Program on Crisis Awareness

“You don’t have to be “understood” to be cared about. Period.”
– Brandon Young, Army Ranger

Helping Veterans Facing a Tough Fight Back Home

We recognize that some veterans face enormous challenges once they leave active service, from feeling a profound loss of community to struggling to fit back into and relate to a civilian culture that doesn’t understand their service experiences and values.

Program and Presentation Focus

Veterans may feel isolated and without strong support networks, leading to crisis situations in their lives, relationships and post-military careers. Outcomes can be devastating, from substance abuse and family conflicts to law enforcement troubles, unemployment, even suicide.

This program will focus on the crisis experience for veterans and resources available to help. Ex-military counselors and others will share affecting stories of hope and resilience, actionable info on accessing counseling and other services, and how to recognize and deal with the signs and symptoms of crisis. Speakers will share experiences and expertise to illuminate real-world examples of crises veterans face – and how they can be overcome.

Regional support organizations such as Returning Veterans Project will host walk-up tables and be available to provide information and resources for veterans and interested attendees. The entire program will be filmed and made accessible online at Veterans Legacies for the benefit of veterans across the country. A second Strong for Veterans program focusing on Post-Traumatic Stress is tentatively scheduled for May or June, 2015.

For tickets, please email us at info@strongforveterans.org.

DETAILED EVENT & SPEAKER INFORMATION

Date, Time, Place

  • January 13th, 2015 – Stanford Theater, Tiger Woods Center at Nike World Headquarters
  • 3:00 p.m., Rotunda open – meet participating organizations
  • 4:00 p.m., Program followed by a reception in the Rotunda
  • 90-minute presentation; 45 min. Panel Presentation, 45 min. Q&A

Presentation Speakers

  • Bill Dennings – Marine. VP, Chief Information Security Officer, Nike.
  • Greg Fowler – Marine. Director of Investigations, Nike.
  • Sara Carlson – Navy Brat. Rotarian. Moderator.
  • Col Eric Hastings (Ret) – Marine. Vietnam Veteran. Co-Founder & Chair, Warriors and Quiet Waters. Featured in the documentary “Not Yet Begun to Fight.”
  • Pat Slack – Army Veteran. Vietnam Veteran. Was awarded the Bronze Star. Commander, Snohomish Regional Drug and Gang Task Force.
  • Gabe Russell – Sergeant Major, WAARNG. Regional Director, Federal Protective Service.
  • Officer Steve Redmond – Safety Officer, Seattle PD. One of the founders of Code for Northwest.
  • SSG Eddie Black – Co-Facilitator for CADRE Program. Resilience Coordinator for Oregon Army National Guard.
  • Andrea Gardner, LMSW, CSWA – Coast Guard Veteran. Military Crisis Line Intervention Specialist, Lines for Life.
  • Captain Matt Wegenknecht – Army Veteran. Portland Police Bureau Tactical Operations Division.
  • Lt Col Bill Jacobus (Ret) – Air Force Veteran. Executive Director, US Military Endurance Sports.
  • Shannon Stacy – Military Wife. Director of Family Programs, The Station Foundation.
  • Josh Sweeney – Marine. Was awarded the Purple Heart. Josh is a Paralympic Gold Medalist in Sled Hockey and he received the Pat Tillman Award for Service.
  • Amber Sweeney – Josh’s wife.
  • Marissa Jones. Marissa’s fiancée PFC Andrew J. Keller was killed in Charkh, Afghanistan on August 15, 2012. He served with the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team.
  • Jeff Keller – Andrew’s Dad.

Attending Organizations

Join our mailing list: