Announcer:
Welcome to the Nation's Blind Podcast presented by the National Federation of the Blind, the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans. Live the life you want.
Melissa Riccobono:
Hello and welcome to the Nation's Blind Podcast. I'm Melissa Riccobono and I am here with the man himself, my co-host, Anil Lewis. How are you, Anil?
Anil Lewis:
I'm good. I used to be the man, and then I met Mark Riccobono and realized that... Well, that's for another podcast, right?
Melissa Riccobono:
You're still your own man, Anil.
Anil Lewis:
You know when you say hello, I remember that old Seinfeld episode and they'd go, "Hello! Hello!"
Melissa Riccobono:
Hello!
Anil Lewis:
And Mark does that too. That's what made me...
Melissa Riccobono:
Oh, always. Yeah, Seinfeld is a favorite in the Riccobono house (laughs).
Anil Lewis:
Yeah, well, that has nothing to do with our topic today (laughs).
Melissa Riccobono:
Nothing at all, even slightly. And I don't even know. If Lauren McCarney were here, we'd have about a zillion more podcast references. Seinfeld references for the podcast.
Anil Lewis:
She would take atleast ten, fifteen minute sto act it all out.
Melissa Riccobono:
Yes, but we won't do that. We'll talk about what we're supposed to talk about, which is...
Anil Lewis:
Andit is a very meaningful topic for me too, because my dad passed when I was six years old, and my mom raised all four of us on her own through a story that's worth telling in its own right, but it gave me a great deal of respect for the importance of mothers and women overall.
So she instilled in that. And it's nice that March is Women's History Month. I think that in so many times we're looking at history, we give women a short shift and the role that they played in all the work that we've been able to accomplish.
And that's also true with the NFB. But luckily, President Riccobono, in one of his banquet speeches, dedicated a whole banquet speech around the history that women have played in our organization. And we're pleased to have two stellar women working our organization today as our guests.
Melissa Riccobono:
We sure are. And I don't think they're our guests. They're our friends that are here.
Anil Lewis:
Yeah, guests for the podcast.
Melissa Riccobono:
Yes, I understand (Anil chuckles). And they're here partly because Shawn Calloway wrote a really nice article in the March Braille Monitor about them and the work that they're doing. And so if you haven't had a chance, make sure that you check that article out. I'm sure it's in the show notes. And just check out the Braille Monitor in general.
Anil Lewis:
Yeah. The title of the article is "Filling In The Gap."
Melissa Riccobono:
Yeah. So let's introduce our women here. The first one is a woman I've known for a very long time. Remember her way back from when we used to do Possibilities Fairs at the National Federation of the Blind and she was always...
Anil Lewis:
Senior fairs.
Melissa Riccobono:
Senior. Yep, Possibilities Fairs for seniors. And this woman was always ready to go, volunteering, doing what she could to help out. And when we started the National Harbor Chapter of the NFB of Maryland a while back, she was right there on the front lines. This is Joyce Brooks. How are you, Joyce?
Joyce Brooks:
I'm wonderfully well. I'm better than our deserve.
Melissa Riccobono:
Oh, well (Melissa and Anil laugh). Well, I don't know about that. I think you deserve a lot. So you must be really, really good then. Absolutely.
Anil Lewis:
Well I'll take the privilege of introducing or welcoming our next co-presenter, since we're not calling them guests today, I guess. And this young lady may not realize the place that she holds in my heart, but Ms. Lois Staves. And the only reason that that's special is because that was my mom's nickname was Lois.
Melissa Riccobono:
Oooh!
Anil Lewis:
Lois, welcome.
Lois Staves:
Thank you. Thank you. I am honored to be here.
Melissa Riccobono:
Well, these fantastic women started a foundation and they have been doing work in the Prince George's County, Maryland area. Prince George's County is a county in Maryland that is near to Washington DC, but not Washington DC, obviously, because it's Prince George's County, Maryland. And it's unfortunate because there's a lot of services for blind people in Baltimore.
We have various services there. We have different independent living centers in Baltimore County. We have other things even on the Eastern Shore of Maryland because Blind Industries and Services of Maryland has a presence down in Salisbury.
There's definitely things in Montgomery County, but Prince George's County, like other counties in Maryland and like other counties kind of around the country, didn't have a lot for blind people.
And Joyce and Lois found a need and so they decided to do something about it. So ladies, I don't know who wants to start, but want to just explain a little bit about the foundation, how it got started, why you started it, and what you do?
