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Service Before Self Ep. 14

Service Before Self Ep. 14

Dixon Center for Military & Veterans Services, Service Before Self, a podcast that tackles the evolving needs of veterans and their families, based on the belief that veterans can succeed in the community where they live.

Listen to Challenges Faced by Disabled Veterans with Louis Orslene, Supervisory Policy Advisor in the Office of Disability and Employment Policy (ODEP). ODEP is an agency within Department of Labor that is focused on helping employers and organizations not only support the 4.7 million disabled veterans, but disabled Americans writ large.  

In this episode, your host, Retired Army Colonel Sam Whitehurst, Dixon Center Vice President of Programs & Services, and Mr. Orslene, discuss the policies, programs, and practices that are creating opportunities for those that are disabled and how organizations and communities can more effectively transition those with disabilities, including disabled veterans, into the workforce.

This is an example of Dixon Center’s approach to connecting communities and organizations to resources so that they can better integrate veterans and their families into their existing programs.

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“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

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July – August 2021 Financial Recap

July – August 2021 Financial Recap

Prudential Financial, INC., has made a $50,000 grant to Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services to support our critical work in making the lives of our veterans and their families better.

The grant from Prudential provides resources to develop and sustain our work in workforce development and career placement. Dixon Center will achieve this by working with organizations providing vocational training in high-growth industries, women veteran wellness support, work readiness skill building and careers — all targeted to assist veterans achieve long-term self-sufficiency.

Prudential has been a critical and key Dixon Center partner since 2013 when they became our first corporate sponsor. For this support, we were proud to present Prudential with the 2018 Eugene and Ruth Freedman Leadership Award to recognize their committed to addressing the well-being of veterans and military families.

Thank you Prudential for your leadership, support and encouragement.

If you are interested in learning more about our work and joining our partnerships contact Vanessa Stergios, Director of Development at vstergios@dixoncenter.org. 

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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

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Fighting Together for Veterans & Families

Fighting Together for Veterans & Families

“Together we stand strong.”

– Colonel Duncan Milne, USMC (RET.), President
Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services

Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services is a member of The Fedcap Group, founded in 1935 by three World War I veterans. The Fedcap Group is a global network of top-tier nonprofits, with a platform for over 20 companies to deliver proven services and solving systematic problems. 

Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services recently updated The Fedcap Group leadership on our first quarter accomplishments, and our strategy for programs/services, growth and profitability during 2024.

Specifically, we shared:

  • In 2024 Dixon Center has achieved an increase in revenue, the highest first quarter level raised, ever.
  • Our assessment that statistically 10% of The Fedcap Group’s clients are military connected (veterans, military and veteran families, families of the fallen) with the Group helping them achieve long-term economic wellbeing.
    • Workforce Development to include job training in high growth sectors, job placement and post placement support.
    • Educational Services for children, youth and adults.
    • Health Services that promote stable participation in the workforce.
    • Economic Development targeted to helping people and communities achieve economic equity.
  • Dixon Center shared our two-year growth plan including the addition of 7 new employees in development, marketing & communications, and program management.
  • Lastly, Dixon Center shared plans for our Annual Holiday Reception in December 2024 at Civic Hall in New York City.

We are working with the Fedcap companies. They use us as a resource hub for actions, ideas, influence, and resources so together we can make the lives of those touched by military service, better.

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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

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Investment in Our Work with Purpose Programs

Investment in Our Work with Purpose Programs

“Our partnerships allow us to assist veterans and their families achieve economic empowerment.”             
– Eileen Greenlay, Director of Development

Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services is honored to announce a large, multi-year grant from a partner foundation for our Work with Purpose programs. This investment allows us to continue to grow our work with organizations assisting transitioning service members, veterans, and their families to achieve economic empowerment.

At Dixon Center, we have one goal – to see every member of the military become a successful, contributing member of their community once they leave military service. A key factor in that success is what we call meaningful employment.  It’s not about having a job, it’s about a career. 

Though our partnership and the foundation’s investment over the past year, Dixon Center has enabled over 4,000 military-connected individuals to be trained, licensed/certified, and placed in careers in the utilities sector, building trades, transportation and maritime industries, and other industries. 

As this partnership enters our 9th year, this grant will allow us to build on the success we’ve achieved in assisting thousands of veterans across the nation with the opportunity to work with purpose.

