First Town Hall Brings Veteran Service Organizations Together

Northeast Florida veterans and their families can trust local veteran service organizations stand ready to support them thanks to a recent town hall.

The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Centerstone, here in Jacksonville, Florida hosted its first Northeast Florida Military Veteran Virtual Town Hall this month featuring a number of organizations dedicated to ensuring local military families get the best possible care.

“We wanted to create a space where those who provide services to our veterans can come together to learn more about each other,” Brigadier General (ret) Michael Fleming, outreach director of the Cohen Clinic at Centerstone said.  “By working together and sharing resources we provide our military families with answers to almost any need. In today’s circumstances, where physical distancing is a concern, it is possibly more important than ever that we understand what each of us can provide to our veterans and their loved ones.”

Town Hall participants included representatives from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Wounded Warrior Project, City of Jacksonville, Operation New Uniform, Fire Watch and the Cohen Clinic at Centerstone.  Each organization took time to explain how their respective agencies were adapting to COVID 19 operating guidelines as well as what services they continue to provide; many admitting the virtual realm has become a new normal for the time being, but it hasn’t stopped them from being there for veterans in need.

“Like everyone, we have had to adjust the way we serve our warriors,” Lieutenant General (ret) Mike Linnington, Chief Executive Officer of the Wounded Warrior Project said.  “We’ve held numerous events virtually including live stream gaming and mental health odysseys.  Engagements like this Town Hall go a long way to ensuring the success of those events by keeping us connected as a community.”

The Cohen Clinic at Centerstone plans to host another virtual Town Hall on July 15 starting at noon.  Participants for the second edition include representatives from Northeast Florida Women Veterans, Duval Veterans Treatment Court and Five Star Veterans Center.

For more information on that event stay tuned to the clinic’s Facebook page.