Anil Lewis:
I'd like to have them start by telling me, why do you call it the Inspirational Three Foundation?
Melissa Riccobono:
Oh, that's a great question. Let's do that.
Lois Staves:
Joyce, you want to go ahead?
Joyce Brooks:
Sure, sure. We called it Inspirational Three because it was a gentleman by the name of Reginald Pratt, Lois Staves and myself, the three of us. So that's how we got the name. And that was the name we used when we got our 501c as well.
Anil Lewis:
Nice.
Lois Staves:
Let me add that it was based on faith, hope, and love. Us being strong, strong believers, faith for the unseen things that were going to happen, the good things that were going to happen with our community, the hope being the joyful expectations, and the love just being the agape love that we have for the community, for the blind folk.
Anil Lewis:
That's beautiful.
Lois Staves:
That's it. Yeah.
Anil Lewis:
So tell us a little bit about what the Inspirational Three Foundation does.
Lois Staves:
Well, I'll let you know what our services are. We provide technology training. We provide the independent travel skill training and community resources. We present the resources to the community. And I say we're a bridge between all of our organizations. I call us a one-stop shop. If you come online, you're going to find some information that you need. All you have to do is ask.
We usually have twenty-five to thirty persons on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Every Tuesday and Thursday, we're in our twelth year celebration. And all you have to do is ask the question. "I need, I want, I don't know where," and you will have an answer.
You didn't ask me for the history, but we got started in 2014. Like I said, we're starting our twelth year and it was started by the persons that Joyce mentioned because me, myself, I was involved because I had just finished my graduate work, social work.
And I went to a convention in Atlanta and I saw some amazing things, amazing people. I mean, it was just so amazing. And I was just so floored as to what I was witnessing. But I didn't know how did they get there? What happened?
Because I knew the transitions and the difficulties I have been having, I just began to lose my sight. So I was just interested in the human development, the background being my sociological training. I wanted to know how do you do this? So that's why I thought we needed someone to talk to, someone to support.
Anil Lewis:
You took a deeper dive than I was anticipating. We're going to get deeper into what services the Inspirational Three Foundation does. We're also going to get to know you and Joyce a lot better through this podcast. But before we go any further, let's just pause for a brief message.
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Anil Lewis:
All right. Welcome back to the Nation's Blind Podcast. We're here with Joyce Brooks and Lois Staves, celebrating Women's History Month. And before we get back into our guests, Melissa, I want to shout out you for being one of the inspirational women that I know with respect to the role that you play, not only with the Federation and your family, but in the broader context, the community and society in general. So I had to give my mom a shout out, now I'm giving the Riccobono mom a shout out.
Melissa Riccobono:
I really appreciate that. And I would have to shout out Pam Allen as one of my women mentors, chairman of the board for the NFB and the vice president, first vice president, and also the director of the Louisiana Center for the Blind, president of the NFB of Louisiana. She does it all. She makes it all look easy. And she is just literally one of the kindest people that you ever want to meet.
Anil Lewis:
Agreed.
Melissa Riccobono:
And so she is definitely a woman that I would like to shout out for Women's History Month. The other one that I want to shout out, who I know Joyce and Lois know very well is a woman who's now passed on, but Michelle Clark was her name and she was just...
Anil Lewis:
Oh, God bless.
Melissa Riccobono:
A lovely woman and really also wanted to support and inspire people and had a beautiful voice. And she was the president and the reorganizer of the National Harbor Chapter when it got started. She's been gone now for a couple years, but I always think about Michelle whenever I hear about Prince George's County.
And let me just say quickly before we ask you and Joyce, Lois, please both start thinking who are women that you'd like to shout out for Women's History Month, blind women in particular. But I just want to say twelve years, every Tuesday and Thursday for twelth years, that's some dedication right there (chuckles). That's a long, long time. So congratulations to that.
Lois Staves:
It doesn't matter if it's a Christmas, if it's New Year's Eve, we're there. Someone is on that line.
Melissa Riccobono:
Wow, that is amazing. So do either of you have a woman or a couple women that you'd like to shout out for Women's History Month?
Joyce Brooks:
This is Joyce. I'd like to say Sharon Maneki.
Anil Lewis:
Oh yeah.
Joyce Brooks:
Yes, yes. Gold star, gold star (Anil laughs). Ronza Othman. I think about Debbie Brown, my mother, Martha Mutin. I have to put my mother in that (Anil laughs) and I'll let Lois take over.
