“The Welcome”

a Documentary Film

“The Welcome” offers a fiercely intimate view of life after war: the fear, anger and isolation of post-traumatic stress that affects vets and family members alike.  As we join  them in a small room for an unusual five day healing retreat, we witness how the ruins of war can be transformed into the beauty of poetry. Here our perceptions are changed, our psyches strained, and our hearts broken.  And at the end, when this poetry is shared with a large civilian audience, we begin to understand that all of us are a vital piece of the Welcome as Veterans try to find the way back home.  Their examples of unflinching honesty, courage and love lift us up, inspiring all of us once again to feel our common humanity, always the first casualty of war.

Special Screening:

October 6-16.  Mill Valley Film Festival, Mill Valley, CA

October 13, 6:15pm – Rafael Theatre, 4th St., San Rafael, CA

October 16, 4:00pm – Throckmorton Theatre, Mill Valley, CA

“The Welcome” is now complete.

For more information visit thewelcomehomeproject.org

On The Death of a Young Suicide Bomber, a poem by Laura C.

For more information visit thewelcomehomeproject.org

Historic event on July 27 in San Antonio

The Home Depot Foundation and National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, in coordination with the Department of Veterans Affairs, are conducting a historic “Veteran Access to Housing Summit” in San Antonio on July 27. This intense full-day strategic work session is designed to explore and identify opportunities, and challenges, to increase permanent housing opportunities for low-income and formerly homeless veterans graduating from assistance programs.

As part of its Plan to End Veteran Homelessness by 2015, the VA has estimated there is a critical need for about 90,000 units of permanent housing for homeless and low-income veterans. This summit will bring together veteran service providers, corporate partners, charitable organizations and federal agency representatives to share innovative practices, ideas and solutions to problems that can be replicated and have an immediate impact on increasing high-risk veterans’ access to housing.

Topics that will be explored include:

1. Multifamily development and property renovations.
2. “Transition in place” initiatives to help organizations with under-utilized Grant and Per Diem beds convert part of their programs to longer-term housing.
3. Converting foreclosed and abandoned homes to home ownership opportunities for low-income and formerly homeless veteran families.
4. Public-private partnerships to increase veteran access to housing – including renovation of existing structures and new affordable housing construction.

Information offered and collected prior to and during the work sessions will be incorporated into a report that will help steer development of policies and replicable practices that have effectively increased permanent housing opportunities for high-risk veterans and their families. This is truly a historic undertaking, and a critical component of the VA’s Five-Year Plan to End Veteran Homelessness.

Due to the generous support of The Home Depot Foundation, there will be no registration fee for participants.

If you are interested in participating in the “Veteran Access to Housing Summit,” please send the following information to info@nchv.org as soon as possible. Space is limited and participants will be selected based on this information.

Name:
Organization:
Phone and Email address:
Area of Expertise:
Are you able to submit a 2-3 page overview of your program’s success in providing permanent housing for low-income, high-risk veteran families?

For information, call John Driscoll or Baylee Crone at NCHV, 202-546-1969.

• learn to recognize the signs of compassion fatigue

• grow your capacity for well being

• renew your mind, body, and spirit in a supportive setting

April 14th-17th, 2011

Mercy Center

Burlingame, California

This retreat is for service providers who are currently working full time in direct service to OIF/OEF veterans, service members, and their families.

Thanks to our generous funders, all transportation is provided for this retreat

To APPLY:

www.cominghomeproject.net

Attention Female Veterans living in California!
Are you actively seeking employment?
Did you serve on active duty after September 11, 2001?
Were you junior enlisted (E-4 or below) at the time of your discharge?

If you answered YES, you qualify for a free $200 gift card from Talbots.
Former First Lady Maria Shriver has partnered with Talbots Inc. to help provide female veterans with gift cards to help them purchase professional attire and help them transition into today’s workforce.
To receive your gift card, please contact Starlyn Lara the Woman Veterans Coordinator for Swords to Plowshares at 415-655-7252 or slara@stp-sf.org. If you are enrolled in school, you are not eligible to receive the Talbots Gift Card.

More information on WE Support program is available on First Lady Maria Schriver’s website.

Coming Home Project

WHEN: February 10, 2011 - February 13, 2011

LOCATION: Oceanside, CA

APPLICATION: Female Veteran and Service Member Retreat Application Form

DETAILS:

During this four-day retreat we will focus on healing, connecting, & finding our strengths.

• Connect with other women veterans by sharing stories, experiences, andcommunity
• Learn stress management techniques
• Exercise your creative side
• Enjoy a beautiful setting

Who is eligible? All women who have been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan since September 11th, 2001-without regard for race, religion, politics or sexual preference.

What does the retreat cost? Lodging and meals for the entire weekend is FREE. We strive to make our retreats as free as possible, but can no longer provide transportation for our participants. Upon acceptance, you are responsible for your own transportation. We offer a travel stipend on a per mile basis, up to $150.

Preference is given to those applicants within 300 miles of the retreat site in Oceanside, CA.

