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ALEXANDRIA, Va.—Today, Vision Expo announced plans to host a Virtual EYE2EYE Series session in collaboration with the National Optometric Association (NOA) in honor of Black History Month. Set to take place on Wednesday, February 17 from 7:00-8:00 p.m. EST, the panel—Black-Owned Eyewear Vendors: How to Find and Partner with Them—will feature five Black eyewear entrepreneurs in conversation with Tarrence Lackran, director of Partnerships and Programming at The Vision Council. The panel will explore the importance of supporting Black-owned vendors to create a more equitable agenda within the vision community. To register, click here.

"Today, 50 years after the founding of the NOA, our mission and mandate remain as relevant as ever. We owe it to ourselves and to the next generation to continue the fight for representation and inclusion in our profession,” said Sherrol A. Reynolds, OD, FAOO, NOA president. “In that spirit, we are proud to partner with Vision Expo on this important conversation celebrating Black-owned eyecare vendors.”

“We are excited to collaborate with the National Optometric Association on this important panel,” said Tarrence Lackran, director of Partnerships and Programming at The Vision Council, co-owner of Vision Expo. “The panel builds upon the ‘Open Your Eyes’ themed Virtual EYE2EYE Series conversations that began in the summer of 2020, which focused on the intersection of diversity, inclusion, equity and allyship in our industry. As February marks the celebration of Black History Month, we thought it would be a timely moment to bring this impressive group of eyewear entrepreneurs together to discuss their artistry and their experiences as an underrepresented group in the vision community.”

Panelists include:

• Nwamaka Ngoddy, optometrist and CEO at Anwuli Eyewear
• Jamal Robinson, partner at Clear Eye View (CEV) Eyewear
• Jarrett Raghnal, co-founder at Ember Niche Eyewear
• Tiffany Mcintosh, CEO at Eye Candy Creations LLC
• Alicia Hartman, optometrist and founder at Peoples From Barbados

The EYE2EYE Series is part of a comprehensive series of virtual offerings that Vision Expo is offering to bring the optical community together in between in-person events. For more information on Vision Expo’s virtual offerings, visit Vision Expo’s Vision Connects webpage.

Additionally, the NOA will host several virtual events, including a diversity, equity and an inclusion-themed town hall, in February. Upcoming events include:

iCARE For EyeCARE
Saturday, February 20 from 3:00-4:00 p.m. EST
Join for an update on the inaugural “iCare for Eyecare” competition that was focused on increasing awareness about glaucoma. Because glaucoma has no symptoms it is known as the “silent thief of vision,” thus early detection and education are crucial in preventing vision loss.
To register, click here.

NOA/NOSA Town Hall Part II - Moving Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Forward
Sunday, February 21 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. EST
Part I discussed the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) problems NOSA students experienced in their optometric training and clinical practice and Part II will seek solutions with three panelists: Sherrol A. Reynolds, OD, FAAO (NOA president), Ruth Y. Shoge, OD, MPH, FAAO (ASCO Diversity Committee chair) and Vondolee Delgado-Nixon, PhD, FAAO-chief diversity office-The Ohio State University College of Optometry. To register, click here.

Glaucoma Webinar sponsored by Allergan
Wednesday, February 24 at 7:00 p.m. ET
"Designed to Perform When the Pressure is On," Live Webcast presented by Ian Gaddie, OD." To register, click here.