PHOENIX (PRWEB) November 05, 2020
The HeroZona Foundation is excited to announce the third edition of the Bridge Forum, “U.S. Veterans”, during which a panel of Arizona leaders in government, healthcare and private sector businesses will discuss community updates related to services and benefits for the veteran population. The event will take place on Tuesday, November 10 from 8 to 10 a.m. at Embassy Suites by Hilton Phoenix Tempe (4400 S. Rural Rd.) in Tempe. The invitation-only event is hosted by the City of Tempe and Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and supported by Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services, Veteran Engagement Transition Retention Network (VETRN), Vitanya Brain Performance, and the Travis L. Williams American Legion Post 65. The forum will also be livestreamed to the public at Facebook.com/HeroZonaOrg/Live.
Event panelists include Phoenix VA Health Care System Medical Center Director Dr. Alyshia Smith, Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services Director and COL U.S. Air Force (retired) Wanda A. Wright, Arizona Corporate Council on Veterans Careers Founder, Co-Chairman and RDML U.S Navy (retired) Hal Pittman, Department of Veterans Affairs Phoenix Regional Office Director Chris Norton, Arizona Coalition for Military Families U.S. Marine Corps Director and Army National Guard veteran Thomas Winkel, and City of Tempe Councilmember and U.S. Army Veteran Robin Arredondo-Savage.
“Our goal is to empower active military, their spouses and veterans through meaningful employment, successful entrepreneurship and education,” says Alan “AP” Powell, Chairman of AP & Associates - Strategic Alliances and U.S. Army Desert-Storm Veteran. “To achieve this, community leaders must be aware of the issues that the veteran community faces and must also be prepared to offer proactive solutions that will help them.”
The event will be moderated by Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry President and CEO Glenn Hamer. Hamer represents Arizona’s business community on the national stage, where he serves as the chair of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Committee of 100, sits on its Public Affairs Committee and serves on the U.S. Chamber’s Board of Directors.
Also in attendance will be City of Tempe Mayor Corey Woods, U.S. Representative for Arizona 9th District Greg Stanton and Maricopa County District 1 County Supervisor and Vice Chairman Jack Sellers.
The most recent Bridge Forum, “Time for Change,” took place in Indianapolis on October 6, where major Indiana law enforcement leaders including include Lake County Prosecutor Bernard A. Carter, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief of Police Randal Taylor, Indiana State Fraternal Order of Police President William Owensby, Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. and National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives President Lynda R. Williams. discussed systemic racism and how to drive change.
The Bridge Forum “Time for Change” part one occurred on Tuesday, June 23 at the Travis L. Williams American Legion Post 65 and focused on current events within the black community and law enforcement to examine how communities can work together with police to create equality in the nation. The series’ second and third segments took place on Tuesday, July 14 at the W Scottsdale and Tuesday, August 11 at the Sheraton Mesa Hotel at Wrigleyville West and focused on similar topics. The Bridge Forum, “Next Generation”, happened on Tuesday, August 25 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Phoenix Tempe and highlighted young leaders from various public & private Arizona organizations advocating for change. The Bridge Forum, “One Team,” took place in Phoenix on September 8 at the Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix.
In January 2018, the Scottsdale Police Department implemented 29 new initiatives from the Scottsdale Bridge Forum 2017, which included establishing sufficient resources for police personnel dealing with trauma, establishing dialogue opportunities with under-served communities, enhancing engagement with the community’s youth and identifying ways to address the needs of the community related to behavioral health.
For more information about the Bridge Forum and to stream its upcoming event on Tuesday, September 29, visit Facebook.com/HeroZonaOrg.
About the HeroZona Foundation
The HeroZona Foundation is a non-profit organization that empowers Heroes in the community through entrepreneurship, employment, and education. The group works with veterans, first responders and those that bring social good to future generations and under-served communities. The foundation’s mission is to create opportunities for the brave men and women who serve their country, and community, every day. For more information, please visit HeroZona.org.
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