Women Veteran Social Justice

WVSJ Ambassadorship: A History of Changing the Question “Can We Do That?”  into the Bold Statement, “We Can Do That!”  On this podcast, BriGette McCoy talks with Angela Marie Dias about their time together in WVSJ, covering almost 10 years. On this podcast, they reminisce about their history and exact moment that they knew that they wanted to work together. They recognized a passion in each other that was directly connected to honoring and serving women veterans. Listen as BriGette and Angela Marie recollect past work, recognize a recent national award for the organization, and discuss how to continue serving women veterans in honorable and creative ways using technology and providing experiential programs. Find out about their projects, outlooks on …

It  All Started With A Creative Writing Project: 20 Year Later We Are Still Collecting & Telling The Unheard Stories and Writing & Archiving The Unwritten History of Unsung. Heroes On this Podcast, BriGette McCoy talks with Lisa Daniels about her creative writing project, aka her “labor of love”, Unsung Heroes. Lisa created Unsung Heroes over 20 years ago. Her project’s inspiration, her grandmother, a women of color who supported the war mission, continues to motivate her to keep gathering stories and authoring the history of the many who are left out of the books, such as: men of color who served, women of color who supported the war mission, and women of color who served. Listen in as BriGette …

Pam speaks about her 11 years of military service as an Intelligence Analyst in the Air Force, her work now as a Foreign Policy Strategist, and the “superpower” she uses as a Community Organizer. Pam tells the story of how her mom, a patriotic immigrant, encouraged and inspired her to enlist in the military right out of High School; find out about her interesting trip to the recruiting office. Pam shares how she nurtured and continues to develop her desire to serve and contribute to the community through her time in the military, afterwards during her time as a female student veteran, and now as a civilian who promotes transformation as a Foreign Policy Strategist and community activist. Listen in …

Nurtured and Affirmed: Being Part Of  A Legacy In Service To The Country  Chaplain Karen Meeker speaks about her 20+ years of military service and how she continues to add to the legacy in service to the country as a Colonel who recruits chaplains. She was inspired to join the military, and specifically serve in military ministry, in response to being called by God. Her desire to serve in ministry was nurtured at a young age while growing up in the United Methodist Church, as was her aspiration for serving the country. She talks about how her rural Northeast Pennsylvania community encouraged, affirmed, and supported giving back to the country in service, and how the United Methodist Church, which ordains …

Danique Masingill speaks about her 5 years of military service as a Master at Arms in the Navy, and how she continues serving veterans with a peer to peer approach through her nonprofit, Leashes of Valor. She shares about how being motivated to join the military was related to being “one of those people who joined because of 9/11”. Listen in as she describes her journey of becoming a “Super Trooper” in the Navy. She talks about the challenges she faced, and how she overcame them and excelled to make rank. Danique shares about how she carried her dream of wanting to become a K-9 cop to her civilian life. She shares the story of how a chance meeting with …

Thinking Outside the Box When The Box Is Empty: Finding New Ways to Do Life In the Time of a Novel Virus, Covid 19.Diana speaks about the trending novel virus, Corona, aka Covid 19, and how to manage life under new terms, understandings, and federal and state directives. Diana describes the conditions and how it affects various populations, and because women veteran are a “microcosm” of the population, they can be used to indicate the most negative impacts: access to food, access to healthcare, access to work (e.g. unemployment or having low paying essential jobs). Listen as she describes her concerns and how to approach and deal with this unexpected chapter in our 21stcentury story. She speaks …

Stephanie speaks about her military service and current work as a muti-faceted member of society who is passionate about helping veterans. She was inspired to join the military to pursue a dream of having professional opportunities that her under resourced community could not provide her. She was motivated by the discipline and teamwork of the military; she was also following the path of her father who had served. Listen in as she talks about her journey from being in a male dominated job that involved training soldiers in protecting themselves against chemical warfare (NBC) to exiting the military under “Happy” circumstances to having it quickly turn scary and having to learn how to ask for help as a veteran. She …

Scarlett Williams speaks about her military service and current work. She was inspired to join the military when she saw the memorial flag and medals of her neighbor’s husband who was killed in Vietnam. She originally wanted to go to college, but had a desire to serve and also go to Hawaii. Scarlett describes her journey of becoming a Sergeant Major through discipline and mentorship. Her many roles eventually did provide her a chance to go to Hawaii. All along her career she never forgot that just as the way was paved for her, she was responsible to pave a way for those coming behind her. By measuring her steps she was able to serve for 36 years, and she …

