Project 22: Ride,
Resource and Film
Event Resource
Guide
16 September 2016
Presented by MAVRC (Military & Veterans Resource Center at the
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee)
The American Legion Riders have well over 100,000 members in over 2,000 chapters and have raised millions of
dollars for countless local, state, and national charities. As members of the American Legion Family we are NOT a
motorcycle club. We share a common interest in riding motorcycles and promoting the mission and image of the
American Legion. Our primary goals are to work together on Veteran’s Issues, participate in local parades as a
motorcycle color guard, and to raise money for community charities ad veterans in need. In the past two years locally
the Riders have donated over $3,500 to such worthwhile causes as; the Fisher House; community flag pole
dedications; return of Veteran remains from overseas to Wisconsin; support for female Veteran’s home; activities
with Union Grove Veteran’s home; movies for Veterans overseas; breakfast for disables Vets; and support for the
moving Vietnam Wall. We love to wave the flag and support our communities, active duty troops, and our veterans.
http://www.legion.org/riders
Bloom Center for Art and Integrated Therapies, LLC provides
private art therapy and counseling services to veterans and their
families, as well as the opportunity to participate in a
weekly community art studio.
http://www.bloomtherapies.com/
Based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Center for Veterans Issues (CVI), Ltd.
(CVI) is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit Veteran’s administration and management
organization. CVI supports the concerns of all veterans by providing
information, resources, identification of funding, technical assistance and
organizational development to Veteran service organizations. CVI also
provides transitional housing to homeless Veterans, while offering many
services to help Veterans transition back into the community.
http://www.cvivet.org/
Combat Vet Motorcycle Club’s motto is Vets Helping Vets. We
support and organize events to raise money and awareness in all
matters related to veterans.
https://www.combatvet.org/
Custom Canines Service Dog Academy is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit
organization of volunteer professionals and individuals who embrace the
endeavor of creating and supporting lasting partnerships between highly
skilled service dogs and the community of mankind with diverse impairments
and disabilities, thus greatly enhancing their quality of life.
The dogs of Custom Canines are placed with their human partners at no cost!
You can help change a life. Volunteer your time and services, raise a service
dog puppy, and tell your family and friends about us!
http://www.customcanines.org
Dryhootch is a nonprofit 501c3 organization formed by combat Veterans to help Veterans in their return
home. Dryhootch was envisioned as a place where Veterans could father informally in a coffee house; a sale,
comfortable, drug-and-alcohol-free environment. The idea revolved around the creation of a retail coffee shop
run by and for Veterans, which would also support an extended network of Veteran families, and encourage
Veteran interaction with the community as a while. “Hootch” is military jargon for a hut of safe place to sleep
during combat. The term “dry” denotes the organization’s mission to provide a social gathering place for
Veterans that is free of alcohol-one of the major problems plaguing Veterans of all eras. As such, the concept
behind “Dryhootch” was a desire to establish a cafe-like environment dedicated to “helping Veterans who
survived the war, survive the peace.”
https://dryhootch.org/
Feast of Crispian and Shakespeare with Vets is a non-profit organization bringing
together professional actors with post deployment service veterans in order to teach
and strengthen emotional resources that veterans need to overcome traumatic and
reintegration issues.
http://www.feastofcrispian.org/
Float Milwaukee provides a spa like environment in which customers float inside a pod consisting of about 10
inches of warm water and 950 pounds of Epsom salt. The result is a feeling of weightlessness that results in deep
relaxation, stress relief, pain relief, assistance with fighting anxiety/PTSD, enhanced creativity and learning,
recovery, and focus, among other things.
