National Black Deaf Advocates

U.S. non-profit organization

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|

National Black Deaf Advocates

Abbreviation| NBDA
Type| Nonprofit organization

Tax ID no.

| 38-3119153[1]
Legal status| 501(c)(3)[1]
Focus| To promote the leadership development, economic and educational opportunities, and social equality, and to safeguard the general health and welfare of Black deaf and hard of hearing people.[2]
Headquarters| Austin, Texas, U.S.[2]
Coordinates| 30°13′01″N 97°44′45″W﻿ / ﻿30.217048°N 97.7458165°W﻿ / 30.217048; -97.7458165

Area served

| United States

Members

| 600

President

| Isidore Niyongabo[3]

Vice President, Chair

| Kimberly Lucas[3]

Interim Secretary

| Kamili Belton[3]

Treasurer

| Ibukun Odunlami[3]

Revenue (2020)

| $168,721[2]
Expenses (2020)| $14,723[2]

Employees (2020)

| 0[2]

Volunteers (2020)

| 14[2]
Website| www.nbda.org

The National Black Deaf Advocates (NBDA) is an advocacy organization for Black deaf and hard of hearing people in the United States.

## Organization

[edit]

NBDA serves as the national advocate for deaf and hard of hearing African-Americans. Membership includes not only African-American adults who are deaf and hard of hearing but also deaf and hard-of-hearing people of all races, parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing; professionals who work with the deaf and hard of hearing youth and adults; sign language interpreters; and affiliated individuals and organizations.[4]

The executive board serves on a voluntary basis and consists mainly of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. Its officers (president, vice-president, treasurer, and secretary) are elected during the national conventions and elected board representatives represent each region (Eastern, Southern, Southwestern, Midwestern, and Western).[5] The NBDA has several programs and scholarships:

### Scholarships

[edit]

The NBDA provides educational scholarships to undergraduate and graduate black deaf students.[6]

### Workshops

[edit]

The NBDA has established two programs for youth and young adults: the Collegiate Black Deaf Student Leadership Institute and the Youth Empowerment Summit.[7][8][9]

### Pageant

[edit]

The Miss Black Deaf America beauty pageant is a competition for young Black Deaf women. Since its inception in 1983, during the second National Black Deaf Advocates Conference in Philadelphia, the pageant has crowned more than 20 Miss Black Deaf America winners. Miss Black Deaf America winners receive college scholarships towards supporting their educational goals.[10]

### News

[edit]

The NBDA Connections is the official publication of NBDA exclusively for NBDA members. It is published in every season.[11]

## History

[edit]

At the 100th anniversary of the National Association of the Deaf in July 1980, a Black deaf caucus was held. Led by Charles "Chuck" V. Williams of Ohio, Sandi LaRue and Linwood Smith of Washington, DC, they presented issues of the NAD's lack of attentiveness to the concerns of Black Deaf Americans as well as the lack of representation of Black Deaf individuals as convention delegates. Sandi LaRue issued a statement to the convention attendees: "NAD must take action to communicate better with the Black deaf community, encourage the involvement of minorities" within the national and state organizations, and recruit more Black Deaf children in the Junior NAD and youth leadership camp. The July 6, 1980 The Cincinnati Enquirer published an article on the needs of Black Deaf people at the NAD convention in which LaRue stated to the newspaper, "We would like to get on the cover and front pages."[citation needed]

A local Black Deaf committee in DC began the work on planning a mini-conference by, for, and about the Black Deaf experience. The first Black Deaf Conference, "Black Deaf Experience," was held on June 25–26, 1981, at Howard University in the city.

Charles "Chuck" V. Williams proposed hosting a national conference in Ohio the following year. On August 13–15, 1982, in Cleveland, Black Deaf people from all over the United States met again to address cultural and racial issues impacting the Black Deaf community. The conference theme "Black Deaf Strength through Awareness" drew more than 300 conference attendees. A debate was held as to whether a national organization should be formed. The idea was accepted.

A new organization, National Black Deaf Advocates, was officially formed. The six founding members were Lottie Crook, Ernest Hairston, Willard Shorter, Linwood Smith, Charles "Chuck" V. Williams, and Elizabeth "Ann" Wilson.[12] In 1983 Sheryl Emery was elected as the founding president of NBDA and established the organization's by-laws and developed the administrative guidelines. Celeste Owens served as vice president.

