Podcasts about veterans matter

On Day 3 of Veterans Saves Week, Krystel and Amelia tackle the unique housing challenges veterans face and share valuable resources for securing affordable housing. Whether you're working toward homeownership, renting, or facing other housing hurdles, today's episode is packed with practical tips and guidance to help you meet your housing needs. Segments: Save or Skip: In today's "Save or Skip" segment, we explore what to do if you're a veteran facing a rent increase that could strain your budget. We offer a balanced approach to help you decide if you should "save" by staying put with support or "skip" and look for a new home. Homeownership Support: VA Loans: Learn how VA loans provide competitive rates, often with no down payment, to help veterans achieve homeownership. We discuss why it's essential to compare offers to ensure you're getting the best deal. VA Grants for Home Modifications: Discover how these grants can help veterans modify their homes to improve accessibility, especially for those with disabilities. Resources for Current Homeowners: If you're a homeowner facing financial challenges, we discuss housing counselors and VA services that can help you stay on top of mortgage payments. Rental Assistance and Tenant Rights: HUD-VASH Program: A collaborative program between HUD and the VA that provides rental assistance vouchers to unhoused veterans. Affordable Rental Resources: Veterans not yet ready to buy can find affordable rental housing through VA resources and local organizations. Tenant Rights: Knowing your rights protects you from unfair practices and discrimination in housing. Support for Unhoused Veterans: For veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness, the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans connects them to local support to stabilize their housing situation. Links & Resources: Resources for Veterans Having Difficulty Making Mortgage Payments The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)   is committed to ending Veteran homelessness and works with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to offer programs for housing vouchers for Veterans in need of permanent housing.   The National Call Center for Homeless Veterans  helps Veterans in need of immediate assistance to avoid eviction or loss of housing. Trained VA counselors are on hand 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help. You can reach them at 1-877-4AID VET or (877) 424-3838.  Veterans Matter helps house homeless veterans and their families who qualify for VA/HUD-VASH housing vouchers. It is a nationwide program that works to help veterans find housing quickly by helping with rental deposits and first month's rent. You can reach them by calling (567) 698-7838.  National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) provides emergency and supportive housing along with food, health services, job training, and placement assistance.  Their website also offers a searchable database that you can use to find organizations in your state that provide services. You can reach them by calling 1-800-VET-HELP or 1-800-838-4357.   You can find additional resources in your area by searching the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's  Federal Rental Assistance webpage. There you can find out what assistance is available, what it covers, how it works, and who is eligible.    _______ Tune in tomorrow for the final day of Veteran Saves Week, where we'll discuss the financial transition from military to civilian life. Remember: Veterans deserve accessible, affordable housing, and support is available to help at every stage.

Join us on The Freedom Achievers Podcast for an insightful episode titled "Veterans Matter!!" featuring special guest Alex Jimenez. In this episode, we delve into the significance of veterans' experiences and contributions to society. Alex shares his firsthand insights, shedding light on the challenges veterans face and the importance of honoring their service. From personal anecdotes to broader discussions on societal attitudes towards veterans, this episode is a compelling exploration of why veterans truly matter. Tune in as we celebrate their sacrifices, resilience, and ongoing impact on our communities. Plus, don't miss our discussion on the VA Loan, exploring its benefits and how it supports veterans in achieving their housing goals.   GET A COPY OF MY NEW BOOK: THE TRUTH ABOUT FAILURE AND LEARN HOW TO GET FREE ACCESS TO THE TRAINING:  https://www.truthaboutfailure.com/ JOIN MY COACHING ACADEMY:  https://freedomachieveracademy.com/join

Join Danny Marang & Brandon Sprague for a live show covering the last week for the Portland Trail Blazers - as the Blazers are getting healthy you can see the identity of the team forming. Jerami Grant, Malcolm Brogdan and Deandre Ayton are carrying the load for the Blazers as younger players like Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson, Toumani Camara, and Jabari Walker find their ways in the NBA. Are the Blazers handling the process right? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

5:30 Club, Suzie is out sick + Did your parents give you the sex talk + Phone calls, listeners love to talk sex + Shawn from Veterans Matter to give us the disco party numbers & much more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

December 26, 2021: Hopes for a brand new vaccine one year ago, thousands sidelined from their jobs, and now local government is just flush with cash! Help house veterans with Veterans Matter. Guests include Gary Byers, Denny Schaffer and Shawn Clark Lucas County Commissioner Gary Byers, Longtime radio host Denny Schaffer and Shawn Clark from Veterans Matter

