The 2020 National Federation of the Blind of Colorado’s (NFBCO) first virtual state convention was a tremendous success! The online format allowed for unprecedented participation and opportunities to explore diverse breakout sessions and presentations. In retrospect, my first NFBCO state convention in 2019 was truly a life-changing moment for me as an ally. I had never been in a more diverse group of people, with such solidarity, independence, and optimism. The incredible people I met, inspiring stories I heard, and insightful events I participated in made me so grateful for the convention, and I cannot thank NFBCO and Colorado Center for the Blind enough for welcoming me with open arms and making me feel like a part of the Federation family. 

Attending this year’s state convention solidified an vital lesson I have been learning since my first experience with the NFB: the power of an abundance mindset. As a volunteer, I have found that many people go into service work with the impression that they are the teachers who will somehow “bolster” their communities and compensate for the scarcities they witness. However, this mindset is problematic because it creates a power imbalance and focuses on what a community lacks, rather than the plethora of assets it already has. The emphasis shifts away from the community’s need, and “savior” narratives can often come off as patronizing. Instead, I have learned to approach my interactions through an abundance mindset, which aims to enrich pre-existing assets of a community and recognizes that solutions must be human-centric and work directly with the population that they are trying to benefit. I truly believe the NFB has given me so much more than I could ever give them, and my experience with the blind and visually impaired has taught me to see service in a new way. The convention brought to light many misconceptions sighted people have about blind individuals needing “charity” or “assistance”, and instead highlighted the independence and potential of living without sight in an empowering way. Ultimately, I realized that advocacy is not static; to be a true ally, it is imperative to listen, learn, and consistently grow to best suit your community. I recognize that there is still a lot more for me to learn and improve, and I am grateful for getting the opportunity to do so during events such as the state convention. 

I was also fortunate to receive the opportunity to lead a pumpkin carving art studio session along with my mentor, Ann Cunningham. We had a great time creating Halloween-themed works of Tactile Art.. Since our group was tight-knit, the focus of the session was inspiring holiday spirit and having meaningful conversations in addition to learning interesting pumpkin carving techniques. Art is a universal therapeutic language, thereby allowing us to destress and form strong bonds with people during the pandemic. The medium of pumpkin carving was particularly versatile, and consequently, people went in creative directions I would have never imagined. I was amazed by the imaginative creations of every participant, and feel fortunate to have formed better connections with people and to become more involved with such a powerful convention.

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#tactilceart, #Artfortheblind, #touchart, #visuallyimpaired, #blindartist,, #accessibleart, #artforall, #sensoryart, #BlindandVI, #accessibility, #inclusion, #artmuseums, #artforeveryone, #accessiblemuseum
Art for the visually impaired, Art for the Blind