Our nametags said Eastland Gardens. None of us gathered in the George Washington University auditorium had ever heard of it. The Google Maps search put a pin in near Maryland and over the river. We would get to know Eastland Gardens, though, over the course of the afternoon, because what had drawn all of us to that auditorium was a Day of Service in DC neighborhoods to mark the kick-off of GWU’s Veteran Service Initiative. The Veteran Service Initiative, led by GW student and future Marine Geoff Ball, seeks to engage and integrate student veterans into their campuses and communities by offering them ways to continue their service even after separating from the military.

Volunteers from VSI and the community with neighbors. (Photo by Fred Wellman)

As the auditorium darkened and the kick-off speeches began, what became apparent is that reaching veterans takes a coalition More >