Yesterday we gathered to honor the life of Lana Watson. Lana was our Senior Director of Short-Term Transition Programs which included Rapid Rehousing, Workforce Development, and our Veterans programs.
Lana worked at St. Patrick Center for 15 years and dedicated her career to serving people experiencing homeless. We miss Lana dearly and ask for you to keep the Watson family in your prayers.
What a great loss to each and every client that Lana served and saved with her true love of St. Patrick Center’s mission and all those who have been saved from living on the
street and were given back their dignity with a job and a home. Lana made a difference in the lives of thousands of people served by St. Patrick Center. Lana made a difference in the lives of the St. Patrick Center team. I was honored to work with her for many years during my time at the Center. Her dedication was inspiring! My tears are many, for our loss and for our hearts. We know Lana lives on in Heaven.
I had the pleasure of knowing this sweet compassionate woman from talking to her whenever I volunteered for St Patrick's Center. She's a great loss to St Patrick's Center because of her dedication from everything she did to help all people whenever she could.
It takes nothing from the candle to light another. Passionate Case Manager. Housing First Believer. Future MSW. Intersectional Mental Health Advocate. Photographer. Survivor.
Lana was an amazing person. Her passion for helping others really shined through. I'm shocked and extremely sorry to hear this news. I will for sure keep Lana's family and friends in my thoughts.
In the ever-changing landscape of our lives, what remains constant is the intrinsic value of family – an organic masterpiece crafted by nature itself. At the AFBC, we understand that the family unit is the bedrock upon which strong communities and successful careers are built. It's the support system that fuels our resilience and the haven that nurtures our growth.
In the professional realm, we often draw strength from our personal lives. The lessons learned within the family circle are those that inform our leadership styles, our collaborative efforts, and our capacity for empathy. It is these values that we seek to bring into our workplace, creating an environment that is both nurturing and conducive to success.
AFBC's commitment to family extends beyond mere acknowledgment. We actively incorporate family support into our service framework, recognizing that the well-being of our service members and their families is intertwined with their professional fulfillment. Our programs and initiatives are designed to support not just the individual, but the family as a whole.
As we continue to advocate for strong family support structures, we encourage the sharing of experiences and wisdom that come from family life. We invite you to share your insights on how family has shaped your professional journey and the ways in which we can collectively support this vital aspect of our lives.
Let this be a platform for acknowledging the masterpieces that are our families. Share your stories of how family support has been instrumental in your career, and let's inspire a dialogue that resonates with the importance of familial bonds in professional success.
#AFBC#Family#Community#Armedforces#Military#Emergencyservices#NHS#Colchester
Philosopher/ lawyer who wrote the book on New York PIP
About ten years ago, New York City retired hundreds of subway cars built in the 1950s.
Called “Redbirds” because of their signature red livery, their high quality construction held up over millions of miles of daily abuse.
To dispose of them, the City had them shipped by barge to the coast of Maryland, where they were dumped in the ocean to create artificial reefs, to serve as habitat for fish and other acquatic life.
They could have been used to create low cost housing for homeless veterans, but on the list of our government’s priorities, fish come way before veterans.
Behind every #militaryspouse there is a story. I'm glad to share part of mine, and even more so, emboldened by the strength of the spouses around me who continue fighting for more.
The Resilient Employment and Authorization Determination to Increase the National Employment of Service Spouses (READINESS) Act (H.R. 6462) passed out of the Oversight Committee in the House yesterday afternoon.
Emmalee GruesenJessica StrongKarly HowellChristine Tomkus, MBA, Military Spouse Bridget Dea Tom PorterKevin CirilliBrooke Blaalid, MSWLeslie Coffey, MBARyan CallahanBrian Whiting Kathy Roth-Douquet Kelley McCormickHolly Page
But this morning, we find that many still do not envision military spouse employment as a "we the people" issue. Instead, it is minimized to a simple part of military life that service members and their families signed on for. We may sign on for a lot---risk of injury, death, separation, and isolation from our loved ones---but we do not sign off on #foodinsecurity, #housinginstability, increased likelihood of #unemployment, and unaddressed #mentalhealth struggles for us and our children as a result.
Read this Stars and Stripes article 👇
https://lnkd.in/ghPn3EqK#DoYourPart by learning more about the repercussions of military spouse unemployment on military families, service members, military recruitment, and your local economy.
Step one is changing the false narrative that its impact is isolated. Step two is joining Blue Star Families and partners, such as Hiring Our Heroes and American Corporate Partners (ACP), in driving change at the local and national levels.
Philosopher/ lawyer who wrote the book on New York PIP
About ten years ago, New York City retired hundreds of subway cars built in the 1950s.
Called “Redbirds” because of their signature red livery, their high quality construction held up over millions of miles of daily abuse.
To dispose of them, the City had them shipped by barge to the coast of Maryland, where they were dumped in the ocean to create artificial reefs, to serve as habitat for fish and other acquatic life.
They could have been used to create low cost housing for homeless veterans, but on the list of our government’s priorities, fish come way before veterans.
What an exciting and productive week it has been with our Advocates for Leadership and Employment and associated nonprofit agencies at the NIB/NAEPB Public Policy Forum! Together we championed employment growth, from insightful panel discussions to public policy training sessions to nearly 120 meetings on Capitol Hill advocating for support of the AbilityOne Program through a mandatory 1% Department of Defense utilization goal. Because of all of you, this event was a huge success! We also want to thank Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired for sponsoring this essential mission. #ChampionEmploymentGrowth
The June 30 2023 Annual Report is out for review.
