This post is by Gen. George W. Casey Jr., who served as Army chief of staff and senior coalition commander in Iraq.
One of the most common pleas I hear as I go around the country is, “I want to help our veterans, but I can’t figure out how.” Having worked in the government for 41 years, I can understand that. The government is a big bureaucracy and sometimes it can be hard to help.
The government is doing the right things, but it is just too big to handle the complicated individual issues that plague many of our returning veterans. It will never meet every need for every veteran, nor should we expect it to.
Holistically caring for our veterans and their families will take effective public-private partnerships that can leverage the power of both sectors. On the private side, there are tens of thousands of nonprofits out there working hard to help veterans. All are contributing, but many focus their services in very specific areas and affect a relatively small number of veterans.
What’s been missing – until now – is a coordinated, collaborative effort at the community level that makes the most efficient use of public and private resources and energy without hindering the creativity that we find in the private sector.
A few years ago, representatives of 55 nonprofits and government agencies – including the VA, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Hiring Our Heroes and Blue Star Families – started talking about how to work together to help the one million veterans who will transition out of the military and rejoin communities across America in the next five years.
The wheels started tuning, and smart, experienced people got to work. They produced a virtual toolbox of proven programs and resources that can be adapted and adopted by local coalitions searching for ways to help veterans, military members and their families succeed.
I first heard about the Community Blueprint in June 2012, and the more I heard about it, the more I liked it. It was started by experienced organizations that specialize in veteran and military issues working together. And instead of dictating solutions, it offers scalable tools that can be used to help veterans reintegrate in society; find jobs, housing and health care; get financial and legal help; and keep their families strong.
In the past year, the Blueprint itself has gotten stronger. It’s now led by Points of Light, the world’s largest volunteer service organization. It’s staffed, in part, by a group of 75 AmeriCorps members, half of whom are veterans themselves. And it’s supported with help from a five-year, $5 million grant from ITT Exelis and the volunteer help of its 20,000 employees. It’s the kind of public-private partnership we need to best serve our veterans and their families.
The Community Blueprint is getting bigger, too. Right now there are 20 communities using its tools – including communities in Atlanta, Miami, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Diego and Seattle. The plan is to increase that number tenfold in the next two years.
Can you imagine the impact of hundreds of communities armed with the right tools helping our military, our veterans and their families? I can. And I can’t imagine a better way to ensure all of our veterans are taken care of.
When I think about our veterans, I am reminded of a quote on a monument in Burma to a British division that held off a numerically superior Japanese force at great cost. It reads, “When you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow, we gave our today.”
The men and women of our armed forces have been giving their tomorrows for our todays for 236 years. We are blessed as a nation that we have had generation after generation of Americans who have believed so strongly in the values and ideals that this country stands for that they have been willing to put their lives on the line for them.
It’s our turn now. Welcoming returning veterans with our thanks isn’t enough. We need to turn that sea of goodwill into action. We need to match their service with our own.
Post written by Michelle Nunn, CEO of Points of Light and author of Be The Change.
Over the next five years, more than one million veterans will transition out of the military and rejoin communities and families across America. Many politicians speak of them as people with needs, but that’s only half the picture.
Our veterans – steeped in discipline, steeled with the hardships of serving in two overseas wars and equipped with vital skills and broadly applicable experiences – offer the nation an extraordinary reservoir of human capital and talent.
How can the nation capitalize on veterans’ talents? Take a look at these three initiatives, led by veterans, for some of the answers.
Team Rubicon. In the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake, veterans Jake Wood and William McNulty realized a simple truth: The skills cultivated on the battlefield – emergency medicine, risk assessment and mitigation, teamwork and decisive leadership – are invaluable in natural disasters.
They founded Team Rubicon to mobilize veterans to help in the gap between when a disaster strikes and the point when conventional aid organizations respond. In recent weeks, 50 veterans from Team Rubicon worked to rescue people stranded by Hurricane Sandy, delivered emergency supplies to hard-hit shelters and helped treat the medical needs of evacuees.
“We utilize military-style plans and military-style leaderships to be more effective with less overhead and less bureaucracy, to be fast,” Matt Pelak, an Iraqi veteran and Team Rubicon’s director of strategic partnerships, told an NBC News reporter. “Our teams are good at improvising and adapting. That’s what veterans do best.”
