T H E B L A C K M E T A!
Relevance, Self-Awareness, and Self-CARE-ness ... Music, Mindful, and YOUR META!
Live and streaming at Radiokingston.org | 107.FM and 1490AM, Tuesdays, 1-3 p.m.
It's YOUR YEAR andYOUR META!
Gavin T. Walters (HUDSON VALLEY NATIONAL CENTER FOR VETERAN REINTEGRATION), Tim Pena (VETERAN'S JUSTICE PROJECT), and Patrick DeWarren (videographer and documentarian)!
TUNE IN and TURN UP YOUR Black Meta!
—Your Black Meta!
TheBlackMetaWKNY@Gmail.com
META FACTOIDS & PHILOSOPHY
“Power
concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find
out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out
the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon
them, and these will continue till they are resisted with either words
or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the
endurance of those whom they oppress.” ―Frederick Douglass
T H E I N T E R V I E W
THE VETERANS PROJECT
Gavin T. Walters (Hudson Valley National Center for Veteran Reintegration), Tim Pena (Veteran's Justice Project), and videographer/documentarian, Patrick DeWarren!
HUDSON VALLEY NATIONAL CENTER FOR VETERAN REINTEGRATION
Where Vets Go Forward with Purpose, Dignity, Respect, and Honor
HVNCVR Office: (845) 481-4004
Email: info@hvncvr.orgMailing Address: P.O. Box 797, Lake Katrine, NY 12449
Hours Ulster County: 9AM-5PM M-F
101 Enterprise Drive, Kingston NY 12401
Vet2Vet of Ulster County: (845) 481-4695
Hours Greene County: 9:30AM-4PM M-F
905 Greene County Office Bldg, Cairo NY 12413
Vet2Vet of Greene County: (518) 719-0020
A B O U T
Where Vets Go Forward with Purpose, Dignity, Respect, and Honor
HVNCVR Office: (845) 481-4004
Email: info@hvncvr.orgMailing Address: P.O. Box 797, Lake Katrine, NY 12449
Hours Ulster County: 9AM-5PM M-F
101 Enterprise Drive, Kingston NY 12401
Vet2Vet of Ulster County: (845) 481-4695
Hours Greene County: 9:30AM-4PM M-F
905 Greene County Office Bldg, Cairo NY 12413
Vet2Vet of Greene County: (518) 719-0020A B O U T
The Hudson Valley National Center for Veteran Reintegration works to empower our military men and women to live successful, fulfilling lives. The mission of HVNCVR is to provide support for both our current military personnel while they are back home and our veterans by assisting them with their transition back into civilian life. We do our work through supporting the well-being of Veterans through purpose, dignity, and respect. HVNCVR works to not only enhance the quality of life for our military veterans, but to give them the programs and services they need to thrive in the communities they work so hard to preserve through their military service.
How do we do this? HVNCVR offers programs that serve every aspect of the facilitation back into civilian life for a Veteran – such as our career/employment transition programs, financial literacy strategies, classes in social reintegration, substance abuse assistance, and our integrative mental health programs, all of which are free to any participant. HVNCVR encompasses peer-to-peer programs such as our Kayak Building Program, which allows soldiers to work together to build kayaks in our wood shop, where the kayaks serve as a tool to heal through focus and creativity in a welcome and open environment.
HVNCVR’s environment replicates the positive aspects of the military community, through occupational therapy, camaraderie, fellowship and peer-to-peer support. No matter the Veteran’s situation, they are home-we do not judge, we accept. Wherever possible, we assist. No conversation is taboo if it helps heal. We have worked with combat Veterans, physically and psychologically injured, addicts, alcoholics, and the homeless. Our main goal is to work together to enhance the quality of life for our Veterans.
M I S S I O N S T A T E M E N T
The Hudson Valley National Center for Veteran Reintegration is dedicated to the well-being of Veterans and Community through purpose, dignity, respect, and honor.
The Hudson Valley National Center for Veteran Reintegration works to empower our military men and women to live successful, fulfilling lives. The mission of the HVNCVR is to provide support for both our current military personnel while they are back home and our veterans by assisting them with their transition back into civilian life. HVNCVR works to not only enhance the quality of life for our military veterans, but to give them the programs and services they need to thrive in the communities they work so hard to preserve through their military service.