This episode of Borne the Battle – a benefits breakdown – features HUD-VASH, a collaborative program between HUD and VA that provides support to help homeless Veterans and their families – and those at risk of becoming homeless – to find and sustain permanent housing.Veterans Matter is one of the many nonprofits which work alongside and enhance HUD-VASH's ability to reduce homelessness among Veterans.According to the 2020 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress, there were 37,252 homeless Veterans in 2020, and 15,204 of those Veterans were unsheltered.For Meghan Deal, national director of the HUD-VASH Program, and Ken Leslie, a former homeless man and founder of Veterans Matter, these troubling statistics are an indication of the importance of their work. In this episode of Borne the Battle, Deal and Leslie answer these questions and more: What motivates them to help Veterans despite not being Veterans themselves? What does help from HUD-VASH and nonprofits like Veterans Matter look like? What makes a Veteran eligible for HUD-VASH assistance?What makes a Veteran “homeless?” How can people get involved with helping homeless Veterans in their community? If you are a Veteran who is homeless or at risk of homelessness, call 1-877-424-3838 for immediate assistance.The HUD-VASH program also has resources geared specifically for the Native American Veteran population. For tribes that are interested in providing rental assistance and supportive services to Native American Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, read up on Tribal HUD-VASH and considering submitting an application.Having access to safe and adequate housing is a human right. If you know a Veteran who is homeless or at imminent risk of being homeless, encourage them to call VA for assistance. There are people working for and alongside VA, like Deal and Leslie, who are committed to rooting out homelessness and are standing by ready to help.Borne the Battle Veterans of the Week: Marine Veteran Darin T. Hoover of Salt Lake City Utah Marine Veteran Johanny Rosario Pichardo of Lawrence Massachusetts Marine Veteran Nicole Gee of Sacramento, California Marine Veteran Hunter Lopez of Indio, California Marine Veteran Daegan Page of Omaha, Nebraska Marine Veteran Humberto Sanchez of Logansport Indiana Marine Veteran David Espinoza of Rio Bravo, Texas Marine Veteran Jared Schmitz of St. Charles, Missouri Marine Veteran Rylee McCollum of Jackson, Wyoming Marine Veteran Dylan Merola of Rancho Cucamonga, California Marine Veteran Kareem Nikoui of Norco, California Navy Veteran Maxton Soviak of Berlin Heights, Ohio Army Veteran Ryan Knauss of Corryton, Tennessee Additional Links: Check out the Borne the Battle episode on Supportive Services for Veteran Families, another VA program helping tackle Veteran homelessness in its own way. The VA recently announced its Specially Adapted Housing Assistive Technology Grants to enhance Veterans' abilities to live comfortably in specially adapted homes. VA expands rental support, increasing housing options for Veterans

Do vets matter to the media and does the media matter to vets? The answer is of course, yes. But in what ways do vets matter to the media? As props? As confirmation of prior biases? And how do vets engage with the media? Does it give a voice to the voiceless? Does the media generate more heat than light in the veteran community? I discuss all this and more with American Warrior Radio's Ben Beuhler-Garcia, author, columnist, music video director and Warfighter Rights leader Boone Cutler, and Havok Journal owner Charlie Faint.   Show Alibis I think it's safe to say, this was the first episode I didn't feel needed. Ben is a very experienced host and Boone is a prolific talker. It's a good thing too. Charlie and I had just recorded the pilot episode of the Savage Wonder podcast (links coming soon!) and my synapses were, frankly, a little fried by the time I hit record on this one. But with pros like Ben and Boone on, it was easy to find grist for the mill and put together a decent episode.   Yeah, this episode was about the media. But it's funny – and I blame the news coming out of Afghanistan for this – we ended up veering into veteran health and wellbeing for a second week in a row. It's more of a natural transition than you think – if the media can cause a lot of heartburn and imbalance, it's good for vets to have a way to detox. If you don't know about Boone's Spartan Pledge initiative – check it out in the Show Notes below. Very timely, especially as many of us digest the latest from Afghanistan.   Show Notes Americanwarriorradio.com 9/11 Tower Challenge Foundation The Spartan Pledge Functional Personal Lifestyle by Boone Cutler and Geoff Dardia Voodoo In Sadr City by Boone Cutler Second Mission Foundation Violence of Action by Marty Skovlund Jr., Leo Jenkins, and Charlie Faint Veterans Repertory Theater

