Logo: The art studio of Chloe Dee Noble
Image: Capitol Hill March 2009
Some of you know that I lost my eyesight in 1996 when a brown recluse spider bit me on the tip of my nose as I lay sleeping in my bed in Glendora, California. Spiders are attracted to your breath. Research scientists looking for spiders take canister of carbon dioxide into the Amazon while searching for spiders to attract them.
That spider bite changed my life forever. Since then, whenever anyone asks how I’m doing, I usually say "At this very moment I'm just fine and this very moment is the only one that matters."
I am fortunate to have a happy spirit. I am fortunate to find joy and beauty in simple things - to me they are life's greatest gifts.
I have been invited to travel to Washington D.C. in March, 2009 as an advocate for Prevent Blindness America. When asked what I would like for Congress to know about being blind, it mostly has to do with being scared to get out in public, especially now that people are always on the cell phone, calling, texting, eating in their cars and fiddling around doing this and that while driving. It seems to me that many people concentrate on everything except watching the road. Many times I have been in a crosswalk while using my white cane and cars zoom by and I barely miss getting hit.
This one thing causes so much stress and anxiety.
Being blind is a full time job. On a good day, everything you do takes twice as long or longer.
Much progress has been made to help blind people since The Braille system - a method that is widely used by blind people to read and write - was developed by Louis Braille in Paris, France in 1821, but there is still so much to do with so many ways needed to improve the quality of life.
I attended Blind School and after many years I'm fortunate to have recovered my health and much of my vision. I am currently a candidate for a cornea transplant at Doheny Eye Center - USC Medical Center in Los Angeles. I also get books on tape and Braille books and magazines from The Braille Institute Library Services in Los Angeles. These bring a certain amount of normalcy to my daily life and for this I am thankful.
The world is a nicer place if human beings feel that their life is worthwhile, that they contribute to society, and that they are able to remain independent.
It is my wish that America would slow down while driving on neighborhood streets. That everyone would follow the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
I grew up in the late 50s when life had a gentleness about it. People were kind to each other and days were filled with gracious moments. Today rudeness and haste prevails. It’s not pretty and it takes a toll on everyone.
Please keep in mind that - - in a flash - - your life can change. Please go gently through your day and be aware of others . . . I promise to do the same for you.
Prevent Blindness America's Eyes on Capitol Hill event will take place in Washington, D.C. March 2-4, 2009.
Our Message to Capitol Hill: Vision Care Matters!
Prevent Blindness America advocates for sound public policy and adequate funding for initiatives that prevent blindness and save sight.
The annual Eyes on Capitol Hill event provides vision advocates an opportunity to meet with Congressional leaders and policymakers who are often unaware of how much can be done for the many Americans who have, or are at risk for, vision loss. Half of all blindness is preventable, and increased resources for research and prevention can improve the vision health of our population. Greater federal investment is needed to increase the impact of the National Eye Institute and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Image: Prevent Blindness America
Prevent Blindness America Receives $1 Million Grant from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CHICAGO (October 23, 2008) – Prevent Blindness America has been awarded a 3-year cooperative agreement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with a first year grant of $1 million. The nation’s oldest volunteer eye health and safety organization will use the grant to fund its “National Vision Preservation Initiative,” a public and private collaborative effort designed to develop an integrative and pioneering approach to eye health promotion and vision loss prevention.
Prevent Blindness America will coordinate the program with participating organizations that include Duke Clinical Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), and three Prevent Blindness America affiliates – Prevent Blindness North Carolina, Prevent Blindness Ohio and Prevent Blindness Tri-State.
The National Vision Preservation Initiative has four subcomponents, including funding to implement and evaluate a primary care vision screening program for adults in community clinics in Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. In North Carolina, a program will focus on pediatric vision screenings in schools and pediatric office settings. A New York-based component of the program will involve the development of a statewide vision collaborative and the integration of vision health services throughout the New York State Department of Health. Finally, a comprehensive database for clinical and public health data that can be used to calculate the epidemiology of vision impairment as well as the utilization of vision care and eye health-related services will be developed.
“We want to thank the CDC for their substantial support of our sight-saving programs and hope these new projects will help us better serve our communities and work towards eliminating preventable blindness across the country,” said Jeff Todd, vice president of Prevent Blindness America.
From 2003-2008, Prevent Blindness America and its affiliates partnered with the CDC on a separate cooperative agreement which helped to expand the organization’s capacity to educate and screen older Americans and populations at greater risk of underserved vision problems, including those who may not have adequate access to eye care. Special focus was given to vision loss and related eye diseases, such as diabetes.
Image: Habitat for Humanity
Chloe has long been a volunteer in her community. As a young mother living in Atlanta, her children hosted a trick-or-treat party each Halloween for UNICEF and every summer during their "Hippie Days" they hosted tye-dye paint-your-tee parties in their backyard to collect contributions for UNICEF. Charity work has become a part of all their lives. During the 1970s Chloe met Rosalyn Carter while her husband was Governor of Georgia and later Chloe organized art and rally teams of school children in Los Angeles in support of "Carter for President". During the 1980s she tutored High School teams in art for Academic Marathons. During the 1990s, while living in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Chloe worked as a volunteer for the Carmel Chapter of the American Red Cross as morning receptionist. She was a volunteer translator of the French language for United Nations. Her United Nations supervisor - who was stationed in Germany - would send speeches and other important documents from various heads of state that were written in French to several volunteers who would translate the documents into English. Since French has no literal translation, the collective results would then be sent to another translator who compared all of the translations to prepare a final translation.
This letter was just received:
Dear Chloe Dee,
And today somewhere in the world ~ every day of the year ~ a piece of Chloe's art goes on auction to raise funds for charitable organizations.
During 2008 her community spirit efforts have come full circle. Once again she has been inspired by Rosalyn Carter's efforts with Habitat. Chloe currently serves as volunteer advocate for Habitat for Humanity.
We did it!
Months ago, we began fighting for vulnerable families and communities hardest hit by the housing crisis in America.
Today, we can celebrate.
After the Senate and House passed a sweeping housing relief bill, President Bush signed the bill into law earlier this week. This is a major victory, particularly given that the new law contains 100 percent of the provisions we have been fighting for - including $4 billion in neighborhood stabilization funding and the national housing trust fund.
The compassion and dedication of Habitat for Humanity supporters like you helped make this possible. Congress made this legislation a top priority because, together, we stood up for this important bill and the families it will serve.
This is a huge victory for families and communities across America caught up in one of the worst housing crises in our country's history. Your support is truly making a difference.
Thank you again for all that you do.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Reckford
Chief Executive Officer
Habitat for Humanity International
121 Habitat Street
Americus, GA 31709-3498
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