Veterans have used floating to assist with alleviating anxiety and PTSD symptoms as well as the effects of traumatic
brain injury/concussions. Floating is currently being studied in a clinical setting to better understand the exact
mechanisms resulting in relief from anxiety and PTSD. It has also reportedly been used by Navy Seals to assist
with learning languages.
http://floatmilwaukee.com/
Guitars for Vets is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 2007. We currently
operate more than 50 chapters in 25 states with the assistance of over 200 volunteers nationwide. Over the
past seven years, our organization has refined a guitar instruction program aimed at providing Veterans
struggling with physical injuries, PTSD and other emotional distress a unique supportive program. G4V pursues
its mission to share the healing power of music by providing free guitar instruction, a new acoustic guitar and a
guitar accessory kit in a structured program run by volunteers, primarily through the Department of Veterans
Affairs facilities and community-based medical centers.
http://www.guitars4vets.org/
Healing Touch is an evidence based and nationally accredited Energy Medicine therapy which activates a
person's natural energy flow to enhance and support physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health and
healing. Practitioners apply light touch or off-body touch while administering interventions with heart-centered
intentionality to clear blockages and balance the energetic flow of the body, mind and spirit. Healing Touch is
also one of the best practices advocated as a complimentary therapy at the VA.
http://www.healingtouchprogram.com/
Healing Warrior Hearts provides programs for military
personnel and their families, dedicated to healing the
emotional, moral, and spiritual wounds of war. The Starfish
Foundation, a 501c3 charitable organization, sponsors
Healing Warrior Hearts and offers the programs at no cost
to military veterans and their families.
http://starfishfound.org/veterans/
Heroes on the Water helps our Nation’s warriors and veterans from all branches of the United States military
unwind using the therapeutic qualities of fishing from kayaks. What looks like a day trip of paddling and fishing is
in fact something much deeper and long-lasting.
Our program is unique in that it is a long-term activity, not a one-time event. We believe that the effectiveness of
the program is a direct result of engaging the wounded military personnel for the long-term.
One soldier, at the Center for the Intrepid, called what we do “Triple Therapy” or “all at once therapy.” On post he
has to go to the gym for physical therapy, then go upstairs for his occupational therapy, and then go to the
psychologist for mental therapy. With kayak fishing he gets it all at once - physical therapy from paddling and
fishing, occupational therapy learning a lifetime sport/activity, and mental therapy from relaxing in nature with no
distractions or expectations of performance.
http://heroesonthewater.org/
At the House of Harley-Davidson®, one of the largest dealerships in the country, we do more than just sell
the most legendary motorcycle on the planet. We go above and beyond to make a great thing even better.
That’s our promise. And we keep it by being fanatical about customer service. W e believe there’s nothing
more important than making sure you get everything you’re looking for from your Harley-Davidson®
experience – and then some.
Giving back is a true passion for the staff at the House of Harley-Davidson® and we actively work to support
the Milwaukee community that keeps us in business. The House donates thousands of dollars in
merchandise every year to local worthy causes, as well as hosting rides and parties to benefit local
charities. Through these efforts The House has donated and helped to raise more than $100,000 for our
community in the last five years alone. We believe in Milwaukee, and we strive to make the home of
Harley® the best it can be.
http://houseofharley.com/
Taking the step to call a clinic is a big one, but no doubt a step that reflects your strength, resilience and belief
that things can and will get better. Our role at Mequon Clinical is to guide you and yours along the way to a
better place, a better you and a better future. Whether the challenge before you is substance abuse, postpartum depression, marital issues, behavioral concerns, depression, or anxiety, our team is here to help. At
times it means individual therapy, for some couples work is preferred and for others a consult with a
psychiatrist can help along the way. Bottom line, whatever your needs are our experienced team of
psychiatrists, family therapists and social workers will do what it takes to assist you as you move toward
better relationships, an enhanced life and more positive outcomes.
One effective, alternative therapy for the treatment of depression is transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).
