There are many issues we've brought up and discussed about NYC veterans, but it's always a great day when we can celebrate a win, connect with City officials, and also visit with great organizations and veterans who are active with our community.
Our report last month, Change is Essential, showed that veteran designation on IDNYC cards is important to our community, and we recommended that the IDNYC define veterans according to the inclusive definition of the City Charter. Although veteran designation on IDNYC cards has been in the works for some months, our survey and recommendation helped to push this program to its final implementation as a high-quality, inclusive program for NYC's veterans.
In short: we got exactly what we asked for with IDNYC. It's now up to us to sign up!
After a "soft" rollout over the last few weeks--IDNYC is now out in full force for veterans at all IDNYC issuing locations, and the newest pop-up site for veterans is at The Mission Continues office in Manhattan. Today we had the opportunity to join the Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs and our friends at The Mission Continues to celebrate the start of their new IDNYC veterans pop-up site. It was a great way to start the day, and to wrap up our best week yet for the NYC Veterans Alliance. (ICYMI: http://bit.ly/1LYO5w6)
NYC Veterans Alliance Interim Director, Kristen Rouse, signs up for IDNYC at the offices of The Mission Continues on July 31. (Photo by M. Webber, Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs)
It was great to come together with fellow veterans and leaders, have a friendly chat with Commissioner Sutton and her staff, and sign up for an IDNYC card with veteran designation. It's great to find common ground where we are in solid agreement on this city policy, and to celebrate that win together. It was great also to sign up as part of a Mission Continues service platoon, which will keep us updated on service projects in our community that we can jump in and help with whenever we can. The Mission Continues welcomes veterans of all service eras to join in and serve our local communities through service projects, and is a great way to continue our service and connect with our communities as part of a team of veterans.
This pop-up site is a win-win for veterans who want to get more involved in our communities, as well as to sign up for a new IDNYC with veteran designation. Please feel free to stop by The Mission Continues, Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, at 65 Broadway, Suite 1803--today until August 6.
Previous veterans pop-up sites have been at the Bronx VA Medical Center and with our friends at Services for the UnderServed in Queens, which wraps up today. Veterans can also sign up for IDNYC with veteran designation by making an appointment at any IDNYC issuing location, which can be done HERE or by calling 311. Make sure you bring proof of service and NYC residency, which are explained HERE.
IDNYC gives veterans a relatively easy way of getting an ID that recognizes both our service and our status as proud NYC residents. Plus there are a number of really nice benefits that NYC businesses, cultural institutions, and other organizations want to offer us in recognition of our military service (see below).
We want to show NYC government that we want to stand up and be recognized, and IDNYC is a great way to identify ourselves as proud NYC veterans. Please visit our friends at The Mission Continues before August 6 if you can, or sign up for an appointment at an IDNYC office convenient for you.
#NYCVetsMatter, and each IDNYC with veteran designation matters. Be sure to get yours!
