In addition to the Sparks discussion Program, DJD Foundation is excited to present Duty: War's Impact on Women in Fallon Nevada! November 2 1-5 PM and Nov. 3 12-2 PM. American Legion Post #16 hosts this event at 90 Ada Street in Fallon.  This event is open to all, appropriate for mature audiences. You are encouraged to attend both days. DJD Foundation is offering a commemorative gift for all who complete both days. Register for Fallon's Duty: War's Impact on Women here.

DJD Foundation is a proud awardee of National Endowment for the Humanities "Dialogues on Experience of War" grant program #nehgrants.  We have used this opportunity to develop a  community discussion program for Nevada communities that will address a range of topics including military service, experiences with war and physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual impacts on women, individuals, families and communities. Duty: War's Impact on Women is designed to encourage diverse voices and opinions from everyone, veterans, their family members, close friends and community members regarding issues veterans face as they return to civilian life, and conversely, issues military families, friends and communities face as they embrace reintegrating veterans. 

The Legend of 1000 Combat Paper Cranes is derived from the Japanese legend of 1000 origami cranes: whosoever folds 1000 cranes experiences answer to prayer. Participate in the construction of 1000 origami combat paper cranes; combat paper is hand made paper, made from military uniforms.This meaningful activity will result public art that honors and commemorates experience with war and military service. Paired with Duty: War's Impact on Women, The Legend of 1000 Combat Paper Cranes offers a constructive and symbolic activity to complement the outcomes of the Dialogue on the Experience with War discussion program.

Trained discussion facilitators will lead question-based conversations to stimulate critical thinking and to draw out ideas and underlying presuppositions, using selected literature and humanities resources to initiate and guide discussions surrounding the theme of duty, homecoming, and reintegration. The selected literature includes Shadow Shapes, Journal of a Wounded Woman, by Elizabeth Shepley-Sergeant and I Am Still Standing-From Captive US Soldier to Free Citizen, My Journey Home, by Shoshana Johnson and Socrates Café, by Christopher Phillips.

Meet the Facilitators for the Fallon Event:

Julie King currently lives in Fallon, Nevada. She served in the army, 1974-78. Julie taught college English and Core Humanities  for nearly 3 decades. She participated in the Nevada Humanities Speakers on the Road Program for 2 years. In 2014, she joined the Northern NV Veterans Writing Group, a collaboration between Reno Vet Center and David J. Drakulich Foundation. She is passionate about Duty: War’s Impact on Women because through dialogue, ideas come to light and create action. Her concern is the disconnect between the civilian world and the people who serve. She believes that a better understanding of what it means to serve your country in the military and in times of war will help to foster better reintegration of soldiers into the world they have risked their lives to protect. She looks forward to highlighting women’s service and war’s impact on communities.
 
Dr. Noel Lipana, Doctor of Social Work, currently lives in Folsom, California with his wife, currently serving, and two young children. Dr. Lipana served 20 years between Active Duty and the National Guard and deployed to Afghanistan, 2007-2008. He received the Homewood Mental Health Treatment Award for Best Presentation, focused on improving and innovating clinical mental health practice at the Canadian Institute for Veteran Health Research. Dr. Lipana has testified before the Canadian House of Commons Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs on barriers to transition. He hopes to develop public discourse about the current civilian-military divide, the costs of war, and to help bring awareness to the moral costs of combat through the Duty: War’s Impact on Women discussion program.

Support local veterans and participate in a community art project!

DJD Foundation is proud to present Duty War's Impact on Women and The Legend of 1000 Combat Paper Cranes, hosted by the American Legion Post #30 in Sparks, 730 4th Street, Sparks, NV. This event is open to all, appropriate for mature audiences. You are encouraged to attend all three days.  DJD Foundation is offering a commemorative gift for all who complete the three days.