5:30 Club + What's the best thing that happened to you over the weekend + Suzie has BIG NEWS + Ken Leslie from Veterans Matter w/the disco party numbers! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gail, has always had a passion for the great outdoors and nature, this started at an early age where the family garden was Gail's place to escape. Having a parent with mental health issues Gail found peace and head space when outdoors. As an adult it was during one of her outdoor retreats that Gail meet Dr Andrew Steele who brough the PAP Foundation over from Asia , kids planting trees how fabulous Andrew then started inviting veterans along and it became very therapeutic. Tree secretes actual aromatherapy oils, it takes about 20 minutes apparently, it's called forest bathing. This was my motivation for changing my recruitment business and focusing on aligning veterans with roles in civvy street. Veterans by nature of their careers are dedicated, loyal , team players, hard working and determined. Finding the right people for the right roles is very rewarding, add to that a veteran who is transitioning into life in civvy street, potentially with trauma and finding them the right role is special. Www.Gail Acaster.co.uk @gailacaster on Twitter https://youtube.com/channel/UC2_K4nTh4Y4ypVuYkF9bLRA http://linkedin.com/in/gail-acaster-0868b2b2 GA Recruitment ltd on Facebook GA Recruitment ltd on Instagram

5:30 Club where Denny is back in the building + What was the best thing that happened to you over the weekend + Genesis tix + Ken Leslie from Veterans Matter & "The Doug Open! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning Veterans, Family, and Friends, welcome back to the TWELFTH EPISODE of the Veteran Doctor. On this week's podcast, we will discuss Three Issues Facing Veterans in Your Community. We will also continue our fun facts of UBI (Useful Bits of Information) and Veteran News, so stick around for the program! There are three primary issues that face veterans in almost every community at one point in their lives; unemployment, homelessness, and suicide. If it doesn’t, then you are one of the lucky ones, but for many, this is their reality. Veterans bring many skills to the table, and many of these skills that have been learned in the military can benefit their communities once they’ve been discharged. Often, a veteran needs a helping hand to get reintegrated into their communities to become a functioning member. While veterans have unique skills, they also possess unique hurdles, including higher rates of unemployment, homelessness, and suicide, but with the help of their communities, they can overcome these obstacles. Many need help at the right time – especially offered by the proper people, organizations, and businesses in their communities. Veteran Unemployment Veteran unemployment is twice the national average. A Veterans’ most significant obstacles in obtaining employment are translating their military background into a work experience that is easily understandable by civilians, that meets the licensing requirements, and finding jobs while being disabled. As veterans become older and the longer, he or she has been separated from military service, the better their prospects are for employment. While eighty percent of military jobs have a civilian counterpart, the licensing requirements usually differ. This requires the veteran to go through civilian education in a field that they have already mastered. Also, the educational and testing requirements may vary from state to state. The Veterans Administration (VA) will help pay for testing, but the cost of education usually will fall on the veteran, which can be very expensive. The 29-percent service-related disability rates are higher among veterans. Most common disabilities include missing limbs, burns, hearing loss, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Veterans with service-related disabilities had an employment-population ratio of 43.3 percent, which is lower the 49-percent of the non-disabled population. The VA helps veterans by providing a Military Skills Translator, which translates military jobs into easy to read resume-ready information – and imports it to the organization’s Resume Builder. Additionally, there are exclusive unemployment benefits for veterans. The Department of Labor (DOL) partnered with the VA to offer Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment services, helping with training in developing new job skills, starting a business, or receiving education counseling. Another service, The Veterans Opportunity to Work program, can offer to extend additional vocational rehabilitation benefits for those who have completed their initial program. Rally Point provides post-military professional networking opportunities for veterans, along with Jobless Warrior providing employment and job search resources, to include career coaches and information on employers looking to hire veterans. Those veterans with service-connected disabilities have a preference when applying for specific federal jobs or potentially winning individual federal government contacts. Some Disabled veterans also are eligible for Vocational Rehabilitation. Those who hire service-disabled veterans qualify for tax incentives through the Special Employer Incentive program. The VOW program also can assist veterans in receiving disability accommodations. Veteran Homelessness One out of ten of those homeless people are veterans; 50 percent are disabled, and three-quarters of homeless veterans have some sort of mental health issues. Another 1.5 million veterans are at-risk for homelessness because of poverty, lack of support networks, and overcrowded housing. One half a million veterans pay more than one half of their total income on their rent. Many of our nation's homeless veterans, or at-risk for homelessness, have service-connected disabilities, especially mental health issues like PTSD or substance abuse issues. Unemployment can also factor in because of the inability to transition military training to civilian work. The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans stresses a need for housing, nutrition, physical, mental healthcare, and job services for our nation's homeless and at-risk veterans. The coalition reports that community-based programs to serve veterans saw the most significant success rate. The Interagency Council of Homelessness has established a benchmarking guide for communities looking to address veteran homelessness actively. This council also has published a strategy guide, recommending a public commitment to eradicating veteran homelessness; coordination programs with private landlords matching homeless vets with housing; identifying resources at the federal, state, and local levels; and coordinating with job programs to help provide training and services. The Department of Labor’s Veterans Employment and Training Service provided the availability of $12 million in funding to help veterans with job training and sustainable housing to transition them from homelessness. The VA provided housing assistance in conjunction with Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Health Care for Homeless Veterans Program, including exams, treatment, and referrals. The Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans program offered mental health and rehabilitation services and job services explicitly targeted toward our homeless veterans to help with assistance. Additionally, Veterans Matter is a nonprofit organization that provides housing to homeless veterans founded by a formerly homeless man. Veterans Matter works directly with other organizations to raise awareness and funding. Veteran Suicide Veterans represent one in five of the total population of those who die from suicide in America. Unfortunately, Twenty-two veterans will die of suicide daily. Many of those lack access to or don’t utilize available VA services that are available. There are many reasons why veterans are suffering from this issue. Many veterans suffer from isolation, have little to no meaningful social connections, and become prone to suicide issues, especially during transitional periods – such as separation from the military or changes in their lives. Unemployment and homelessness are periods that veterans may see themselves as burdens to their communities, which are significant stressors, as viewed by the veteran. The risk of suicide is most notable during the first three years following separation from the military. This isolation can be especially acute in veterans who suffer from PSTD or lost fellow service members, even if they have an adequate support system. In such cases, veterans may feel that others can't understand the trauma they have endured, causing a feeling of disconnection from society. The Center for Disease Control established in a report on suicide prevention that the following recommendations should be implemented to improve a veterans environment: strengthening financial security, encouraging emotional intelligence and identifying and intervening with those most at-risk, improving safe storage practices for firearms and medicines, stabilizing housing, increasing access to mental health care, promoting community engagement, and enhancing communication and problem-solving skills. The VA also has a dedicated suicide crisis line – call 1(800) 273-8255 or text 838255 – including helpful resources for veterans and concerned loved ones to obtain information on suicide warning signs and crisis resources. Additionally, the VA Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention has developed training called; “Signs, Ask, Validate, Encourage and Expedite” to help those who encounter veterans to recognize red-flags of suicide and act. The nonprofit Psych Armor Institute has helped provide this training covering various topics from military culture, myths, supporting veterans, and self-care. Additionally, the VA Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide addresses veteran suicide in a multi-pronged approach: visibility and awareness; preventive services; treatment and support; and research. Through knowledge, pro-active, and preventive measures and support, your community can best serve its veterans, reaping the benefits of all they have to offer in return and thanking them for their service. Conclusion Well, hopefully, this information is helpful to you, or you can share it with a fellow veteran who can use it in their life. If there is two things I learned a long time ago, Always Strive to Learn Something New Everyday! and Knowledge is Power! So, Never Stop Learning!

