About Us
Eyes Like Mine Inc. is a non profit 501-C3 organization established in March of 2014 in Newark, New Jersey. It was founded by Krystle Allen, a Newark native, to empower, enlighten, and innovate communities in New Jersey about vision loss and the available resources for people with vision loss. At it’s inception, Elm Inc. was founded with the help of Naquela Wright and Ihsaan R. Muhammad Esq., along with the founder Krystle Allen to introduce a unique pattern of advocacy for individuals who are vision impaired or blind.
Our Mission
To share awareness about the abilities and potentials of individuals with vision loss through advocacy and community outreach, comprehensive empowerment workshops, and awareness events.
Our Vision
To inspire advocacy by breaking down the societal barriers placed against individuals who are previously or currently experiencing vision loss. Our ultimate goal is to create a more accessible society for individuals who are vision impaired and blind so that they can live, learn, and work in equal opportunities.
Dancing With The Blind Info Session
The Accent of Kente: A Danicing with the BLind info session. Join our competition and learn about how to be our 2023 champion! The person with the best kente wardrobe will win a door prize. Be creative with a kente headwrap, bowtie, show, skirt or whatever you can think of! Meet our choreographers and join our photoshoot.
Date: Saturday, February 25th
Time: 5:30 – 8:00 PM
Location: 98 Franklin Street, Belleville, NJ 07109
Please nominate someone who is vision impaired or blind and who you believe would be good fit for our Dancing With The Blind event. Link to the Eyes Like Mine Inc. 2023 Dancing With The Blind nomination form below. We are also seeking the best voiceover and audio description narrators for the main competition that will be held on 4/28/23. Please submit a one minute or less audio clip of yourself announcing the return of Dancing with the Blind with your creative spin. Submit to events@eyeslikemine.org. All ages are welcome. Your audio submission will be entered into a raffle for drawing. Please submit all entries before 5 PM ET on Friday, 2/24/23.
For further questions, email us at events@eyeslikemine.org or call us at 973-327-3035.
Dancing With The Blind Event
Eyes Like Mine is bringing you Dancing With The Blind. We are looking for dancers both, sighted and blind. Dancing With The Blind will be held on April 28th, 2023 at 4 PM – 8 PM ET. The venue for the event is Grounds For Sculpture, 80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton Township, NJ 08619.
Directions are as follows:
Location and Address: Grounds for Sculpture, 80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton, NJ 08619
Map
Public Transit
The NEC train from Newark Penn Station stops at Hamilton Train Station. From there, folks can either Uber/Lyft to Grounds For Sculpture or take the 608 NJ Transit bus to the Sculptors Way/Fairgrounds Road stop which is by our main entrance. For more information call 973-275-5555 or visit https://www.njtransit.com/
Access Link
Sculptors Way spans an entire block – both Nottingham Way and E State Street are crossroads. We are familiar with Access Link (both employees and visitors have used this service) and the drivers will typically drop off and pick up at the entrance of the Welcome Center. For more information call 973-491-4224 or visit https://accesslink.njtransit.com/hiwire#/auth/signinregister
Arrangements for Stay
Guests can check arrangements for stay by clicking below.
Sponsors
The event is sponsored by WHAT THE FOX PODCAST, AMB DANCE THEATRE, DDIVINO Tasting Room – Eatery – Lounge, Lisa Durden Unlimited Productions, AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN IN CINEMA, blindCAN FILM FESTIVAL and GREATER VISION FONDATION.
Dancing with the Blind Gallery
Omnium: A Bold New Circus is coming to town!
One day only March 5th 2pm.
Shea Performing Arts center
William Paterson University
300 Pompton Rd
Wayne, NJ
Box Office: (973) 720-2371
Fully audio described, this incredible show has something for everyone! Thrills chills and excitement along with incredible feats of skill and daring! Featuring Mr and Mrs G- Crossbow stunts, Evgeny Vasilenko balancing on a thin wire on his head, hilarious clowns, feats of strength by 7 time NCAA Champion Rik Daniels and the legendary King Charles Unicycle Basketball Troupe. Come early! Touch Table opens at 1 pm, Audio description begins 10 minutes prior to showtime. There is food and merchandise for purchase.
Here is a link for tickets: https://tickets.wpunj.edu/TheatreManager/1/tmEvent/tmEvent1523.html
Or call the box office at: (973) 720-2371
See you at the circus!