## Past presidents

[edit]

* Albert Couthen, Executive Secretary, 1982–1983
* Sheryl D. Emery, Executive Director, 1983–1987
* Celeste Owens-Samuels, Acting Executive Director, 1987–1988
* Lottie Crook, President, 1988–1990
* Carl Moore, President, 1990–1993
* Pamela Lloyd-Ogoke, President, 1993–1995 and 1995–1997
* Albert Couthen, President, 1997–2000
* Gwendolyn Powell, President, 2000–2001
* Steven Younger, Acting President, 2001–2002
* Dr. Reginald Redding, President, 2002–2005
* Thomas Samuels, President, 2005–2007
* Fred M. Beam, President, 2007–2009
* Ernest E. Garrett III, President, 2009–2011
* Benro Ogunyipe, President, 2011–2013
* Patrick Robinson, President, 2013–2015
* Tim Albert, President, 2015–2017
* Evon Black, President, 2017–2019
* Isidore Niyongabo, President, 2019-Current

## Past national conferences

[edit]

Year | Location | Conference Theme

|
|

1981 | Washington, DC | The Black Experience

(Not NBDA Conference)

1982 | Cleveland, OH | Black Deaf Strength Through Awareness

(First National Conference)

1983 | Philadelphia, PA | Our Place In The Society
1984 | New York, NY | Destroying The Myths, Discovering The Truths
1985 | Washington, DC | Glancing Back, Shape The Present, And Looking Ahead
1986 | Chicago, IL | If Not Us, Then Who? If Not Now, Then When?
1987 | Cleveland, OH | The Black Family: Togetherness
1988 | Detroit, MI | Deaf, Gifted and Black
1989 | Atlanta, GA | Returning To Basics, Defining Our Organization
1990 | Oakland, CA | Motivation And Perseverance Make Dreams Come True
1991 | Memphis, TN | The 90’s, What Challenges For Deaf And Hearing Impaired Americans
1993 | St. Thomas, Virgin Islands | Vision of Unity: Bridging The Gap Through Broad Based Experiences
1994 | St. Paul, MN | Tools For A Healthier, Wiser Black Community
1995 | Nashville, TN | Thoughts And Dreams Challenge Our Black Deaf Americans
1996 | Los Angeles, CA | Taking Charge: Empowerment, Leadership, and Motivation
1997 | Washington, DC | Black Deaf Leadership In the 21st Century: Preparing the Way
1998 | Indianapolis, IN | The Black Deaf Community: Building Collaborative Partnerships
1999 | Montego Bay, Jamaica | Combing our Efforts: Education, Employment, and Youth Empowerment
2000 | Houston, TX | Determining, Acquiring And Realizing Our Challenge In The New Millennium
2002 | Detroit, MI | Claiming the Abundance – Black Deaf Culture: Education, Technology, Finance, and Employment
2003 | Denver, CO | Soaring Higher: Meeting the Challenges, Realizing the Opportunities
2004 | Philadelphia, PA | Our Place In Society: Looking Back, Moving Forward
2005 | Orlando, FL | Building on Dr. Andrew Foster’s Legacy: Volunteerism and Self-Help
2007 | St. Louis, MO | Today’s Vision Is Tomorrow’s Reality: Celebrating 25 Years of Progress
2009 | Scottsdale, AZ | Moving To A Higher Level: Change Starts From Within
2011 | Charlotte, NC | Overcoming Today’s Changing World: Changes We Need to Reinforce a Better Tomorrow
2013 | New Orleans, LA | Aiming for Greater Excellence!
2015 | Louisville, KY | Partners in Progress: Creating the Vision Together
2017 | Baltimore, MD | Ignite & Explore Beyond All Limits
2019 | Oakland, CA | Building Together: A Community of Strength, Knowledge and Power
2021 | Birmingham, AL | TBA

## Past regional conferences

[edit]