Lois Staves:
Joyce took my thunder because Sharon Maneki was the first person that came to my mind. She gave me my first cane. Before the National Harbor, there was a Prince George's County chapter and Sharon was the president. It was very, very small. Two, three, four people.
We met at a Catholic school in Prince George's County and Sharon, she just told me everything about the NFB (Anil laughs). She showed me everything that there was to be shown and she inspired me to be involved. And that's how I got to that first convention I was trying to tell you about because of her.
Anil Lewis:
Yeah, Sharon's been a pillar of strength for the Federation, not just in the Maryland area because she was president immediately before Melissa became president of the Maryland affiliate, and then she was president before Ronza became (chuckles)...
Lois Staves:
That's right.
Anil Lewis:
So she's been like the incubator president for two other strong women who have led our Maryland organization.
Melissa Riccobono:
And I was going to say Sharon Maneki, and then I thought, "Oh, I better pick somebody else" (Lois laughs) because I am quite sure that somebody else is going to mention Sharon.
Anil Lewis:
Yeah, and I want to offer to not just speak to my mom, Melissa, but when you said Pam, that also makes me remember Julie Deden, who's the director of our Colorado Center, because Pam is the director of the Louisiana Center. And then I would also have to add Joanne Wilson who started the Louisiana Center and Diane McGeorge who started the Colorado Center.
Melissa Riccobono:
Definitely. And Joyce Scanlan.
Anil Lewis:
May she rest in peace. Yes, Joyce Scanlan for the Minnesota. So then Blind Incorporated. We have some very strong women that have been responsible for some significant drives in our organization.
Melissa Riccobono:
And I better shout out my mom too, because that would be really mean if I didn't, because my mom is a huge part of why I am the way I am. She was a Federation parent without knowing the Federation, and I owe her and my dad so much. And my mom will be eighty years old in just a few days and is still doing really, really well.
Anil Lewis:
Okay, I heard you be shouting at your mom's age. I hope she's okay with that (laughs).
Melissa Riccobono:
Oh, she is completely okay with that.
Anil Lewis:
Beautiful.
Melissa Riccobono:
And if you met her, you'd never guess she was eighty if you didn't know.
Anil Lewis:
This is true. I agree with that.
Melissa Riccobono:
So, anyway (laughs).
Anil Lewis:
And in his absence on behalf of President Riccobono, let me give a shout out to his mom, Karen Riccobono. I've met her. She's just an adorable lady.
Melissa Riccobono:
Yes!
Anil Lewis:
You can understand why Mark is who he is once you meet her.
Melissa Riccobono:
Absolutely.
Anil Lewis:
Yeah. Big heart.
Melissa Riccobono:
Yes, yes. So all right, well, let's get back. Where do we want to go from here? Anil, what do you want these lovely ladies to talk about?
Anil Lewis:
Let's find out how these ladies onboarded. You guys, before we get into the Inspirational Three, how did you guys become acquainted with and involved in the National Federation of the Blind?
Joyce Brooks:
Well, I can start off with, the first person I met was Ray Raysor because him and my brother attended the same church. I was working at NASA. I hadn't quite retired yet because I did forty-two years there, but...
Anil Lewis:
Wow. Wow!
Joyce Brooks:
My retina detached. I've had thirteen procedures on my eyes and I was just going through. I was just in disarray thinking I could still drive (Anil laughs) and walk around without a cane and didn't want to use that cane.
Anil Lewis:
Been there.
Joyce Brooks:
I'm not using that cane (Anil laughs). So I got introduced to Michelle Clark in 19 ... No, 2009, 2009 when I first joined the chapter. I think it started in January, if I'm not wrong. I joined the chapter. Of course, Michelle had me up and running. Took me everywhere. I got to meet everybody within NFB in the local area. And that's how I know Melissa got involved with the BELL program.
I was her second and first vice president during her reign. And that's pretty much how I got started. I didn't know about the Jernigan [Scholarship] that you could get that. I was so anxious. I just went to the convention (Anil laughs). I didn't get to do the first time things. But nevertheless, that's how I got started. And I've been on board ever since, and I'm on the board of the new chapter now.
Anil Lewis:
Very nice. How about you, Lois?