Ken Leslie, of Veterans Matter, spoke with Fred about covid related changes to the annual Tent City and Veterans Matter Walk events.

Tuesday, August 25, 2020 ~ Ken Leslie, Advocate in Chief for Veterans Matter talks to Frank on their National Homeless Veterans House Program’s “Cardboard2Headboard” campaign.

Tuesday, August 25, 2020 ~ Ken Leslie, Advocate in Chief for Veterans Matter talks to Frank on their National Homeless Veterans House Program’s “Cardboard2Headboard” campaign.

They are all helping Veterans during the Coronavirus Pandemic. Join host Dale Throneberry as he talks about the American Legion's "Buddy Check" Program. Talks with James JC Curleigh President and CEO of Gibson about their new project through their foundation, Gibson Gives. Gibson Gives And Sweetwater Team Up To Offer Three-Month Premium Memberships To Amped Guitar #1 Guitar Learning Tool Created By Guitar Teachers- Built On Audio Augmented Reality Download Amped Guitar,.https://conta.cc/3bIXDeg Ken Leslie of Veterans Matter and Kate Melcher from Fisher House Michigan and more. 

Toledo Strong CollaborationsLearn methods to partner for success and increase impact!Partner • Lead • SucceedProgram Content:Toledo-based leaders and professionals partner to make our community better. Learn how you can be part of the movement!Tracey Edwards, Chief Executive Officer, The National Exchange Club, and Ken Leslie, Founder and Advocate in Chief, Veterans Matter, will discuss how their two national organizations –headquartered in Toledo – have partnered for greater impact for their organizations, the community, and the country. Take away the awareness of Toledo’s role nationally, and an understanding of how you can get involved to build strong Toledo-based networks.facebook.com/events/417142559213338/?active_tab=about