The Mission Continues. After Navy Seal Eric Greitens returned home from Iraq, he visited wounded Marines at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland. Each veteran he spoke with expressed the desire to continue to serve. One young Marine said, “I lost my legs – that is all. I did not lose my desire to serve, or my pride in being an American.”
Greitens used his own combat pay and two friends contributed their military disability checks to found The Mission Continues to use volunteer service to help veterans, many of them wounded, reintegrate in society. The group places post-9/11 veterans in six-month fellowships at local nonprofits, where they help others find meaningful volunteer work, full-time jobs and paths to higher education. In 2007, there were three fellows; in 2012, there are more than 500.
The Community Blueprint. After serving nearly nine years in the Navy, Liz Perez returned to civilian life in southern California feeling good about a new job and a fresh start. But Perez, the daughter of a veteran who was raised on military bases, faced challenges she never saw coming.
“When you’re in the military, everything you need is on base,” she said. “When I left, I had no support. I didn’t know where to go for things like housing or childcare, I didn’t realize how much is taken out of your paycheck. I had a really hard time.”
For a short time, Perez and her young daughter were homeless, relying on a local food bank to eat. A property manager at the San Diego construction firm where she worked helped her find a place to live and she slowly found the resources she needed to get back on her feet.
Perez has been pursuing a graduate degree and running her own general contracting firm. These days, she’s turned her attention to helping other veterans as part of a big, new public-private partnership, the Community Blueprint.
Started by a coalition of 55 organizations, the Blueprint unites community resources to help veterans find jobs, housing and health care; get financial and legal help; and keep their families strong. Instead of dictating solutions, the Blueprint provides a virtual toolbox of proven programs and resources that can be adapted and adopted by local coalitions searching for ways to help.
The effort is led by Points of Light and staffed in part by Liz Perez and 74 other AmeriCorps members, half of whom are veterans themselves. It’s supported by the Corporation for National and Community Service (home of AmeriCorps) and ITT Exelis, which has pledged $5 million, along with the volunteer help of its 20,000 employees.
Today there are 20 communities using Community Blueprint tools – including Atlanta, Miami, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Diego and Seattle. The plan is to increase that number tenfold in the next two years.
“I had to struggle to find the answers,” Perez said, “but it gave me a passion to share what I’ve learned. I want to be able to give veterans the resources I had to find the hard way.”
When we call upon our veteran’s gifts, we tap into an enormous wellspring of ingenuity and talent for our nation. On Veterans Day we should remember that those who have given so much already, have even more to give. They have helped us defend our country and now they can help us strengthen it.
Friday Volunteer News Round Up
We are 2 weeks away from Make A Difference Day! Have you been planning your project? Find projects to volunteer with and register your project to recruit volunteers to help you out on the Daytabank. Check out the
! We had a Community Blueprint launch this week in D.C to launch our initiative to help veterans and military families. Learn more about it on our new military initiative website section.
Here are the news from the week:
1)
Friends,
After serving nearly nine years in the Navy,
Liz Perez
returned to civilian life in San Diego feeling good about a new job and a fresh start. Unfortunately, she faced challenges she never saw coming.
“When you’re in the military, everything you need is on base,” she said. “When I left, I had no support. I didn’t know where to go for things like housing or child care. I didn’t realize how much is taken out of your paycheck. I had a really hard time.”
“If we all work together, we can make sure no veteran has to suffer alone,” said Liz Perez.
For a short time, Perez and her young daughter found themselves homeless and relying on a local food bank to eat. Luckily, a property manager at the San Diego construction firm where she worked helped her find a place to live, and she slowly found the resources she needed to get back on her feet.
Yesterday,
hosted a luncheon at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce where Perez joined representatives
ITT Exelis
, the
Corporation for National and Community Service
(home to AmeriCorps), and more than 50 veteran and military service organizations, nonprofits and government agencies to officially launch the
Community Blueprint
– a huge public-private partnership to support the reintegration of returning military service members, veterans and their families.
To advance the Community Blueprint, ITT Exelis CEO and President
David Melcher
announced the company’s five-year, $5 million investment in this Points of Light initiative, as well as a new Exelis employee volunteer program that will add the company’s human resources to the effort.
Bill Basl
, from the Corporation for National and Community Service, swore in 30 new AmeriCorps members – including Perez – who will lend muscle to the Community Blueprint across the country. The group will soon grow to 75 veteran leaders and change agents.
