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Purple Communications(TM) Launches Dream Bigger Initiative Celebrating the Stories, Culture, and Heritage of America's Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Community
Purple Communications(TM), Inc. (Nasdaq: PRPL), one of the nation's leading providers of text and video relay and on-site interpreting services, today announced 'Dream Bigger,' an initiative that highlights, acknowledges, and celebrates Deaf culture and achievement in America. The Company will honor 10 trailblazers in the Deaf Community from across the country that have had tremendous impact in the areas of sports, civil rights, politics, business, language, community, medicine, art, and education.
The Dream Bigger campaign recognizes trailblazers in the Deaf Community and aims to celebrate the advances they have made. Whether it has been the breaking down of barriers or establishing new status quos, these Trailblazers have improved the overall quality-of-life for all members of the Deaf Community. The campaign will commence with an event on June 13 in Los Angeles, California. Lauren Teruel Ridloff, educator and former Miss Deaf America, will emcee 10 events that will celebrate and honor each of Purple Communication's 2009 Trailblazers in their own communities. Teruel Ridloff will also host the Dream Bigger Gala in Washington, D.C.
"Purple's own history has been one of realizing and exceeding dreams through its creation of cutting-edge technology services that make communication easier, enjoyable and more convenient for individuals in the Deaf Community," said Brandon Arthur, Vice President of marketing communications for Purple Communications. "The Dream Bigger program recognizes community visionaries who had the tenacity to fulfill personal dreams and lead the way for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing people everywhere to pursue theirs. Each of these leaders is a trailblazer in their own right and we're honored to serve as a conduit for their stories of perseverance and success."
Meet the Trailblazers
As part of their selection, each Trailblazer was awarded a $1,000 cash prize from Purple Communications to be a paid as a donation to a non-profit organization of their choice and in their name as a way of paving the road for the next generation of trailblazers in the Deaf Community.
Purple Communications will announce the 2009 Trailblazer of the Year who was voted for by the Deaf Community and who best represents the essence of the Dream Bigger initiative at the Dream Bigger Gala in October 2009 in Washington, D.C. The recipient of the Trailblazer of the Year award will receive $10,000 to be donated in their name, to their non-profit organization of choice, as well as an all-expenses-paid vacation.
The Purple 2009 Trailblazers and Trailblazer of the Year nominees include:
Howard A. Rosenblum, a Deaf civil rights attorney with Equip for Equality in Chicago, IL, strives for equal access for Deaf people and people with disabilities in everyday life, primarily in Illinois but also across the US. He founded the Midwest Center on Law and the Deaf, a non-profit that seeks to make the legal and judicial systems accessible to thousands of Deaf people across the Midwest.
Dr. Carolyn Stern, a family physician and lecturer in Rochester, NY, has spent her life treating and educating deaf patients on health issues, training interpreters for interpreting in medical settings, educating other doctors, hospitals, and allied healthcare professionals on accessibility, and ensuring that national continuing medical education programs are accessible for deaf people.
Tayler Mayer, a technology luminary and entrepreneur in Southern California, founded the seminal deaf blog/vlog aggregator DeafRead.com and the online video community DeafVIDEO.TV. Mayer has spent much of his professional career seeking new ways to apply technology to connect the deaf community online while achieving entrepreneurial success.
Ashley Fiolek, a national champion motocross rider from St. Augustine, FL, is the only woman, and the only deaf person, ever to ride on a factory racing team. Seeking to be the fastest woman motocross rider in the world, Ashley is destroying stereotypes for the deaf community and women motocross riders everywhere she races.
Jeremias Valencia, founder of the Deaf Sports Academy in Riverside, CA, and a former pro-basketball player, pushes players to 'never give up on their dreams.' Valencia's Deaf Sports Academy provides accessible coaching and encouragement -- opening the world of sports and competition -- to more than 20 teams of kids, from preschool through grade 8.
Kevin Nolan, the nation's first born-Deaf person to be elected to public office, launched a political campaign near Boston, MA, that would unseat a seasoned political insider who had held the office for more than 20 years. Nolan's tenacity cleared the path to elected office for Deaf people everywhere.
Dr. MJ Bienvenu, educator, activist, and ASL advocate from Washington, DC, has spent a lifetime seeking bilingual education for deaf students. A nationally recognized 'ASL advocate,' she's tirelessly pursued government-recognized legitimacy of ASL, while teaching students the language's beauty and its central role in Deaf Culture.
Anita Buel, a community organizer from St. Paul, MN, survived a first, then a second bout with cancer, fighting along the way to make healthcare -- and cancer education -- more accessible to Deaf people. She co-founded 'Pink Deafies,' a support group focused on providing comfort, hope, and education to those faced with the disease.
Ella Mae Lentz, an ASL poet, author, and advocate from Northern California, graduated from Gallaudet University and went on to co-author a best selling book and video on ASL, and video collections of original ASL poetry. She is one of the nation's leading advocates for the concept of Deafhood, prompting the Deaf community to look within itself and celebrate individual and collective Deafhood journeys.
Tate Tullier, a leading deaf photographer from Baton Rouge, LA, founded a successful business fueled by a passion for beautiful photography. A Gallaudet University graduate, Tullier has worked in New York's hypercompetitive photography scene, and travels the globe capturing subjects that reflect his deep desire to 'create art' in his own style.
To learn more about the Dream Bigger campaign, find out dates and locations for all events, view and read Trailblazer stories, and vote for the 2009 Trailblazer of the Year, visit Purple Communications -- Dream Bigger. Also, be sure to follow the Dream Bigger campaign on Twitter -- @idreambigger.