Want to apply? Click HERE

Everyone is welcome as they are and all are treated with respect.  There is no particular political or religious belief or affiliation that is represented or required. The intention of the Coming Home Project is to serve our military and contribute to their well-being and healing.

for more information visit http://www.cominghomeproject.net

Campaign Efforts for the Month of November

Veteran’s Day E-Cards:

Electronic greeting cards are available for anyone to send to veterans and Service members to thank them for their service and to encourage them to access tips, tools and resources for the invisible wounds of war on the campaign website. Share the e-cards with your membership, subscribers and stakeholders to say thank you to a veteran.

Bloggers Roundtable:

At 1 p.m. on Tuesday, November 9, 2010, Real Warriors profilees Maj. Ed Pulido (U.S. Army, ret.) and Army Capt. Josh Mantz will participate in a DoD Bloggers’ Roundtable with Mr. Ken MacGarrigle from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office for Returning Service Members (OEF/OIF). Pulido, Mantz and MacGarrigle will discuss the importance of seeking early intervention for the invisible wounds of war as well as the tools and resources available to veterans and their families. Partners can participate in the event by calling 1-800-882-3610 (passcode 8648754#).

Public Service Announcements:

Sharing stories and knowledge lets all warriors know that they are not alone in coping with an invisible wound. Campaign PSAs of Army veteran Maj. Ed Pulido and Medal of Honor Recipients, as well as other Service members featured on the campaign website openly break down the barriers to care for the invisible wounds of war. Visit www.realwarriors.net/multimedia to view the videos or download them to add to your website or use at Veterans Day events.

Featured Articles and Resources:

The website currently includes 60 articles targeted toward active duty Service members, members of the National Guard and Reserve, veterans, families and health professionals. We regularly update the website with new content and will be adding two articles entitled “Ways to Thank a Vet” and “Ways to Thank a Guard and Reserve Vet” over the next two weeks. Some of our most frequently viewed veteran articles include:

• Applying for a Discharge Upgrade
• Veterans Affairs Health Benefits Overview
• Compensation, Pension and Other VA Benefits
• Veterans Affairs in the Digital Age
• Five Resources for Returning to School

Message Boards:

Talking about the invisible wounds of war openly breaks down barriers to care and creates new opportunity for healing. This month, Maj. Ed Pulido is hosting a discussion on the campaign’s message boards about tips, tools and resources available to help warriors transitioning from the military to civilian life. Partners can engage with Maj. Pulido and other visitors by joining the conversation online.

Social Media:

Partners can disseminate social media messages such as the ones suggested below through Facebook and Twitter to encourage help-seeking behavior among Service members, veterans and their families.

Do you know a Veteran? Send a FREE Real Warriors Campaign e-card to celebrate and support their resilience. Available for each service and veterans: http://j.mp/RWecards Real Warriors Campaign offers tools and tips to help veterans identify treatment resources or new coping skills to manage stress: http://j.mp/aXIDhw The Real Warriors Campaign will host a real-time, online Q&A with veteran Maj. Ed Pulido this month! Follow updates at: www.facebook.com/realwarriors. WATCH his story of resilience here: http://j.mp/WATCHMajPulido. Make YOUR transition to civilian life as easy as possible. See a NEW set of articles from the Real Warriors Campaign about transition benefits, services and support for veterans and their  families offered by VA: http://j.mp/VAbenefits

#Veterans: Read how @realwarriors Maj. Ed Pulido made the transition to civilian life. Share your tips here http://j.mp/MajPulido Thank your #veteran for their service with a FREE @realwarriors e-card: http://j.mp/RWecards. Show your Service member you care. #Veteran in transition? Healthcare, Compensation, Pension and Other VA Benefits explained: http://j.mp/VAbenefits @realwarriors show real courage in fighting #PTSD. See video profiles from the Army, Navy, Marines & Air Force: http://j.mp/RWstories @realwarriors fighting real battles with #PTSD. See profiles from active Service members with invisible wounds: http://j.mp/RWstories

Publication, E-newsletter or Blog Announcement: ~ 300 Words

Partners can write an article, e-newsletter or blog to highlight the resources available through the campaign and DCoE Outreach Center. A sample announcement is suggested below.

As part of its efforts to facilitate the resilience, reintegration and recovery of Service members, veterans and military families experiencing the invisible wounds of war, the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury’s (DCoE’s) Real Warriors Campaign provides numerous resources for veterans and Service members. This November, the campaign is highlighting veteran resources and events to honor those who have served.

The Real Warriors Campaign website at www.realwarriors.net features articles, tools, and information to help Service members, veterans and family members coping with invisible wounds. The website also features campaign PSAs and profiles of Army veteran Maj. Ed Pulido and Medal of Honor Recipients, as well as other Service members who are letting other warriors know they are not alone in coping with the invisible wounds of war. By sharing their personal stories, these Real Warriors are proving to their fellow Service members and veterans that reaching out for help makes a difference and is a sign of strength.

