The Cuyahoga County Veterans Service Commission (CCVSC) is at it again.
Their Healthy Veteran Community initiative met again for the third time. The
goal is to provide an open forum to discuss issues facing veterans and their families. Previous meetings uncovered the need to engage younger veterans and to
build Honor Guard teams in support of veterans’ burials.
At the meeting in March, it was suggested that the CCVSC host their meeting at
Top Golf, and that is exactly what they did. The results: more engagement from
younger veterans, a more relaxed environment, and some all-around good times.
With their highest turnout yet, the Healthy Veteran Community initiative took
a step forward. Nearly 50 people were in attendance. Veterans, dependents, and
concerned advocates showed up to provide insight on how we can continue to
grow and enhance our Veteran Community. The Veterans Service Commission
gladly volunteered to share what they learned. After all, what good is the information
if it is not spread to those who can use it?
Jon Reiss, Executive Director/CEO of the Veterans Service Commission, stated,
“Anytime we are able to come together and share ideas, we should. It is the
collective knowledge, strength, and commitment that will drive success in our
community.”
Veterans’ engagement is complex, but there were several great recommendations
from the group. Here’s what we learned at Top Golf. Engage veterans through
underutilized channels. Sports partnerships, billboards, engagement at YMCAs,
and, of course, social media are some of the key takeaways. “Social media is our
culture,” stated one veteran. The good recommendations didn’t just stop with
advertising channels.
Younger veterans are still raising small children, and there was a key call to
action. Don’t forget about the families. Engage through the YMCA and build
playgrounds at the VFW or American Legion posts. Host events that are
family-friendly, like roller skating or ice skating. The thought: veterans want to
engage, but they don’t fly solo.
The last message, don’t forget about the work already being done. Shout-outs
were made to the Parma Senior Veterans Association, The Home Depot Founda-
tion, and Swagelok. These organizations represent strong collaboration (Parma),
philanthropy (Home Depot), and engaged veteran-friendly employers (Swage-
lok). There are so many organizations doing great work and engaging at all levels.
If we can work together, we can reach and engage more veterans.
Jon Reiss believes that collaboration and partnership are our path forward, “Our
community network is large and engaged. As leaders in this community, we must
find better ways to maximize that value. How can we get information to more
people? I think the answer is to challenge our partners to know more about each
other and share that information.”
A Healthy Veteran Community, an initiative started by the CCVSC, is a com-
munity-wide call to action. An opportunity to engage leaders, share ideas, and
have your voice heard. The next meeting will take place at the Veterans Service
Commission’s new HQ, scheduled to open in December. As the date approaches,
keep an eye out for Facebook advertisements and here in the Chronicle for more
specific information.
Remember, the input at these meetings will inform the discussions of leaders in
the Veteran Community. Do you want to be a part of that discussion or let others
shape the landscape? If you are interested in more information, be sure to follow
the CCVSC on Facebook and/or attend an upcoming CCVSC Board Meeting.
For additional news and information, please contact:
Jon Reiss
Executive Director/CEO
Cuyahoga County Veterans Service Commission
Office: 216-698-2611
Cell: 216-212-4591
Fax: 216-698-2652
[email protected]