Creating Space for Veteran Stories

Katie Ettl (she/her)

Communications & Public Relations

Coordinator

Compact

Goals:

Provide creative examples to promote storytelling as an empowering experience

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Gain knowledge on amplifying your mission and organization’s goals through ethical storytelling

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Creating Space for Veteran Stories

What to look out for:

• We know that veterans are more at risk for social isolation; PTSD and homelessness also increase a sense of otherness
• Veterans have the tendency to historicize their lived experiences
• Veterans also can have a strong sense of duty to others and can be motivated to be of service to fellow veterans

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We can do our part to dismantle stereotypes; veterans are everyone and everywhere.

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Creating Space for Veteran Stories

Navigating Veteran Stories

Swords uses the principles of Cultural Humility to make sure interactions between staff and veterans are inclusive and welcoming

• The principles include redressing power imbalances, acknowledging privilege, and active listening (Tervalon & Murray Garcia, 1998)
• A tool to help ensure our work ends up empowering a veteran through storytelling rather than it feeling like a transactional experience
• Assists you in navigating traumatic memories with a veteran and going at their pace

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Tools for honest stories:

Creating Space for Veteran Stories

Cultural Humility

Presenting the Opportunity

Empowering the veteran at every step of the way: consent and communication are key!

Creating Space for Veterna Stories

Your duty as a communications professional/staff member:

• Create clear lines of communication that amend to their needs
• Produce a timeline of the project to share and a description of how you archive stories
• Delineating the audience to the veteran is helpful: who will their story reach?

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• Prioritizes the humanity and perspective of the subjects within the narrative
• Centers the veteran as the experts of their own narratives
• Frames the veteran by their aspirations and contributions rather than by their temporary barriers
• Results are not always traditional or conventional, but they are honest

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Tools for honest stories:

Creating Space for Veteran Stories

Ethical Storytelling

Expanding Definitions of Success:

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Life is complicated and can’t be wrapped up with a bow. Welcoming those truths allows for a genuine experience for the veteran.

• Increasing awareness on veteran issues
• A healing step to acknowledge one’s growth and overcoming pain, addiction, or other struggles

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What’s empowering about sharing stories?

• Strengthens the feeling of ownership over one’s life
• Builds community

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Creating Space for Veteran Stories

Compact

“My neighbors know me as someone who can help them with technology, and it makes me feel more connected and welcome here.”

Meet Ivy Dragyn

Her story:

• Served in the Navy for 8 years, where she first became interested in computers
• Lost steady employment during COVID-19 and experienced housing insecurity
• Ivy’s move to JWPVC has allowed her to decompress and access the resources she needs to work on her wellbeing
• Ivy built her own computer during hre first year as a resident at Jon W. Paulson Veterans Community

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Ivy, US Navy veteran and resident in Swords’ Housing

Creating Space for Veteran Stories

“We’re proud of our community- many residents here are talented,” Kenyon Wingo, Swords’ staff shares, “What Ivy does is impressive, and I appreciate having her around to show others what’s possible.”

• Research publications, reporters, and creators who produce work that align with your organization’s mission
• Set up introductory meetings to orient them on your service population
• B the primary contact to coordinate between a veteran and a media partner

External media partners

It Takes Community!

Ethical storytelling takes time. Don’t expect to always get a veteran’s full story in one interview. Work with your colleagues to figure out accessible methods to promote storytelling as a path to healing.

Creating Space for Veteran Stories

E-mail

katie.ettl@stp-sf.org;

communications@stp-sf.org

Website

www.swords-to-plowshares.org

Social Media

@vetshelpingvets on all social platforms!

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Thank you!