ASL translation into written English: Hello Massachusetts Community Members, I’m a white woman with black long sleeved shirt, brown earrings, brown hair. I am in front of a light grey background. Hi, I’m Stephanie Clark (SC), President of Massachusetts State Association of the Deaf (MSAD). MSAD would like to let the community know about NAD’s Leadership Training Conference (NLTC) that is happening on September 21 – 23, 2023 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Goal for this NTLC training is to improve leadership skills among Deaf, DeafDisabled, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing community members about jobs, organization operations, legislative work, leadership, and many more. The goal of this conference to have current and new leaders promote a more equal and accessible world. Participants will gain knowledge, expertise, and network with many people and organizations. For more information about this conference – see this website: National Association of the Deaf – NAD MSAD is sending two representatives from the board (Kellynette and Elisa) MSAD registered a third slot for Education Advocate in Massachusetts. The NTLC has many tracks on “Education Advocacy Training”. MSAD would like to send a third person to this conference to focus on developing skills to become MSAD and Massachusetts’ Education Advocate i.e. “EA”. We need someone to advocate for our Deaf, DeafDisabled, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing children. NAD established the Education Advocate program in 2012 to address current concerns regarding quality education and appropriate language acquisition for deaf and hard of hearing children. See this website for more information about the EA role: National Association of the Deaf – NAD Examples of goals for the EA role: • Become familiar with legislative advocacy work and tips and send out updates/alerts • Increase knowledge of education and early intervention systems • Provide resource, advocacy for state associations and other organizational affiliates of NAD and to parents of Deaf, DeafDisabled, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing children. • Train local and Massachusetts communities how they can improve deaf education and how to do it • Meet with legislators regularly about deaf education and work with NAD and other education advocates on long-term planning efforts Who should become an Education Advocate? • Background or degree in Education • Agrees to represent MSAD for two years • Agrees to attend trainings including in-person training at NTLC this September • Shows an ability to acquire legislative and policy skills • Shows diplomacy and interpersonal skills MSAD will cover the registration cost for the NTLC Education Advocate training. Travel and hotel accommodations will be discussed and negotiated based on available funds i.e. donations, sponsorships. If you’re interested, please reach out to me at President@massdeaf.org by Saturday, July 15th for MSAD board members to review interested candidates. We hope to make a decision to send someone to NTLC by the third week of July for planning purposes. We need an Education Advocate to protect and advocate for our kids who are our future leaders and community members. If you are interested, please do consider this or if you know someone who would be a great EA, please so share this with others. Thank you!