The Veteran R.E.A.D.S. Program harnesses the profound power of storytelling and story analysis to build resilience, enhance education, drive advocacy, foster meaningful dialogue, and promote service among veterans (Carless & Douglas, 2016; Cleave, 2023; Pavlacic et al., 2022).
By addressing the unique challenges faced during the reintegration into civilian life, this program not only supports individual well-being but ultimately strengthens the fabric of our communities (Willsey, 2022; Indiana University School of Medicine, 2023).
Program Participants
Free for any veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. Program participants receive a free copy of the anthology Standing Down: From Warrior to Civilian by The Great Books Foundation.(Non-veteran groups and non-MU faculty/staff are asked to refrain from attending).
Program Mission
To offer veterans, active-duty service members, and their family’s story and story analysis as a strategic means of developing perceptive communication, powerful camaraderie, and potential catharsis.
Program goals
- Develop skills of inquiry and critical analysis for unpacking fiction and nonfiction narratives.
- Investigate story’s significance in relation to individual experience and differing perspectives.
- Cultivate a space of authentic dialogue, where participants may speak freely and truthfully.
- Foster a sanctuary-culture that begets trust, belongingness, camaraderie, and community.
- Strengthen participants’ networks, resource familiarity, and support systems.
- Create opportunities for community service, projects, and/or development.
Program objectives
- Reinforced understanding of narratives, both public and personal.
- Strengthened skills of inquiry and critical analysis for understanding both story and self.
- Engaged conversations, meaningful interactions, and sustained relationships.
- Increased feelings of trust, belongingness, camaraderie, and community.
- Improved awareness of and access to resources and support systems for veteran communities.
- Established connections and/ or opportunities in the community for service and/ or projects.
