Other Trainings, Conferences and Events

Veterans and Community Service—What’s in it for Me (WIIFM?)

The Veterans Outreach Project involved appropriate units at Fort Carson, Operation TBI Freedom program, and other community programs serving veterans with disabilities and educated Ft. Carson soldiers from the Warrior Transition Unit (WTU) and the DES units in Colorado Springs, as well as OTF/VA Veterans in Denver, CO on the benefits of service while presenting national and community service as a viable option for re-entry into civilian employment.  Working with the Commission, CTAT conducted two educational training/”briefing” sessions to 350+ soldiers at Ft. Carson, Colorado Springs, CO and one briefing in Denver and reported back to the Commission findings from the sessions, held in October and November, 2011 and one held January, 2012.

These sessions were facilitated by Organizational Consultants/Trainers Joanne Cohen (Ft. Carson) and Joe Lewis (Denver) where a panel of AmeriCorps Veterans and other experts spoke to the attendees about their experiences with AmeriCorps and its value to veterans and their community. A Quick Reference Guide, put together by Rena Thompson, was given to all participants following each session.  The participants learned how AmeriCorps and National Service can be highly beneficial to them while in transition from being a soldier to fitting into the civilian world.  The intention of this Project is to directly improve the quality of life for veterans and civilians with disabilities through exposure to the world of community and national service.

Colorado Disability “mini-grants” are made possible by funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service and are intended to increase inclusion of persons with disabilities in National Service and to further opportunities for our AmeriCorps members and staff.  CTAT at Denver Options received three grants due to our efforts to increase awareness of AmeriCorps as an opportunity for persons with disabilities through our training of AmeriCorps’ Program Managers on best practices for recruiting & accommodating candidates. SERVE Colorado was eager to assist with these efforts under the Commission’s Disability Inclusion and Awareness fund.