Community Day: Her Story/Our Story
Join us to Celeberate the newly uneviled Harriet Tubman monument and the reopening of our Swing America, 18th and 19th century galleries.
The event is free and reservation is required. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.
Date: Saturday, March 11th
Time: 11:30 – 5:00 PM
Location and Address:
Harriet Tubman Square, 501-551 Broad St, Newark, NJ 07102
The Newark Museum of Art, 49 Washington St, Newark, NJ 07102
Jacksonwille Women’s Expo
Find Eyes Like Mine at Jacksonville Women’s Expo as the featured exhibitor. The event includes Fashion Shows, Beauty Treatments, 100’s of Pop-up Shops, Haircuts, DIY Workshops and Tastings. Discover new styles, new inspirations, the best in beauty and new connections. Meet Loni Love, Captain Sandy and Abby Lee Miller.
Date: Sat-Sun, March 11th-12th, 2023
Time: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Location and Address: Prime Osborn Convention Center, 1000 Water St, Jacksonville, FL 32204
Women’s History Month
A woman is the full circle – within her is the power to create, nurture & transform. Women’s Initiative for Self-Empowerment (the WISE group) presents Inspiration & Motivation Sunday in recognition of Women’s History Month.
We invite you to come and share how YOU are making history. Promote your business, brand or cause to help inspire. Admission fee is $10@door where you get speakers, vendors, music, free refreshments, food vendors and more.
Date: Sunday, March 19th, 2023
Time: 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Location and Address: IYO Banquet Hall, 703 S 12th St, Newark, NJ 07103
Community Wellness Fest: A Relaxing Experience
We invite you to attend a Community Wellness Fest: A Relaxing Experience. Bring your stress & open mind, Yoga mat, pillow, wash cloth, brach towel, or belt (optional). The event includes 5 minute massage & self care techniques, Beginner/gentle chair yoga expereince.
The event is instructed by:
Pamila Slater (Yoga Instructor
Shanda Gadsden (License Massage Therapist)
Dr. Aquil (Chiropractor)
Date: Saturday, March 25th, 2023
Time: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Location and Address: University High School, 55 Clinton Pl, Newark, NJ 07108
For additional information contact:
Sharee Gordon
(s3gordon@nps.k12.nj.us or 973-351-2326)
Shanda Gadsden
(shanda@heavenlyhandsmobile.com or 908-349-0504)
Pamela Slater
(pslater@comcast.net or 862-823-6029).
9th Anniversary
Join Eyes Like Mine Inc. as we celebrate 9 years of sharing awareness about vision loss and vision loss resources. This event is open to all. Pre-registration is required. No cost to attend. Vendors will be present, eye screenings, light refreshments, and raffles!
We will announce our member of the year, supportive honorees, and the announcement of a new movement to empower community.
You will have the opportunity to meet and greet our 2022 titleholder Ms. Goddest Johnson Ms. Blind Diva 2022, sign up for the return of “Dancing with the Blind,” and more!
Date: Friday, March 31st, 2023
Location and Address: The Newark Museum 49 Washington St, Newark, NJ 07102
For more information, contact email us at events@eyeslikemine.org or call us at 973-327-3035.
New York VisionWalk
17th Annual New York VisionWalk powered by Foundation Fighting Blindness VisionWalk. Join your VisionWalk community! Together, we step closer to fighting blindness. VisionWalk is a signature fundraising event of the Foundation Fighting Blindness, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
Date: Saturday, April 8th, 2023
Time: Registration at 9:00 AM, Walk Begins at 10:00 AM
Location and Address: Central Park Bandshell, Terrace Dr. Near, W 72nd St, New York, NY 10019
For more information, contact Katie Van Benschoten at kvanbenschoten@FightingBlindness.org or call (212) 961-6881
Ms. Independent
Crushing in the Kitchen
Eyes Like Mine presents Ms. Independent Crushing in the Kitchen, with Taliah Woodard. We invite you to join us every first Wednesday of every month. Click the below button to check out her fan page.
For more info, email us at events@eyeslikemine.org or ms.independent2022@eyeslikemine.org.
Support Group
Women
Eyes Like Mine presents an All-Women Support Group. We invite you to join us every second Thursday of the month. Meetings take place from 7 PM – 9 PM EST on Zoom, click the below button to join.
Men
Eyes Like Mine presents an All-Male Support Group. We invite you to join us every second Wednesday of the month. Meetings take place from 7 PM – 9 PM EST on Zoom, click the below button to join.
Congratulations to Ms. Blind Diva 2022, Goddest Johnson!