If you are interested in learning more about our projects leading to Work with Purpose for veterans and their families and joining our partnerships contact Eileen Greenlay, Director of Development at egreenlay@dixoncenter.org.

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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

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Situational Awareness through VAntage Point

Situational Awareness through VAntage Point

Many organizations and individuals that work with Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services are curious about where to get more information from The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

The most useful source of information is online communications tools between the department and it’s stakeholders. Since 2016, with the launch of the blog, called Vantage Point, it became a significant source of information and an expanded outreach effort aimed at improving the way VA and its clients, community partners, and interested parties engage online.

VAntage Point, began as a source of information edited by VA’s Director of New Media with two primary features: a main column of articles written each day by VA staff and a section comprised of guest pieces submitted by other stakeholders including employees and the public. It has evolved as a one stop outreach tool providing News, Resources, the VA Podcast Network and Press Releases.

VAntage Point is increasing transparency, participation, and collaboration via social media. To view the blog, please visit http://www.blogs.va.gov. For more information, visit http://www.va.gov. 

 

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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

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Workforce Development & Career Placement

Workforce Development & Career Placement

To ensure that veterans and families succeed where they live, Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services provides and coordinates technical assistance/training, resource sharing, and strong leadership to our partners, who, with our ongoing support, operate direct service programs. Our work encompasses a broad swath, at the local and national level, from workforce development and housing solutions to wellness research and development, expanding funding streams for veteran entrepreneurs, and advancing impact via service networks.

Workforce Development and Career Placement is often the catalyst that drives progress toward ensuring that veterans and their families reach their full potential and leads to positive outcomes in other areas such as housing and wellness. The following is a brief update on Dixon Center’s recent work and future initiatives in this area.

Dixon Center and AFL-CIO Union Veterans Council signed a strategic agreement committing each other to further collaboration and expanding opportunities for veterans and their families in the building trades, including women veterans and veterans of color. This partnership is already creating opportunities to integrate veterans into existing programs in southern California—providing them a pathway into the middle class.

Dixon Center, with the American Legion and other partners, released “The Future of Credentialing for Service Members and Veterans.” This groundbreaking report has captured best practices and proven models to increase access to credentials for service members, military spouses, and veterans. Dixon Center was able to play a leading role in the development of the report and continues to participate in follow-on discussions.

Dixon Center visited the Seafarers International Union (SIU) Paul Hall Center for Maritime Education and Training in Piney Point, Maryland with a team from our partners in Department of Labor, Veterans Employment Training Services (VETS). This program is creating pathways to high-paying careers for veterans in the maritime industry. Explored ways to expand this transformational program and reach more transitioning service members and veterans. 

Teammates in Creating Solutions for Veterans and their Families.
Ivan Denton, Director, Veteran Employment Programs, Department of Labor-VETS; James Rodriguez, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Department of Labor-VETS, Sam Whitehurst, Vice President, Programs & Services, Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services. August 14, 2021

Dixon Center led a discussion on the role that non-profits and community-based organizations play in creating holistic solutions for veterans and their families to workforce development leaders in both Chicago and Illinois at the Military Workforce Initiatives Summit: Advanced Partnering Opportunities for City and State Affiliates.

This is a snapshot of what is possible through collaboration with federal and state agencies, private-sector partners, organized labor, community-based organizations, and other non-profits. The end result of this collaboration are veterans and their families who successfully reintegrate into their communities. If you want to join in this inspiring work and explore what is possible, contact Colonel (USA, Ret.) Sam Whitehurst, Vice President, Programs & Services, at swhitehurst@dixoncenter.org.

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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

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Service Before Self Podcast Ep. 12

Service Before Self Podcast Ep. 12

Dixon Center for Military & Veterans Services, Service Before Self, a podcast that tackles the evolving needs of veterans and their families, based on the belief that veterans can succeed in the community where they live.

Listen to Assisting Organizations and Communities Address the Evolving Needs of Veterans and their Families with Colonel Duncan Milne (USMC, Ret.), President, Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services. Colonel Milne has spent a lifetime leading and serving Marines and is now leading an organization that connects organizations and communities with existing programs and services that transform the lives of veterans and their families. 

