Category: LGBT

LGBT Related

Blind LGBT Pride Congratulates Gabriel Lopez-Kafati for Obtaining His MBA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Will Burley

Company: Blind LGBT Pride International

Address: 5010 Echo Lane, Unit A

Los Angeles, CA

Phone: (832) 779-1729

Email: vicepresident@blind-lgbt-pride.org

URL: http://blindlgbtpride.org

 

Blind LGBT Pride Congratulates Gabriel Lopez-Kafati for Obtaining His MBA

 

Los Angeles, CA – Gabriel Lopez-Kafati graduated with a Master in Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Management, from the Andreas School of Business at Barry University in May of this year.

 

The faculty and staff of the Andreas School of Business selected Gabriel to speak to his graduating MBA class due to his achievement within the degree program and his volunteer efforts outside the classroom. Gabriel has also obtained membership in Beta Gamma Sigma – the international honor society for collegiate schools of business.

 

“Blind LGBT Pride International is very fortunate to have Gabriel among its members and as a part of the board of directors,” states Will Burley, vice president of the organization. “His talents will benefit Blind Pride as well as the American Council of the Blind (ACB) family as a whole.”

 

Founded in 1976, Barry University’s School of Business provides high-quality academic programs for undergraduate and graduate students in an inclusive and caring environment. They strive to maintain the most rigorous standards while providing an intimate setting that is dynamic and conducive to learning. The School of Business is accredited by AACSB – International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), which has been described as the “gold standard of accreditation” for business schools. Their holistic approach to business education results in a challenging academic experience that stimulates you to grow and become a responsible business practitioner and leader. To learn more visit http://www.barry.edu/business/.

 

Blind LGBT Pride International is a special interest affiliate of the American Council of the Blind. Its mission is to promote the equality and inclusion of LGBT people who are blind or vision impaired by providing its members and allies a forum to promote access to and integration into the LGBT communities as well as to provide a means of expression for the views and concerns of LGBT vision impaired persons in the broader society. To learn more please visit http://blindlgbtpride.org.

 

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BPI Elections: Candidates’ Forum

The BPI Elections Committee will host the 2014 Candidates’ Forum on Saturday, June 21, 2014 at 2:00 P.M. PDT, 4:00 P.M. CDT AND 5:00 P.M. EDT.

 

This will be an opportunity for members and friends to listen and ask questions of the individuals seeking the open seats of president, treasurer, board member-at-large 3 and the 9th board position created last year.

 

Please take the opportunity to find out what vision these candidates have for the forward movement of Blind LGBT Pride International!

 

If you have any questions, please visit www.blindlgbtpride.org/contact and choose to email the Elections Committee.

BPI Announces 1st Convention scholarship Winner

It is with great pleasure that the Blind LGBT Pride International scholarship committee announces the winner of the first ever BPI convention scholarship!

 

After reviewing all applications, and conducting subsequent phone interviews, we are excited to announce that Tiffany Taylor of Farmington Hills Michigan is the recipient of this first ever award!

 

Tiffany currently serves as Legislative and Advocacy Co—Chair. She also volunteers as a proofreader, speaker and fundraiser for Seedlings Braille Books. She has also served as President of the Disabilities Awareness Group on the Campus of Adrian College. Tiffany holds a Bachellor’s degree in Theater. In the past, she has worked with blind and visually impaired youth in various capacities. It is Tiffany’s hope to empower and educate both blind and LGBT individuals and help bring them to their fullest potential. In doing so, she hopes to bring down stereotypes facing both Blind and LGBT individuals.

 

As a recipient of this award, Tiffany will receive round trip airfare to and from Las Vegas, lodging at the Riviera Hotel and Casino, BPI’s convention package, which includes tickets to all BPI sponsored activities, workshops, and a ticket to the ACB banquet. The scholarship committee extends their congratulations and best wishes to Tiffany in her future endeavors.

The committee thanks those who applied and encourages those applicants to apply next year.

 

With Pride,

 

2014 Scholarship Committee

 

Andrea Damitio, Chair

Leah Gardner

Geno Stone

Gabriel Lopez

Guillermo Robles, President

2014 BPI Convention schedule

Need info regarding this year’s BPI convention schedule?  The website has lots of information you will need for the week – hotel, transportation and schedule info.  Visit http://blindlgbtpride.org /convention for details.

 

Don’t forget to share that page with your social media networks by clicking the share buttons at the bottom of the page!

