Our key mission was to empower veterans and their families as civic leaders–essentially, to get our community trained, visible, and actively making their communities and our city as a whole a much better place. We are so proud that so many of our members have gone on to grow as advocates and leaders in civic organizations. Several of our members have been appointed to their local community boards. Several have run for office–a few have won!
Training and Mobilizing Our Members as Leaders
Based at Civic Hall, we offered our members a wide variety of ways to learn from elected officials and community leaders, to hone and tell their stories of service, to talk with legislators and use their personal stories to advocate for change, and to grow as leaders in our organization by taking on leadership roles in our activities and events, including:
Policy Forums & Workshops | “March to City Hall” Week and Meetings with City Council Members | Rallies and Marches | Legislative Meetings in Albany | Candidate Workshops | Civic Leadership Workshops | Lunch & Learn and Discussion Panels | Narcan and Mental Health First Aid Training | Voter Registration Events | Election Night Watch Parties | Ruck March Team Leader Training & Events | “New Year, New You” Networking & Resource Events | “Speak Up, Rise Up” Storytelling Festival | Public Speaking and Media
Some highlights:
New Yorker of the Week: Skylar Bonné
From the projects to the military: Coast Guard veteran credits Hispanic culture and values
NYC Veterans Alliance celebrate 243rd anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn
Speak Up, Rise Up Storytelling Festival
Legacies of War: Two New Documentaries
City’s Veterans Community Meets to Assess Policy, Build Cohesion
Veterans Mutual Aid
From March 2020 through early June 2021, our veteran volunteers worked tirelessly to check in on veterans and family members in need, get aid and information to them, and find ways to assist during a historic time of urgent need. Volunteers gave hundreds of hours of their time to this endeavor. Together they reached hundreds of veterans, service members, and their families during an immense time of need–ensuring community members received nutritious groceries and meals, emergency help with utilities and housing expenses, and referrals to service providers who were able to provide help. Our members even pitched in to help elderly and disabled veterans and a Gold Star Mother with moving during a time when these folks had nowhere to turn. More than 400 veterans and family members received direct aid through our member-led program. We made hundreds more referrals for additional help. NYC Veterans Alliance members truly stepped up to help our community during a critical time of need. Thank you to all who were part of this.
NYC Veterans Alliance 