Guest Adam Ingrao, a former U.S. Army soldier, devotes his life to making sure no veteran is left behind through MSU Extension services. Partnerships and Peninsulas: Why Veterans Matter Transcript Jeff Dwyer: Here's something I didn't always know. Michigan is home to more than 630,000 military veterans. When you count those who serve with them, their spouses, their partners, their children, their parents, that means that more than one in four Michiganders is a veteran or closely connected to a veteran. We rank number 11 in terms of overall veteran populations per state. What I did know is that veterans have made great sacrifices for our country and as they transition back to civilian life, they often have unique needs that deserve our attention. I'm Jeff Dwyer, Director of Michigan State University Extension. Today on Partnerships and Peninsulas, we're going to talk to Adam Ingrao, a fourth generation US Army soldier who served honorably following the 9/11 attacks as a patriot missile fire controller. Following a career ending injury, he was medically separated from the Army in 2004. His life's goal is to make sure no veteran is left behind. I was so impressed with Adam's dedication to helping his fellow veterans assimilate and find purpose that we recently hired him at Michigan State University Extension. After he finished his PhD in entomology, Dr. Adam Ingrao became the MSU Extension veteran liaison specialist. Thank you for joining me here today, Adam. Adam Ingrao:Thank you, Jeff, for having me. Dwyer:Adam, you and I first got to know each other around a program you and your wife began a few years ago called Heroes to Hives. Tell me a little bit about that and the impact that it's had on your fellow veterans. Ingrao:Well, Jeff, Heroes to Hives really was a product of my own personal experience with beekeeping and how it helped me transition from my military service. Like a lot of veterans, as you transition from the military, finding a career opportunity that is rewarding and still allows you to feel like you're serving your country is something hard to come by. For me, when I went back to school after leaving the military on my post 9/11 GI bill, beekeeping was one of the first courses I took as an undergrad. Up until that time, I had really struggled to find my place. I had really wanted to continue to serve. I didn't plan on leaving the military. That's something I had planned on doing for a career. But just like many other veterans, our service oftentimes is interrupted by injuries. So, when I came back and I found that beekeeping class my first quarter there at Cal Poly, I really started to see this healing capacity for beekeeping and also this opportunity to really have a rewarding career by serving my country by protecting the most important pollinator on the planet, honeybees. So, Heroes to Hives was really a product of that experience of my own. My wife and I moved here to Michigan in 2014 for me to come to MSU and we had started a small farm just off of MSU's campus, about a mile away, called Bee Wise Farms. We had had a discussion about how can we start to give back to our veteran community here in Michigan? We were new transplants and we wanted to get involved with the community. So, we came up with this idea to offer this program called Heroes to Hives, which is essentially a nine month beekeeping education program for military veterans and their spouses. What we do is we essentially take those veterans through an entire season of beekeeping in Michigan. They go from everything from basic biology to management all the way to overwintering practices. Then we couple that with therapeutic training. So, that program started with five veterans on our own farm. Those individuals, a couple of them that are still beekeeping today successfully, completed that program. At the time, we thought, well, this is a great program we can continue to offer at our farm, something that's fun to do. But we were approached by The AT&T Foundation to basically help us scale up the program. Fortunately, Dr. Meghan Milbrath here at MSU, a good friend of ours, worked with me to bring that over here to MSU. Now the program resides in MSU Extension as, again, a nine month beekeeping education program. Ingrao:But we have really increased the scale of that program. Now we are currently in our 2018 program, which is our second year here at MSU. We have 108 students enrolled in this program, veterans and their spouses from all over the state that are participating with each other to learn how to become beekeepers and developing a strong veteran community to support them once they get out of the program. Dwyer:It's a really terrific program and I think our listeners already can tell how brilliant we are to have asked you to join us at MSU Extension because you bring the kinds of traits and experiences and leadership abilities that we need. That reminds me, I think you and I met three or four years ago at a couple of Vets to Ag-related events that were really eye opening for me and really a terrific opportunity for me. But I remember us talking about two things. So, one is that I remember, even though you had been involved in Extension through Heroes to Hives, I remember you saying you really weren't very aware of what Extension did outside of agriculture. So, I know you've only been on the job here a handful of months, but what do you know differently now about what Extension might have to offer to all residents of Michigan, but particularly, the veterans community? Ingrao:Jeff, what I really found is that not only does Extension offer a suite of services in the agricultural realm, including 4H services, which are part of those services that are really important to military families. But what I've really found is that it goes well beyond just that agricultural respect. We involve ourselves in education programs around things like marriage and