Lois Staves:
I got started. I was getting training from the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind, and the orientation and mobility trainer told me about the NFB and you know, how wonderful it was and the work that was being done, the work that we do. And she suggested, because I was in total denial. I didn't want anything to do with the cane. Don't put that cane outside my door. She would say, "Well, I can leave the cane." No, you won't leave that cane out there.
I was ashamed of my cane. And so she suggested that I joined just to be encouraged, just to have the support of the organization. And like I said, it was before Michelle, before the National Harbor. Sharon Maneki was president. It was a small group, but that's how I joined. And I think that was in '98. Yeah, I think that was '98. So I've been a longtime member. Yeah.
Anil Lewis:
Very nice. And you guys mentioned Michelle Clark. Again, every time I think of Michelle, I think of the project she used to do around a national convention. She had everybody get the little toiletries out of their hotel room and turn them in and she would donate them to the homeless shelters.
I was like, "Wow, what a novel idea." Yeah. So then she's responsible because now you go to the hotels and everything's bounted to the walls (laughs). So I think about her every time I go to the hotels now, they don't have the little bottles of shampoo and stuff anymore. I say Michelle did that (laughs).
Joyce Brooks:
Yes, yes.
Anil Lewis:
Yeah. So you guys really had a real lived experience losing your sight and coming to understand that you could still live the life you want, which I imagine was the catalyst for you starting the Inspirational Three Foundation.
And as Melissa said, you found a need and you're filling a need, much like the evolution and the growth of the Federation. So let's talk a little more about the Inspirational Three Foundation. You talk about calls and that kind of thing. What other services do you provide?
Joyce Brooks:
Well, with us being attached to National Federation of the Blind, the majority of our folks are NFBers. So we give the opportunities to talk about state convention, the convention coming up.
We will announce that every chance we get, try to intrigue people to attend a convention. Especially we get people that are newly blind, "I don't want to live, I can't do this." It's nothing for me to get that call one or two o'clock in the morning.
Anil Lewis:
Wow.
Joyce Brooks:
I just get up, sit onside my bed and they say, "I can't do this. I don't want to live." I say, "It's okay. You're going to be okay." And we sat, we talked to people, we encourage them. With that being said, I get a little teary eyed. I'm sorry.
Anil Lewis:
No, don't apologize. This is real.
Joyce Brooks:
So it's not easy as all of you know. And I'm not saying just because I wasn't born blind, but it's tough. It's tough. When you're able to drive, that was the biggest thing for me and not being independent and not really depending on folks, but having to do things different.
I say that. So with that being said, we have people, we have different topics and I'm going to let Lois, she does it so well explaining what we do every Tuesday and every Thursday.
Anil Lewis:
Okay.
Lois Staves:
Well, the services you asked about, we have the technology training and we have tech Tuesdays, the first Tuesday of the month, no, the second Tuesday of the month, I'm sorry. And there we try to invite persons that have the expertise in technology, that do training, that can give us advice on our smartphones, on JAWS. We just have our information.
Sometimes it's an open topic. Anything you want to ask will bring someone on, just to ask the questions for things that you're not sure about, things that, and it's always wonderful to learn from one another and just to share. That's what we're about. And then the independent living, the independent training, mobility training.
And we go out in the community. We pick a place, a time, someplace to meet up and just practice our independent mobility skills. You know how important that is to be able to manage with your cane.
And then we have the community support resources where we offer any information, like I said before, that's happening, resources that we need in the blind community to just thrive. There's so much out there that people don't know about.
And just call and say what you need, what you're looking for. And we have twenty-five to thirty participants on every night and somebody has an answer for you. If somebody has thought that resource, somebody has something to bring to you.
Anil Lewis:
That's beautiful.
Lois Staves:
Yeah.
Anil Lewis:
Great. You had something else?
Lois Staves:
I was going to say, I was going to give you an overlay of a month. The first Tuesday of the month, we have what we call spotlighting. One of the participants we invite to share their story to tell what they're about, how they lost the vision, what they're doing, any training they have, what training they're looking for. And we find so much commonality in each person.
Anil Lewis:
I love that. Yeah.
Lois Staves:
We've had the same experiences. We share experiences. We just share the story and it's just a celebration of your blindness. The second Tuesday, like I explained, it's Tech Tuesday where we offer resources and technology because we can't make it without the tech skills now.