Goddest Johnson, Miss Blind Diva 2022 and Talia Wooder, Miss Independent 2022
Meet The Team
Krystle Allen
Founder & President
Newark New Jersey native Krystle Allen serves as the founder and president of Eyes Like Mine Inc. Krystle is a millennial entrepreneur and non-profiteer who is no stranger to work that involves community development, social change, and grassroots efforts. When she is not attending to Eyes Like Mine matters, she is employed with the New Jersey Commission For the Blind and Visually Impaired under the Department of Human Services in the role of the community outreach specialist. Krystle has served on the access committee of the Jersey City non-profit organization Art House Productions Inc for the past four years. Krystle’s introduction to the non-profit sector began when working with the Montclair YMCA for eight years in the extended care program.
Krystle is a graduate of Newark’s University High School and continued her education by majoring in social science at Essex County College Newark, NJ campus. Currently, she is actively pursuing her enrollment in the Leadership Newark class of 2020 to strengthen her leadership abilities further. Lastly, Krystle has completed a community training program through the Greater Newark L.I.S.C. Despite her vision loss, Krystle has a vision gained to impact one community at a time through her combined advocacy activities.
Naquela Wright
Co-Founder & Vice President
Naquela Wright-Prevoe was born on December 25, 1991. She lost her vision in the summer of 2010. Shortly after losing her vision, she took classes at The Joseph Kohn Training Center in New Brunswick, New Jersey from November 2010 to March 2011. Around the time that she took these classes, Naquela resolved that she had to keep moving forward despite her vision loss. Shortly thereafter, Naquela met Krystle Allen and developed a friendship. That friendship, between two women who decided that vision loss would not break them, was a huge part of the motivation to start a non profit geared towards people losing their vision. They decided that they wanted to help uplift and motivate people to be their best selves. Thus, Eyes Like Mine was born! Naquela Wright-Prevoe Is now happily married with 2 kids. She is the Vice President of Eyes Like Mine and is engrossed in her music career. She has a mixtape out and she works as a telecommunicator at the VA hospital in East Orange, New Jersey. She is so grateful and happy for the things that she has accomplished. She lives by the motto of “Know your limits but do not limit yourself”.
Brandon Scott
Board Member
Brandon Scott is a resident of Eatontown New Jersey. As early as he can remember, he has always had a passion for social justice, community empowerment, and self advocacy. As a result, it was no surprise when he pursued social work in college, graduating from Georgian Court University with a bachelors in social work. Professionally, he has served at the Red Bank lunch break soup kitchen, the Jewish renaissance Medical Center, and the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Brandon has been volunteering with eyes like mine since 2014.
Otis H. Kerr, LMT
Board Member
At a young age, Otis H, Kerr started using massage as a means of helping his family and friends with their health and well-being. Otis received his formal training at the Academy of Massage Therapy in Hackensack, NJ. He graduated with his certification in Clinical Massage Therapy with Spa Concentration in October 2010. Otis has been distinguished as the academy’s first blind graduate.
Otis is employed by Elements Therapeutic Massage in New Providence, NJ as a lead massage therapist. He also runs his own massage therapy business under Kerr’s Massage & Bodywork in Warren, NJ.
In his spare time, Otis is a remarkable DJ. He has been spinning records since the age of 19. He is self-taught on various DJ platforms including turntables and Serato DJ. He loves all genres of music but truly enjoys playing Reggae, Dancehall, Lovers Rock and Culture.
He believes in giving back to the community by providing services both as a massage therapist and DJ, at outreach events for churches, medical facilities and charitable organizations. Otis is married to his best friend, Phyllis, and they are the proud parents of a 3-year-old princess, Alicia Lyn.
Steven McCoy
Board Member
Steven McCoy is the First Black DeafBlind Journalist. The Disney Alumni is the founder of media company Spoken Entertainment. The media company provides a platform for McCoy to produce his popular podcast “Sessions with Steven”. The platform where he’s able to interview popular guests to heighten love, humanity and awareness. “Sessions with Steven” audience now gets the live experience as McCoy tours around the world as a Motivational Speaker to spread awareness about Usher Syndrome.
Volunteer Internship Opportunity
Interested in our organization activities and want to be a part of Eyes Like Mine Inc?
Please fill out the volunteer internship application now and be a part of our Eyes Like Mine Inc mission.
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Support Eyes Like Mine
If you believe in our mission and would like to support the work we do, you can do so by making a donation today. No amount is too small!
