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Board of Directors

Heather Bird, President

I am a complex person: a wife, a mother, a daughter, a social work student, an attachment parent, guide dog handler, advocate, an avid reader, singer, foodie... Blindness is just one facet of who I am. In the setting of precious stones that is my life, blindness is one single side of one little supporting gem, although society tries to paint it as the largest and most flawed center of my ring. As a child blindness was to me as my hair color or my shoe size. However, society has insisted on making it an issue as important as race, religion, or sexual orientation. I am the child of a blind parent, the parent of blind children, and the wife of a veteran. Everyone from every walk of life has challenges that can be dealt with in a myriad of ways. It is only when our society latches on to one of these challenges or differences and stigmatizes it, that the real struggle begins in earnest. I will live the life I want in spite of this interfearance and relish every day. I am the president of the Rochester chapter of NFB. If you live in the Rochester area please come and join us at a meeting or a social event.

 

Rasheta Bunting's picture

 

Rasheta Bunting, 1st Vice President

Picture description: Rasheta Bunting is standing in front of the manahttan bridge posed with her arm laying over a silver banister. She has black curly hair and is wearing a black hoodie that says “And still I vote” Rasheta Bunting was born in Brooklyn, New York, with congenital retinitis pigmentosa. She was a product of mainstreaming in the 1980s in the New York City school system and attained a degree in Psychology and a Masters in Special Education, from Long Island University. While working for the Social Security Administration and as a special educator , she experienced discrimination for being a blind employee in an integrated work setting. This forced her to recognize that there was a strong need for advocacy within the field of disability and blindness. Currently, she’s ‘ a Disability Rights Advocate and Civic Engagement Organizer, serving as a liaison between New York State policy makers and the disabled community, ensuring that the disabled voice is included within our government and champions for the cessation of disability marginalization. Rasheta has been an active member of the National Federation of the Blind since 2015 and now serves as the first Vice- President of the New York affiliate. She’s the chair of the NYS Diversity, Equity & Inclusion committee, co-chairs the NYS Blind Parenting Group, the NFB Newsline Outreach Specialist, a mentor to newly blind individuals and was the state coordinator for the NYS NFB BELL Academy. In 2019, she established the National Federation of the Blind Vanguard Chapter of Greater New York,, a diverse group of individuals who are committed to disability activism and pushing the Organized Blind Movement forward.. She still holds the seat as the President of this chapter, which she affectionately calls , “the Motley Crew.” Rasheta is a board member of the New York State Independent Living Council (NYSILC) and a member of the disability advocacy groups,Disabled In Action and ADAPT. She also holds a seat on the Accessible Voting Advisory Committee (AVAC) for the New York City Board of Elections. She’s a single parent, a pod caster and an entrepreneur. Rasheta is the co-chair of The National Organization of Blind Black Leaders (NOBBL) Health & Wellness Group and a member of the National Federation of the Blind Community Service Division and believes that her mission in life is to serve others. She is excited to see how she can continue to be a trailblazer within the disability civil rights movement . Rasheta Bunting can be reached at: rashetabunting@gmail.com.

 

Cayte Mendez's picture

 

Cayte Mendez, 2nd Vice President

Cayte Mendez teaches a class of twenty-four first-grade students at a public school in the Bronx. In addition to her position on the NFB of NY Board, she currently serves as both the President of the National Organization of Blind Educators and Chairperson of the Scholarship Committee of the NFB of NY. She received her Bachelor's degree in Linguistics and Asian Studies from Cornell and her Master's degree in Education from Pace University. At the 2012 NFB Convention she was honored with the Distinguished Blind Educator of the Year Award.

 

Lucy Marr's picture

 

Lucy Marr, Secretary

I serve as the President of the NFB of Syracuse and we would love to have you join us for our chapter meetings. Please contact me if you have questions. Join us in making a difference for the blind of Syracuse!

 

Nina Marranca's picture

 

Nina Marranca, Treasurer

I have been involved with the NFB on a state and national level since 2018. I am currently pursuing my Doctorate in clinical psychology. I am a huge bookworm and love being outdoors, baking, and spending time with my guide dog Viggo. The support and community I have found within the NFB has truly helped me to live the life I want in everything I do.

 

Chancey Fleet, Immediate Past President

 

 

Arthur Jacobs's picture

 

Arthur Jacobs, Board Member

Arthur has been involved in the NFB since 1996 when he was awarded an NFB of Arizona scholarship. He has served in multiple board position in Colorado, New York, and Nationally. He is currently the President of the NYC Chapter, and works for the NYC Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities. He earned a Master's degree in Education and a Bachelor's degree in Human Services. He was born in Phoenix, AZ and moved to Denver, CO shortly after high school. After finishing his degrees, he moved to NYC. He is currently married to Valeria.

