NFBU's Project STRIVE

10/24/2021

We have another great opportunity to change what it means to be blind (or have low vision).

Last activity we proved we can perform meticulous, potentially dangerous chemical reactions. Next time we get to prove blind youth can use wood shop power tools!

A blind woodworker is teaching us alternate techniques to safely, non visually work a lathe to create a project we can take home.

Join us Saturday November 13th
10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
DSBVI 250 N 1950 W SLC

You don’t want to miss this!

Sincerely, your Project STRIVE team

10/03/2021

I’m so excited to share this! All 7th grade to 26 year old blind/low vision youth are invited to attend—

SCIENCE WITHOUT SIGHT

WHEN October 9th 10am – 2pm
WHERE DSBVI 250 North 1950 West, SLC UT 84116

GREETINGS PROJECT STRIVE PARTICIPANTS! MY NAME IS DR. EDWIN “NED” LINDHOLM, AND I WOULD LIKE TO PERSONALLY INVITE YOU TO A SPECIAL EVENT TAKING PLACE ON OCTOBER 9TH, 2021 AT THE DIVISION OF SERVICES FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED. AS SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW, I HAVE A LONG CAREER AS A SCIENTIST THAT HAS SPANNED MORE THAN 30 YEARS. AFTER LOSING MY VISION 8 YEARS AGO, I SET OUT TO FIND WAYS TO CONTINUE MY PASSION FOR SCIENCE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW YOU WHAT I HAVE FOUND. THROUGH THE USE OF NOVEL ADAPTABLE TECHNOLOGIES THROUGH INDEPENDENT SCIENCE, WE WILL BE PERFORMING A LIVE, HANDS-ON EXPERIMENT THAT UTILIZES THE PRINCIPLES OF BOTH CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS. WE WILL THEN ORGANIZE THE DATA WE COLLECT AND PRESENT THE RESULTS IN A TACTILE PRESENTATION. I HOPE YOU WILL JOIN ME AND THE REST OF THE NFB’S PROJECT STRIVE TEAM TO EXPERIENCE A DAY OF SCIENCE WITHOUT SIGHT.

08/28/2021

NFBU's Project STRIVE 2021-2022 Employment Opportunity
For Blind/Low Vision Youth (14-26 years)
Title: Project STRIVE, Junior Mentor
Application Due by: Monday, August 30, 2021 at 11:59 PM
Interviews will be conducted: TBA
Stipend: $13 per hour (up to 10 hours per month for 10 months plus the possibility of earning up to a $100 bonus for perfect attendance, program planning and implementation, and high scores on periodic reviews. If needed, possible housing options are available for those coming from outside the Wasatch Front.
Requirements:
• Attend training via zoom on Saturday, August 28
• Attend planning meetings (1-2 a month, typically by conference call/zoom)
• Attend all monthly activities and periodic conference calls August-May
• Possess good leadership skills and be responsible
• Demonstrate appropriate behavior, patience, enthusiasm, and
dependability
• Work well with others and follow directions
• Model non visual skills during the occasional sleep shade activities
• Use a white cane confidently for safety and identification
• Have good Braille skills. Preference given to those proficient in Braille
reading and writing
Responsibilities and Duties:
Assist with monthly activities which includes but is not limited to:
• Contacting peers by phone, social media, and email to recruit attendance
• Helping plan activities
• Helping with lesson preparations
• Facilitating games/activities
• Where needed, meeting with a blind mentor to learn/practice a skill that you will be asked to assist in teaching
Project STRIVE Jr. Mentors will be supervised and receive regular feedback on performance. They will also be trained by blind mentors on job readiness skills.
If you are interested in this employment opportunity, create/update your resume and compose a cover letter that describes your skills and experiences and why you are qualified for this position.
Send resume and cover letter by email to [email protected]

08/28/2021

Introducing 2021-2022
NFBU Project STRIVE
The National Federation of the Blind is proud to announce this year’s Project STRIVE (Successful Transition Requires Independence, Vocation and Education) calendar and valuable incentive!