How do we do this? HVNCVR offers programs that serve every aspect of the facilitation back into civilian life for a veteran – such as our career/employment transition programs, financial literacy strategies, classes in social reintegration, substance abuse assistance, and our integrative mental health programs, all of which are free to any participant. HVNCVR encompasses peer-to-peer programs such as our Kayak Building Program which allows soldiers to work together to build kayaks in our wood shop, where the kayaks serve as a tool to heal through focus and creativity in a welcome and open environment.
HVNCVR’s environment replicates the positive aspects of the military community, through occupational therapy, camaraderie, fellowship and peer-to-peer support. No matter the Veteran’s situation, they are home-we do not judge, we accept. Wherever possible, we assist. No conversation is taboo if it helps heal. We have worked with combat Veterans, physically and psychologically injured, addicts, alcoholics, and the homeless. Our main goal is to work together to enhance the quality of life for our Veterans.
O U R S T O R Y....
Services
Peer Counseling
Referral to community based organizations
Referral to state and deferral programs and services
Activities & Groups:
- Mindfulness Walking Groups
- Peer Networking Group
- Veterans' PTS(D) Group
- Combat Veterans' PTS(D) Group
- Equine Encounters
- SPLAT (A.A.) Group
- Vet Talk
- URT- United through Reading
- Weekly Coffee Hour
- Veteran Writers Group
- SHREDVETS
- Vets with Ukes
- Telehealth Facilities:
- MOUD- Medication for Opioid Addiction
Weekly times and locations of these programs and events can also be found on the "Programs & Events Calendar" tab under the "Events" tab, located on the top menu bar.
INFO | CONTACT
- https://www.hvncvr.org/
- https://www.hvncvr.org/meet-the-staff
- https://www.hvncvr.org/our-story
- https://www.hvncvr.org/post/december-2022-newsletter
- https://www.hvncvr.org/vet-2-vet
- https://www.hvncvr.org/volunteer
- https://www.facebook.com/HVNCVR/
- https://www.instagram.com/hvncvr/
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/hvncvr/?original_referer=
- https://twitter.com/hvncvr
VETERAN'S JUSTICE PROJECT
The mission of Veterans Justice Project is two fold:
To provide hope for struggling and at-risk veterans to keep them from the going down the 'Rabbit Hole' of suicide and, to 'Bridge the Gap' between the incarcerated veteran and the VA with access to necessary forms, assistance with claims, and transition services and resources while providing solutions for the prevention of veteran homelessness and suicide.
To provide hope for struggling and at-risk veterans to keep them from the going down the 'Rabbit Hole' of suicide and, to 'Bridge the Gap' between the incarcerated veteran and the VA with access to necessary forms, assistance with claims, and transition services and resources while providing solutions for the prevention of veteran homelessness and suicide.
A B O U T U S
Veterans Justice Project, LLC
Veterans Justice Project, LLC is a limited-liability company established in December 2020 with the Arizona Corporation Commission by Timothy Pena as the sole owner. Tim came onto the idea while serving a two-year prison sentence for a first offense marijuana possession conviction and Agg DUI from 2014. He served a total of 18 months, first at Yuma/La Paz where he helped launch the first Veterans support group; and then at Tucson/Whetstone Veteran’s Regaining Honor program.
While incarcerated, Tim realized that other veterans were not receiving the access to Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) with simple VA forms, information and advocacy that other non-criminal veterans receive, even though these veterans have greater needs. The main goal of VJP is provide incarcerated veterans with access to necessary VA forms, assistance with claims, and transition services and resources. To date, VJP has assisted approximately 20 veterans with various services ranging from filling out and filing 1040 tax returns to assisting with MST claims.
As of May 2021, VJP will initiate an outreach program for veterans experiencing homelessness with resources and necessities for those living on the street and in camps. Nearly half of all incarcerated veterans have experienced homelessness prior to arrest, with many of them dependent on VA services including mental health and medical care. The outreach program will focus on establishing contact with at-risk veterans to address specific needs before arrest and incarceration. Arizona prisons maintain of the highest percentage of veterans in the country. This is exasperated by the total lack of any Veterans Treatment Courts (VTC) for pre-adjudicated felonies.
