Friday Digest: Sept. 7

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Friday Digest: September 7, 2018

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This Week:


Minneapolis VA Hosts Family Fun Run, Walk & Roll, Sept. 8

The annual Minneapolis VA 5K Family Fun Run, Walk & Roll will be held Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, at the VA Medical Center, located at One Veteran’s Drive, Minneapolis, MN, 55417. The event includes a ½ mile Kids Fun Run at 9 a.m., a 5K for wheelers at 9:30 a.m., and the 5K for runners and walkers at 10:30 a.m. Cost is $15 and includes a t-shirt. There is a $5 fee for Veterans enrolled in the MOVE program (includes t-shirt). The Kids Fun Run is free; kids will receive a participation gift.

More Information & Registration >>


Warrior Writers, Sept. 8

Warrior Writers will host a workshop and performance focusing on helping Veterans tell their stories through poetry and prose on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, at the Minnesota Humanities Center, 987 Ivy Ave E. St. Paul, MN 55106. The event is a partnership with Minnesota Humanities Center’s Veterans’ Voices program and the Minneapolis VA Suicide Prevention Outreach program. Writing Workshop, noon to 4 p.m., (lunch provided); Performance, 7 -9 p.m. The workshop is free and open to all Veterans. The performance is also free of charge and open to the public. Tickets and information available at: www.warriorwriters.org. Contact: Jessi Faue, RN, Education & Outreach Specialist, Suicide Prevention, Minneapolis VAMC, (612) 634-6149  or email jessica.faue@va.gov


Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans Events

The Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MAC-V) is hosting the following upcoming event:


Work at MDVA

The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) is looking for individuals across the state interested in joining a team that is committed to helping serve Minnesota Veterans and their families. Whether you are a Veteran, family member, or an individual who wants to show your support for our nation’s heroes, we are confident you will find a career path that is diverse, team-oriented and focused on making a real difference. Some of our current job openings:

Fergus Falls

        Luverne

              Minneapolis

              Silver Bay

               


                  Women Veterans of Minnesota Annual Fall Luncheon, Registration Deadline Sept. 15

                  The Women Veterans of Minnesota's Annual Fall Luncheon will take place Saturday, Sept. 29, at American Legion Post 1776.

                  The doors open at 9 a.m., followed by a meeting at 10 a.m., with the Luncheon beginning at noon.

                  More Information >>

                  Registration Form >>


                  Minnesota Military Museum Vietnam War Roundtable, Sept. 17

                  Join the Minnesota Military Museum at 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 17, for a riveting evening of prose, poetry, and memoir by Veteran members of the Madison-based Deadly Writers Patrol (DWP). Doug Bradley (Vietnam 1970-71), Bruce Meredith(Vietnam 1970-71), and Wyl Schuth (Iraq, 2004) will talk about DWP and share their stories and poetry, based on DWP’s core beliefs that writing can be a mirror reflecting the deepest corners of our psyches; express the reality of suffering; explore the possibility of healing; enable problem solving; and achieve a deeper understanding of our common humanity.

                  More Information >>


                  VA's Twin Ports Outpatient Clinic Open House, Sept. 19

                  The VA’s Twin Ports Outpatient Clinic in Superior, WI, will hold an Open House for Veterans on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018, from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Veterans are invited to meet the clinic staff and connect with VA Leadership. Refreshments will be served. 3520 Tower Avenue, Superior, WI, 54880, Contact: Ralph Heussner, Public Affairs Officer (612) 467-3012 or ralph.heussner@va.gov.


                  The Joint Retirees Appreciation Day, Sept. 22

                  The Joint Retirees Appreciation Day (JRAD) is a full day of information briefings organized and conducted through the efforts of the Navy and Air Force Retiree Activities Offices (RAO). It is the intent of the RAOs to provide the latest information delivered by the subject matter experts on such programs as TRICARE, VA benefits and support, elder legal issues and current legislative changes at the national and state level. The program is conducted at a location with the capacity to accommodate an audience of 300 attendees.

                  More Information >>


                  PTS/TBI/Suicide Prevention Walk in Marshall, Sept. 22

                  There will be a PTS/TBI/Suicide Prevention Walk at the Marshall Armory on Sept. 22.

                  Help win the battle against suicide by raising awareness while walking and joining hands. Make a difference in saving the lives of the 22 Veterans and 1 active duty military members who succumb to their inner wounds of war every day. Along with the Trever Gould Soldiers Help Project, Eagles Healing Nest, Lane Logan Memorial, Operation Engage America.