Everything is ... And it's so important that we keep up and things are changing so fast, something innovative coming up. And so we try to present to our participants what is trending, what is out there, what is for us. The third Tuesday, we call it friends and family where we invite our friends and family on, because sometime it's just as traumatic to them and they don't know what's going on and they want to share the resources because they can help us.
And we're with them and we need their help as well as they need our help and understanding. The fourth Tuesday of the month, we play games. We just have much fun.
Anil Lewis:
Nice.
Lois Staves:
Name five, just we play a lot of games with Alexa. And on Thursdays, we have health and wellness. And that's not necessarily pertaining to low vision and blind, but just health issues. We talk about cancer, we talk about diabetes, we just talking well, different eye diseases, doctors and what's recommended, medications. So we share like that.
Anil Lewis:
Wow. You didn't say what happens if there's a fifth Tuesday (Joyce laughs)?
Melissa Riccobono:
Yeah, that's a good question (Anil laughs).
Joyce Brooks:
Yeah. So this month we have an extra Tuesday and guess what? We're going to have our anniversary. More than welcome to come on board. We try to include everyone that has been a service to us. And like I said, again, most of the people are NFBers and we give that chance to thank our volunteers and everyone because we pull off of DC.
We don't care what chapter is, who you are (Anil laughs). And we have our bug, IB, Circle of Friends. We involve everyone. And we have a chance to give out the announcements of any activity that's being done by anyone in the blind community.
And we also give out information about jobs or training and any way you can go. Because one thing you were saying, I'm going to leave that in at the end about Prince George's County not having the services that we need.
Anil Lewis:
Well, I mean, let's talk about it now because we're curious about (Joyce laughs) what are the challenges that you guys face in doing the work that you do?
Joyce Brooks:
Well, one of the things is having things disposable for people that are blind. We have MetroAccess. That's good. That's pretty good.
Anil Lewis:
That's the public transportation service?
Joyce Brooks:
Yes. Yes. That's helpful when it works (Anil and Joyce laugh).
Melissa Riccobono:
Yeah. When it works, I think that's the big one.
Anil Lewis:
That's the key.
Melissa Riccobono:
Yeah. And that's paratransit and public transit, right? That's both.
Joyce Brooks:
That's both., but it's getting better. It's getting much better because we have people that attend the meetings. We have people in our group that are part of getting on those calls and going to the meetings. I know in the beginning, we used to go to all the meetings and that's what it takes because we really made a difference.
Anil Lewis:
And these are the meetings, the public hearing meetings for the MetroAccess.
Joyce Brooks:
That's right.
Anil Lewis:
Beautiful.
Joyce Brooks:
That's why we could go down there in person. Yes, we did.
Anil Lewis:
Very nice.
Joyce Brooks:
Before COVID. Yes, we did.
Melissa Riccobono:
Wow, and that's so important because people think they understand it. They think that, "Oh, we're on time this percentage of the time. And that's pretty good." It's not really though until they hear stories from the people that are using it and hear what happens when they're not on time or when they don't show up at all, that really gets their attention.
So good for you guys for going down and still now being on the calls now that COVID has changed the way that those meetings take place. I guess they're more virtual, but good for you guys. That's great.
Joyce Brooks:
And we also have MetroAccess come on, the CEO or whoever the people are, come on our line and we talk MetroAccess. The people are there to have Q&A to get their answers and they can tell them some of the horror stories that they have. Yeah.
Anil Lewis:
That's wonderful.
Joyce Brooks:
Every once in a while we try to ... And I have to give them, we have a guy named KristIn Blake. He's on the money. He just tell us, "If you have a problem, this is my number." And I tell them, "Don't wear them out too bad (Anil laughs), but give out his number so we can call if we have any problems."
Now, back to the issues, and I'm going to turn over to Lois, that we have is like in DC, a prime example, most of those people are able to have aids. They're able to have people come in if they get sick to get nursing services.
It is hard here in this county to get all of that. If you have a stroke, if you have a heart attack, I can name a few people are going through that and they can't get any services.
And one thing with Columbia Lighthouse, who I first started off with before NFB, that's what the doctor tells you, the eye doctors, that's all they know is Columbia Lighthouse, which is good, but they don't give the funding to them in this county like they should.
Like they get from Montgomery County and DC is pennies that they get. So we cannot get services from Columbia Lighthouse anymore. That's the place that gave me my first cane.
Melissa Riccobono:
Yeah. And I know that especially Braille services when people want to learn Braille, that's been really difficult in PG County. I think that there's some people now that are kind of taking that over, but it's a problem. It's a big problem.
