Intersections Program Coordinator Scott Thompson on Veteran Program Updates

The Veteran-Civilian Dialogue (VCD) has a new page on the Intersections website. It includes the program’s defining philosophy, work history, partnerships, innovative applications, artistic veteran’s offerings and, of course, the ongoing dialogues between veterans and civilians.

Succinctly put, the deepest philosophy of Intersections is the value of engaging, with consciousness and good will, communities that are often separate, unrelated or in conflict. By entering into relationship together, we begin a process of transformation and wholeness. 

The Veteran-Civilian Dialogue––rather a verb than a noun––is a process designed to have equal numbers of veterans and civilians come together for mutual understanding, support and conversation around the impact of war upon us all.

The comprehensive and replicable program utilizes new and traditional media, extensive and cutting-edge psychological and social healing processes, research on fundable arts initiatives to assist an array of abilities and disabilities with both veterans and civilians, and an emerging initiative of collaborative services and programming in Second Life.

All these initiatives are designed to forge common ground and bridge the disparate experiences of veterans and civilians, empowering veterans to fully re-integrate into civilian society and educating civilians to the unique needs and strengths of returning military personnel.

Veteran-Civilian Dialogue in the Arts makes innovative use of the arts to deepen the relationship between veterans and civilians. Common ground is forged through the use of both traditional and emerging art forms, ranging from concerts, plays and story projects to innovative art dialogues. We will host a story project in March called "In Our Own Voice: Women Veterans Tell Their Story." In April, we will host veteran Brian Delate’s acclaimed play "Memorial Day."

Veteran-Civilian Dialogue on the Front Line works in partnership with Mike Enright—a young and aspiring filmmaker at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Mike has embarked on an extraordinary documentary film, "Home of the Brave," that includes the Veteran-Civilian Dialogue. His project, with unprecedented access by the military, follows a Marine Unit from pre-deployment to the front lines in Afghanistan. The soldiers candidly talk about what they need from civilians both during deployment and upon their re-entry into society.

Veteran-Civilian Dialogue in Second Life proves that intersections can occur in real time … and virtually. This project provides internet-based virtual Veteran-Civilian Dialogue and includes collaborative services and programming