In the Veteran and military-connected community, we talk a lot about service, sacrifice, and the systems designed to support those who have worn the uniform. But over the past few months, a question has been weighing heavily on me—one that I finally decided to bring to the forefront in the latest episode of VetTalks.

Who’s really making the calls for our Veteran and military community?

Who decides which supports get funded?
Which stories get elevated?
Which programs matter—and which communities get overlooked?

Whether you choose fiscal sponsorship or are ready to build your own nonprofit, the goal is the same:

Strengthen the Veteran and military-connected community through access, stability, and opportunity.

Veterans Collaborative exists to make that path possible—faster, safer, and with the full force of an ecosystem designed around service.

If you’re building something that supports Veterans, service members, or military families… you don’t have to do it alone.

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on our blessings. I will forever be thankful for the gifts of service—for all that has been given to me, to my family, and to our nation by those who have carried our flag on their shoulder and in their heart. We honor you- your resilience, courage, and unwavering spirit. You inspire us to lean forward, reach further, act boldly, and serve with intention.

Behind those numbers are families who serve—the junior enlisted soldier whose paycheck runs out before payday, the Veteran balancing disability benefits against grocery bills, the Guard family juggling deployments and childcare.

Food insecurity among military and Veteran households isn’t new—but it grows with every delay, every policy gap, and every assumption that “someone else is covering it.”

Even as the shutdown ends, its aftershocks will linger. Families have already been relying on credit cards, personal loans, and savings to stay afloat. These are not temporary disruptions—they’re compounding realities that will ripple for months.

The moment a Veteran takes off their uniform for the last time is also the moment they begin to learn this truth — the bravest part of their service has only just begun.

This is where service meets truth. Because we don’t honor Veterans by thanking them for who they were. We honor them by showing up for who they are becoming.

At Veterans Collaborative, we stand firm on three truths:

• Community is stronger than systems.

• Local solutions solve local challenges best.

• Gratitude without action is just sentiment.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, a time when our invested communities, providers, and individuals come together around one of the most urgent crises of our generation: Veteran suicide. At Veterans Collaborative, our mission is simple but powerful—increase access to resources and opportunities where Veterans live— stand beside them and ensure no one slips through the cracks.

Every day, an average of 22 Veterans make the tragic decision to end their lives. That is 22 families broken, 22 communities grieving, and 22 lives of service and sacrifice cut short. One life lost is one too many.

We like to say “all veterans deserve access,” but in practice, I’ve seen well-intentioned people draw invisible lines about which veterans have “earned” that access. As well as, which veteran service organizations are "quailified" to serve veterans.

We are all trying to address veteran suicide. But if we only invest in what works in theory without ensuring veterans can actually reach those interventions, we will continue to lose lives.

The solution isn’t either/or—it’s evidence and access, innovation and infrastructure, national standards and local reach. Local being the magic key.

Because at the end of the day, a veteran’s life is saved not just by the existence of a treatment, but by the ability to access it—right here, right now, where they live.

Let’s start with this: Cultural competency isn’t a checkbox. It’s a lifeline. We must ensure training is ongoing and continuous for local clinical care partners who encounter our Veteran and military families. We can 100% activate this at the local level—so when a Veteran walks into a clinic for care and says, “I am a Veteran,” it means something.

At Veterans Collaborative, we believe these unalienable rights must not only be protected and honored but actively extended to every person who has worn the uniform—and to the families who have stood beside them with unwavering strength and sacrifice on this journey of service, courage, and purpose.

Veteran organizations play a critical role in addressing the unique challenges faced by Veterans. From overcoming physical and mental health struggles to tackling financial and societal barriers, these organizations empower Veterans to lead fulfilling post-military lives. Their missions are both heartwarming and inspirational, deserving of our collective support.

On behalf of our team at Veterans Collaborative, thank you for your steadfast support. Together, we have driven meaningful change at the local level by empowering Veteran and community leaders, expanding access to vital resources and services, and championing the inclusion and support of local organizations and those closest to the challenges faced by our Veteran and military-connected community.

Veterans are not only protectors who have worn the uniform, but also compassionate leaders and innovative thinkers. They are warriors, skilled technicians, philanthropists, and humanitarians. They answer our Nation’s call with courage and dedication, standing in service while others often sit idle. Veterans are the backbone of America, tackling some of society’s greatest challenges, inventing and leading industries, building businesses, and fostering communities. They are the portraits of courage we look up to.

At Veterans Collaborative, our mission is clear: to empower Veterans, military families, and the communities they proudly call home. Through innovative programs, essential services, and impactful projects, we strive to foster healing, growth, and meaningful connections. This year, your support and inspiration have driven us to reach further, serve with greater purpose, and make a deeper impact.

This gap is what I call the glass floor of partnerships—a seemingly solid foundation of power and influence that, in reality, is fragile without ground-up buy-in. It’s where leaders of authority assume that their ideas will automatically work because they’ve been shaped in high-level boardrooms and through strategic alliances, but they fail to see the blind spots and the complexities of local implementation.

What does it mean to be the light in someone's darkness? For those who have served or supported those who have, we know the challenges are complex and overwhelming. It’s often a balancing act where we desperately want to change the narrative and show you who these heroes are-- tough and determined, loving family members, loyal servants, and American heroes, but we have to address the elephant in the room. Today, we are remembering the 125,000 Veterans that have lost their lives to Veteran suicide, and we are focused on the average 30 that will lose their lives today to Veteran suicide.