Joyce Brooks:
Yeah. We have to go to Martin Luther King Library, DC. What else do we have? We have some people like your Libra Robinsons that teach Braille. We have Montropolitan Washington Air Health Services for your telephone, but you got to go to Rockville in Montgomery County. So I'm saying right here in the hub of PG County, there's nothing.
Anil Lewis:
Well, there's the Inspirational Three Foundation. Let's not discount that, but yeah.
Melissa Riccobono:
And there's the Greater Prince George's County Chapter now of the NFB, which has just been reorganized. So those are two things. But yeah, I mean, obviously there was a problem that you saw and needed filling.
Anil Lewis:
And the work that you're doing is progressively creating change. So what exists now will be amplified later. You guys are building foundationally on stuff that will hopefully grow in that area and the services will improve.
I love the way that you're being active in the MetroAccess meetings. And hopefully if there's opportunity for public hearings around either vocational rehabilitation services or home healthcare services in that area, that you guys will continue to lend your voices to that work.
Lois Staves:
And Anil and Melissa, I have been to, and we have been to county council to ask for funding to tell about the things that are missing in our community. And as I understand it, every county gets the same federal money, but as it trickles down, how they disseminate that money, what programs they are willing to provide monies for, that's how we get shorted.
A priority and other thing, just like NFB, going to the Hill, going Capitol Hill and going to Annapolis, advocating for what services are needed and what needs to be. We just don't have that here. And I have made pleas to the county council as to why not and [they say] "We'll look into it," but that's as far as it goes.
Anil Lewis:
Perhaps we'll have a listener who understands that system a little better and may be able to offer some advice on how you can be more effective in the work that you're doing there. So let's not dwell on all of the challenges. Surely you guys have had some successes in the work that you do. Can you share some examples of some of your success stories?
Lois Staves:
Something came to my mind as soon as I read that on the agenda was a lady that had challenges. She had a caretaker or custodian that threw up her hand. She was just tired. She was at her wits ends. The young lady was an introvert. She wasn't willing to reach out. She wasn't willing to get help.
So her caregiver had come on the line listening to her because she put her on the line every time she had to access the link Tuesdays and Thursdays, listen in. Well, when she introduced her and told that she couldn't do anymore, we came, went into action.
They arranged to meet this young lady at a location where they offered her the insight and introduced her to the iPhone. Her custodian bought her the iPhone and they trained her. They actually trained her and they did this just on their own, just from a call, just from listening to the dilemma that this family was in.
And I was just so amazed and so pleased at them responding like that. And it was great. Another success story, and then I'll let Joyce tell her success story was the Hope Ministry. That's a faith-based ministry in our community. They met on this. I call us their parents because when we started, one person heard someone expressing something.
"Oh, well, what's her name? Can I get in contact with her?" And thus they were launched and that they were the founder and the co-founder of Hope Ministry. And they've been celebrating. They celebrating, I think, believe their tenth anniversary.
Anil Lewis:
Oh, wow.
Lois Staves:
So that's what we're there for, to inspire and encourage each other.
Anil Lewis:
That's beautiful.
Joyce Brooks:
I think about a young lady that I met on MetroAccess. And by then, I loved my cane. That was my newfound friend (Anil laughs). And with that being said, she got on and she's blind. And I'm like, she's knocking herself out trying to get on the vehicle. I'm like, "Where's your cane?"
Here I am, right (Anil laughs)? "Where's your cane?" "I don't have a cane." So I introduced myself, gave her information about our group, put it in her phone. And so I kind of lost her for like five years. And then she was talking to someone else and they was telling her about a lady named Joyce Brooks, Lois Stave.
And she said, "Wait a minute, I remember that name. Joyce Brooks. I met her years ago. I got another phone. I don't know. I lost her." Lo and behold, she came back and she's one of our volunteers.
Anil Lewis:
Nice.
Joyce Brooks:
When I got ahold of her, she was staying in her house. She was drinking and just doing things to hide what was going on with her blindness. And now we can't keep her shut (Anil laughs). She's one of our best volunteers that we have. She's a beautiful person. She's doing better with her family and she's really accepting her blindness.
Anil Lewis:
That's wonderful. Isn't that the greatest feeling because you never know the impact that you're going to have on somebody. Some of the briefest interactions have been so impactful to others. That's a wonderful story.
