Inaugural Georgia Women Veterans Conference: Connected by Military Service
When: Friday, April 4, 2014
Where: Georgia Tech Research Institute Conf Center, Atlanta GA
A one day conference on Friday, April 4, 2014 will serve as the inaugural event for Georgia Women Veterans to gather in Atlanta, with goals of electronic live streaming throughout the state and the launch of a statewide inter-generational electronic network of support, information, and resources for our more than 106,000 Women Veterans and those currently serving on active duty. The conference and network will focus on themes and issues introduced by women veteran panelists who are experts in areas of physical and mental health, education, business and finance, faith and spirituality, and relationships. This conference and network will also reach out to women veterans in need of specific resources for employment, relationships, parenting, aging, housing, and the legal and criminal justice systems.
Key Note Speakers:
BriGette McCoy, ThM, Founder, CEO of Women Veteran Social Justice, Inc. Business and Professional Services Consultant, Nationally Recognized as Women Veteran Issues subject matter expert including Military Sexual Trauma, Housing/Homelessness, Creative Arts with Veterans. Her story highlighted in Service: When Women Come Marching Home.
Kathy Platoni, Psy.D., DAAPM, FAIS, is a Clinical Psychologist and COL (RET), US Army, Veteran of Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom (Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay and Afghanistan) She is the Author/Editor of “War Trauma and Its Wake~Expanding the Circle of Healing” (Scurfield and Platoni, 2012) and “Healing War Trauma~A Handbook of Creative Approaches” (Scurfield and Platoni, 2013) and the Editor of Combat Stress e-magazine.
Michele M. Spencer, M.S., is an Active Reserve Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Medical Service Corps and a Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. She is a Registered Yoga Teacher, Acupressurist, Certified Personal Trainer, Reiki Master and Global Sacred Activist.She is the author of “B.A.G.D.H.A.D. Yoga”(2012).
Mission
Our mission will be to connect with Georgia Women Veterans: individually, in small community groups, and electronically, in recognition and celebration of their military service, in reconnection as veterans who pledge to leave no female comrade behind, and to continue to serve others. We will Empower, Connect, and Serve.
Attendance
We intend for this inaugural event is to include women from every region in Georgia, all branches of service, all age groups (World War II through OEF/OIF), and current active duty/Guard/Reserves. Those who register will be invited to take on roles in communication and leadership in expanding partnerships and networks with women veterans and women civilians, as well as government and business, across Georgia in 2014. Registration is limited for both the conference and the Friday evening reception. Regional ambassadors will host live streaming of parts of the conference; to connect in your region, contact Ms. McCoy above.
BriGette McCoy, USA (SCDV), Founder and CEO of Women Veterans Social Justice, a GA non-profit based in Atlanta, is the Conference Chair. Georgia Tech Research Institute Conference Center has partnered with the Conference to donate space. The Organizational and Advisory Committees include Georgia Women Veterans and civilians, as well as those from other states, committed to building a Georgia Women Veterans Network that will provide community and technology platforms to share information, resources, and partnerships. For sponsor/exhibitor/press information, or registration, contact Ms. McCoy HERE.
