2025 Advocacy & Awareness
FY2025 marked a significant expansion in how widely NIB’s mission reached audiences nationwide.
Advocacy in Action
Welcomed 11 new Advocates for Leadership and Employment
Front row, from left: Noemi Roque-Keen, Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired; Wilfredo Martinez, Bestwork Industries for the Blind; Christine McDonald, Lighthouse for the Blind St. Louis; Jennifer Parrish, The Lighthouse of Houston; Hannah Kinsey, NewView Oklahoma; and Veronica Martinez, Valley Center for the Blind.
Back row, from left: Alfonso Harrell, Bestwork Industries for the Blind; Mulbah Foley Dwanah, Lions Services; Scott Aukerman, Beacon Lighthouse for the Blind; Tim Runstrom, VisionCorps; and Andy Hoffman, Envision Dallas.
in the local community and on Capitol Hill since 2012
120 Agency Meetings with House and Senate Offices
From left: U.S. Representative Pete Sessions of Texas’s 17th Congressional District and Soraya Correa, NIB president and CEO.
Raising Awareness Through Telling Our Story: Our Mission is Good for America
In FY2025, NIB expanded its awareness efforts through a national video campaign focused on inclusive employment and the contributions of people who are blind. The campaign elevated NIB’s mission through compelling storytelling designed to reach broad audiences, spark conversation, and reinforce the value of inclusive workplaces across the country.
Growing Visibility, Influence, and Reach
media
reach
Empowering Through Procurement: Inside the Mission of National Industries for the Blind
In a Federal News Network series, Soraya Correa shares how NIB advances employment through strategic federal procurement partnerships nationwide.
- Source: Federal News Network
National Disabilities Employment Month: Inspiring Strength and Success
In an interview with FOX 5 DC, NSITE’s Doug Goist discusses connecting employers with blind talent during National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
- Source: Fox 5 DC
Expanding Reach Through Video Storytelling
In an effort to reach broader audiences with more compelling content, video became central to NIB’s FY2025 communications strategy, supporting advocacy, workforce awareness, and engagement with federal and public audiences. This strategic focus resulted in substantial growth in reach, total viewership, content output, and overall engagement across NIB’s digital channels.
The Heard & Empowered podcast shared job and career insights, inspiration, and insider tips for people who are blind, employers, educators, vocational trainers, policymakers, innovators, and advocates for change.
Launched Mission Driven Series in May 2025
Mission Driven, a special series on the Heard & Empowered podcast, features conversations hosted by NIB President and CEO Soraya Correa with mission partners, agency leaders, and government representatives focused on advancing employment for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Introduced new host Dean Thompson
Episodes featuring employees from NIB, NSITE, associated nonprofit agencies, and external partners
- 57 total episodes now available
- 6,739 total unique downloads
- Listeners in 34 countries