Melissa Riccobono:
That's such a great story. I just remember you guys during COVID and I'm sure that... I mean, for you, it's not anything different from what you were already doing, but I remember coming on one time during COVID and sharing some of my story and some of my struggles and some of the ways that I sort of was able to turn things around.
And just the care that I saw in the community, I just thought, "Wow, I am quite sure that people"... Because it's hard to remember back, I mean, COVID was such a lonely time for so many people, so isolating. And now that we're sort of back past COVID, I think we sort of lose sight of that or don't want to look back on that because it was really scary and difficult.
But I do remember just being so grateful when I hung up. Not that I was able to be on, although I love telling my story to other people and I love connecting with people.
And so I was very honored to be on. But I was just so glad that there was a group for people where they had two days a week where they were going to be able to connect with other people during such a scary time.
So I'm sure that people still remember that and still think fondly on those support calls and know that they were one of the things that probably helped them through the pandemic, which is huge for you guys.
Lois Staves:
And what I remember you, Melissa, and just kudos to you, I said, she's real. She has a real story. She's just like us. That's life. Life being life. I was so impressed with your realness and with your sincerity. So yeah, I appreciated you doing that, telling us that story.
Melissa Riccobono:
I appreciate that. And anytime, I'd be happy to come on anytime. Maybe I'll come on for your anniversary because that would be lovely.
Lois Staves:
Oh, yes! The thirty-first.
Joyce Brooks:
Well, since you mentioned it, since you mentioned it, that would be wonderful.
Anil Lewis:
I'd be happy that you give me the information. Do you want us to share the information with our listeners as well?
Lois Staves:
That would be great.
Anil Lewis:
Well, now is your opportunity. How would they connect? How would they get in touch with you?
Lois Staves:
Okay. We have an email that you can... Well, I have several ways now (Anil laughs). Okay. You can send (laughs), now that you asked, you can send an email to i3s.foundation.inc@gmail.com and give us your information.
Anil Lewis:
Let's slow that down because that's even faster for me, i3s.foundation.inc...
Lois Staves:
Yeah. The lowercase I, the number three, "S," .foundation.inc@gmail.com And give us your information and you'll get a link response. We have a beautiful person that's in charge of that,Ms. Harriet Davis, she's one of our board members.
And/or you can go to our website, which we have developed, we're working on, we're very proud of. And that is i3sfoundation.org. And there's a button on there that you can come into our meeting or information that you can send to the info@i3s.org and we will get that request through there.
Anil Lewis:
Very nice. And the anniversary is on March 30 at what time?
Lois Staves:
Thirty-first.
Anil Lewis:
Thirty-first, I got people showing up early (Melissa laughs). March 31. At what time?
Joyce Brooks:
Seven p.m.
Anil Lewis:
Eastern?
Melissa Riccobono:
Eastern.
Joyce Brooks:
Eastern time. Beautiful. And I give out my phone number. My number is all over the website (Anil laughs). And we do have a running board. It's seven people. We have Charles Taylor is the president, Harriet Davis is vice president, Lois Staves is our treasurer.
She take care of our funds. And we have a secretary, Angela Miners. And we have Ray Smith. Let me see who else. Michigan Spears. And they're board members. I'm a board member and I'm one of the curators of the support group.
Anil Lewis:
Very nice. I'm pleased you give them a shout out too, because unfortunately nonprofits, sometimes recognition is the only reward you get in the work that you do. So that's very nice.
Lois Staves:
We are working board. We work hard. We have worked hard, very hard.
Melissa Riccobono:
I can tell. I mean, even just having a board member being the one that answers all the emails that I'm sure you get, that's hard work for sure.
Joyce Brooks:
We get more calls than we do emails. I know I do.
Anil Lewis:
Because you're old school that way, especially if you're taking calls at one in the morning. God bless you both. And I think that you started very early. You were very vulnerable talking about your journey, your blindness journey. And I think that's what resonates with the people that you're interacting with.
I think that sometimes I have to admit for myself personally, I get to the point where I'm so used to it that I sometimes actually forget what it was like. And it's helpful to be reminded because that way you can help meet people where they are and really get them to go through that process in a way that helps them reclaim their lives in the instance where they may have lost vision.
So, Shawn Callaway did a great job. He made you guys sound like superstars in that monitor article. I have to get a copy of it and get your autographs on it (Melissa and Joyce laugh).
Joyce Brooks:
Shawn is an awesome person. Awesome.