Easily register here:
October 14, 6-9 pm
October 15, 6-9 pm
October 16, 6-9 pm

DJD Foundation is a proud awardee of National Endowment for the Humanities "Dialogues on Experience of War" grant program #nehgrants.  We have used this opportunity to develop a  community discussion program for Nevada communities that will addressing a range of topics including military service, experiences with war and physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual impacts on women, individuals, families and communities. Duty: War's Impact on Women is designed to encourage diverse voices and opinions from veterans, their family members, close friends and community members regarding issues veterans face as they return to civilian life, and conversely, issues military families, friends and communities face as they embrace reintegrating veterans. 

The Legend of 1000 Combat Paper Cranes is derived from the Japanese legend of 1000 origami cranes: whosoever folds 1000 cranes experiences answer to prayer. Participate in the construction of 1000 origami combat paper cranes; combat paper is hand made paper, made from military uniforms.This meaningful activity will result public art that honors and commemorates experience with war and military service. Paired with Duty: War's Impact on Women, The Legend of 1000 Combat Paper Cranes offers a constructive and symbolic activity to complement the outcomes of the Dialogue on the Experience with War discussion program.

Trained discussion facilitators will lead question-based conversations to stimulate critical thinking and to draw out ideas and underlying presuppositions, using selected literature and humanities resources to initiate and guide discussions surrounding the theme of duty, homecoming, and reintegration. The selected literature includes Shadow Shapes, Journal of a Wounded Woman, by Elizabeth Shepley-Sergeant and I Am Still Standing-From Captive US Soldier to Free Citizen, My Journey Home, by Shoshana Johnson and Socrates Café, by Christopher Phillips.

Meet the Facilitators for the Sparks Event:

Anthony “Gene” Hughes is a professional artist living in Reno, Nevada.  Gene served in the US Army and is passionate about working with veterans, helping them to express themselves through visual art. He currently teaches visual art to veterans for the Veterans Art Project, a collaboration between DJD Foundation and VA Sierra Nevada Health Care Systems. Gene wishes to continue to build art programming that shares the voices of veterans with the civilian community.

Amber Valencia served 8 years in the US Army, and was deployed twice to Afghanistan with Operation Enduring Freedom. “Being a female veteran impacted my life in all different ways, some good and some not so good, so I feel that it is important to share those experiences and how I moved forward to empower myself and others." Amber hopes to help the civilian community build stronger relationships with veterans; her vision is a strong, supportive, community shared by veterans and civilians. She believes that veterans belong in the communities they serve and protect. Amber Valencia lives in Dayton, Nevada. She is a wife and mother of three.  

 

DJD Foundation is proud to introduce our Duty: War's Impact on Women Discussion Group Facilitators, Barry Peterson, Noel Lipana, Luana Ritch, Eric Hobson and Julie King participated with Tina Drakulich in writing the proposal to National Endowment for the Humanities, Education Division's Dialogues on Experiences with War, which was approved this spring. This team is also responsible for putting together the quality preparatory program and curriculum that is used to train the cadre of discussion leaders. On August 16th, 2019, the training will commence.  In our next blog post, we will introduce our crew of discussion program leaders and announce the scheduled events. We are thankful for their efforts! 

Getting ready for Valentines Day?  We are here to help.  You can buy handmade valentines, arts and crafts from local artists for your valentines.  Featuring Combat Paper, that is handmade paper made of military uniforms-- the most meaningful paper in the world!  Your purchase benefits artists and veterans in our community.  Join us!

​

Thank you! Your overwhelming support of DJD Foundation is deeply appreciated.  We did not win, but thank you, we know you are there for us. Your votes inspire us to fortify our programs and projects designed to honor, assist and empower and showcase the wellness of veterans and the military connected community through the arts and recreation.

Congratulations to Veterans Guest House, Assistance League Reno-Sparks, and TMCC Veterans Resource Center, we know you will continue to serve our community with excellence.
Our hats are off to all of our competitors, who serve our shared military connected community. DJD Foundation is appreciative of the Truckee Meadows Community and its commitment to the veteran and military connected community.

​

Vote for David J. Drakulich Foundation in NV Energy's Power of the Good Cash Giveaway. Vote Daily starting March 12 and ending March 16, 2018.  Thank you for your important vote!