Person to Know: Erik Ivan Hernandez

September’s Person to Know is Erik Ivan Hernandez of the Rio Grande Valley Chapter. Erik was born in Brownsville, TX and spent his childhood in Matamoros, Mexico, before returning to Brownsville at age 14. He has one brother and one sister. Erik was born with Stickler Syndrome, which caused partial blindness. He credits his mother, who is completely blind, with introducing him to the federation. He has been a member of the NFB for over 10 years.

Gabe Cazares

“I love politics; that’s what I do. I had the privilege of working in Texas for Senator Wendy Davis’s gubernatorial bid, where I got a lot of field experience. I was the first blind person to actively work with the Texas Democratic Party doing field work. Had it not been for the training I received at the Louisiana Center for the Blind, I wouldn’t of had the skills or the confidence to be able to perform my job.

Su Park

As an incoming high school senior, Ms. Park became the youngest member on the team of a for-profit, British-based company developing a product for high-stakes testing environments. "Taking the job was very scary and surreal," she said. "I basically didn't expect anything to come of my comments, so I was very thankful that my manager thought me important enough to put me on his team. Now, students who are blind or have low vision and want to tackle advanced math can do so."

Tamer Zaid

The reason I have my job is because the NFB gave me a positive outlook on life. Blind people, I learned, could work in any job. The NFB also gave me independence. Every day, I know that the loving family of Federationists around the country is rooting for me. That’s a big motivator. Without the hope that the NFB gives to me, I could not go to work every day.

Fifteen years ago, leukemia put me in a coma for six weeks. The doctors said that I wouldn’t wake up.

NFBTX Person to Know: Gage Barber

Photo shows Gage Barber sitting in his mobile chair smiling holding a multi-colored blue umbrella.

NFBTX Person to Know: Brittanie Castille

Photo shows Brittanie standing proudly, smiling, with her white cane.

February’s person to know is Brittanie Castille, Arlington Chapter member and Newsline Co-Ambassador.  Brittanie has been a member of NFBTX since 2021, when she met Liz Wisecarver at Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center, where Liz was presenting NFB Newsline.  Brittanie feels at home with her chapter members.

NFBTX Person to Know: Angel Michelli

Photo shows Angel Michelli standing, holding her white cane with its pink handle.

April’s Person to Know is Miss Angel Denise Michelli of the Bay Area Chapter, who joined the NFB in December 2022.  She loves the experience of being a part of the NFB and attending the monthly meetings is awesome. “It makes me keep going back,” she stated. She attends with her friends, Heidi Tran and her daughter, Faith.  She also loves attending the Blind Fencing monthly instructional trainings with the group.

NFBTX Person to Know: Stacie Hernandez

Photo shows Stacie standing in her living room, holding her white cane, smiling.

May’s Person to Know is Stacie Hernandez, Secretary of the Coastal Bend Chapter in Corpus Christi, Texas. Stacie has been a member of the NFB since 2019. Her journey into the NFB began when another NFB member assisted Stacie with obtaining a money reader and other tools she needed to become more independent after her mother passed away.