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Thinking ourselves accursed: Finding ways to serve while quarantined

Jonas Reynolds of Team Rubicon

Jonas Reynolds of Team Rubicon addresses attendees of the first Second Service Virtual Leadership Summit on April 16, 2020.

Since the coronavirus lockdown started last month, I’ve heard from a lot of veterans who have come through the Veterans Campaign workshop and the MA in Public Leadership program. Like everyone else, they’re worried about the future, tired of being shut in, and longing for human contact. But there’s also an added frustration. 

Those of us who have served in uniform have trained hard and made significant sacrifices so that one day, when our nation was in danger, we would be ready—even if we’d already left the military. 

Well, our nation is in danger, and many of us are ready, but the enemy we’re facing is not the one we were prepared to fight. And there are a lot of veterans and military families quarantining ourselves and wondering: How can we do more?

Last night, we hosted our first “Second Service Virtual Leadership Summit.”  We discussed this very question, and got some great ideas. (You can watch an excerpt of the conversation here.) We were joined by a panel of incredible community leaders and public servants. 

  • Mary Beth Bruggeman, President of The Mission Continues, a Marine Corps Veteran and Marine Corps Spouse, spoke about the resources her organization  is developing to bring into communities in need as our nation forges through this crisis—for the long haul. Mary Beth acknowledges how difficult it is for those who want to help immediately “on the front lines” to stay home in order to stay healthy and to keep those around them healthy.  The Mission Continues is looking down the road at the long-term effects this pandemic will have on low-income and minority communities and developing ways to serve in the aftermath. In the meantime, The Mission Continues has a fantastic list of resources and ideas for people to serve their communities in ways that allow them to stay healthy and abide by social distancing recommendations. 
  • Jonas Reynolds, a Territory Director for Team Rubicon and an Army veteran talked about the organization’s  typical disaster response and relief efforts, and how they are adjusting in this time of social distancing.  Their #neighborshelpingneighbors campaign encourages people to serve on a person-to-person level, making sure the most vulnerable people in our communities stay safe.
  • Fiona McFarland, a Navy veteran and candidate for the Florida State House, and Jason Cain, an Army veteran and candidate for the North Carolina State House, both expressed how uncomfortable it can feel to campaign (let alone fundraise) in a time of so much suffering. Both candidates, along with several other people on the call, suggested some imaginative ideas, including holding online town halls and resource fairs, and converting campaign volunteers into community volunteers who can deliver groceries, check in on at-risk constituents, and meet other immediate needs as they arise. (Jason is currently enrolled in the MA in Public Leadership program. Fiona completed the Veterans Campaign workshop in 2019).
  • Aaron Brennan, a Navy reservist, retired San Diego Firefighter, and recent city council candidate spoke about the supporting role he’s playing for his wife, a doctor and small business owner, and how veterans and spouses alike can support the medical professionals and first responders who are on the front lines of this crisis to allow them to do the important work that needs to be done now. (Aaron was one of the first graduates of the MA in Public Leadership program.)
  • Matt Zeller, an Army veteran, social entrepreneur and founder of Victory Medical Services, spoke about a brand new project to create and distribute innovative, lightweight, inexpensive ventilators to hospitals around the country, and the world.  The project is just beginning and Matt solicited the expertise, time, and skills of the participants and their networks to help keep the project moving forward.

This certainly will not be a one-off event! We all could use a little inspiration right now, and it was truly heartening to see so many people encouraging each other to continue serving during a truly challenging time.

Second Service Summit Screen Shot

sethlynn

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