NeuroStar TMS Therapy is FDA approved for patients suffering from depression who have not achieved
satisfactory improvement from prior antidepressant medications. It has been studied for use with PTSD as
well. TMS is non-invasive, and non-systemic, meaning nothing affects other cells of the body not being
treated. It does not interfere with other medications you may be taking.
http://www.mequonclinical.com/
Department of Veterans Affairs maintains a fleet of 80 Mobile Vet Centers (MVC) that are
designed to extend the reach of Vet Center services through focused outreach, direct service
provision, and referral to communities that do not meet the requirements for a “brick and mortar” Vet
Center, but where there are Veterans, service members, and their families in need of services. In
many instances these communities are distant from existing services and are considered rural or
highly rural.
Each MVC includes confidential counseling space for direct service provision as well as a state of
the art satellite communications package that includes fully encrypted tele-conferencing equipment,
access to all VA systems, and connectivity to emergency response systems. Vet Center staff
regularly collaborates with VA partners to create a single VA Footprint at events to ensure access to
all available VA services and benefits.
The placement of these vehicles is designed to cover a national network of designated Veterans
Service Areas (VSA) that collectively covers every county in the continental United States, Hawaii,
and Puerto Rico.
(414)434-1311
7910 N. 76th St. Milwaukee 53223
The Prevent Suicide Greater Milwaukee Coalition promotes suicide prevention by providing education,
increasing awareness, and facilitating community collaboration. Our coalition's veteran members share their
unique perspective on suicide prevention which PSGM integrates into our programs, initiatives and
especially our annual conferences, which take place at the Milwaukee County War Memorial.
http://www.preventsuicidemke.org/
Project Welcome Home Troops began in 2006 when several trauma relief trainers from the
International Association for Human Values (IAHV) volunteered to give a presentation on stress
relief to veterans in Orange County, California.
Soon after, therapist Dr. Shad Meshad at the National Veterans Foundation provided additional
training in combat induced PTSD to a group of IAHV instructors, and the Project Welcome Home
Troops Stress Relief Workshop was born. Courses soon followed at Walter Reed Army Medical
Center and veteran’s hospitals, veteran’s centers and community outreach programs across the
country.
http://www.projectwelcomehometroops.org/
Stepping Stone Farms, located just 20 minutes south of downtown
Milwaukee, is an Equine Assisted Therapy/Learning facility. We are on 28
acres of idyllic farmland, with 20+ rescued & donated horses that help
Veterans (and others) better understand the trauma they have been thru, and
how to come out the other side, a better and more whole person. Stop out
and see what the horses can do for you.
http://www.steppingstonefarms.org/ssf/index.php
The Suicide Prevention Program at Zablocki VA Medical Center provides
follow-up to Veterans and family and friends who have called the National Crisis
Line. We provide individual and group treatment and case management
services to Veterans who are deemed to be at high risk for suicide. We also
provide education and training to our staff and are available to
provide S.A.V.E. training in the community (Signs of suicide, Asking the
question, Validating feelings and Encouraging and Expediting care).
http://www.milwaukee.va.gov/services/Suicide_Prevention.asp
Team RWB’s mission is to enrich the lives of America’s veterans by
connecting them to their community through physical and social activity.
We accomplish our mission via our two core programs: our Chapter and
Community Program (CCP) and our Leadership Development Program
(LDP).
https://www.teamrwb.org/
At Training Solutions Whether your goal is health and fitness, to
counteract soft tissue injuries and joint discomfort, or to condition for
your work or sport, our Individualized care and Integrative Solutions
options are available. What it really means is movement conditioning.