D’Olivia Jones speaks about her military service and current work. She was inspired to join the military when a cousin provided her with a “remarkable” experience and took her for lunch at the NCO and Officers Club at the local base. She wanted to go in right after High School, but kept with family tradition and went to college first. D’Olivia then went into the Air Force  and served as a Computer Information Systems Officer. After being denied retraining into the Services field, she began her next journey in life. She volunteered to get out during the time of the 1990’s draw downs, and was honorably discharged. D’Olivia Jones began her civilian career working in the Human Resources field helping …

Tiffany Martschnik speaks about her military service and current work. She was inspired to join the military while going to college and trying to figure out what she wanted to do with her life. Tiffany originally signed up for four years and then developed a passion for teaching and helping others in her various jobs while serving on active duty and in the Reserves for a total of 24 years. In her last role before retirement, as an instructor she realized that she was ready to serve and help others in a different capacity, one that did not include wearing a uniform. Since her transition into the civilian world, she uses her experiences with trauma and her passion as an …

Today on WVSJ Network Connects- Our host BriGette McCoy speaks with Army Veteran Paula Morgan who was an Army Avionics Technician in 1991 after serving in the National Guard. This career afforded her a lifetime dream to work in Aviation. She deployed to South Korea, in 1992 and contributed to the support of CH-47 Chinook and UH-1H Huey helicopters. She was assigned as one of the first women in avionics to an AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter Unit. The unit was undergoing a BRAC move, which then moved to Ft. Hood, TX. She was later reassigned to a UH-60 Blackhawk Unit as her final assignment in 1995. Paula actively engages in opportunities to mentor and assist veterans who are in transition. …

Today on WVSJ Network Connects BriGette McCoy speaks with: Sergeant Major (Dr.) Daniel L. Roberts about his military service and current work as the President and CEO, of Moral Injury Support Network for Servicewomen (MISNS, pronounced Missions),Inc., as well he is an author, consultant, military chaplain and teacher who conducts conferences on soul care and issues related  to moral injury and innovative approaches to addressing gaps in support for women veterans. Aside from being highly decorated currently serving SGM in the Army, he distinguished himself by receiving the Dissertation of the Year, from University of Phoenix in 2017.  Sponsors, Donors, Support StaffThanks to our sponsors and In-Kind Donors:AARP Georgia  Protect Our Defenders  Jimmy Carter Presidential Museum  …

Today on WVSJ Network Connects- Our host BriGette McCoy speaks with Army Veteran Angela Peacock about her military service and current work educating communities about veteran and the opioid crisis. She is a speaker and advocate and integral part of the documentary Medicating Normal. Listen in as she shares insight on her transition from military service, the challenges she faced and her resilience overcoming them.   Thanks to our sponsors and In-Kind Donors   AARP Georgia  Protect Our Defenders  Jimmy Carter Presidential Museum  SheHeroIC  Find us on our social channels and post a message about the podcast.  WVSJ Network Facebook Page  Twitter Page    Instagram Podcast Editing by ParThon  Music By Air Force Veteran Connie Baptiste  “Allways On …

Today on WVSJ Network Connects- Our host BriGette McCoy speaks with U.S. Army Veteran Elizabeth “Liz” Estabrooks about her military service, transition to the civilian sector and the considerable work on a national and international basis done on behalf of equity and justice. Currently Liz is the  Women Veterans Coordinator with the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs, working and advocating for and on behalf of Oregon women. Elizabeth, #IAmNotInvisible project has Veteran’s Affairs support and has the interest of thousands of women veteran who are participating nationally. WVSJ Network was the organizing non profit and community liaison with the Atlanta VA-Decatur Clinic and hosted over 212 women veteran from all eras and backgrounds to participate.  hanks to our sponsors and …

Today on WVSJ Network Connects- Our host BriGette McCoy and guest Co Host Connie Baptiste speak with Ret Colonel Edna Cummings who has a long military and Federal government career that includes, Women’s Army Corp,  Post 9/11 military and Federal government service. We discuss Edna’s military influences, career trajectory and experiences led her to The Rocks- a mentoring organization- which ultimately led to producing a documentary on the 6888th Battalion called Six Triple Eight. WVSJ Network is honored to have the opportunity to screen the documentary at our  “Honor Her” event at both Jimmy Carter Museum and Auburn Avenue Museum on November 30th in Atlanta (See our Facebook Events Page) Thanks to our sponsors and In-Kind Donors   AARP Georgia  …

