No Barriers Youth, Wells Fargo Select 20 Teachers for Global Impact Challenge

FORT COLLINS, Colo., June 1, 2017 /3BL Media/– No Barriers Youth and Wells Fargo announced the selection of 20 middle and high school educators to serve as ambassadors for the Global Impact Challenge, a diversity and inclusion competition designed to spark the best ideas from students for building a world free of barriers, stereotypes and discrimination.

“At No Barriers, we gather people from all walks of life and inspire them to discover their full potential,” says Erik Weihenmayer, No Barriers co-founder, former middle school teacher and a world renowned adventurer who is blind. “At this year’s No Barriers Summit, we will equip teachers with the necessary tools to help students dream big and break down barriers through the Global Impact Challenge.”

The 20 selected teachers will:

• Attend the 2017 No Barriers Summit in North Lake Tahoe, CA June 1-4, 2017 to experience the No Barriers Life and learn about the challenge.

• Create a diverse team of a minimum of six youth from their schools to develop and fine tune their ideas over the course of six workshops. The teams will consist of students with disabilities and those without.

• “Pitch” their solutions to a volunteer selection committee of business experts and start-up specialists during National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October.

During the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3, finalists will be awarded prize money of up to $5,000 to launch their proposed projects in their communities and will get a chance to attend the 2018 No Barriers Summit in New York City.

“The Summit will serve as a platform for idea generation and exploration to help teachers and students together become agents for change,” says Kathy Martinez, head of disability and accessibility strategy at Wells Fargo. “Wells Fargo is excited to work with educators who want to challenge their students and generate creative solutions that help break down barriers.”

Teachers selected for the Global Impact Challenge include:

• Charles Armstrong-Hicks, Boys and Girls Club of Boston, Boston, MA

• Raymond Baker, Hinsdale South, Hinsdale, IL

• Matthew Baker, The Ogden International School of Chicago, Chicago, IL

• Christopher Bargas, ASSETS Academy, Alvin, TX

• Carolina Castro-Skehan, Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy, Bronx, NY

• Michael Eckerman, Century High School, Rochester, MN

• Jami Fooshee, Deerpark Middle School, Austin, TX

• Nadia Goodvin, Grady High School, Atlanta, GA

• Briana Gustafson, Deforest Area High School, DeForest, WI

• Mary Jane Hollander, Peachtree Middle School, Dunwoody, GA

• Jen Karcich, William J. Johnston Middle School, Colchester, CT

• Caroline Liebman, Lindblom Math and Science Academy, Chicago, IL

• Jeremy Major, Sandtown Middle School, Atlanta, GA

• Megan Mimms, Greensboro Day School, Greensboro, NC

• Brian Surina, Phoenix Military Academy, Chicago, IL

• Sean Reimers, Amandla Charter School, Chicago, IL

• Maria Rodriguez, Bishop Lynch High School , Dallas, TX

• Daniel Rosenberg, Ridgewood High School , Norridge, IL

• Keyla Thompson, The Oakwood School, Greenville, NC

• Sylvia Troxell, Hill Country Middle School, Austin, TX

The Summit includes a star-studded celebrity and musical lineup to inspire educators. Marlee Matlin will speak about her achievements as an Oscar-winning actress who is deaf and sign language advocate. Platinum recording artists X Ambassadors, whose keyboardist Casey Harris is blind, will deliver an intimate on-stage interview and acoustic performance.

More information about the Summit is available at: http://www.nobarrierssummit.org.

About Erik Weihenmayer

Erik Weihenmayer is a No Barriers co-founder, former middle school teacher and a world renowned adventurer who is blind. His new book, “No Barriers: A Blind Man's Journey to Kayak the Grand Canyon,” recently hit shelves. He has been featured on the cover of TIME magazine, on HBO Real Sports, and, most recently was named as one of the top 25 most adventurous men of the past 25 years by Men’s Journal.

About No Barriers USA

What barriers do you face? This question lies at the heart of our organization. Whether in our personal lives, at work, or in our communities, we all face challenges that can prevent us from reaching our full potential. At No Barriers, we believe that what’s within you is stronger than what’s in your way. No Barriers empowers people of all walks of life to overcome obstacles, live a life of purpose, and give back to the world, all through our ground-breaking curriculum, the No Barriers Life. Learn more about No Barriers at NoBarriersUSA.org.

About Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.9 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 8,600 locations, 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 42 countries and territories to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 269,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 27 on Fortune’s 2016 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. Wells Fargo’s corporate social responsibility efforts are focused on three priorities: economic empowerment in underserved communities, advancing diversity and social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. The Chronicle of Philanthropy, on its most recent list of the top corporate cash philanthropists, ranked Wells Fargo No. 3. In 2016, Wells Fargo donated $281.3 million to 14,900 nonprofits and Wells Fargo team members volunteered 1.73 million hours with 50,000 nonprofits. News, insights and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.

For more information and interviews, contact:

Lisa Westermann
Wells Fargo
(415) 222-6236
(415) 845-7759 (cell)
Lisa.B.Westermann@wellsfargo.com
@LWestermannWF

Jaime Donnelly
Marketing Director - No Barriers USA
(970) 484-3633 x 316
(970) 412-3653 (cell)
Jaime.Donnelly@nobarriersusa.org
@NoBarriersUSA