 

Candice Attrill's picture

 

Candice Attrill, Board Member

I am Candice Attrill, I am a social work student, and single mother of 3. I am a blind parent of 2 blind children and one child with out blindness. I am excited to be a member of an organization that focuses on advocacy and independence.

 

Chris Minkler's picture

 

Chris Minkler, Board Member

I grew up in a large family in East Aurora, New York, a suburb of Buffalo. There was always a lot of music in our home. I played alto saxophone in Middle and High School and sang in musicals and choruses. I graduated from East Aurora High School in 1987. I served 2 years in the Navy. I was discharged after losing my sight. I lost my sight from Lebers Hereditary Optic Neuropathy, which is a deterioration of the optic nerves. I attended Buffalo State College and graduated in December, 1993. I worked for 20 years for the Early Intervention Program/Children with Special Needs Division, a division of theErie County Health Department. I joined the National Federation of the Blind in 1995. I have been active in the NFB since then. I served as our chapter vice president for 4 and a half years and have served as Buffalo Chapter President since January, 2018. In addition to the NFB, I serve on the Erie County Core Advisory Group and serve in a Blind Veterans Group. I currently live in Williamsville, a village in the town of Amherst, New York.

 

Dawn Penson, Board Member

 

 

Jovan Campbell, Board Member

 

 

Manahil Jafri, Board Member

 

 

Margo Downey, Board Member

I was born in Kansas and moved with my parents to Fort Worth, Texas at the age of 3. My father worked for Convair which later became General Dynamics. I attended a private school for kindergarten and first grade and public school until my sophomore year in high school. I attended the Texas School for the Blind the last three years of high school and graduated as Valedictorian of my class in 1971. I attended several colleges. I have worked in several jobs: Receptionist-Secretary for the Texas Commission for the Blind; Taxpayer Service Representative for the IRS in St. Louis, Missouri; I taught independent living skills at the independent living center in Austin, Texas; taught computer usage on a freelance basis; worked at the VA Medical Center in Buffalo, New York as a switchboard operator; worked as a Technical Support agent for the Juno internet provider. Now, I am a part-time home health care aide. I also am involved in the following volunteer activities: The Most Integrated Setting Coordinating Council; New York Division of Human Rights Disability Rights Council; Division of Human Rights Hate and Bias Prevention Unit, Western New York Regional Council; New York Department of Health's Master Plan for Aging's Transportation Work Group; and I am on the Board of Commissioners for the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority. I have been a member of the National Federation of the Blind since 1979. I was State Secretary for the NFB of Louisiana affiliate for a few years. Austin, Texas was my next venue for NFB. I moved to Buffalo, New York in 1996 and have been a member of the NFb of New York and the Buffalo Chapter since. I am Secretary of the Buffalo Chapter and am Vice President of the New York Association of Guide Dog Users. My life experience has been greatly enhanced by the many and varied opportunities I've had as an NFB member.

 

Maura Kutnyak-Smalley, Board Member

I am dialectically minded and passionate about public health. I am eager to know more about the NFB. I believe that support from and connection with the federation could be very bolstering as I forge my professional path. I hope to become more connected with my blind community.

 

Mindy Jacobsen's picture

 

Mindy Jacobsen, Board Member

Cantor Dr. Mindy Jacobsen’s involvement with the National Federation of the Blind dates back to her college days, when she was Secretary of the newly formed Tallahassee, Florida Chapter. Today she serves with pride and humility as President of the New York City Chapter. At 21, she moved to New York City where she received her Music Education degree and ordination as the first blind woman cantor in Judaism's long history. In 2004, she accepted an honorary Doctorate of Music from her alma mater, The Hebrew Union College, Institute Of Religion, School of Sacred Music. Cantor Jacobsen officiated and sang in concert throughout the country, hoping to educate the public about the capabilities of women cantors. As a congregational cantor she taught in the religious schools, trained the children in preparation for their bar and bat mitzvahs, and, of course, officiated at all services and celebrations. She served, for thirteen years, in the senior administration of JBI International, during which time she directed the library and then the recording studio where Talking Books were recorded. Ms. Jacobsen was one of the first technology specialists with the New York State Commission for the Blind, where she recommended the equipment that would help to open up new positions for blind and visually impaired workers and make it possible for blind employees to do their jobs more effectively. She assists seniors experiencing vision loss by facilitating support groups and teaching them to use computers adapted especially for blind and/or visually impaired individuals. Dr. Jacobsen asserts that, "With proper training and the right attitudes about ourselves, we CAN live the lives we want."

 

Sabrina Frasier, Board Member