Developing a Sense of Meaningful Belonging Among Veterans

A six-day training program for six leaders and two monthly discussion programs for 15-20 participants, to be held at the State University of New York at Buffalo and surrounding area.The University at Buffalo, in collaboration with the Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, the Buffalo and Erie County Public Libraries, and the Veterans One-stop Center of Western New York, proposes a project, titled “Developing a Sense of Meaningful Belonging Among Veterans.” The project will take place from 05/2021 until 10/2022 in Buffalo, NY. The project consists of an in-person six-day preparatory program to train six discussion leaders, and of two in-person series of six monthly discussion programs for veterans. The project also includes an exhibition of veterans’ photographs and a public panel discussion at the downtown Public Library in April 2022. The project aims to facilitate rich discussions and deep reflections on how veterans establish meaningful social connections and support veterans in this quest. The project team comprises humanities scholars, a social scientist, a discussion facilitation expert, and an Army combat veteran and social worker.