Movement is a sequence of segments (think body parts) within specific
tasks. Those tasks can be anything from playing professional athletics,
playing with your children, recreational sports to stair climbing, getting
out of bed, or having a healthy lifestyle. No matter what level the task
(movement) there is an efficient way to perform. If the sequencing of
movement is efficient then you usually feel great, get to where you want
to go and never have aches and pains, stiffness or things you can't do. If
the sequencing is less than optimum, you may not feel symptoms right
away but eventually the body will attempt to protect itself by reacting with
pain, discomfort, aches and stiffness, leading to compensation. In turn
this leads to a decreased ability to perform the various tasks you once
were able to do. Our specialty lies in assessing your current movement
ability, in other words your ability to sequence movements, so we can
then design a plan to improve your efficiency in doing what YOU love to
do.
http://www.trainingsolutionswi.com/
The Counseling Unit of Norris Health Center at UW-Milwaukee provides short-term
mental health counseling, crisis intervention and psychiatric evaluation/short-term
medication management services in their Northwest Quadrant offices. Additional
offerings include university outreach and prevention programs as well as consultation
to faculty and staff. Appointments are free to UWM students who are currently enrolled
in classes on campus.
https://uwm.edu/norris/
The UWM LGBT Resource Center proudly promotes and educates
others about the strengths and experiences individuals with military
experience or veteran status bring to the UWM campus. The LGBT
Resource Center has information about the VA's LGBT Program and
can guide transgender veterans on how to navigate the VA or change
the name on their DD-214. We also have information about Veterans
for Diversity, a Wisconsin-based group dedicated to supporting LGBT
veterans.
http://uwm.edu/lgbtrc/
MAVRC (Military & Veterans Resource Center at the University of WisconsinMilwaukee) strives to address the challenges faced by current and former service
members and to contribute towards 100% of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s
(UWM) military and student veterans earning their college degree, with successful
transitions into the civilian workplace.
MAVRC has 4 primary goals:
1. Serve as the first stop for all military and veteran student students, alumni and
transitioning service members.
2. Educate the UWM campus and Milwaukee community about military service,
transition issues, stigmas and stereotypes, support and awareness programs.
3. Establish and offer a safe space on campus for those who have served,
enabling them to connect with the university and with one another.
4. Establish community partnerships that provide opportunities for military and
student veterans to build bridges into the Milwaukee community for future
employment, as well as civic and cultural engagement.
https://uwm.edu/mavrc/
Vet Centers serve Veterans and their families by providing a continuum of
quality care that adds value for Veterans families, and communities. Care
includes professional readjustment counseling, community education,
outreach to special populations, brokering of services with community
agencies, and providing a key access link between Veterans and other
services within U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
http://www.vetcenter.va.gov/
Vets Journey Home is an all-volunteer non-profit organization
dedicated to helping veterans with the invisible wounds they carry. Our
focus is on Post Traumatic Stress, Military Sexual Assault, Traumatic
Brain Injury, Moral Injury, stress, anger, anxiety, alcohol and drug
problems, sleep problems, relationship issues, guilt and shame. These
are conditions that are hard to share with family and friends who have
not experienced them. Vets Journey Home has been committed to
helping veterans’ transition home through weekend retreats, offering
tools to heal emotionally, physically, and spiritually since 1989.
http://www.vetsjourneyhome.org/
VetSuccess on Campus provides support to Veterans,
active Military and their qualified dependents pursuing
their education at UWM to succeed through on-campus
VA benefits information, vocational/educational
counseling, and job search guidance; as well as help
accessing health care and readjustment support
through the VA Medical Center and Vet Center.
http://www.benefits.va.gov/vocrehab/vsoc.asp
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)http://www.vfw.org/ in their misery,
some of these veterans banded together and formed organizations with
what would become known as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the
United States. After chapters were formed in Ohio, Colorado and
Pennsylvania, the movement quickly gained momentum. By 1915,
membership grew to 5,000; by 1936, membership was almost
200,000. Since then, the VFW's voice had been instrumental in
establishing the Veterans Administration, creating a GI Bill for the 20th
century, the development of the national cemetery system and the fight
for compensation for Vietnam vets exposed to Agent Orange and for
veterans diagnosed with Gulf War Syndrome. In 2008, VFW won a longfought victory with the passing of a GI Bill for the 21st Century, giving
expanded educational benefits to America's active-duty service
members, and members of the Guard and Reserves, fighting in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
http://www.vfw.org/