                  More Information >>


                  2018 Minnesota Humanities Center Veterans’ Voices Award Recipients Announced

                  From Minnesota Humanities Center, Aug. 16, 2018

                  ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC) is proud to recognize 15 Veterans’ Voices Awardees in 2018. Minnesotans from across the state nominated Veterans who have honorably served and have shown exemplary community service beyond their military service. From a host of nominees, eight “On the Rise” Veterans (age 40 and under) and seven “Legacy” Veterans (age 41 and over) were selected by a panel of their peers to receive the Veterans’ Voices Award.

                  MHC will present the awards at the Veterans’ Voices Award Ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018 at the University of St. Thomas Anderson Student Center in St. Paul. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Achievements of the 15 Minnesota Veterans (listed below) will be recognized. Gulf War Veteran, WCCO-TV reporter and 2017 Awardee, Reg Chapman, will emcee. Sebastian Junger will deliver the keynote address. Junger is an award-winning and internationally-acclaimed author and journalist.

                  These awards are part of the Humanities Center’s Veterans’ Voices program that seeks to bridge the Veteran – civilian divide by drawing on the power of the humanities to call attention to the contributions, and often-missed stories, of Veterans. This program empowers all Minnesota Veterans to speak in their own voices through storytelling, literature, theatre, discussion groups, and more – amplifying the voices of Veterans throughout our state.

                  This year’s awardees include those working toward social justice, a member of the Special Guerilla Unit trained by the CIA to fight in the Vietnam War, a director of PTSD services for Veterans and their families, an instructor at a local community college, and many more.

                  The 2018 Veterans’ Voices Awardees are:

                  On the Rise Awardees

                  • Calinn Green, U.S. Air Force, Elko
                  • Diane Kinney, U.S. Army, Maplewood
                  • Sailor Jerri, U.S. Navy, Milaca
                  • Charlene Nelson, U.S. Army, Pengilly
                  • Stevena Pen, U.S. Marine Corps, St. Paul
                  • Samuel V. Phipps, U.S. Army, Minneapolis
                  • Darius Simon, U.S. Army, Frazee
                  • Alan Geoffrey Stage, U.S. Army Reserve, Hutchinson

                  Legacy Awardees

                  • Laura Bartley, U.S. Air Force, North Branch
                  • Terry Branham, U.S. Army, Lakeville
                  • Carl Leslie Fordahl, U.S. Army, Bloomington
                  • Ronald Hunter, U.S. Navy, Golden Valley
                  • Joseph Leonard Nayquonabe, Sr., U.S. Army, Onamia
                  • Thomas Scott Wilkinson, U.S. Army, St. Francis
                  • Xai Paul Vang, Special Guerilla Unit, North St. Paul

                  “The Humanities Center is honored to recognize these 15 exemplary Veterans,” says MHC President & CEO, David O’Fallon. “Our deeply-held belief at MHC is that all voices deserve to be heard in their own authenticity – especially those who have been absented or marginalized from our public awareness. In many ways, Veterans’ experiences are an absent narrative in our culture and these awards aim to amplify their important voices and help bridge the increasing Veteran-civilian divide.’

                  For more information about the Veterans’ Voices program and to register for the event, visit https://mnhum.org/vets/award/. Download our media kit.

                  About the Minnesota Humanities Center: Founded in 1971, the Minnesota Humanities Center is a statewide nonprofit organization and full service event center located in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Humanities Center offers a new way to think about our future, grounded in the humanities, and collaborates with organizations and individuals to develop programs that facilitate and frame conversations and strengthen connections. The Humanities Center works to bring into public life the authentic voices of all people, especially those that have been absent or marginalized. The Humanities Center is a resource for the state of Minnesota and is affiliated with the National Endowment for the Humanities.

                  The mission of the Minnesota Humanities Center is to build a thoughtful, literate, and engaged society. More information about the Humanities Center is available at mnhum.org or join us on Facebook and Twitter.

                  About the National Endowment for the Humanities: Created in 1965 as an independent federal agency, the National Endowment for the Humanities supports research and learning in history, literature, philosophy, and other areas of the humanities by funding selected, peer-reviewed proposals from around the nation. Additional information about the National Endowment for the Humanities and its grant programs is available at: www.neh.gov.


