Member Spotlight: Nona Graves
Posted In Categories: Volunteers
As we celebrate our 100-year history, we also celebrate the legacy of those who have helped to shape the organization so that we continue to meet our mission. One of those people has been around for 86 years and a member of Vision Forward for 51 of those years: Nona Graves.
Nona, who has been blind since birth, grew up in Antigo, Wisconsin and remembers traveling by train to attend picnics and other social activities organized for persons who are blind or visually impaired. As an adult, Nona made the Milwaukee area her permanent home and worked for the Social Security office until her retirement. Her driving goal was to help others who were experiencing the challenges of vision loss. Nona has a strong conviction of personal engagement and could see how critical this was for individuals with vision loss.
Nona encourages others with vision impairments to focus on self-advocacy and engagement, and is the perfect role model for both. Her involvement, first with the Badger Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired and later Vision Forward, has provided her with many opportunities to stay active in this community. As a member of the Board of Directors for a total of ten years, she volunteered her time and talents to help Vision Forward grow and develop.
Thank you, Nona, for more than half a century of service and inspiration!