Veterans Treatment Courts
According to national organization, Justice for Vets, VTC’s have gained national prominence as the most innovative solution for veterans caught up in the criminal justice system due to substance use and/or mental health disorders and trauma. VTC’s connect these men and women to the benefits and treatment they have earned; saving their lives, families, and futures, and saving tax dollars for the American public.
There are now an estimated 400 VTC’s nationwide with a substantial number accepting veterans with felony charges. This is especially poignant in states such as Arizona that charge defendants with felonies with what would be a misdemeanor in other states.
Even though VTC’s overall average about a 65-85% successful graduation rate with recidivism rates in the teens, the public and judicial sentiment still considers that veterans receiving treatment over incarceration as being a “free ride” for criminal behavior. While our judicial system has gotten more punitive with allegations of misconduct along all aspects of the judicial process from police to prisons, the VA and the VJO continue to refuse pre-trial services to the justice-involved veteran to assure a fair judicial process with misdemeanors being the ‘haves’ and felonies being the ‘have nots’.
Filling the Void
A veteran charged with a misdemeanor in most counties of Arizona have access to Veterans Treatment Court and all the services that come with the program to include employment, housing, mental health and other services with the Court working side-by-side with the Veterans Justice Outreach including pre-trial services not afforded to the veteran with felony charges and a void that Veterans Justice Project aims to fill. While the Phoenix VJO does visit veterans in the Maricopa County Jail, its presence is mostly symbolical and an opportunity to pass out pencils and journals. It is only when the veteran is in Veterans Treatment Court does the VJO engage with the veteran with resources and services that would otherwise benefit all criminally charged veterans.
Veterans Justice Project seeks to utilize outreach and word-of-mouth to engage veterans and devise housing options for jailed veterans, financial stability, employment and educational opportunities and monitoring to ensure adherence to Court directives while their case moves through the judicial process. By establishing relationships with various civilian and veteran organizations, it is VJP’s intent to comprise a non-governmental profile to present to the Court on the veteran’s behalf. It is hoped with time, that the Courts and prosecutors might refer to these profiles as a tool for deciding pre-trial release, adjudication of criminal charges and sentencing.
Community Support
Many veterans today who are transitioning from military to civilian life have access to numerous organizations and services to aide in that transition. This creates a sense of community that has otherwise eluded older veterans who have suffered service-connected disorders sometimes for decades. These same veterans are then denied any relief by the judicial system because of extensive criminal behavior, even though the criminality is small non-violent, non-dangerous in nature and treatment options are more appropriate. Courts are apprehensive in affording older veterans any treatment options because of lack of resources and unfair characterizations by prosecutors.
Older veterans comprise an estimated 31% or 56,000 of the more than 181,000 veterans currently in America’s jails and prisons. According to the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP), Drug Courts save as much as $27 for every $1 invested when considering only direct and measurable offsets such as reduced re-arrests, law enforcement contacts, court hearings, and the use of jail or prison beds.
Seeking Partners
Veterans Justice Project is seeking partners to assist in supporting outreach and transitional services to incarcerated veterans including housing options, judicial support, employment services and other VA programs that directly impact those that served you. Please reach out to Timothy Pena for more information. If you know a veteran that needs assistance, please fill out the questionnaire at, https://www.vetjuspro.com/case.
"BE THE STORY"
Be the Story_Homeless to Homeness
Timothy Pena initially traveled to NYC at the invitation of RIP Medical Debt founder and Navy veteran, Jerry Ashton to collaborate for his project, Veterans Mission Possible. Soon after arriving, Tim was also introduced by Mr. Ashton to reknown filmmaker Patrick de Warren, who is producing a series of short films addressing veteran suicide awareness and prevention.
After struggling with suicide ideation for years and needing a change, Tim soon realized that he would rather be homeless in NYC than commit suicide in Phoenix and could help other veterans struggling with suicide by providing his experience with suicide awareness and prevention to provide hope to his fellow brothers and sisters that they are not alone.
But, for this documentary to work, he would need to do more than just tell his story, he would need to actively participate in the journey of going from ‘homeless to homeness’ which he is documenting with a series of short articles called, “Be the Story”.
