Collaborating
No one sector -- public, private, or CBO (community-based, non-profit organization) -- can do it by themselves. No one branch of the military, or the federal, state or local government can or should carry the burden. Those on the ground helping OIF and OEF service members, veterans and their families every day know that working together is critically important. Yet, there are major challenges to forging working partnerships. From its inception in 2006 the Coming Home Project has worked with universities, foundations, corporations, the VA and Vet Centers, the DoD, as well as other non-profits, to forge substantive working collaborations.
On April 12, the work of connection took a potentially important step forward as Michelle Obama and Jill Biden helped launch a new initiative, Joining Forces. The Center for a New American Security is expanding its military wellness program in support of this new initiative, “Through a broad range of ongoing projects and programs in support of the Joining Forces initiative, CNAS hopes to make a lasting contribution to the way America cares for its veterans, military service members and their families.” (click here for pdf)
The Coming Home Project salutes this new initiative and will continue to build viable working connections among organizations that assist service members, veterans, their families, and their providers.
New Board Members
We are proud to welcome to our Board three new members: Major General Gale Pollock (US Army, Ret.), Karen Vaughn, and Major Mark Pinto (US Marine Corps, Ret.). Among the positions she has held, General Pollock was Acting Surgeon General of the U.S. Army. Karen Vaughn is founder and owner of Concepts, Inc, a Washington, DC communications consulting firm whose clients include the National Resource Directory. Mark Pinto is a twenty year Marine Corps officer, former helicopter pilot, veteran of Desert Storm, artist, Buddhist priest, and facilitator at the first Coming Home retreat. Gale, Karen and Mark’s experience, commitment and dedication will be invaluable to the growing work of the Coming Home Project.
Caring for the Provider
Our April providers retreat vividly showed again how responsive those who serve our veterans and their families are to the opportunity to truly rest, renew, reconnect, and reenergize. A wonderful and diverse group, fifty four strong, gathered at beautiful Mercy Center in Burlingame, CA for four days of sharing stories, wellness practices, expressive arts, kayaking, hiking, dancing, and just plain fun. They came from VA’s and Vet Centers, WTU’s and Wounded Warrior Programs, WRAMC, the Burn Unit at BAMC, San Diego Naval Hospital, Landstuhl Medical Center, and many other places around the country and the world. Deep thanks to the Bob Woodruff Foundation for their continuing support of Coming Home Projects Service Provider retreats.
As part of the closing ceremony at our retreats we have a circle where all the participants are able as the spirit moves them to express what the four days were like for them. It is very hard to capture the depth of emotion and the genuineness of expression at this closing circle. Participant Cindy Harney shared what she wrote and spoke to the group on the final morning, view here.
2011 DoD/USDA Family Resilience Conference
Genuine collaboration is in the air. As an example, the DoD and USDA have banded together for the first joint family conference, “Forging the Partnership,” in Chicago April 27-29, 2011. Coming Home Project is presenting on this Thursday, April at 1:00 pm. Nancy Saum will join me in a 90 minute workshop to present our DCoE endorsed reintegration program while also giving a taste of being at one of our family retreats: I will lead a brief meditation and Nancy a brief period of qigong.
Sincerely,
Joe
Dr. Joseph Bobrow, Roshi
Founder and President