Purple Communications(TM), Inc. (Nasdaq: PRPL), one of the nation's leading providers of text and video relay and on-site interpreting services, today announced 'Dream Bigger,' an initiative that highlights, acknowledges, and celebrates Deaf culture and achievement in America. The Company will honor 10 trailblazers in the Deaf Community from across the country that have had tremendous impact in the areas of sports, civil rights, politics, business, language, community, medicine, art, and education.
The Dream Bigger campaign recognizes trailblazers in the Deaf Community and aims to celebrate the advances they have made. Whether it has been the breaking down of barriers or establishing new status quos, these Trailblazers have improved the overall quality-of-life for all members of the Deaf Community. The campaign will commence with an event on June 13 in Los Angeles, California. Lauren Teruel Ridloff, educator and former Miss Deaf America, will emcee 10 events that will celebrate and honor each of Purple Communication's 2009 Trailblazers in their own communities. Teruel Ridloff will also host the Dream Bigger Gala in Washington, D.C.
"Purple's own history has been one of realizing and exceeding dreams through its creation of cutting-edge technology services that make communication easier, enjoyable and more convenient for individuals in the Deaf Community," said Brandon Arthur, Vice President of marketing communications for Purple Communications. "The Dream Bigger program recognizes community visionaries who had the tenacity to fulfill personal dreams and lead the way for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing people everywhere to pursue theirs. Each of these leaders is a trailblazer in their own right and we're honored to serve as a conduit for their stories of perseverance and success."
Meet the Trailblazers
As part of their selection, each Trailblazer was awarded a $1,000 cash prize from Purple Communications to be a paid as a donation to a non-profit organization of their choice and in their name as a way of paving the road for the next generation of trailblazers in the Deaf Community.
Purple Communications will announce the 2009 Trailblazer of the Year who was voted for by the Deaf Community and who best represents the essence of the Dream Bigger initiative at the Dream Bigger Gala in October 2009 in Washington, D.C. The recipient of the Trailblazer of the Year award will receive $10,000 to be donated in their name, to their non-profit organization of choice, as well as an all-expenses-paid vacation.
The Purple 2009 Trailblazers and Trailblazer of the Year nominees include:
Howard A. Rosenblum, a Deaf civil rights attorney with Equip for Equality in Chicago, IL, strives for equal access for Deaf people and people with disabilities in everyday life, primarily in Illinois but also across the US. He founded the Midwest Center on Law and the Deaf, a non-profit that seeks to make the legal and judicial systems accessible to thousands of Deaf people across the Midwest.
Dr. Carolyn Stern, a family physician and lecturer in Rochester, NY, has spent her life treating and educating deaf patients on health issues, training interpreters for interpreting in medical settings, educating other doctors, hospitals, and allied healthcare professionals on accessibility, and ensuring that national continuing medical education programs are accessible for deaf people.
Tayler Mayer, a technology luminary and entrepreneur in Southern California, founded the seminal deaf blog/vlog aggregator DeafRead.com and the online video community DeafVIDEO.TV. Mayer has spent much of his professional career seeking new ways to apply technology to connect the deaf community online while achieving entrepreneurial success.
Ashley Fiolek, a national champion motocross rider from St. Augustine, FL, is the only woman, and the only deaf person, ever to ride on a factory racing team. Seeking to be the fastest woman motocross rider in the world, Ashley is destroying stereotypes for the deaf community and women motocross riders everywhere she races.
Jeremias Valencia, founder of the Deaf Sports Academy in Riverside, CA, and a former pro-basketball player, pushes players to 'never give up on their dreams.' Valencia's Deaf Sports Academy provides accessible coaching and encouragement -- opening the world of sports and competition -- to more than 20 teams of kids, from preschool through grade 8.
Kevin Nolan, the nation's first born-Deaf person to be elected to public office, launched a political campaign near Boston, MA, that would unseat a seasoned political insider who had held the office for more than 20 years. Nolan's tenacity cleared the path to elected office for Deaf people everywhere.
Dr. MJ Bienvenu, educator, activist, and ASL advocate from Washington, DC, has spent a lifetime seeking bilingual education for deaf students. A nationally recognized 'ASL advocate,' she's tirelessly pursued government-recognized legitimacy of ASL, while teaching students the language's beauty and its central role in Deaf Culture.
Anita Buel, a community organizer from St. Paul, MN, survived a first, then a second bout with cancer, fighting along the way to make healthcare -- and cancer education -- more accessible to Deaf people. She co-founded 'Pink Deafies,' a support group focused on providing comfort, hope, and education to those faced with the disease.
Ella Mae Lentz, an ASL poet, author, and advocate from Northern California, graduated from Gallaudet University and went on to co-author a best selling book and video on ASL, and video collections of original ASL poetry. She is one of the nation's leading advocates for the concept of Deafhood, prompting the Deaf community to look within itself and celebrate individual and collective Deafhood journeys.
Tate Tullier, a leading deaf photographer from Baton Rouge, LA, founded a successful business fueled by a passion for beautiful photography. A Gallaudet University graduate, Tullier has worked in New York's hypercompetitive photography scene, and travels the globe capturing subjects that reflect his deep desire to 'create art' in his own style.
To learn more about the Dream Bigger campaign, find out dates and locations for all events, view and read Trailblazer stories, and vote for the 2009 Trailblazer of the Year, visit Purple Communications -- Dream Bigger. Also, be sure to follow the Dream Bigger campaign on Twitter -- @idreambigger.