The 2024 American Council of the Blind Conference and Convention was held this summer with a virtual component in June, followed by a hybrid event in July in Jacksonville, FL and virtually. Below is some feedback we received from NextGen members who were awarded with a stipend to help them participate in this year’s festivities.
Moe Carpenter, Co-Chair of the NextGen Fundraising Committee
“This year was my second national convention, although it was the first year that I really got a choice in what I did. Thanks to ACB Next Generation, I was able to attend this year as a participant and not a vendor.
My favorite part of the convention continues to be meeting people in person. I am not the one to be hogging a Zoom room, but get me in a small group, and I love to connect with new people.
Every event I went to was well put on, and I was able to have great conversations with those at my table. One thing I would like to see done differently is people getting a chance to share their thoughts and experiences. There were a few times where certain individuals seemed to have the spotlight in many different groups, and seeing a more well-rounded view on these items would have, I think, helped more people feel connected. But, overall, things were fantastic.
One thing I continue to love is helping out other convention participants. Whether it be finding a room or finding a table at the exhibit hall, I just love being able to have those one-minute connections with others.
Thank you, ACB Next Generation, for giving me this opportunity to attend this convention as your Fundraising Committee Co-Chair.”
Kristen Kelling, Secretary and Chair of the NextGen Programs Committee
“This year marked my third consecutive year attending the ACB Convention where I enjoyed connecting with others and attending sessions. The convention kicked off with the Friday Night Bash, where I had the opportunity to connect with others. I enjoy meeting the scholarship recipients and those attending for the first time.
I also attended the two Berl Colley Leadership sessions, focusing on strategies for being better leaders. One of the biggest takeaways from these sessions is that in order to address concerns, we first need to build rapport with members and be understanding of their personal circumstances. Another session I attended was ‘Burning the Candle at Both Ends.’ In this session, panelists shared strategies for overcoming burnout. The big takeaway was learning when to say ‘no.’ Another impactful session was ‘Discovering Emotional Intelligence.’ Emotional intelligence is about being aware of our emotions and managing and processing them and is learned over time and takes practice. Concepts of emotional intelligence include being empathetic, being aware of our own emotions and how we treat others, and active listening.
I also had the privilege of serving on the intergenerational advocacy panel. During the course of the session, it was reaffirmed that there is more than one way to advocate and accomplish a goal, and even though we should focus on blindness-related issues within ACB, we can’t simply ignore intersectionality.
Thank you, ACB Next Generation, for this opportunity. I can’t wait until next year’s convention.”
Aaron Espinosa, Chair of the NextGen Advocacy Committee
“The first event I attended was the Friday Night Bash held by ACB Next Generation and ACB Students. I met many people from both groups, as well as others not affiliated with either. It was a fantastic event that rivaled the welcome party organized by the Florida affiliate.
The event I enjoyed most was ‘Bridging the Generational Gap in Advocacy.’ It was fascinating to see how different generations perceive advocacy issues. Some panelists were born a few years after the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed, so they didn’t face many of the challenges that those born before it did. They have had disability rights since birth. It was also interesting to note that all the young people on the panel supported intersectionality, while the older panelists wanted ACB to focus solely on blindness issues. I enjoyed retired judge David S. Tatel as the banquet speaker. It was great to hear his story and everything he went through.
I also attended the beach party at Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park Beach. It was fun, even though it was delayed due to rain. The most enjoyable tour I participated in was driving the go-carts. I got to drive independently, with a sighted person running next to each of us. The top speed was 25 mph. I crashed once because I couldn’t hear the person providing directions very well. When you’re in the go-cart and you crash, it doesn’t sound too bad, but when you’re listening to people on the track and not in the go-cart, it sounds super loud.
One of the other highlights of the convention was walking into the general session chanting ‘ACB.’”
Hindley Williams, NextGen Board Member
“It was a phenomenal growing experience to attend the 2024 ACB convention. I attended a leadership session in which we discussed how to address barriers to member participation and added to my leadership tips toolbox. The ‘Burning the Candle at Both Ends’ program taught me how to recognize burnout and address it in healthy ways. It was a privilege to facilitate an event in which the panelists and I discussed budgeting, home management, and building a support network, all of which are topics members stated they wanted to learn more about. Networking events are never easy for me as an introvert who particularly struggles with introductions, but I challenged myself by attending the ‘Network Yourself for Success’ event. I connected with six individuals and was able to learn about them and share about myself in an environment in which I could practice my networking style.
I am so grateful for the opportunity to have attended the 2024 ACB Convention as a Next Gen stipend recipient. I had a fantastic experience, and I already cannot wait for next year, when I will once again visit with friends and make new connections.”
Vika Trussell, NextGen Board Member and Co-Chair of the NextGen PR Committee
“One of the highlights of my convention experience was being able to meet many of the people I have talked with on Zoom for years. Though sometimes being around so many people was overwhelming, it was good for me to step out of my comfort zone. My hope is that I will be able to return next year and not feel as overwhelmed by it all.
The sessions put on by ACB Next Generation, held both in person and virtually, were well planned and educational. Another highlight of my convention experience was the Next Generation dinner. This gave us all an opportunity to get together, enjoy a good meal and good company, and not talk about Next Generation business.
While I wasn’t able to attend the entire in-person portion of the convention, I feel that four days was enough time for me to experience it without feeling drained by it.
Next year, I hope to meet even more people at the convention. If the opportunity to present during a session is made available to me, it is something I would definitely consider.”
Amber Steet
“I went to the virtual portion of the convention, particularly the veterans meeting. At that meeting, we discussed rebuilding the veterans affiliate under the branding of ACB Veterans, rather than Visually Impaired Veterans of America as it had been before. At this same meeting, I decided to run for a director position on the board since I come from a military family. As a member of the ACB Veterans board, I hope to be able to bring the perspective of someone from the military family background to ACB Veterans, and use that experience to help this new affiliate gain new ground.”