On Friday, April 28, 2017, the NYC Veterans Alliance, in partnership with Civic Hall and Veterans Campaign, hosted a Conversation on Service-Driven Political Leadership featuring Hon. Patrick Murphy, the first post-9/11 veteran elected to the U.S. Congress, and Hon. Charles Rangel, a decorated Korean War veteran who served 46 years in Congress.

Mr. Murphy talked with us about his service as a Solider in Iraq, followed by his service in the U.S. Congress from 2007 to 2011, as well as his work as Acting Secretary and then Undersecretary of the United States Army 2016-2017. Mr. Rangel told us some of his lesser-told stories of service in the Korean War, including his harrowing experience in the Battle of Kunu-ri and his actions as a private first class for which he was awarded a Bronze Star with Valor.

On April 29th and 30th, 2017, we will host the inaugural NYC Veteran Candidate Workshop in partnership with Veterans Campaign and Civic Hall. We will provide nonpartisan training for approximately 40 veterans and spouses from NYC and around the country to teach them the fundamentals of running for elected office.

CLICK HERE to help individual participants of our workshop as they "crowdraise" their tuition costs!

We've brought in a number of highly accomplished speakers, presenters, panelists, and distinguished visitors with diverse political and professional backgrounds to provide the highest quality training to our weekend participants:

A Conversation on Service-Driven Political Leadership will kick off the NYC Veteran Candidate Workshop, Taking Place in the Heart of Manhattan in Partnership with Veterans Campaign and Civic Hall

NEW YORK - April 20, 2017 -- NYC Veterans Alliance, a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization that empowers military veterans and their families to become politically active, in partnership with Veterans Campaign, a nonpartisan, non-ideological organization whose mission is to encourage, mentor, and prepare veterans for a “Second Service” in civic leadership, and with Civic Hall, a collaborative civic innovation center that advances the use of technology for the public good, are hosting “A Conversation on Service-Driven Political Leadership” on Friday, April 28 to kickoff their 2017 NYC Veteran Candidate Workshop at Civic Hall, 118 W. 22nd Street, New York, NY.

NYC Veterans Alliance today announced the Honorable Charles Rangel, Korean War veteran and one of the longest-serving members of Congress, and the Honorable Patrick Murphy, the first post-9/11 veteran to serve in U.S. Congress, former MSNBC host and contributor, and recent Acting Secretary and Undersecretary of the U.S. Army, will be headlining this event, which will be open to the public. As veterans who have served in U.S. Congress, Murphy and Rangel will lead an evening of conversation on service-driven political leadership discussing their experiences as candidates and public officials, and the importance of veterans serving in elected office.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

NYC Veterans Alliance Hits Major Milestones in 2016, Realizes Multiple Legislative & Policy Victories and Doubles Membership

Announces Intersections International as Fiscal Sponsor  

NEW YORK, NY – March 13, 2017 – NYC Veterans Alliance, a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization that empowers military veterans and their families to become politically active through four engaging programs – Policy & Legislative Advocacy, OurVeterans.NYC, Civic Leadership, and Get Ready to Run – today announced significant Organization milestones as well as a fiscal sponsorship with Intersections International, a New York City-based nonprofit organization dedicated to building community relationships and forging common ground.

We welcome veterans of any era and spouses from NYC and around the country, and regardless of political affiliation, to apply for our non-partisan workshop held in Manhattan on April 29-30.

Since the kickoff of our Spring 2017 Policy Agenda with our Lobby Week and “Love Our Veterans” Rally in February, we’ve been pushing NYC Council Members to support our priorities by email, direct mail, and in-person meetings with Council Members and staff. Here’s a preliminary update on how we’re doing on each of our agenda items and how you can help:

1. Protect the Budget for NYC Department of Veterans’ Services:

Update: In FY 2017, $2.9 million was allocated for 35 staff members to launch NYC’s newest agency. The Mayor’s initial budget proposal for FY 2018 reduced that amount by one staff member and $318k. Following our community’s outrage, his office announced that the position and funding will be restored in his Executive Budget that will be released in May 2017. We have been urging NYC Council members—in our public testimonies and private meetings—to likewise protect this funding level in further budget negotiations to ensure that the budget passed this June will reflect $2.9 million for DVS. We are continuing to monitor this.

On Monday, March 6, the City Council’s Veterans Committee held their preliminary budget hearing on funding for the Department of Veterans Services. Commissioner Loree Sutton of the Department of Veterans’ Services testified before the Committee, as did Kristen Rouse, Founding Director of the NYC Veterans Alliance, and Barbara Johnson Stemler, Senior Manager of Access Programs at the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum.

On Monday, March 6, 2017, the NYC Veterans Alliance presented testimony at the Preliminary Budget Hearing held by the NYC Council Committee on Veterans. Below is the prepared testimony of Kristen Rouse on behalf of the Alliance:

This past Wednesday, it was announced that Bryan Doerries has been named the new Public Artist in Residence with the NYC Department of Veterans’ Services and NYC Department of Cultural Affairs on a 2-year grant of $1.3 million to fund artistic productions of ancient Greek drama that bring veterans and civilians together in community dialogue and healing.

NYC's Aquila Theatre produced Sophocles' "Philoctetes" with veterans as paid cast & contributors

We commend the NYC Department of Veterans’ Services for their commitment to promoting public dialogue on veterans issues through the arts. Those of us who have taken part in our community’s amazing and diverse artistic productions in recent years can attest to the transformative power of art and dialogue in our own lives. Yet we are concerned that this large grant and public program elevates an artist and production model that, although outwardly successful, are yet notable for specific problem areas:

On Valentine’s Day, the NYC Veterans Alliance, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 72, Veterans of Foreign Wars Richmond County Council, Operation Warrior Shield, and other veterans, family members, service providers, and advocates rallied on the steps of City Hall to call on Mayor de Blasio and NYC elected officials to LOVE OUR VETERANS in the Fiscal Year 2018 Budget.