Mission Statement
The aim of Project STRIVE is to instill hope, build confidence, and provide mentorship to blind youth ages 13 (7th grade) to 26. Our ultimate goal is to ensure their successful transition to becoming contributing and self-reliant members of society. We seek to accomplish our mission by providing one-on-one mentoring with blind peers and adults and by holding regularly scheduled activities, including discussions on attitudes about blindness, presentations from competent blind adults, and opportunities for college and career preparation. In everything we do, Project STRIVE is dedicated to helping the individual succeed and to promoting positive attitudes about blindness.

Unless otherwise indicated, activities will begin at DSBVI (250 N. 1950 W. In SLC, UT), at 10:00 AM and end at 2:00 PM. For those living along the Wasatch Front, we use public transportation (which may include an instructor meeting participants at a bus stop or train station to teach them how to use the system). Special transportation arrangements can be made for those living outside the Wasatch Front (which may include a carpool from St. George/Logan/Vernal/Tooele & points between)

Win an iPad Pro for perfect attendance at the following activities:

• Science Without Sight is Exciting- October 9th
• Woodworking (learn to use power tools to make & take)
• Get your Food Handler’s permit
• Christmas service project for local homeless
• Fitness- snowshoeing
• Washington Seminar- tour & advocate in Washington DC
• State Convention (iPad pros will be awarded)
• CPR certification
• Successful Futures Seminar- create/update your resume, learn about & interview for employment
• Employment opportunities
• National Convention in New Orleans

We sure hope you’ll join us and also consider applying to be a Jr. Mentor (see attached job announcement)

Cheralyn Johnson, Program Director
Tara Briggs, Program Instructor
Willie Black, Program Instructor

05/19/2021

ANNOUNCING—
2021 National Federation of the Blind of Utah Annual Convention
BRIGHTENING OUR FUTURE BY BUILDING THE NFB OF UTAH
June 3-5, 2021
Sheraton Salt Lake City
150 West 500 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Virtually Anywhere and Everywhere

If you are STRIVE age (7th grade through 26 years old) & you’d like to stay at the hotel, respond here or text Cheralyn at (801) 651-5504 BEFORE this Thursday (May 20th)

or attend VIRTUALLY:
Join us on Zoom. Everyone will be muted and cameras will be disabled. There will be opportunities for interaction using the raise hand feature.
https://zoom.us/j/8061136194
OR CALL
17207072699,,,8061136194 #
OR STREAM THE CONVENTION ON YOUTUBE!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXJU3pIPw9tcmE72GLauB1w


You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.

Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

03/23/2021

Great news!!! After a year postponement, we’re really doing it this weekend!

HUGO BOSS at City Creek Center is giving back to the National Federation of the Blind of Utah - NFBU!
If you, or someone you know, is in the market for the perfect suit, casual and/or athleisure wear, PLEASE shop Friday March26th & 27th from 11:00AM-7:00 PM when a portion of all sales will be donated to NFBU. Here is their invitation...

HUGO BOSS at City Creek Center is excited to host this event to benefit the Utah Affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind.
Ten percent of all sales during the event will be donated to NFBU to support the many services and programs they provide for our community!
Besides the incentives listed above, a barber will be giving cuts, beard trims and neck clean up services. We will also provide a shoeshine station. If interested in any of these services, please specify a request for a service with your RSVP.
RSVP: [email protected]

02/02/2021

Please join us this Saturday for a preview of next weeks Washington Seminar.

When we’re not experiencing a pandemic, Project STRIVE sends several participants to Washington DC. This year, all of us can participate via zoom.
• witness a piece of our legislative process
• learn about issues that affect us & equality in education & employment
• prepare/practice to advocate for yourself

If you’re not familiar with it, here’s a description from https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/washington-seminar.

At our Washington Seminar, members of the National Federation of the Blind convene to learn about and advocate for legislative initiatives that will improve the lives of blind Americans.

Approximately three legislative initiatives are chosen for priority attention each year. These initiatives, which form the Washington Seminar priorities, are based on the official positions of the NFB adopted at the national convention and can address concerns related to civil rights, educational programs and services, rehabilitation of the blind for competitive employment, the operation of vending facilities by blind persons on public property, specialized library services for the blind, the organization and funding of federal programs, Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income programs, and other timely topics.
The first Washington Seminar took place in 1973. Today, more than five hundred people from the fifty states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico typically attend.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6

10:00 AM–12:00 PM: Project STRIVE Seminar preview

https://zoom.us/j/8061136194 #
One tap mobile: +17207072699,,,8061136194 #

(Utah Senators and your local Congressmen appointments will be held Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday at times that will be announced later. You are invited to join those zoom meetings.)

