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Q&A

DVS efforts to promote veteran civic engagement

0:31:57

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126 sec

Council Member Holden and Commissioner Hendon discuss the Department of Veterans Services' (DVS) efforts to promote veteran civic engagement, particularly focusing on community board participation.

DVS regularly promotes community board opportunities to veterans through various channels.
They use their website, social media, newsletter, and public events to inform veterans about community board openings.
Commissioner Hendon mentions the challenge of only 1 in 4 veterans self-identifying, which affects outreach efforts.
DVS is working to provide more data about veterans to elected officials to help amplify engagement efforts.

Robert Holden

0:31:57

In 2,000 23 annual report, the VAB call for investing in resources to encourage and support veteran engagement in the political process, including placing veterans on community boards, which is near and dear to me.

0:32:13

I've mentioned this.

0:32:14

I have legislation also to create, the a, veterans committee on each community board.

0:32:22

But how can DVS collaborate with other city agencies or offices?

0:32:28

You know, the borough president, for instance, and, to promote greater veteran representation and civic participation on, you know, on community boards in particular or or just other, boards.

0:32:42

But but create a, like, create a, especially the the borough presidents could could make sure that we get veterans on each community board, and then hopefully, a veterans committee on each community board.

James Hendon

0:32:55

I think what we can do is work to get our assets in front of more of the elected officials, more of the board presence on these things as far as we routinely and organically promote, community boards as an opportunity.

0:33:05

We tell folks go to nyc.gov/vetcommunityboard.

0:33:08

We mentioned it here at our, hearings.

0:33:10

We mentioned it at the VAB meetings.

0:33:11

We mentioned it in public.

0:33:12

We also promoted on the website, social media, and our newsletter.

0:33:15

But I know that we can work to try to get our assets on this in front of more of our elected officials to amplify it.

0:33:21

Another thing too, a caveat to that that that, recommendation from the VAB, we are mindful of our people not being in we cannot involve ourselves in politics.

0:33:29

So when it talks about it in a way of getting veterans to engage in a political process, the line for us is promoting getting in touch with your community board and joining that board, not doing other things to get involved politically.

0:33:41

So that's something that that we're very, very mindful of.

0:33:43

And then, another piece of this, which sounds something I mentioned before is, let's not forget, only 1 out of 4 veterans in this city self identifies.

0:33:49

And so for us, we're working to get as much data as we can about our veterans in the hands of our elected officials to help amplify those efforts to have these touches.

0:33:58

And so this goes back to agreement that we've signed with the council speaker, or you signed with But

Robert Holden

0:34:02

but this is my question is really talking about, partnership.

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