Today on WVSJ Network Connects- Our host BriGette McCoy speaks with Trina McDonald and Luz Helena about their military service, transition from the military and why their advocacy in the #metoo movement with military and veteran community is so important.  Please be aware of a possible trigger warning for this podcast. Thanks to our sponsors and In-Kind Donors   AARP Georgia  Protect Our Defenders  Jimmy Carter Presidential Museum  SheHeroIC  Find us on our social channels and post a message about the podcast.  WVSJ Network Facebook Page  Twitter Page    Instagram Podcast Editing by ParThon  Music By Air Force Veteran Connie Baptiste  “Allways On Top” can be found on Women At War Warrior Songs Vol 2. https://warriorsongs.org/music …

Our host Army Veteran and CEO of WVSJ Network BriGette McCoy shares a conversation with Army veteran Nilajah Montgomery about her reasons for joining the military and unique experiences serving with her Army spouse.  Nilajah Montgomery shares with us her love for all things sports and fitness, her CrossFit training and recently completing her MBA. Listen in on the conversation of two women veteran sharing life experiences and military service.  … Thanks to our sponsors and In-Kind Donors   AARP Georgia  Protect Our Defenders  Jimmy Carter Presidential Museum  SheHeroIC  Find us on our social channels and post a message about the podcast.  WVSJ Network Facebook Page  Twitter Page    Instagram Podcast Editing by ParThon  Music By Air …

Today on WVSJ Network Connects: Our host Army Veteran and CEO of WVSJ Network BriGette McCoy shares a conversation with Army Veteran Kim Bowerman, former Drill Sergeant and Law Enforcement officer about why she joined the military, dual military service with her spouse and her reasons for military transition decision. Kim shares the ups and downs of her experiences and her love for education mentoring and coaching others in their careers.   Listen in on the conversation of two women veteran sharing life experiences and military service.  Thanks to our sponsors and In-Kind Donors   AARP Georgia  Protect Our Defenders  Jimmy Carter Presidential Museum  SheHeroIC  Find us on our social channels and post a message about the podcast.  WVSJ …

Today on WVSJ Network Connects- Our host BriGette McCoy speaks with Navy Veteran Lornett Vestal about his military service experiences and the programs that serve the military community at the Sierra Club Military Outdoors. Lornett current role is Campaign Representative.  Lornett was born and raised on the south side of Chicago IL, joined the military at age 17 and deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. He has a Masters in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago and has worked in education, social work and non-profit organizations over his career. Find Sierra Club’s Military Outdoors Program at Military Outdoors Program Here is a link to a write up about the Alaska expedition in 2015 that I attended.  How …

Today on WVSJ Network Connects- Our host BriGette McCoy speaks with Army Veteran Sidney Covington, who has earned her Masters of Social Work graduate degree this year. She is a veteran leader having served in various leadership and program management capacities for non profits and community organizations. BriGette and Sidney discuss the initial interest in military service, accomplishments during service and subsequent reasons for choosing to exit the military. Sidney discusses the need for peer groups, mentorship and women veteran supporting one another in their endeavors.  You can find Sidney Covington on LinkedIn Sidney Covington Thanks to our sponsors and In-Kind Donors   AARP Georgia  Protect Our Defenders Jimmy Carter Presidential Museum  SheHeroIC  Podcast Editing by Parthon  Music By Air Force …

Host BriGette McCoy speaks with Navy veteran and successful business owner Tracey Allen. Allen’s business, “9 to 5 not Business Solutions,” helps promote small businesses through video marketing, a skill she taught herself after her service.  Allen joined the navy in 1984, with the dream of working in aviation, as she longed to travel and meet a diverse group of people. While serving in the Navy, Allen formed deep and meaningful relationships, including her now ex-husband and several current business clients.  Allen is adamant that all of our experiences build us into the person we are now and will help us in the future, a belief she showed in a video of her hula hooping and smiling to uplifting music …

Our host BriGette McCoy talks with Founder and CEO Toni Brooks about her business ventures, military service, transition and her serial philanthropy with the Toni Brooks Foundation.  Toni Brooks is an Army National Guard veteran, Fashion Entertainment Producer, Fashion Stylist, Entrepreneur, Public Speaker, and award-winning Philanthropist. Toni made helping others part of her professional and personal lifestyle and believes “if we focus on just being a good person, good will come out of us.” The Toni Brooks Foundation – Thanks to our sponsors and In-Kind Donors   AARP Georgia Protect Our Defenders Jimmy Carter Presidential Museum SheHeroIC Editing by Parthon Music By Connie Baptist  …

Our host BriGette McCoy talks with Founder and CEO of Side By Side Solutions, LLC, Lisa Hiering about her business which is a company that empowers Veterans to navigate the complex Social Security Disability process in a way that increases their chances of approval and minimizes their chances of denial. Lisa Hiering sharpened her skills as a Social Security Claims Specialist and her oldest son is a combat Marine Corps Veteran so to her, Veterans are her family. The veteran community is where Lisa’s passion lies and so she feels driven to help. Because she is disabled herself, she understands the challenges veteran are facing. Veterans she has worked with describe Lisa as “a wealth of information”,” genuine”, “passionate”, “very …