relationships, with understanding how violence prevention can be incorporated into that, we work in areas, particularly one of the areas that I'm really excited about is the area around health and nutrition, particularly around supplemental nutrition assistance benefits, SNAP benefit, through the federal government. One of the things that is striking for me, especially with veteran communities, is we have a lot of veterans that struggle with homelessness, with poverty, and a lot of those individuals struggle with those issues because of service connected disabilities. So, being able to provide them with healthy food through SNAP benefits is a really, really important thing to be able to do and really lifts those individuals up by providing them the food and the nutrition that they need. But it just doesn't stop there. Not only can you think of Extension as veteran services, so services for veterans specifically, but you can also think of Extension as services for those families, and I talked about a couple of those things, but also for veteran-owned businesses. Veterans, they are a part of this culture. When we come out of the military, the leadership training that we receive in the military is really second to none. So, when those individuals discharge, a lot of them are thinking, "I might want to go into a business on my own." There are a lot of veteran-owned businesses here in the State of Michigan. One of the things that I think is really exciting about Extension that we offer are these business-related services like the Product Center, allowing us to be able to take an idea with a value added product and bring that to market. That’s something that's very powerful and very, very beneficial for veteran-owned businesses. So, I think that what I've learned overall is that Extension offers a tremendous reach as far as these services that we provide. Like I said, I like to think of them as not just services for veterans, but for their families and for their businesses. So, we've got all of these potential services coupled in these categories that veterans can take advantage of. We actually just came out with a fact sheet here just recently about veterans' resources, particularly related to those specific areas. So, veterans that are listening to this program or individual service providers that are participating in listening to this podcast, one of the things that we need to understand as service providers, as veterans is that we should be looking at all the possible avenues for assistance. I think that Extension offers a suite of assistance services that really cover a lot of areas that are relevant to veterans and their families. Dwyer:Well, I couldn't agree more. You and I have talked about this several times, but you did touch upon the second thing I recall talking about that first day, which is if I as a leader of an organization or others are looking to bring talented people with leadership skills into an organization, why wouldn't we look to veterans? Because they have those traits. They have that experience. I think that's certainly reflected in you. But I think that's something that we're looking to do together too in the coming months and years. I think another part of Extension that fits here is the Great Lakes Leadership Academy- Ingrao:Absolutely. Dwyer:... and the opportunities to work with you and work with others and the veterans community to see, how can we help in those leadership transitions and how can we help find opportunities and help them gain entrée into other civilian opportunities that would take full advantage of their leadership experiences. So, you and I talk often about, and I've said in my two and a half years in my role as the Director of Extension, that the two things that I still find is one, the number of people who have no idea that we exist and number two, often people know us for one thing like agriculture, but then don't know other things. So, not long ago, I had the privilege of attending and speaking at a veteran's assistance day up in Iron Mountain. I know you've done similar in Sault Ste. Marie and other areas. I remember in Iron Mountain asking people about 150 people in the room to raise their hand if they knew about Extension and either five or six hands went up. Then I talked about you and talked about why we wanted so much to bring you into the organization as we've done. I said, "My goal would be that when I'm here next year that every hand goes up." I think that that's part of what we want people to understand. We know that veterans and their families have used Extension services across all of the categories in which we provide opportunity. But frankly, we've never intentionally looked to make ourselves available to that group. So, it has been a concern to me and I know to you that there are veterans and their families who have needs that we may have because we're in every county. Because we have 700 people all over the state in youth and child development and health and nutrition and agriculture and agribusiness and community resource development, we may have what they need literally around the corner in some cases. But we're a rather humble lot and we don't talk about it enough. So, I'm really thrilled that you joined us and you can help us to make these connections and I envision a world where not too far down the road, we have many more veterans. We do currently have veterans in Extension, but we have many more who are helping us grow and accomplish the things we need to do. So, now with a few months under your belt, how can veterans get ahold of us, either indirectly or directly through you, and what kinds of things might we be able to talk to them about? Ingrao:Well, we can definitely talk about the suite of different services. One of the things that I'd like to say, Jeff, before we jump into what we can offer them is that I take the approach with each veteran individually. So, as