This document tells a great story of compliance, good governance, community, generosity, focus and results.
Sincere thanks to all the team involved at Remount for contributing to the ongoing support of our veterans and first responders.
#veteransupport#governance#community#horsemanship
In the past four months since taking the helm at Patriot Services Group (PSG), we’ve made significant strides in transforming our approach to business. Typically, companies set normal expectations, yet often overpromise and underdeliver. Through this transition, I've recognized that an overly bureaucratic structure can stifle efficiency and disconnect a company from the needs of its clients.
To address this, we've shifted to direct management of our assets in Illinois and Kentucky, following a successful model we implemented in West Virginia. Just one month into self-management there, we achieved the highest monthly collections in the asset’s history. I am eagerly anticipating similar successes in Mississippi and Louisiana, and I'm optimistic about what June will bring for Kentucky and Illinois.
Over these months, PSG has strategically partnered with local businesses rather than large corporations, which is a common choice among corporate managers. This not only supports our community but also aligns with our commitment to creating local jobs, developing programs for nonprofit communities, and continuing our core mission of supporting homeless veterans.
Looking ahead, we are excited about upcoming initiatives, including a rebranding effort, the standardization of processes, and the launch of new housing programs tailored to our mission. Additionally, we are planning to expand our assets into new states soon. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to innovate and expand our impact.
#patriotservicesgroup,#homelessveterans,#integrityrise,#illinois,#kentucky
Heading into Memorial Day weekend, FOX 11 Los Angeles - KTTV interviewed Vietnam veteran Eric Washington and Inglewood's Executive Director Jessica Gholson, MA LMFT, about the work U.S.VETS is doing to help veterans with housing, mental health and case management services, workforce development programs, meals and help for veteran families. #MemorialDay#HonorUSVETShttps://lnkd.in/gUhdxb5t
Our innate behavioral insights can assist with solving #Veteran homelessness.
We’ve interviewed many Veterans, including some who are homeless and/or disabled, and most have expressed a concern about finding employment after being active in the Military.
This is another area where we are different than the competition.
Our SaaS and assessments are designed to provide a deeper understanding of an individuals’ behavioral strengths, struggles, and natural talents. This knowledge can be used to create tailored solutions and support systems, helping them to find employment opportunities that align with their unique abilities and preferences, and contribute to ending homelessness.
By utilizing our insights, organizations such as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and service providers can better assist Veterans and individuals in overcoming challenges and accessing resources that are most beneficial to their individual needs.
Over the last few weeks, many good things have been either initiated, moved forward, or completed.
1. Drafted a publication for a legislative proposal pertain to veterans in the opioid crisis. Been told it would be published this week. #fingerscrossed
2. My nonprofit Changing Cadence has gained a wonderful local partnership in the drug and alcohol addiction space.
3. My nonprofit has brought a new person onto the team for free veteran disability claims assistance for Placer country to help lighten a load with DHS. I will announce that soon.
4. Flew out to Cleveland to run philosophic operations for veterans through my outstanding and employee-based atmosphere of a company Leaf Home. After shipping multiple boxes back to my house, you can say my garage is filled with many boxes, ready to be sent overseas to our veterans in partnership with OPERATION: CARE AND COMFORT
5. Connected with many people within our community and city, with the plan to create a new veteran group and atmosphere for the area
6. Attended another great Leadership Roseville session, and sponsored an award for the upcoming City of Roseville Awards: Honoring our Police & Fire
7. Booked my ticket to Fort Lauderdale to see a new friend from NYC Bob Woodruff and his wonderful staff, as well as Craig Newmark, to join his organization the Bob Woodruff Foundation during their VOWS to discuss military veteran issues and solutions, as well as identify #key takeaways to being to our corporate veteran community internall
8. Became Director of Communications with Roll Out PTSD nonprofit (volunteer), hoping to send a veteran in need of purpose and revitalization, to Puerto Rico for a cohort: Coming Veterans Day!
9. Had a great board meeting with the U.S. Army Recruiting Command (USAREC) Northern California and our Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the US Army, Mr. Lance Izumi, J.D. - Thank you for leading, Lance.
PURPOSE: Listing your accomplishments can look selfish and foolish, depending on the context. The focus of this list, is to showcase that good things can come from people in a selfless manner. In conclusion, I really hope this inspires anybody to be leader in your community, because I will support you 100%. Let’s connect and see how we can do it together.
“If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr
Military TimesU.S. Army Recruiting Command (USAREC)United States Department of DefenseLeadershipThe Transitioned Veteran: Success Beyond ServiceThe American LegionMilitary Influencer
St. Patrick Center Retired Chief Development Officer & Associate Executive Director
3moWhat a great loss to each and every client that Lana served and saved with her true love of St. Patrick Center’s mission and all those who have been saved from living on the street and were given back their dignity with a job and a home. Lana made a difference in the lives of thousands of people served by St. Patrick Center. Lana made a difference in the lives of the St. Patrick Center team. I was honored to work with her for many years during my time at the Center. Her dedication was inspiring! My tears are many, for our loss and for our hearts. We know Lana lives on in Heaven.