                  Comcast has now Helped More Than Six Million Low-Income Americans Cross the Digital Divide Through its Internet Essentials Program

                  Company Expands Eligibility to Nearly One Million Low-Income Veterans, Releases Seven-Year Progress Report, and Relaunches Online Learning Center with New Digital Literacy and Internet Safety Tools and Resources

                  U.S. Olympic Gold Medalists Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson and Monique Lamoureux-Morando to Join Multi-City Tour

                  PHILADELPHIA, PA – August 13, 2018 – Comcast today announced it has now connected more than six million low-income Americans to the Internet through its Internet Essentials program, which is the largest and most comprehensive broadband adoption program for low-income families in the U.S. The company connected more than two million people in the last year alone, which is the largest annual increase in the program’s history. The company also announced it will significantly expand eligibility – for the eleventh time in seven years – to low-income Veterans, nearly one million of whom live within the Comcast footprint. According to the United States Census Bureau’s 2016 American Community Survey, less than 70 percent of low-income Veterans have Internet access, and about 60 percent own a computer.

                  “This program has had an enormous impact on millions of families and children who now have high-speed Internet at home, many for the first time in their lives,” said David L. Cohen, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer. “We’re excited to extend that same opportunity to more than one million, low-income Veterans. Veterans have stood up for our country; now it’s time for us to stand up for them by providing access to life-changing digital tools and resources.”

                  Since 2011, Comcast has invested more than half a billion dollars to support digital literacy training and awareness, reaching more than 8.5 million low-income Americans. In addition, the company has sold more than 85,000 heavily subsidized computers.

                  Comcast attributes some of the recent growth of Internet Essentials to its easy-to-use mobile application, which now accounts for more than a third of all enrollments. In addition, the company today released a new seven-year progress report. It contains detailed information about customer demographics and insights, as well as a history of the program’s evolution and key milestones. The company has also redesigned its Internet Essentials Learning Center with new content from Common Sense Media and ConnectSafely.org. The site now includes a variety of free videos, tools, and resources that can help individuals learn vital Internet safety and digital skills.

                  U.S. Olympic Gold Medalists Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson and Monique Lamoureux-Morando, who were recently named as ambassadors and spokespeople for the company’s corporate values initiatives, will join Cohen on a multi-city tour to visit local communities and raise awareness about the Internet Essentials program. Both were instrumental in Team USA’s defeat of Canada for the gold in the Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, and are passionate advocates for gender equity.

                  “We’re thrilled to be partnering with Comcast to help close the digital divide for families, students, seniors, and Veterans,” said Monique Lamoureux-Morando. “People without an Internet connection at home are missing out.  Students need the Internet to do their homework. Parents and Veterans need the Internet to more easily search and apply for jobs and access healthcare information.”

                  “We know how important a home Internet connection is,” added Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson. “In our lives, we’ve also learned first-hand how important it is to stand up for what you believe in. We want to encourage others to use the Internet to stand up for what they believe in and to make the world a better, fairer place, not just for themselves, but for the next generation, too. You can’t change the world if you’re not online.”

                  The move to extend Internet Essentials eligibility to low-income Veterans is the second largest expansion in the program's history. For details on how to apply, please visit: www.internetessentials.com/apply.

                  According to the U.S. Census American Community Survey, 81 percent of all U.S. households subscribe to broadband at home, but only  63 percent of households with an annual income of less than $35,000  do. To attack that problem, Internet Essentials has an integrated, wrap-around design meant to address each of the three major barriers to broadband adoption that research has identified. These include: a lack of digital literacy skills, the lack of a computer, and the absence of a low-cost Internet service. The program is also structured as a partnership between Comcast and tens of thousands of school districts, libraries, elected officials, and nonprofit community partners.

                  About Internet Essentials
                  Internet Essentials
                  from Comcast is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive high-speed Internet adoption program for low-income Americans. It provides low-cost, high-speed Internet service for $9.95 a month plus tax; the option to purchase an Internet-ready computer for under $150; and multiple options to access free digital literacy training in print, online, and in person. For more information, or to apply for the program, go to www.internetessentials.com or call 1-855-846-8376. Spanish-only speakers can call 1-855-765-6995.

                  About Comcast Corporation
                  Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company with two primary businesses, Comcast Cable and NBCUniversal. Comcast Cable is one of the nation’s largest video, high-speed Internet, and phone providers to residential customers under the XFINITY brand, and also provides these services to businesses. It also provides wireless and security and automation services to residential customers under the XFINITY brand. NBCUniversal operates news, entertainment and sports cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, television production operations, television station groups, Universal Pictures and Universal Parks and Resorts. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.