CEO and Founder BriGette McCoy speaks during the GA National Guard SHARP event to currently serving military. The discussion is a candid perspective on the challenges personally  faced by BriGette and what we need to do as mission oriented professionals to continue the task making  sure to take responsibility for our words and behaviors when we are allies supporting survivors of military sexual assault. …

Today our discussion is with M.L. Doyle who has served in the U.S. Army at home and abroad for more than three decades as both a soldier and civilian. She calls on those experiences in her award-winning Master Sergeant Harper mystery series, her Desert Goddess urban fantasy series, erotic romance writing, and co-authored memoirs, which all feature women who wear combat boots.   M.L Doyle can be reached at Facebook.com/mldoyleauthor, or Twitter @mldoyleauthor Read excerpts of all of M. L. Doyle books at  WWW.MLDOYLEAUTHOR.COM…

On this episode Host and CEO BriGette McCoy (Army) along with Sr. Ambassador Connie Baptiste (Air Force) updates the listening audience with last quarters events, awards, programs and upcoming opportunities to connect.  DBHDD Cultural Competence Award State of Georgia WAMI- Music Award in collaboration with Warrior Songs and CEO Jason Moon. Thanks to our sponsors AARP- Georgia, Protect Our Defenders and the Jimmy Carter Presidential Museum for hosting our 10th Anniversary Celebration.…

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Today on Women Veteran Social Justice Network podcast CEO and Founder BeiGette McCoy speaks with Joyce Cade Hitchye CEO and Co Founder Of Impact Show. She is a Gulf War Era Veteran, military daughter and widow, and active community collaborator and award winning community advocate. Joyce and I discuss the importance of having the right mentor, family support and appropriate transition support for veteran women especially when #metoomilitary and toxic leadership is at odds with career success.…

Today on Women Veteran Social Justice Network podcast CEO and Founder BriGette McCoy speaks with WVSJ Utah Ambassador and former intern Sophelia Russ about being a student intern in a women veteran non profit. What it took to go after and accept a role leading programs and services for children with mental health diagnoses. Sophelia discloses how close her experiences and obstacles mirrored those of the women veteran she worked with and how interacting with the Network of women support gave her strength and confidence for self discovery to new opportunities.…

Join us today on Women Veteran Social Justice Network podcast. CEO and Founder BriGette McCoy speaks with Jason Moon the CEO and Founder of Warrior Songs non profit. Jason has a tremendous resume and many accomplishments during his 7 years of non profit work. He also is a 9/11 combat veteran, award winning music artist and nationally recognized speaker. Jason and I discuss the challenges of being non profit founders, and veterans with PTSD , overcoming obstacles to success and Volume 2 CD and what it took to get the project and the women veteran who leant their narratives to a completed product distribution of more than 2000 copies so far.…

Today on Women Veteran Social Justice Network podcast CEO and Founder BeiGette McCoy speaks  with Sr Ambassador and lead training/policy advisor Diana Danis. She served in the 1970s as the first woman radio news anchor on the American Forces Network, Europe and seven years in the Active Army Reserves as a PSYWAR Intel Analyst. Danis is a multi-faceted intergenerational leader in the women veterans community and has received many awards for her work that has included groundbreaking legislation, creation and implementation of national demonstration projects for veteran homelessness and diversity, and in 1986 was the founder of the first national social justice organization for women veterans in US history.…

Retired Air Force Woman Veteran, WVSJ Senior Ambassador & Award-Winning Chef Connie Baptiste shares her passion for cooking, journey to become a chef, entrepreneur and commitment to service. Chef Connie speaks candidly with host BriGette McCoy straight from the kitchen, as she prepares a delicious menu to feed the hearts and souls of women veteran, civilians and their families at Big Canoe.…

A Veteran’s Day Retreat, Women Veteran, their children, and civilian women- all women came together in honor of service.  During that time we took a moment to reflect and create beautiful poetry.  The unique collaboration provides our listeners to hear poets from cross generations, to empower and inspire one another for a collective purpose.…

Make your vote count during the 2018 Midterm Election. Voice your choice on issues impacting our active military and veteran communities. Standup and be a part of the process! Join us on the Women Veteran Social Network Podcast with our guest Activist, Army Veteran, former Executive Director of National Women’s Veterans Conference and WVSJ Senior Advisor Diana Danis. Diana will share insight on key topics heating up the campaign trail for voters from across the country.…