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Turning Insight Into Action for New York’s Veteran Community

Turning Insight Into Action for New York’s Veteran Community

“We are proactively identifying challenges impacting veterans and their families in New York State. By combining the strengths of the Center, AlphaROC, and the Dwyer Coalition, we are demonstrating our shared purpose: using insight, collaboration, and action to make the lives of veterans and their families better.”

– Sam Whitehurst, Vice President, Programs and Services, Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services

Last week, Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services, AlphaROC, and the Dwyer Coalition for Military Veterans & Families held their first project kickoff meeting to advance a shared commitment: helping communities better understand and respond to the evolving needs of veterans and their families across New York State.

The meeting brought together the partners’ complementary strengths. The Center contributed its experience building the capacity of organizations serving military and veteran communities. The Dwyer Coalition brought the knowledge and perspective of its statewide network of veteran peer-support programs. AlphaROC introduced a data-informed approach for identifying emerging trends, regional differences, and challenges that might otherwise remain unseen until they became more difficult to address.

Together, the partners established the foundation for gathering regular insights from participating Dwyer programs and translating those insights into practical information for community leaders and service providers. The work is designed to help organizations move beyond reacting to problems and instead anticipate changing needs, adjust existing programs, and develop locally relevant solutions.

This collaboration represented another step in The Center’s continued work to connect organizations, ideas, and resources that improves outcomes for those who served. Stay tuned for updates as we advance this exciting and innovative initiative.

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Happy 14th Anniversary From David Sutherland, Chair: On 13 July 2026 Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services (the Center) celebrated 14 years of impact. This is an exciting moment

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Save the Date – Annual Holiday Reception 2026

Save the Date – Annual Holiday Reception 2026

Save the Date

Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services
Awards Ceremony and Annual Holiday Reception

Thursday Evening, December 10, 2026 from 6:00pm – 8:00pm EST
New York, NY

About this Event

Each year, we take this opportunity to thank our friends, families, supporters, and donors. We also recognize outstanding individuals and organizations through the presentation of four awards:

  • The Eugene and Ruth Freedman Leadership Award
  • The Herbert and Carolyn Metzger Service Award
  • The Michael “Mick” Yauger Point Man Award
  • The Lou Lowenkron Commitment to Veterans Excellence Award

Stay tuned for a full announcement of the awardees and your invitation in the months ahead.

Sincerely, 

The Center for Military and Veterans Services Team

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Yes, We Do Use AI

Yes, We Do Use AI

“AI will never replace our priority of connection and relationship building. It does strengthen our ability to vet opportunities, develop more compelling proposals, and improve efficiency in our daily development activities.”

– Eileen Greenlay, Director of Development

Over the last several months, our Development team has participated in various webinars focused on how artificial intelligence can strengthen our operations and quality of grant applications and donor communications.

Curious. Growing. Efficient. These were the top three responses to a live poll at a recent webinar hosted by one of our funders asking attendees for one word to describe their current usage of AI. Additionally, a question was posed “will funders have issue with our use of AI?” Our host funder told us, “They expect you to use it.” Suggestions proposed that resonated with us:

  • Properly select model type and prompt chats for better results by outlining specific goals, providing full context, citing sources of background information and noting key expectations.
  • Don’t allow AI to guess or assume numbers, instruct options such as (human to insert number here) for metrics or statistics.
  • Customize chats and organize projects based on specific topics.

AI tools can support our work, improve efficiency, enhance storytelling, and expand our ability to serve veterans and military families. We balance that with transparency and appropriate usage.

So yes, the team at the Center does use AI for certain tasks.

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Yes, We Do Use AI

“AI will never replace our priority of connection and relationship building. It does strengthen our ability to vet opportunities, develop more compelling proposals, and improve

Chair’s Letter on 14 Amazing Years

Happy 14th Anniversary From David Sutherland, Chair: On 13 July 2026 Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services (the Center) celebrated 14 years of impact. This is an exciting moment

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Chair’s Letter on 14 Amazing Years

Chair’s Letter on 14 Amazing Years

Happy 14th Anniversary

From David Sutherland, Chair:

On 13 July 2026 Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services (the Center) celebrated 14 years of impact.

This is an exciting moment for our team and a chance to recommit to our core purpose: improving the lives of veterans and their families. It is also an opportunity to build on the progress we have made across our 3 pillars, 6 programs, and more than 630 projects, operations, and initiatives over the past 14 years.