In this episode, your host, Retired Army Colonel Sam Whitehurst, Dixon Center Vice President of Programs & Services, and Colonel Milne, discuss Dixon Center’s approach to supporting veterans and their families in the communities where they live through Dixon Center’s network of private and public, civic, and community-based partners. They also share how the pandemic has accelerated the evolution of veterans’ needs, not diminished them.

This episode is also a moment of reflection; after over a year of dealing with the pandemic, it is now a great time to look back and see what Dixon Center’s leadership has learned and also to share Dixon Center’s goals for the future.

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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

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Save the Date – Dixon Center Annual Holiday Reception

Save the Date – Dixon Center Annual Holiday Reception

Save the Date for the Dixon Center Annual Holiday Reception

Tuesday Evening, December 14, 2021 from 7pm – 8:30pm EST

Please Save the Date of our Annual Holiday Reception and Awards Ceremony.

About this Event

We hope that you will join us, virtually again this year, during our annual holiday reception and award ceremony. We use this time every year to thank our friends, family, supporters, and donors. Please pick out your favorite snacks and beverages, go ahead and put on that festive holiday attire, and join us like you would any other year. If you would like to invite others to attend, please direct them to the provided registration link and we ask you to not give out the Zoom event link you will receive in your confirmation email. We will also be sharing this event through Facebook live. Join us as we recognize special individuals and organizations with our four awards:

The Eugene and Ruth Freedman Leadership Award

The Herbert Metzger Service Award

The Michael “Mick” Yauger Point Man Award

And, the inaugural Lou Lowenkron Commitment to Veterans Excellence Award

Please Save the Date and we look forward to another successful event. 

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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

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The Impact of Socially Conscious Actions

The Impact of Socially Conscious Actions

At Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services, we are always looking for new and innovative avenues for our supporters to assist in our work. Knowing that both individuals and corporations have become more and more socially conscience, with a growing desire to find new ways to impact the causes they believe in. We would like to introduce a new Dixon Center partnership with Investing In Communities ® (IIC), a nonprofit real estate referral service that uses referral fees to support our work. It is a win-win-win, the client gets to support our work at Dixon Center, the real estate agent benefits from a new referral, and IIC directs most of that referral fee to Dixon Center.

Investing In Communities® is a unique fundraising platform that empowers you to turn ordinary real estate transactions into significant funding to support Dixon Center’s mission. The platform provides charitable individuals with an opportunity to use any real estate agent they know, or to get assistance in finding the right one, while increasing the impact of their favorite non-profit, Dixon Center. Office, retail and industrial leases and purchases can also provide a revenue opportunity with a small percent of the purchase or lease by starting the transaction with IIC. 

The key to the process is to make the first call or contact with Investing In Communities®, so that 70%+ of the referral fee can be given to Dixon Center. It is critical that this step is done before an individual or company signs an agreement to begin working with the agent. There is no expense to the property buyer or seller or corporate tenant and IIC can be used with real estate transactions anywhere in the United States.

Even if you are not planning to buy or sell a home or lease commercial property soon, please use this link to sign up to get reminded when you might be closer to doing so. To learn more about how to turn your process of buying a home, property or any commercial lease or purchase into ways that impact the lives of veterans and military families, please contact Vanessa Stergios our Director of Development at vstergios@dixoncenter.org. To learn more about our work supporting veterans and military families across the nation, visit www.DixonCenter.org. 

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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

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Service Before Self Episode 11

Service Before Self Episode 11

Dixon Center for Military & Veterans Services, Service Before Self, a podcast that tackles the evolving needs of veterans and their families, based on the belief hat veterans can succeed in the community where they live.

Listen to Veterans and their Families Succeeding in their Communities with Jim Beamesderfer, Vice President, Veterans Initiatives, Prudential. Jim and his team have immersed themselves in the challenges that service members and their families face when they transition and have developed and partnered with innovative programs that are making a difference in the lives of veterans and their families. 

In this episode, your host, Retired Army Colonel Sam Whitehurst, Dixon Center Vice President of Programs & Services, and Jim, discuss a service delivery model that combines the reach, resources, and values of a company like Prudential and the ideas, influence, and actions of national nonprofits like Dixon Center with service providers at the community level to ensure that veterans and their families reach their full potential.

Subscribe To/Follow Service Before Self Podcast

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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