Anil Lewis:
He is a good man.
Joyce Brooks:
Yes. Yes, he is. And he's right there with us and for us all the time. And we piggyback on him with his chapter and DC chapter, Circle of Friends and all the other blind groups that are out there. Yeah.
Lois Staves:
That's why I said we're a bridge. We keep everybody together.
Anil Lewis:
Yeah, very much so, because again, up until now as it's clear in this meeting, Prince George's County is part of Maryland, but I always associate you guys with DC. So it's all good.
Joyce Brooks:
It's normal. If I tell anybody I'm from Maryland, they say, "Oh, you're from DC." I was born and raised in DC, so it's okay.
Anil Lewis:
Okay, all right (laughs).
Joyce Brooks:
Yeah.
Anil Lewis:
Good enough. But I just want to, as Shawn did, give you guys your flowers for the work that you do. You are indeed inspirational and I hope that everybody's okay with that because blind people can be inspirational for other blind people.
Joyce Brooks:
Yes!
Anil Lewis:
And I love your self-sacrifice and your commitment to helping others travel this path as well.
Lois Staves:
You've inspired me also, Anil, I know you probably don't remember, but when we went to see Ms. Edwards, Donna Edwards.
Anil Lewis:
Oh, yes!
Lois Staves:
And I was with you and you came from the train station and you were just right on point. We met with the legislative assistant and I was so proud of you, the way you handled everything, the way you represented.
And I was just getting started. So I said, "Look, one more time, you have someone that inspires you and you're just so wonderful. So thank you for being here."
Anil Lewis:
Well we all work together. All that I bring to the table is because the Federation poured into me. So I humbly say thank you for what you're saying, but also reflect to the many members of the National Federation of the Biden for being that conduit for me to become who I am today. Any last words for our listeners before we wrap this one up? It's been a great conversation by the way.
Melissa Riccobono:
Yeah, really enjoyable.
Lois Staves:
I appreciate the opportunity. And I would like for people that would like to join us and we always need input. What would you like to hear? Who would you like for us to have? What resource would you like for us to investigate and bring on? And like I gave the information how we can be reached anytime. So once again, thank you.
Joyce Brooks:
And I just want to elaborate on what Lois just said. At the end of the day, I find it a pleasure to do what I do. I never dream of my dreamest dreams that I would be doing this. I had sight, I had a good government job. I was out there working and I lost my sight and I got treated differently. It was to a point where I said, "I tell you what, I almost have forty-two years, what I can do is retire."
So, look what I'm doing now. And this is so part of me and it's like family. We are family. Once you come on that line, you are hooked in. We don't leave nobody behind. If we don't hear from people, we going to call and find out where you are.
Anil Lewis:
Beautiful.
Joyce Brooks:
So that's been an inspiration for me and I'm sticking with it (Anil laughs).
Anil Lewis:
Melissa, I don't know about you, but this has been one of those podcasts that makes your heart full.
Melissa Riccobono:
Very, very full. And I love that story. And I think more people should really think about that. Either those who still haven't found their employment or those that have retired. Maybe not all of us can be a person that answers phone calls at one in the morning (Anil and Joyce laugh), but we should all find something to do because all it does is keep us younger and gives us a purpose to get up in the morning.
And I was talking about my mom being eighty, and the reason you wouldn't believe she's eighty is because that's her whole mincef. She is constantly doing and busy and always says, "There's just so much to do. You just have to go out there and find it."
And so I'm just very pleased, Joyce, that you found such a wonderful way to give back and really took a situation of losing your vision that I'm sure was very hard in the beginning and have just completely turned it around to be a superpower and a way to reach other people. So God bless you and Lois.
Joyce Brooks:
You are my hero too, Melissa, because when I first seen you with the dog and the children, I'm like, "Oh my goodness." You know what I mean? That's amazing. You really inspired me, the first convention I've seen you. So yeah, kudos to you. Happy woman's month.
Melissa Riccobono:
Happy Woman's Month to you.
Anil Lewis:
Happy Woman's Month. We want to thank everybody for joining us for an episode of the mutual admiration society (Melissa and Joyce laugh), but really much love to both of you, Joyce and Lois, thank you for the work that you do.
And again, thank you for being inspirational and hopefully our listeners were filled with the love that you have shared with us today. And until next time, remember, you can live the life you want.
Melissa Riccobono:
Blindness is not what holds you back.
Announcer:
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