As I sat at the dedication ceremony in a Chicago hotel ballroom on 13 July 2012, I believed we could achieve this progress – and we have. Still, much work remains. The needs of our nation’s veterans and their families continue to evolve, not disappear. Fortunately, we have an outstanding team of professionals focused on our mission, vision, and purpose.

Congratulations, team. Giddy up!

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Chair’s Letter on 14 Amazing Years

Happy 14th Anniversary From David Sutherland, Chair: On 13 July 2026 Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services (the Center) celebrated 14 years of impact. This is an exciting moment

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We Celebrated and Shared Our Patriotism

We Celebrated and Shared Our Patriotism

“Our actions show how grateful we are for our liberties and freedoms.”

– Colonel Duncan Milne – President,
Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services

July Fourth commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence and reminds us that freedom is best honored through service, citizenship, and community. Over the Independence Day weekend, Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services and those connected to our mission expressed that gratitude not only in words, but in action.

Throughout the weekend, members of our community marked the holiday in ways that reflected both pride in our nation and commitment to one another. Some spent Independence Day at Mount Vernon, home of George Washington, whose leadership helped secure American independence. Others represented the spirit of the day by walking in parades, speaking in their communities, and joining local activities across the country.

For many in our Dixon Center community, patriotism is part of daily life. Some family members continue to serve in uniform today, while many others on our team are veterans whose service – and the support of their loved ones – has strengthened our country, our neighborhoods, and the people beside them. Their example reminds us that appreciation for our liberties and freedoms is not limited to one day; it is demonstrated over time through sacrifice, participation, and continued service.

We hope your Independence Day was meaningful and that the weekend offered a moment to reflect on the freedom we cherish and the actions that help sustain them.

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Chair’s Letter on 14 Amazing Years

Happy 14th Anniversary From David Sutherland, Chair: On 13 July 2026 Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services (the Center) celebrated 14 years of impact. This is an exciting moment

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Episode #34, Service Before Self Podcast

Episode #34, Service Before Self Podcast

We recently released the latest episode of the Service Before Self podcast, “Creating Community: The Andy Quattlebaum Warrior Hunt 2026,” featuring Ed Dennis, Executive Director of the Andy Quattlebaum and Blackwell Family Foundation (AQBFF), and Sam Whitehurst, Vice President, Programs & Services at Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services.

This episode reflects on their experience during the Andy Quattlebaum Warrior Hunt 2026 this past February, where veterans from diverse backgrounds came together for far more than a traditional outdoor event. Their discussion explores how shared experiences, authentic relationships, and meaningful dialogue fosters a lasting sense of community that extended well beyond the hunt itself.

The Center is proud to share this story of partnership, service, and community while continuing to elevate innovative approaches that strengthen the lives of those who have served.

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First-Half FY2026 Progress

First-Half FY2026 Progress

“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.”

– Phil Jackson, Hall of Fame and
NBA Championship Coach 

In the first half of FY2026, Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services advanced its mission through steady operational progress and strategic outreach.

  • Launched 7 planned operations
  • Advanced 42 projects
  • Moved forward 7 policy proposals or new ideas
  • Participated in 12 conferences, workshops, and public events

Featured Highlights

One key milestone was Fedcap’s release of its first-half FY2026 operating and financial results, which highlighted the strength of a diversified model serving more than 252,000 individuals across education, workforce development, health, and economic development.

Three other highlights include:

  • VETS26 Conference: Hosted by the National Veteran Small Business Coalition, this event provided an opportunity to share ideas around the theme “Growing Your Business” and strengthen connections that support veteran entrepreneurship and federal contracting opportunities.

Together, these first half results reflect strong momentum across the Center’s core pillars. They also position the Center to build on positive outcomes for partners, expand capacity, and advance its three priorities: support, growth, and profitability.

 

 

Photo 1: Michele Spires and Wendy Lang celebrate a new partnership between the Center and the American Council on Education

Photo 2: The Center engaging with leadership from the Dwyer Veterans Peer Support Program

Photo 3: National Veterans Small Business Coalition VETS26

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Innovation is our Lifeblood

Innovation is our Lifeblood

“Innovations are imperative in building capacity by organizations seeking to make lives of veterans and their families better.”

