Click the photo above to view Coming Home from War: Community Reintegration - Part One The Jordan Health Foundation In partnership with Veterans Outreach Center, Monroe County Veterans Service Agency & RCTV Presents Coming Home from War A series of four Roundtable discussions, which closely examine the challenges facing veterans and their families, after coming home from war. Community Reintegration - Part One Hear from two generations of veterans about the unique challenges returning to civilian life after separating from military service. Gain an understanding about the barriers they fa ..read more

On Friday, August 14, 2020, Veterans Outreach Center Executive Director Laura Stradley was asked by the State of New York Veterans Affairs Committee to present details of the effects of COVID-19 on area veterans. Here is her presentation in its entirety which is both informative and enlightening. As members of the Veterans Affairs Committee, I imagine you’re all familiar with the term “presumptive conditions” regarding toxins our service members are exposed to in the military and the presumed diseases which result from said exposures.  This is important because there is a correlation betw ..read more

Our country has struggled since our founding to live out the concept of “Equity for all.”  We’ve seen throughout our history that many social movements have led to great changes for people of color, women, the LGBTQ population, laborers, people experiencing ageism, and more. But this work is far from done, and while I assume that most Americans are aware of systemic racism, passive racism, microaggressions, and other related inequalities, I think we were all appalled to see the murder of George Floyd. His passing became the catalyst for a strong movement to call attention to th ..read more

Marc Gaiger, owner of Marc’s Studio in Fairport, New York, has been a longtime supporter of Veterans Outreach Center (VOC) and our local veterans. In 2018, Marc began making copper roses, selling them around Valentine’s Day, and donating the proceeds to VOC. In 2020, Marc got a crew of about 10 volunteers together to produce 500 Forever Roses to sell them at six local retails locations, including Veterans Outreach Center’s Stars & Stripes Flag Store. “A special thank you goes out to the retailers that helped sell the copper roses without taking a commission,” Mark said. “This allowed us to ..read more

Seasonal depression, also called seasonal affective disorder (SAD), is a type of depression related to the change in season. Typically beginning in the fall and running through the winter months, SAD can drain your energy, put you in a bad mood, and overall make this time of year harder to deal with. To help combat this, we asked our Health & Wellness team their top tips for beating seasonal depression: Maintain a way to “get moving.” Exercise can be hard during the winter months however daily use of activity at least 20 minutes a day can improve mood and overall functioning. Take a hik ..read more

Before the Job Interview You’ve landed an interview. Great! Now it’s time to get to work to prepare for questions you’re likely to be asked and to have some questions of your own. Here are some tips for what to do before the interview.  Reflect on who you are. What can you do, and what can’t you do? What are your career goals, or, where do you want to be in five years? What are your specific strengths and weaknesses? Be prepared with examples.  Learn about the company. Visit the company’s website and learn all you can about them. Seek out recent news about the c ..read more

Essential to landing a job interview is a strong, concise, and polished resume that matches your skills with the needs of a specific job. Here are some important tips for veterans: Seek out jobs that match specific skills sets. Have a clearly defined objective. At the beginning of your resume, state the kind of position you’re looking for. Don't forget the basics: address, email, phone number, and any other important contact information. Emphasize your educational background. Show off your military background—but… Don't forget some hiring managers are civilians. Avoid military lan ..read more

When we are resilient, we adapt well to adversity, trauma, or any significant source of stress, such as family problems or financial challenges.  Being resilient means “bouncing back” from difficult experiences and regaining your balance.  Even more, though, with resilience comes personal growth.  Resilience helps you get through rough patches while also improving your life. Resilience is not simply a gift; it is a characteristic all of us can develop, like building muscle.  Here are two tips for increasing resilience by making connections with others. Join a group.  ..read more

re·síl·ience:  the ability to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness When we are resilient, we adapt well to adversity, trauma, or any significant source of stress, such as family problems or financial challenges. Being resilient means “bouncing back” from difficult experiences and regaining your balance. Even more, though, with resilience comes personal growth. Resilience helps you get through rough patches while also improving your life. Resilience is not simply a gift; it is a characteristic all of us can develop, like building muscle. Here are two tips for increasing ..read more

re·síl·ience:  the ability to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness When we are resilient, we adapt well to adversity, trauma, or any significant source of stress, such as family problems or financial challenges.  Being resilient means “bouncing back” from difficult experiences and regaining your balance.  Even more, though, with resilience comes personal growth.  Resilience helps you get through rough patches while also improving your life. Resilience is not simply a gift; it is a characteristic all of us can develop, like building muscle.  Here are two tips f ..read more