Stations Explore “What Works” for Veterans Coming Home in New Digital Series

November 11, 2018

Veteran walks with dog through straw field

Steven Acheson, US Army combat veteran shared the challenges he faced transitioning from military service to civilian life in (In)Visible Wounds, part of the Veterans Coming Home digital series. Credit: Kindling Group

Throughout November, public media is sharing stories of diverse experiences, challenges and successes of America’s veterans in the CPB-funded Veterans Coming Home: Finding What Works digital series and engagement effort. This national project to support veterans and their families transitioning out of the military is executive produced by the Kindling Group in partnership with Wisconsin Public Television and 12 other local stations. Veterans Coming Home: Finding What Works is the newest phase of the multimedia content and community engagement project supported by CPB since 2013.

Four digital “chapters” will premiere over four weeks including interviews with notable experts presenting research and analysis of “what works” for veterans’ successful transition home. Stories center around veterans’ health, housing, jobs, education, sense of purpose, community and relationships. Interviews with non-profit, government and educational leaders provide insights and examples of solutions to the challenges veterans face during the transition to civilian life. Watch this video to learn more:

Veterans Coming Home: What Works” Trailer, Courtesy: Kindling Group

Stations are also hosting local activities including town halls, Facebook Live events, screenings and job fairs. These local forums increase dialogue around critical community issues, provide avenues for veterans to tell their stories and offer information about health, education, housing and jobs resources available for veterans and their families.

For example, KBTC (Tacoma, WA) hosted a screening followed by a panel discussion with guests featured in the film including eight-year Army veteran Deputy Dom Calata of the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department.

From left: Kacy Cross, KBTC Program Director, Betsy Ross Hall Homeless Shelter (US Air National Guard); Dom Calata, Deputy with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department (National Guard); Lance Caver, Chapter Commander, Disabled American Veterans (US Army Veteran); and Christian Fierro, Electrical Construction student, Bates Technical College (US Navy Veteran)
KBTC (Tacoma, WA) Veterans Coming Home: What Works Event at Bates Technical College. From left: Kacy Cross, KBTC Program Director, Betsy Ross Hall Homeless Shelter (US Air National Guard); Dom Calata, Deputy with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department (National Guard); Lance Caver, Chapter Commander, Disabled American Veterans (US Army Veteran); and Christian Fierro, Electrical Construction student, Bates Technical College (US Navy Veteran). Courrtesy: KBTC

Other events include:

  • KSFR (Santa Fe, NM) Family Appreciation Day, Santa Fe Community College, November 8, 2018
  • WHRO (Norfolk, VA) Writer’s Block—Veterans’ Voices: Stories of Service, Stories of Transition screening and live performance event, Stuft Restaurant, November 8, 2018
  • WQED (Monaco, PA) Salute to Veterans screening and panel discussion, Community College of Beaver County, November 9, 2018
  • AETN (Little Rock, AR) screening event and partner showcase, MacArthur Museum of Military History, November 12, 2018

The documentaries can be viewed @vetscominghome on Facebook and on Veterans Coming Home. In Spring 2019, WORLD channel will feature a 30-minute broadcast compilation of the project as part of Local USA. Stations will also share their locally-created content on their own digital and broadcast platforms and through local partners’ communications platforms.

Kindling Group provided series direction and capacity-building support to stations, including resources on digital storytelling, distribution and social media engagement. And in addition to local efforts, Wisconsin Public Television provided technical guidance and coordinating support to the following stations:

AETN (Little Rock, AR)

Arizona PBS (Phoenix, AZ)

East Tennessee PBS (Knoxville, TN)

KALA-FM (Davenport, IA)

KBTC (Tacoma, WA)

KCPT (Kansas City, MO)

KSFR-FM (Santa Fe, NM)

Louisiana Public Broadcasting (Baton Rouge, LA)

Montana Public Radio (Missoula, MT) in collaboration with Montana PBS (Bozeman, MT)

Rhode Island PBS (Providence, RI)

WHRO (Norfolk, VA)

WQED (Pittsburgh, PA)

WUSF (Tampa, FL)

Learn more veteranscominghome.org.

 

About Veterans Coming Home

Veterans Coming Home is a collaborative, multi-platform effort to highlight innovative, effective programs and the individuals who are leading the way to better outcomes for veterans transitioning to civilian life. Combining public media storytelling, local station convenings, deep local partnerships, and innovative digital distribution and dialogue, Veterans Coming Home is moving the narrative beyond traditional veteran stereotypes to build understanding of veterans’ value to their communities and ease their transitions to civilian life.