As always, there will be a brief assignment that will result in “free stuff” being mailed to you.

We hope you’ll join us!

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12/10/2020

Hi! Please join us Saturday for our Project STRIVE Gives Back Activity from 10:00 to 1:00.

Join us via zoom
https://zoom.us/j/8061136194 #
<
https://zoom.us/j/8061136194
>
One tap mobile:
+17207072699,,,8061136194 #
Phone:
720-707-2699
meeting ID: 806-113-6194
If you haven’t already, please donate to the Utah Food Bank & share the following with family & friends by email, text or social media.

As individuals who are blind or have low vision, society (perhaps sometimes ourselves) may believe we should be the recipients of handouts and help. We, in the National Federation of the Blind of Utah, specifically Project STRIVE, recognize and embrace the need for us to offer service. Please join us in GIVING BACK to the community by donating to the NFBU Project STRIVE Virtual Food Drive for the Utah Food Bank.
You can support their efforts by visiting our Virtual Food & Fund Drive at
http://fighthunger.utahfoodbank.org/goto/NFBU_Project_STRIVE
Thank you!

As individuals who are blind or have low vision, society (perhaps sometimes ourselves) may believe we should be the recipients of handouts and help. We, in the National Federation of the Blind of Utah, specifically Project STRIVE, recognize and embrace the need for us to offer service. Please join u...

12/10/2020

As individuals who are blind or have low vision, society (perhaps sometimes ourselves) may believe we should be the recipients of handouts and help. We, in the National Federation of the Blind of Utah, specifically Project STRIVE, recognize and embrace the need for us to offer service. Please join us in GIVING BACK to the community by donating to the NFBU Project STRIVE Virtual Food Drive for the Utah Food Bank.

You can support their efforts by visiting our Virtual Food & Fund Drive at
http://fighthunger.utahfoodbank.org/goto/NFBU_Project_STRIVE.

Our goal is to raise $1000 on behalf of Utah Food Bank, and we need your help to achieve it! All you have to do is browse the “aisles” to see just how much of an impact your gift will make. Add items to your virtual shopping cart, or simply donate to Utah Food Bank so they can use your gift where it’s most needed.

511,000 Utahns, which equates to 1 in 7 Utahns, are at risk of missing a meal today. Even more alarming is that 1 in 5 Utah kids are unsure where their next meal is coming from. With your support, and Utah Food Bank’s purchasing power, we can truly make a difference in the lives of Utahns facing hunger!

If you would like to find out more about the important work that Utah Food Bank is doing, please visit www.utahfoodbank.org. Thank you for your time and consideration!

Find out the latest on Utah Food Bank's efforts to help those impacted by economic fallout resulting from the coronavirus pandemic

11/02/2020

Who likes FREE stuff? Read on for details...

Calling all Blind & Low Visión 7th graders up through 26 year olds- Join STRIVE on Zoom November 14th from 10-1.

In these uncertain times, we’re staying consistent by meeting the second Saturday of each month.

Our November activity is our annual Successful Futures Seminar! Join us for some informative fun. Presentations include
• business owners who are blind
• teachers of blind students who are blind
• OUR NEW INCENTIVE PROGRAM (we can’t call them prizes, but if you join us, you will receive something in the mail that is VERY worth your time!)

Watch for details & we’ll be making individual contact with those who have given us current contact information. If we don’t have yours (or that of your child or student) please send it to Cheralyn Creer at 801-651-5504 or [email protected]

Don’t miss STRIVE on Zoom November 14th from 10-1.

10/10/2020

Help needed!!!

Our friend & blind role model, Kristen Cox, is helping a school for the blind in Mali. She is collecting used canes & money for new ones.

So, if you have old canes that you have outgrown, children in Africa need them!

Round up those canes & by the end of next week (October 17th), let me know what you have & I will let Kris know where they need to be picked up.

Thank you!

10/10/2020

Hey y’all! Join us for the NFBU banquet tonight. See zoom details in the previous post.