Spring 2001

Employee of the year - Roosevelt Stevenson

Roosevelt Stevenson in his domain: the Boeing Shop floor

Roosevelt Stevenson, Seattle Lighthouse Employee of the Year, also received honors as the National Industries for the Blind Peter J. Salmon Manufacturing Employee of the Year. In winning this coveted award, Roosevelt competed against nominees from over 80 other agencies employing blind individuals. He received his award during a ceremony in Washington, D.C.

"The best part of my trip was talking with the kids at the Boys and Girls Club in Alexandria, Virginia," Roosevelt recalls. Losing his vision due to gun violence, Roosevelt believes he has important things to teach young people. "I emphasize the fact that they have choices," Roosevelt explains. "Even if they are living lives that don't seem to offer them choices, the choices are there. If you focus on the negative you will get negative. If you focus on the positive you will get positive." Subsequent to his speaking engagement in Alexandria, he has spoken to dozens of Boys and Girls Clubs in Washington State and his home state of Mississippi.

Roosevelt, who is currently taking correspondence courses through the Hadley School for the Blind, also stresses the importance of education. "I tell the kids that I am learning every day," he adds, "And it's fun! I regret that I didn't focus on education in my younger days, and I don't want the kids I talk with to make the same mistakes I did."

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