– Duncan S. Milne, Retired US Marine Corps Colonel, President,
Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services

Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services (the Center) is attending the annual Social Innovation Summit in Atlanta, Georgia. The summit is a leading forum for sharing ideas, building connections, and finding partners committed to improving lives.

To support our business development goals, our team is connected with leaders across many sectors that are advancing social change around the world. Veterans may not be the initial focus of these discussions, but when we share our leadership and expertise, it becomes clear that veterans and military families are part of the communities these efforts aim to serve.

In turn, leaders recognize that including veterans and military families in their strategies and plans is not only the right thing to do, but also essential to meaningful innovation.

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Memorial Day – Reflect and Remember

Memorial Day – Reflect and Remember

“The selected lines from Laurence Binyon’s poem ‘For the Fallen’ honors sacrifice and serves as a reminder of the enduring respect and remembrance owed to fallen heroes.”

– The Center

Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services (the Center) dedicated the recent Memorial Day Weekend to a series of purposeful activities and initiatives.

Memorial Day Weekend at the Center is a time to honor and reflect on the courage and sacrifice of our nation’s fallen service members and their families. Embracing this year’s theme, Reflect and Remember, our team and families joined community and national celebrations—participating in ceremonies, parades, flag placements, concerts, and even swearing in our next generation of service members.

The Center mailed out 700 Memorial Day cards, reminding recipients to pause and honor generations who have given everything for the freedoms we cherish.

At the heart of our message and Memorial Day mailer was a powerful stanza from Laurence Binyon’s poem For the Fallen (written in September 1914):

“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.”

We hope you took a moment to reflect and remember those whose legacy lives on in our hearts and communities.

 

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Happy 14th Anniversary From David Sutherland, Chair: On 13 July 2026 Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services (the Center) celebrated 14 years of impact. This is an exciting moment

Posted on

A War Widow Reflects on Memorial Day

A War Widow Reflects on Memorial Day

“I don’t wait until a holiday comes up to recognize those who have fallen – and the families of the fallen. I feel these service members – and the families who are left behind – should be recognized daily.”

– Latrese Dixon, Blue & Gold Star Family Partner,
Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services

Saturday morning, I got up early to take our son to football practice. At 9:15 there was a knock on the door, and I figured it was a neighbor.

But it wasn’t.

The 29th of September. 9:15 that morning. That’s when I learned my husband was killed in action during the war of Iraq.
___________________________

No matter how many years pass, it’s never easy. Memorial Day, a day of remembrance for our fallen service members, is never easy.

For some, Memorial Day is being viewed as a nice long weekend with bar-b-ques, and summer kick-off. And that’s okay, as long as we also keep in mind that this is a day we honor our men and women that have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

It’s my hope that by sharing my story, and perhaps some of my pain, that it helps to bridge that gap. Unless you have been impacted, you will not understand the feeling of getting that knock on your door, only to see two armed servicemen standing on the other side.
I’ve grieved. But the most important thing I want to tell people is that I don’t grieve any more. Rather, I honor.

As we celebrate, let’s remember our fallen heroes– and the families of the fallen.

I’m often asked how to do this? Simple, just say “Thank You”. I don’t think we understand how powerful a simple, spoken expression of gratitude can be for Gold Star families.

I know it can feel uncomfortable. I understand. That’s why I’m sharing my story, because it’s not as simple as what you may have seen on TV. If you talk to me, or any Gold Star family, you may not realize it, but you may be helping individuals with their mental health when you allow them to share their story.

For me, it’s hard to go back and reflect on that day, but I know there is purpose in knowing that my story , like many others will help you better understand the impact of Memorial Day.

About the Author

Dr. Latrese Dixon ,PhD, is a Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services Blue and Gold Star Family Partner, a National non-profit that takes its name from her husband, Army Staff Sergeant Donnie Dixon. He was killed in action while serving in Iraq in 2007. The Center isn’t named in memory of Donnie. It’s named to honor his values – loyalty and duty, respect and honor, integrity, and courage. Qualities that America’s military holds dear.


This column originally ran May 22, 2019 via Inside Sources and in our own newsletter.

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“AI will never replace our priority of connection and relationship building. It does strengthen our ability to vet opportunities, develop more compelling proposals, and improve

Chair’s Letter on 14 Amazing Years

Happy 14th Anniversary From David Sutherland, Chair: On 13 July 2026 Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services (the Center) celebrated 14 years of impact. This is an exciting moment