The Real Warriors Campaign makes reaching out easy. The website includes a live chat feature (http://www.realwarriors.net/livechat) which any Service member, veteran, family member or health care provider can utilize to connect confidentially with the DCoE Outreach Center for psychological health and traumatic brain injury information and resources. The DCoE Outreach Center can also be accessed tool-free 24/7 at 866-966-1020 or by e-mail at resources@dcoeoutreach.org. Service members, veterans, families and health professionals can also connect with each other through the campaign’s message boards (http://www.realwarriors.net/forum).

Veterans interested in attending this three day event will experience:

A reception on Friday evening November 12th featuring food and drinks grown, produced and prepared by fellow veterans.

Saturday tours of the Oakland Produce Market, urban farming, inner-city farmers Market, and a local bakery.
Sunday tour of the Jack London Square Farmers Market and regional veteran-run farms.

Lodging, transportation and food during the event will be provided. Sponsored by: USDA Risk Management Agency & the Farmer Veteran Coalition.  Introducing Veterans to Urban Farming, School Gardens, Culinary Arts and Community Supported Agriculture
November 12-14.

Jack London Square, Oakland, CA
Veterans interested in attending this three day event will experience:
A reception on Friday evening November 12th featuring food and drinks grown, produced and prepared by fellow veterans.

Saturday tours of the Oakland Produce Market, urban farming, inner-city farmers Market, and a local bakery.
Sunday tour of the Jack London Square Farmers Market and regional veteran-run farms.
Lodging, transportation and food during the event will be provided.
Sponsored by: USDA Risk Management Agency & the Farmer Veteran Coalition

Contact:
Michael Porter
530-756-1395
info@farmvetco.org
michaelp@farmvetco.org

Facilitated dialogue among featured guests and members of the audience allows for a unique conversation revealing personal insight, ideas and perspectives from many different generations of military veterans and civilians.

Featured Guests:

Featured guests include Dr. Edith Eger, PhD.  Dr. Eger is an inspirational survivor of the holocaust, author and psychologist and brings a timely message on transitioning from war to life after war.  She’s helped thousands over the years and has been featured on national venues including the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Other guests include Ramina Wilkerson, born and raised in Baghdad, Iraq.  Ramina and her family worked on behalf of the United Nations and other organizations to help Iraqi civilians.  They narrowly escaped persecution under the Saddam reign when they were granted political asylum in the mid 1990’s.

Guests of the veteran-civilian dialogue will also include recent Special Forces OIF combat veteran, A.J. Arango, other veterans, families, and community members.

End State and Ground Rules:

• To create a space and process in which veterans and civilians have a chance  to talk in an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect.

• To increase awareness about the shared impact of war and reintegration.
• To promote awareness of local, regional and national resources for veterans   and families
• To create a movement of shared responsibility and support for veterans and civilians in the reintegration process.

Please Join Us!

“A Veteran-Civilian Dialogue” will feature regional veterans, families, and the general public to join in a conversation on the challenges of reintegration.  Insights and stories from guest speakers and the guided facilitation of ONE Freedom’s team will provide an evening of inspiration, shared knowledge and suggested action for the Colorado Springs community.  Please come and participate!

Also–Consider becoming a Sponsor of “A Veteran-Civilian Dialogue” and help ONE Freedom

For more information visit the event webpage at: http://bit.ly/ONEFREEDOM

Also to find out more about One Freedom visit their website at: http://www.onefreedom.org/

The Coalition for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans (CIAV) convened in Washington, DC October 6-7, 2009 to share our expertise in delivering support and services to military, veterans, their families and survivors.

The CIAV’s 52 agencies met with Congressman Bob Filner, Chair of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Brigadier General Loree K. Sutton, Director of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury; Douglas B. Carmon, Ombudsman to General Eric Shinseki, Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs; other representatives from the DoD, VA, and Congress; and community supporters to report from the field regarding community efforts to serve our warriors, their families, and their survivors.

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives helped us convene in the Capitol on the morning of October 6 to dialogue with members of Congress and their staff, while the afternoon provided us an opportunity to meet with federal agencies. The Association of Small Foundations and the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region helped cohosted an informational briefing on October 7 which garnered a dialogue between our organizations and those in the community interested in learning more about the issues that affect those who serve.

The goal of the CIAV summit for our organizations was to strengthen partnerships between government and community in our common mission of caring for those who serve and brainstorm with our colleagues in the DoD, VA and community in delivering the best, most accessible and comprehensive supports possible. We certainly succeeded our goals and look forward to furthering the relationships established during the meetings.

As we have previously stated, no one agency or sector can deliver the breadth of support required to serve our warriors. We have learned since the wars began, and even more so now, that we must coordinate care, and leverage every resource to meet the needs of our warriors and their families.

For more information on the meetings, please contact us.

Please come support the Farmer Veteran Coalition’s mission of creating a new generation of farmers working with returning young veterans.  Meet them and hear their stories.

The Farmer-Veteran Coalition seeks to help our returning veterans find employment, training, and places to heal on America’s farms.  At the same time the Coalition hopes that some of these young men and women may help address our country’s critical need for more good, hard-working people entering the field of agriculture.

Press Conference: Sept. 18th at the Veterans Memorial Building at 3PM

For more information see http://www.farmvetco.org/