INFO | CONTACT
- https://www.vetjuspro.com/
- https://www.vetjuspro.com/story
- https://www.vetjuspro.com/topics
- https://www.facebook.com/theforgottenvet/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-pena-a0281921/
- https://twitter.com/vetjuspro
P A T R I C K De W A R R E N
Collectivedreamsproject.com
FreedomWalker’s Sources, Citations, Credits, and Links
COFFEE & GREEN TEA COMBO: "Just 'Cause it's Christmas"
- https://www.rd.com/list/christmas-activities/
- https://www.ticketmaster.com/boyz-ii-men-tickets/artist/734632
- https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/TLC_(group)
- https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/meals-menus/g37963679/non-alcoholic-christmas-drinks/
Lyrics to Kate Bush: "Army Dreamers "
B.F.P.O.
Army dreamers
Mammy's hero
B.F.P.O.
Mammy's hero
Our little army boy
Is coming home from B.F.P.O.
I've a bunch of purple flowers
To decorate mammy's hero
Mourning in the aerodrome
The weather warmer, he is colder
Four men in uniform
To carry home my little soldier
But he didn't have the money for a guitar
What could he do?)
(Should have been a politician)
But he never had a proper education
What could he do?)
Should have been a father)
But he never even made it to his twenties
What a waste
Army dreamers
Oh, what a waste of Army
(army) dreamers
(dreamers)
Tears o'er a tin box
Oh, Jesus Christ, he wasn't to know
Like a chicken with a fox
He couldn't win the war with ego
Give the kid the pick of pips
And give him all your stripes and ribbons
Now he's sitting in his hole
He might as well have buttons and bows
But he didn't have the money for a guitar
What could he do?)
Should have been a politician)
But he never had a proper education
What could he do?)
Should have been a father)
But he never even made it to his twenties
What a waste Army dreamers
Ooh, what a waste of Army (army) dreamers (dreamers)
Ooh, what a waste of all them
Army (army) dreamers (dreamers)
Army (army) dreamers (dreamers) Army (army) dreamers
dreamers),
Ooh B.F.P.O.
Army dreamers
Mammy's hero
B.F.P.O.
Army dreamers
Mammy's hero
B.F.P.O.
No hard heroes
Mammy's hero
B.F.P.O.
Army dreamers
Mammy's hero
B.F.P.O.
beetle's Sources, Citations, Credits, and Links
Daniel Somers: https://www.google.com/search?q=daniel+sommers&sxsrf=ALiCzsbANRbILwdnkbH2XQX-hOX_7QIiQA%3A1670981118647&source=hp&ei=_iWZY6DcJOfV5NoPps-cyAE&iflsig=AJiK0e8AAAAAY5k0DnaAWITNu9hdSnmd8E5KOzLZPdck&gs_ssp=eJzj4tLP1Tcoz6jKNak0YPTiS0nMy0zNUSjOz81NLSoGAINICZ8&oq=daniel+som&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAMYADIFCC4QgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIHCC4QgAQQCjIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIHCC4QgAQQCjIHCC4QgAQQCjIHCAAQgAQQCjoECCMQJzoOCC4QgAQQsQMQxwEQ0QM6EQguEIMBEMcBELEDENEDEIAEOgsIABCABBCxAxCDAToRCC4QgAQQsQMQgwEQxwEQ0QM6CAgAEIAEELEDOgsILhCABBDHARDRAzoLCC4QgAQQsQMQgwE6CAgAELEDEIMBOggILhCABBCxAzoOCC4QgAQQxwEQrwEQ1AI6CAguELEDEIMBOg4ILhCABBCxAxCDARDUAjoLCC4QgAQQsQMQ1AI6CAguEIAEENQCUABYnA5ghzFoAHAAeAGAAYkEiAG9EpIBCzAuNi4wLjMuMC4xmAEAoAEB&sclient=gws-wiz#ip=1
M U S I C P L A Y L I S T S
FreedomWalker's Playlist:
- Boyz II Men: “Let it Snow”
- TLC: “Sleigh Ride”
- Kate Bush: “Army Dreamers”
beetle's Playlist:
- None this week
L Y R I C S S O U R C E (S)
- Geniuslyrics.com
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