Year | Region | Location | Conference Theme

|
|
|

2006 | Eastern | New York City, NY | Together We Unite, Together We Commit, and Together We Achieve: Inspiration, Motivation, & Preparation are our Key to Community Success
2006 | Midwestern | Chicago (Alsip), IL | Black and Deaf: Together, We Stand Strong
2006 | Southern | Atlanta, GA | Southern Renaissance
2006 | Southwestern | Houston, TX | UJIMA: Strengthening Our Deaf Community Through Collective Work and Responsibility
2008 | Eastern | Washington, D.C. | Rising to a Higher Level
2008 | Midwestern | Louisville, KY | No Struggle, No Progress
2008 | Southern | Charlotte, NC | You Make A Difference: Changing and Expanding Yourself
2008 | Southwestern | Little Rock, AR | Empowering Our Black Deaf Community
2010 | Eastern | Philadelphia, PA | It’s Our Move: A Challenge for Change
2010 | Midwestern | Detroit, MI | Passing the Torch: A New Generation of Leadership
2010 | Southern | Birmingham, AL | Together Everyone Achieves More Enriching the Black Deaf Community through Training, Education, Employment, Advocacy & Mentoring
2010 | Southwestern | New Orleans, LA | Cultivating the Mind, Energizing the Spirit, and Progressing the People within the African American Deaf Community
2012 | Eastern | South Plainfield, NJ | The Future is in Our Hands
2012 | Midwestern | Cleveland (Middleburg Heights), OH | Bridging the Generational Gap
2012 | Southern | Atlanta (East Point), GA | Reconnect, Refocus, Recharge
2012 | Southwestern | Dallas, TX | Let’s Get Our Shine On
2014 | Eastern | New York City, NY | Refocus: The Past Lights Our Future Path
2014 | Midwestern | Indianapolis, IN | Through Empowerment, We Can Succeed & Gain Equality
2014 | Southern | Memphis, TN | Celebrating the Past, Living the Present, Preparing for the Future
2014 | Southwestern | Houston, TX | Iparabo: Come Together As One
2016 | Eastern | Washington, DC | Make Us Matter
2016 | Midwestern | Columbus, OH | State of the Black Health: Living Well in the 21st Century
2016 | Southern | Jacksonville, FL | Moving Onward & Upward: Positive - Progress
2016 | Southwestern | Little Rock, AR | Together We Can Rise to A Higher Level
2018 | Eastern | Philadelphia, PA | TBA
2018 | Midwestern | Indianapolis, IN | It Starts With Us
2018 | Southern | Raleigh, NC | What Matters to You
2018 | Southwestern | New Orleans, LA | Discovering the Treasure of Black Deaf Leadership
2020 | Eastern | TBA | TBA
2020 | Midwestern | St. Louis, MO | Expecting the Best for the Black Deaf Community in 2020
2020 | Southern | TBA | TBA
2020 | Southwestern | Dallas, TX | 20/20 Vision - The View From Here: Black and Deaf in America

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/details/ National Black Deaf Advocates Inc]". Tax Exempt Organization Search Internal Revenue Service. September 25, 2023.
2. ^ a b c d e f "National Black Deaf Advocates Inc". Form 990: Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax]". National Black Deaf Advocates Inc. Internal Revenue Service. December 31, 2020.
3. ^ a b c d "NBDA Board". National Black Deaf Advocates. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
4. ^ Gallaudet University Library Deaf Collections and Archives
5. ^ NBDA Board of Directors
6. ^ Black Deaf Scholarships
7. ^ Gallaudet University Library Archives
8. ^ Collegiate Black Deaf Leadership Institute/Youth Empowerment Summit
9. ^ DC Chapter Scholarships for Black Deaf High School Students
10. ^ Miss Black Deaf America Pageant
11. ^ NBDA Conntections
12. ^ DeafWeb Washington

* v
* t
* e

Deaf rights movement

Topics
and events

* Second International Congress on Education of the Deaf/The Milan Conference (1880)
* Rehabilitation Act of 1973
* Education for All Handicapped Children Act (1975)
* Deaf President Now (1988)
* Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
* Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2008)

Activists|

* Lawrence R. Newman (b. 1925)
* Edward Miner Gallaudet (b. 1837)
* Dorothy Miles (b. 1931)

Activist
groups|

* Royal Association for Deaf people (est. 1841)
* National Association of the Deaf (United States) (est. 1880)
* Hungarian Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (est. 1907)
* The Royal National Institute for Deaf people (RNID) (est. 1911, UK)
* Italian National Agency for the Deaf (est. 1932)
* Ukrainian Society of the Deaf (est. 1933)
* Canadian Association of the Deaf (est. 1940)
* Edmonton Association of the Deaf (est. 1951)
* International Federation of Hard of Hearing Young People (est. 1968)
* International Federation of Hard of Hearing People (est. 1977)
* National Black Deaf Advocates (est. 1982)
* European Union of the Deaf (est. 1985)
* Pakistan Association of the Deaf (est. 1987)
* Action Deaf Youth (est. 1988)
* Comitato Giovani Sordi Italiani (est. 1994)
* National Deaf Federation Nepal (est. 1996)
* National Association of the Deaf (India) (est. 2005)
* The Qatari Center of Social Cultural for the Deaf (est. 2005)
* Section des sourds et malentendants socialistes (est. 2010)

Deaf
institutions|

* List of schools for the deaf

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*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template