veterans contact us, and they're welcome to contact me at I-N-G-R-A-O@msu.edu through email or they can get us on our website at msue.msu.edu as well to find those veterans' resources, but one of the things that works for me really is working with these individuals on an individual basis. So, I like to get to know the veteran that we're working with. I like to understand what the dynamics are going on in their lives. Then we associate those dynamics with the services that we provide here at Extension. So, it is a case by case basis. Overall, for veterans in general and veteran service providers, the type of outreach effort that we're trying to do here at Extension is really not reinventing the wheel. It's really just connecting individuals with existing services and us as providers, as Extension, trying to understand how those services meet the needs of veterans. Now, veterans have a lot of different needs and oftentimes when we're dealing with veterans, we're also dealing with associated disabilities, oftentimes post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries that can lead to some challenges in working with individuals. So, one of the things that I think is important for us at Extension and one of the things that we'll be pursuing this year is training our staff on how to actually work with veterans, how to understand these disabilities, and how to work within them. I think that it's those types of partnerships within Extension and outside of Extension with other service providers and with veteran communities on their own that will inform us as to how best to serve those veterans. But currently, we have a suite of services to offer and I will be happy to help those individuals navigate those services that best fit their needs. One of the things that I don't like and one of the things that I learned early on working in this space with veterans, the last thing you want to do is tell a veteran that, "Okay. You called me. I'm your point of contact. You contacted me and I'm going to give you an 800 number to contact somebody else." That's not how I generally like to operate. We take a very, very close look at veterans and their needs and then try to associate those services with those needs. So, I'm not going to send you to another 800 number. We are a one stop shop and we've got a lot of services to offer. So, I'm very excited about connecting those veterans with our services. Dwyer:Right. Well, and I'm very excited about the fact that you joined more than 700 talented, experienced, well trained professionals across many different areas. And I can't imagine us doing anything more important than making more of that talent and more of that experience available to veterans and their families in the State of Michigan. Ingrao:Absolutely. We have a tremendous pool of talent. The knowledge base that we have at Extension is tremendous. So, if it's something that you're looking for as far as assistance from a veteran perspective, we more than likely have someone on staff who's an expert in that area. So, we really do have a tremendous amount of resources. I've worked in the nonprofit realm for the last five years working with veterans. One of the things that I always struggled with was not having all of those experts on hand. But even in that time, MSU Extension was always the organization that I came to to tap those experts. Really, within Extension, there is a willingness on the part of educators, specialists, and staff to want to work with veterans. They genuinely want to help those individuals. So, it's really our responsibility to bring them into the fold so that they can access those services. This campaign of getting around the state and letting veterans know that we're here and we have a whole bunch of services available, that's part of that and really just getting the word out. I couldn't be more excited about what we have to offer here at Extension for veterans. It is an exciting time for veterans in Michigan. There's a lot going on as far as veteran support services, and I think that Extension taking the lead on this by offering just the suite of services we have, having a dedicated individual to veterans is really a great start for moving that forward as far as the opportunities for veterans here in the State of Michigan. Really, just my main goal is making sure that every veteran has the opportunity to succeed. Success looks very different for many different people. But ultimately, these are the men and women who served our country. When no one else was willing to stand up, they were the ones. In my opinion, making sure that those individuals have every opportunity to succeed when they come home, that is our ultimate responsibility as citizens of this country. Dwyer:Well, I couldn't agree more. We owe veterans and their families a great deal. Ingrao:Absolutely. Dwyer:We can, in a small way through you, provide more and better services. It's really wonderful for us. So, thank you very much for being willing to join us. Ingrao:Couldn't be happier about that. Dwyer:So, let's one more time tell people how they could get in touch with you directly and then also, if they want to, I'll give you in a minute here an opportunity to give your email address. But they can also get more information and get you through msue.msu.edu and put veterans in the search box or just go to any search engine and put MSU Extension veterans and they'll get there as well. But your email address again is? Ingrao:Is I-N-G-R-A-O-A-D@msu.edu. Then for those individuals that are interested in the Heroes to Hives program, they can locate that page directly by putting in www.heroestohives.com. Dwyer:Fantastic. This is Partnerships and Peninsulas. My name is Jeff Dwyer. I have the privilege of being the Director of Michigan State University Extension. Thank you very much for being here today. Ingrao: Thank you very much, Jeff, for having me.  