Gen. George W. Casey
, former Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, gave the keynote address, calling the Community Blueprint “the largest collaborative effort in support of the military community to date.” And it will get bigger. Points of Light’s goal is to expand the Community Blueprint from 20 communities today to 200 by 2014 to help meet the needs of the one million men and women who will return from service abroad in the next five years.
Liz Perez will be there to help. “I want to be able to give veterans the resources I had to find the hard way,” she said.
And we at Points of Light want to do our part to make it easier for hundreds of thousands of veterans to get – and give – help, and for millions of others to pitch in. We hope to create the nation’s largest pipeline of volunteer opportunities focused on meeting the needs of veterans and military families. We intend to harness our nation’s sea of goodwill for our veterans and turn it into action.
You can help. To find out how, visit
We are passionate about bringing you cool campaigns that are doing good and making differences in people’s lives. Sears and Rebuilding Together are doing good for the military community.
Thousands of active-duty soldiers will be away from home this holiday season and here is one way you can help make the holidays a little easier for the men and women who serve our country. Donate in a Sears store or online now through Nov. 16.
This program distributes 100 percent of donations back to military families across the country. The Wish Registry gives deployed service members a chance to send their love home by providing the means for them to purchase practical gifts such as clothes, toys and holiday decorations.
Through the generosity of Americans who have donated to date, Sears has raised more than $17 million dollars and helped more than 83,000 families since the Wish Registry launched five years ago.
Want resources for other ways help the military families in your community? Find community solutions to help combat challenges military families face at the Community Blueprint.
Labor Day 2012
On Labor Day and throughout the year, we celebrate our Nation’s workers, and we commit to supporting their efforts in moving our economy forward. Labor Day has always been a time to remember and celebrate achievement. The United States Department of Labor describes Labor Day’s founding as “a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.” However for a lot of Americans, there isn’t labor to celebrate.
A large group of citizens who are facing employment challenges are our nation’s veterans. The HandsOn Network Community Blueprint is set up to help communities help veterans. Though veterans often acquire unique and valuable skills during their military service, they are disproportionately unemployed when compared to comparably qualified civilians. According to the most recent statistics released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the unemployment rate of post 9-11 veterans is 13.3 percent, compared to a non-veteran rate of 9 percent. Read more about veteran employment statistics.
Here are community solutions for military and non-military unemployed:
1. Give Job Seekers Opportunity by facilitating introductions. Help people network.
2. Help Job Seekers Market themselves by improving their online presence through Social Profiles.
3. Give Resume, Cover Letter, or Interview Counseling. Hold resume or mock interview workshops in your community.
Find more tools and resources for you community on the Community Blueprint page.
The “Give Labor Day” Initiative from Smart Recruiter urges everyone to take tangible, specific actions to help the unemployed and underemployed. Urge your community to combat unemployment, a challenge facing many of our nation’s citizens.
Inspiration I Took Away From the National Conference on Volunteering and Service
Today’s post is written by Chelsea Murphy, Communications Coordinator at Points of Light.
We are back from Chicago with a renewed and revitalized outlook on volunteering. This year’s conference was inspiring and thought-provoking and has left me with new ideas for making lasting change and positive measurable impact in our communities.
I continue to relive all the amazing information I’ve heard these past couple of days over and over again in my mind. I can’t wait to do it again in a year in D.C.
Below I’ve compiled some uplifting and inspirational quotes from our speakers over the past 3 days – Please share your favorite quote or “AHA” moment you walked away with from this year’s National Conference on Volunteering and Service in our comments.
“No matter your background, your platform, your economic status, everyone can pitch in to make our world better.” –Israel Donijie
“When we volunteer & serve, we become healthier, happier, & more purposeful.” –Eric Liu
“You must be able to see worlds that have not yet been created as if they have already been created.” –Rev. Otis Moss, III
“All people want is an opportunity” – J.R. Martinez
“Service is center and indispensable to tackle the challenges that we face.” –Wendy Spencer
“Programs where neighbors are helping neighbors are the essence of the American spirit” –Barbara Bush
“One of the key successes to finding fulfillment in life is giving to others without expecting anything in return” –Pierce Bush
“We’re all better off when we’re all better off” –Eric Liu
“People of common ground can make huge change if we put the dignity of our youth above all else” –Alberto Carvalho
“The actions we take affect our neighbors down the block and on the other side of the world. We are all connected.” –Kevin Bacon
“Serve. Serve. Serve. For in the end it will be the Servants who save us all.” –Mark Shriver
Another week has flown by so fast and we are 3 weeks out from Conference! This past week was the one year anniversary of the Joplin, MO tornadoes and AmeriCorps members are still getting things done- see our news below to get more information! This Monday is Memorial Day, let’s remember and thank our military service members and veterans who serve for us. Have you heard of our community blueprint program? Check it out to find resources how to support military, and military family members.
