News
Aura Home for Women Veterans Opens in Asheville
Sunday, March 6, 2016 | Category: Housing/Experiencing Homelessness - North Carolina
North Carolina has some of the highest numbers of homeless women veterans in the country. The Aura Home for Women Veterans will assist women with military service who are experiencing homelessness to find long-term housing and employment. The organization opened a new office in the United Way building on South French Broad Avenue on March 6, 2016.
Making the Connection': Women Veterans Conference
Friday, March 4, 2016 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - California
Ms. Lindsey Sin, California's Deputy Secretary of Women Veterans Affairs is the speaker at Cal State Fullerton's fourth annual Women Veterans in Higher Education Conference scheduled for March 5, 2016. The conference theme is “Making the Connection: Mentoring, Networking & Sharing Our Experiences” is the theme of the fourth annual Women Veterans in Higher Education Conference at Cal State Fullerton.
Labor Department Offers Career Boost for Women Veterans
Friday, March 4, 2016 | Category: Employment - National
Nancy Glowacki, the women veteran program manager of the U.S. Labor Department's Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS), notes that “transitioning service members and veterans may experience culture shock, difficulty translating their skills for the civilian work environment, unfamiliarity with the civilian job search process, and more.” VETS added the "Employment Assistance for Women Veterans Webinar" to its webpage. “In this 31-minute video, women veterans can learn about free self-paced classes available online, free individualized services in their local community where veterans receive priority of service, and more intensive case management for veterans who have greater challenges with employment,” says Glowacki.
Celebrating Women in the Military: Inaugural Women Veterans Symposium held at OSU
Thursday, March 3, 2016 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - Oklahoma
Servicewomen and women veterans gathered Thursday at Oklahoma State University for the inaugural Women Veterans Symposium. The conference focused on how women veterans are well prepared to be leaders throughout the community, state, and nation. Retired Major General Rita Aragon, the keynote speaker, shared how women’s roles in the military have changed over time.
First Female Thunderbird Pilot Helping to Showcase Women Veterans’ Stories
Thursday, March 3, 2016 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - National
Colonel Nicole Malachowski, the first female Air Force Thunderbird pilot, joined forces with First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden to promote a social media campaign, #WomenVets, to spotlight women veterans' stories. They goal is two pronged: enhance the image of women veterans and encourage the 200,000 service women now in the military to use their benefits and services when they become veterans. Mrs. Obama shared that only one in 10 women veterans use GI Bill benefits and 75 percent of women veterans don’t use the Veterans Affairs health care system. And, there is a continuing challenge: “One striking reality is that many women veterans don’t self-identify as veterans,” she said.
First Lady Asks Women Veterans to Share Their Stories
Wednesday, March 2, 2016 | Category: History/Heritage - National
During a Women’s History Month event at the Capitol, Mrs. Obama encouraged women with military service to tell their stories. Brigadier General Wilma Vaught was honored at the event during which she recounted some her experiences. While women have overcome many challenges, the future holds many more as women enter all combat occupations. General Vaught reinforced that many women veterans still do not self-identify as veterans and are missing out on many services and benefits they've earned.
This Is How March Became Women’s History Month
Monday, February 29, 2016 | Category: History/Heritage - National
Time offers a brief history of the origin of "Women's History Month," noting that many of the rights women now have came "surprisingly recently." Over time and gradual developments like the first "Woman's Day" on February 28 1909, it was President Jimmy Carter who proclaimed the first national Women’s History Week for March 2-8, 1980.
'I'm A Female And I'm A Veteran ... Those 2 Things Are Not Mutually Exclusive'
Saturday, February 27, 2016 | Category: History/Heritage - National
Two women share their experiences and how the policies and laws have changed since they entered the military in 1973 and around 1993. Their service, along with millions of other women, will soon culminate a historic first for female service members when the military opens all front-line combat roles to women across all branches in April 2016.
Museum Program Highlights Native American Women Vets
Friday, February 26, 2016 | Category: History/Heritage - Nebraska
In conjunction with the Sarpy County Museum annual theme of Native American history, there will be a presentation on Sunday, February 28, 2016 about Native American women who served during World War II and how their tribal identities influenced their military experience and community service. Although limited information about their lives and military experiences is available, it is estimated that 800 enlisted during WWII.
Women Veterans Find Voice in Writing
Friday, February 26, 2016 | Category: Arts - District of Columbia
Veterans in the Washington D.C. area have used "The Veterans Writing Project" for the past four years to express themselves through various forms of writing. For the first time, women veterans were the spotlighted publishers in the latest literary journal, "O-Dark-Thirty." Around 23 women contributed nonfiction essays, poetry and fiction. Only about 5 percent of around 400 women who submitted pieces for the journal made the cut. Editors noted that "honesty was something that continually stood out...writers wrote about things women on active duty didn’t talk about for the fear of seeming weak."