Mayor, Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz will be one one of the celebrity judges for the Kielbasa Cook Off! He'll be joining Fred LeFebvre, Don Zellers, Jerry Pickering of NewsRadio 1370 WSPD & now on 92.9-fm and Ken Leslie of Veterans Matter in selecting their best amateur kielbasa maker! We are expecting a lot of folks, so NOW is the time to get your tickets early and avoid the lines.General admission is $5, P.A.C.T. members are $3, children 5 and under are FREE!So come join us Sunday, February 24th at St. Clement's Hall, 2990 Tremainsville Road.1 P.M. to 6 P.M.We'll have other items like Sweet and Sour kapusta, Mizeria (cucumber salad), Placek, Pączki, sodas, water, domestic and Polish beer! Busia's Pierogi Shack will be there selling frozen pierogi and soups!Music will be provided by Sunday Morning Polka Show.So a great time is to be had for all!!Na Zdrowie!

Louise Kachmarik & Ken Leslie stop by to talk about the Veterans Matter Chili Cook OffNationalExchangeClub.org

Episode 28 of the Toledo Matters Podcast – Ken Leslie, Founder of 1matters.org, Veterans Matter, and Tent City ——————————————————— With Bob Tucker, Danny Woodcock, & Nathan Lewis ——————————————————— What's happening in the 419: Tonight - Thursday - 9/29 Startup Toledo September, Buchanan + Nipper
Join us this month as patent attorney and history buff, J. Matthew Buchanan shares stories from Toledo's Golden Age of Innovation. This Weekend is homecoming at BG, enjoy your weekend Falcons! Next weekend, you’re getting crushed by the rockets ;) Next Thursday - 10/6 
Toledo Symphony and Arts Commission, Murder Set in Glass - Murder Mystery at the Toledo Club set in 1905. When the family’s favorite son returns home from war, all hell breaks loose and the father of the family ends up dead. ——————————————————— Today’s Guests: ***Ken Leslie*** - Former Standup Comedian - Founder, 1matters.org - Founder and Event Organizer, Tent City - Founder, Veterans Matter Favorite Toledo Hidden Gem - Black Swamp Blues Society Links: www.1matters.org www.1matters.org/tentcity/ www.blackswampbluessociety.org/ **Royalty music provided by Bensound

Episode 26 of the Toledo Matters Podcast – David Mann, President of the Lucas County Land Bank ——————————————————— With Bob Tucker, Danny Woodcock, & Nathan Lewis ——————————————————— What’s Happening in the 419: Tonight – Thursday August 18th EPIC Toledo is hosting their monthly Social at Fleetwoods. Join the areas premier young professionals group for a night of laughs, socializing, and cocktails. Event starts at :530, more info at epictoledo.com Startup Toledo is hosting their August Gathering at Central Classic Cars & Genius Garage and throughout the night they will be raffling off a ride in these bad boys: 1969 Jaguar XK-E, 1965 Ford GT40 replica, and a 1996 Caterham Lotus Super 7. If you’re interested in startups, entrepreneurship, innovation, or just the raddest classic cars – swing by Central Classic Cars & Genius Garage tonight at 6:30. More at StartupToledo.com Friday – August 19th One of Toledo’s biggest throwback parties of the year – the 80s Explosion Costume and Dance Party is popping off at 8pm at Centennial Terrace. Dancers will be boogying till midnight so dust off the roller skates and bell bottoms for a night of fun. 33rd Annual NW Ohio Rib Off taking place in the Lucas County Fairgrounds all weekend long! Come through for the ribs, stay for the rock shows! A portion of the proceeds will be benefiting Veterans Matter. Saturday – August 20th, along with the Rib Off 42nd Annual Birmingham Ethnical Festival – a celebration of the community’s long standing heritage. Ethnic foods, arts and crafts, and a plethora of music and dances to be had. Checkout birminghamethnicfestical.wordpress.com for more info. The Andrew Gulch Memorial Golf/Hockey Outing is a fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Current Toledo Wallaye and Former Toledo Storm/Goaldigger alumni are available to play in your foursome. and there’s even in a mini golf course that’s more your style! ——————————– Today’s Guests: *** David Mann *** * President of Lucas County Land Bank * Secretary, Lucas County Democratic Party Favorite hidden gem in Toledo: Toledo Repertoire Theatre – www.toledorep.com Toledo Trivia Q1: Where was the first Land Bank created? Q2: In 2009, the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, a.k.a. “HUD,” issued a report embracing Land Banks as a best practices model for municipalities dealing with the effects of the real estate market collapse and the foreclosure crisis. Who is the current U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development? Q3: Where does Lucas County’s name come from? Bonus: The Toledo Mud Hens didn’t always play downtown! Previously, they were hosted at Ned Skeldon Stadium in Maumee. Since the Hens have come downtown we’ve had a massive resurgence in entertainment! What year did Fifth Third Field Open its doors? **Royalty music provided by Bensound

For more information visit www.toledomatters.com or www.1matters.org. Episode 5 of the Toledo Matters Podcast - Sara Ottney ------------------------------------ With Bob Tucker, Danny Woodcock, and Nathan Lewis ----------------------------- Sarah Ottney is the national communications director for 1matters.org and Veterans Matter. She is the former Editor in Chief of the Toledo Free Press, and before that was the Managing Editor for the Free Press. She is a native of Northwest Ohio and is a recipient of the Toledo 20 under 40 award.

Jim Fausone sits down and talks with Ken Leslie, founder of Veterans Matter. Ken tells us more about the program and how they help to keep homeless veterans off the streets and into homes. For more information, please visit veteransmatter.org.