note that both the $100 registration fee and a completed
registration form must be submitted by February 28, 2025, to secure your
spot for this transformative weekend.

If you have any questions regarding hotel logistics, registration, or
anything else about the Midwest Seminar, feel free to reach out to Joshua
Olukanni at 678-313-1543 or joshuaolukanni2002 at gmail.com.

We look forward to seeing all of you in Chicago!

-- 
Respectfully,
Ammar Ahmed Tarin
Board Member, National Association of Blind Students
Board Member, National Federation of the Blind of Arizona
President, Arizona Association of Blind Students
Ammar.tarin at gmail.com
480-580-7874
Live the life you want.