Second Lady of the United States to discuss Joining Forces initiative as part of next greatest generation of service leaders
We are excited to announce that Dr. Jill Biden, Second Lady of the United States, will be joining us for the 2012 National Conference on Volunteering and Service. Dr. Biden is a lifelong educator, a proud Blue Star mom and an active member of her community. As Second Lady, she works to bring attention to the sacrifices made by military families, highlight the importance of community colleges to America’s future and raise awareness around areas of particular importance to women.
During our opening session, A New Generation of Service, Dr. Biden will discuss Joining Forces, the initiative she started with First Lady Michelle Obama last year as a way to encourage all Americans to honor, recognize and support our service men and women, veterans and military families.
Veterans and Military Families Track
Don’t miss these sessions focused on supporting and engaging veterans, active service people and military families.
(3136) All the Way Home: The Blueprint for Meaningful Community Response – A Points of Light Community Blueprint Summit for Change
(2955) The Community Blueprint Network: Organizing Communities to Support Veterans, Service Members and Families
(2956) Solutions for Finding and Engaging Veterans in Service
(2484) From the Couch to the Cause: Leveraging Military and Civilian Online Networks
Click here to view all Veterans and Military Families track sessions and register now to ensure your seat in these important discussions.
More Don’t-miss Sessions
Social Media for Social Good (2881) – Presented by NTEN, with speakers Holly Ross and Amy Sample Ward
Faith and Neighborhoods In Action: Addressing Problems with tangible Solutions (2758) – With Joshua DuBois
Civic Fellows Leadership Exchange (2906) – With Susan Ellis
Reintegration through Reinvigoration: Communities Supporting Veterans and Veterans Supporting Communities
, Points of Light, Chase and ITT Exelis are hosting a two-day session, June 17 – 18, for individuals who are interested in community-based solutions for meeting the needs of service members, veterans and their families. During the
Summit for Change, “All the Way Home: The Blueprint for Meaningful Community Response,” participants will explore how to bridge together military and civilian communities to build a stronger more united nation. Topics include military and civilian partnership and collaboration, trends and research on challenges facing service members, veterans and their families and models for engaging military and veteran volunteers to address our nation’s most pressing challenges. Confirmed speakers include:
Governor Pat Quinn
General George W. Casey, former U.S. Army Joint Chief of Staff
Bryan Anderson, Veteran, Author and Actor
Craig Newmark, Craigslist founder
The Community Blueprint Summit for Change will inspire and equip attendees to:
Leverage the military community as civic assets
Return home ready to create opportunities for military and civilian communities to join together in one common goal: to provide the right resources to our service members, veterans and their families at the right time
Implement proven, meaningful community based solutions
Challenge and recruit others in their communities to join forces and take action
To register, or for more information and the full schedule of summit workshops and speakers. Other sessions in the Veterans and Military Families track available during the Conference include:
Solution Center: Solutions for Finding and Engaging Veterans in Service (2956)
Solution Center: The Community Blueprint Network: Organizing Communities to Support Veterans, Service Members and Families (2955)
The Key to Successful Military and Civilian Partnerships (2696)
From the Couch to the Cause: Leveraging Military and Civilian Online Networks (2484)
The Secret to Successful Programs to Strengthen Military Families (2609)
Veterans as Assets: From Military to Civilian Service (2709)
Military 101: An Individuals Guide to Military Families (2741)
Today’s post is written by Chelsea Murphy, Communications Coordinator at Points of Light.
I continue to relive all the amazing information I’ve heard these past couple of days over and over again in my mind. I can’t wait to do it again in a year in D.C.
Another week has flown by so fast and we are 3 weeks out from Conference! This past week was the one year anniversary of the Joplin, MO tornadoes and AmeriCorps members are still getting things done- see our news below to get more information! This Monday is Memorial Day, let’s remember and thank our military service members and veterans who serve for us. Have you heard of our 
During our opening session, A New Generation of Service, Dr. Biden will discuss Joining Forces, the initiative she started with First Lady Michelle Obama last year as a way to encourage all Americans to honor, recognize and support our service men and women, veterans and military families.