2014 BPI Convention Scholarship

2014 BPI Convention Scholarship

Application Process, Requirements, & Criteria

 

Blind LGBT Pride International, BPI is thrilled and delighted to announce that we will be offering the first ever Scholarship, to attend the annual ACB national Conference & Convention,

which will be held in Las Vegas Nevada this year!

 

Our 2014 recipient will receive round trip airfare to Las Vegas, lodging, our BPI Convention Package, which includes tickets to all BPI sponsored activities, workshops, and a ticket to the ACB Banquet. 

 

APPLICATION PROCESS –

 

Note: submissions MUST be received by email at scholarships@blind-lgbt-pride.org,

By May 7, 2014, NO LATER than11:59 PM EDT.  The recipient will be named on May 21.

 

Please submit the following information on a cover sheet:

– Name

– Address

– City, State/Province, Country, Zip

– Phone number you are best reached at

– Email Address

            – Length of time you have been a member of BPI?

            – Include a statement indicating that you are both the following by April 7, 2014:

– at least 18 years of age, a BPI member in good standing, and if chosen, you agree to attend all events, and meet all conditions as they have been expressed and posted under the requirements section of the 2014 BPI Scholarship Information located  on the official BPI web site at www.blind-lgbt-pride.org..

 

REQUIREMENTS

– Must be over 18 years of age.

– Must be a BPI member in good standing, as of April 6, 2014.

 

The 2014 BPI Scholarship Recipient will be responsible to –

– Submit a cover sheet as outlined above.

– Submit a 1 page essay as outlined below.

– Write an article for our post-convention “Inside Out” Newsletter, detailing your experience at the ACB convention, and attendance at the BPI sponsored activities, & workshops.

 

Attend the following:

– all BPI sponsored activities & workshops, including the Annual Board Meeting & Caucus,

– all ACB General Sessions, and

– the ACB Farewell Banquet.

 

 

Essay Details –

Please submit a 500 word SA which includes your thoughts on the following points:

– What experience would you be able to bring to BPI, as a volunteer, and potentially in a future Leadership role?

– How and why would coming to the ACB convention and participating in BPI be of help to you personally?

– What do you hope to gain and learn from the overall experience?

– How do you see yourself using the knowledge that you will gain from this experience to “Pay It Forward” to BPI, and to your fellow members?

 

 

  • – BPI is not responsible for any room charges and incidentals that may be incurred during the recipient’s stay.
  • * – BPI is not responsible for any expenses not specifically outlined in this award package, including, but not limited to, lost luggage, medical expenses, and any expenses related to any unforeseen emergency, or anything related to any agreement, or situation, which the recipient may incur, or enter into, on their own accord.

BPI 1st Annual Silent Auction

Dear BPI Members & Supporters:

 

Blind LGBT Pride International (BPI) is a special interest affiliate of the American Council of the Blind (ACB). The purpose of Blind LGBT Pride International (“Blind Pride” or “BPI”), a 501c (3) organization, is to provide for the betterment of the lives of those who are visually impaired and who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, around the world. By working with other blindness organizations and organizations in the LGBT community internationally, BPI will do our part to foster a greater understanding of LGBT issues in blindness organizations and also bring greater awareness of the issues and concerns facing visually impaired people who are also part of the LGBT community.

Each year BPI holds its annual convention in conjunction with the national convention of ACB, which boasts an attendance of over 2,000  attendees! The BPI convention is a time for its members to gather in a safe environment to explore many equality issues involving people who are blind, and also to learn more about our role within the LGBT community. This year, our national convention will be in Las Vegas from July 10 to 18. To help us offset the cost of the convention, we will be holding a silent auction during the convention week. We are looking for donations of products and services we can utilize for our first ever auction. Please keep in mind that we will have participants from all over the United States and other countries, so tangible gifts, or services which can be redeemed within a large region would be most appreciated. Further more, the retail value of your donation is tax deductible. One of our committee members will be in touch with you within this week, so we can discuss the best way for your company or organization to be the most valuable partner possible in assisting us to bring greater awareness of people who are blind in the LGBT community and also to bring greater equality for people who are part of the LGBT community within blindness organizations like ACB.

We look forward to working with you on this exciting project to assist us our organization in organizing the only gathering of its type in the world involving people who are blind or visually impaired and part of the LGBT community. We will recognize your donation through our various social media outlets and on our website. Recognition will also be given on our list of donated auction items in our conference program which will be the on- site guide to the Convention provided to all attendees. For further information please contact Richard Marion by email atmember2@blind-lgbt-pride.org.

 

Sincerely,

 

Guillermo Robles

BPI President