Disruptive Storytelling with Military Changemakers

Host: Jennifer Barnhill, Partners in PROMISE Guest: Kaitlin Erkkila Army spouse Kaitlin Erkkila has two sons with special needs, as well as cancer. She shares how her family has navigated this long journey within the constraints of the military system and what resources have – and have not – supported them through it. “Ultimately it took my husband coming home from a deployment, putting on a uniform, and coming and saying, ‘I need a referral to Duke.’ And wouldn’t you know – I went in 17 times; he went in one time. He got the referral.” Learn more about: * Partners in PROMISE resources [https://thepromiseact.org/resources/] If you or a family member is in need of EFMP or Special Education resources or mental health support contact Military OneSource [https://www.militaryonesource.mil/confidential-help/non-medical-counseling/military-onesource/military-counseling-for-stress/] for a free consultation. Disruptive Storytelling with Military Changemakers is a bi-weekly podcast presented by Partners in PROMISE, a nonprofit dedicated to Protecting the Rights Of Military children In Special Education (P.R.O.M.I.S.E.). This podcast season goes back to our roots, telling military family stories because "We Love Data, But Stories Complete Us." The podcast is hosted by Jennifer Barnhill with music by Stephen McDonough. This episode of the podcast was sponsored by the Association of Bragg Spouses. To learn more about ABS visit their website: https://fortbraggabs.membershiptoolkit.com/aboutus [https://fortbraggabs.membershiptoolkit.com/aboutus] Want to tell your Disruptive Story? Connect with Partners in PROMISE: info@partnersinpromise.org [info@partnersinpromise.org] Or follow us: Facebook - @partnersinPROMISE [https://www.facebook.com/PartnersinPROMISE] Instagram - @partnersinpromise [https://www.instagram.com/partnersinpromise/?hl=en] Twitter - @PartnersinPROM1 [https://twitter.com/PartnersinPROM1] Thepromiseact.org [https://thepromiseact.org/]

Host: Jennifer Barnhill, Partners in PROMISE Guests: Josh Protas, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger Kelley Klor, Blue Star Families Food insecurity touches many military families – particularly those in the junior enlisted ranks. But one of the challenges of collecting good data on the issue is that the label carries a weighty stigma. Two advocates share what even the limited data on the topic tells us about food insecurity in the military, and a military spouse shares her own experiences of needing financial assistance to feed her family. “It’s an issue that doesn’t get talked about so much, and I think the more that we can have open and frank conversations, we help to normalize the idea and hopefully chip away at that stigma. Because families who need help should never be afraid or ashamed to have to ask for it.” -Josh Protas Learn more about: * MAZON’s research, “Hungry in the Military [https://mazon.org/wp-content/uploads/MAZON-Military-Hunger-Report-April-2021.pdf]” * Supporting military families [https://mazon.org/policy_actions/take-action-to-support-military-families/] through MAZON * Blue Star Families’ Nourish the Service [https://bluestarfam.org/food-insecurity-resources/] initiative * The latest Blue Star Families annual Military Lifestyle Survey results [https://bluestarfam.org/research/mfls/] If you or a family member is in need of resources or mental health support contact Military OneSource [https://www.militaryonesource.mil/confidential-help/non-medical-counseling/military-onesource/military-counseling-for-stress/] for a free consultation. Disruptive Storytelling with Military Changemakers is a bi-weekly podcast presented by Partners in PROMISE, a nonprofit dedicated to Protecting the Rights Of Military children In Special Education (P.R.O.M.I.S.E.). This podcast season, "We Love Data, But Stories Complete Us," aims to highlight the great work organizations have conducted to develop data-informed solutions and real stories leading to change. The podcast is hosted by Jennifer Barnhill with music by Stephen McDonough. Want to tell your Disruptive Story? Connect with Partners in PROMISE: info@partnersinpromise.org [info@partnersinpromise.org] Or follow us: Facebook - @partnersinPROMISE [https://www.facebook.com/PartnersinPROMISE] Instagram - @partnersinpromise [https://www.instagram.com/partnersinpromise/?hl=en] Twitter - @PartnersinPROM1 [https://twitter.com/PartnersinPROM1] thepromiseact.org [https://thepromiseact.org/]

Host: Jennifer Barnhill, Partners in PROMISE Guest: Jessica Strong, Blue Star Families The results of the latest annual Blue Star Families Military Lifestyle Survey are out, shedding light on the experiences and top concerns for active-duty and veteran family members. A researcher shares specific findings on the health and wellbeing of military spouses and children at a time when many are still reeling from the ripple effects of the pandemic. Plus, what these findings mean for the special education community in particular. “Deployments didn’t stop. Trainings didn’t stop. They just shifted a little bit. So many spouses were encountering those changes in surge capacity during a time when they were separated from their service member.” - Jessica Strong on how military spouses supported their families during COVID, as reported in the 2021 survey. Learn more about: * Blue Star Families’ 2021 Military Family Lifestyle Survey (MFLS) [https://bluestarfam.org/survey] * Episode 1 of Disruptive Storytelling / Partners in PROMISE findings [https://thepromiseact.org/2021-survey-findings/] * Learn more about surge capacity [https://thepromiseact.org/your-surge-capacity-is-full/] * Blue Star Families communities (Chapters [https://bluestarfam.org/chapters/]) If you or a family member is in need of resources or mental health support contact Military OneSource [https://www.militaryonesource.mil/confidential-help/non-medical-counseling/military-onesource/military-counseling-for-stress/] for a free consultation. Disruptive Storytelling with Military Changemakers is a bi-weekly podcast presented by Partners in PROMISE, a nonprofit dedicated to Protecting the Rights Of Military children In Special Education (P.R.O.M.I.S.E.). This podcast season, "We Love Data, But Stories Complete Us," aims to highlight the great work organizations have conducted to develop data-informed solutions and real stories leading to change. The podcast is hosted by Jennifer Barnhill with music by Stephen McDonough. Want to tell your Disruptive Story? Connect with Partners in PROMISE: info@partnersinpromise.org [info@partnersinpromise.org] Or follow us: Facebook - @partnersinPROMISE [https://www.facebook.com/PartnersinPROMISE] Instagram - @partnersinpromise [https://www.instagram.com/partnersinpromise/?hl=en] Twitter - @PartnersinPROM1 [https://twitter.com/PartnersinPROM1] thepromiseact.org [https://thepromiseact.org/]

Host: Jennifer Barnhill, Partners in PROMISE Guest: Janessa Schilmoeller, Secure Families Initiative Military-affiliated voters across political parties have lost confidence in the American electoral process, and many have questions about whether their votes actually count. A researcher shares the latest findings of the Secure Families Initiative’s voting participation survey and discusses why misinformation – and even disinformation – may be at play. “Over 50 percent – so, I think almost 53 percent of respondents – said that they had experienced barriers or challenges to voting.” Learn more about: * The Secure Families Initiative voting participation survey results [https://securefamiliesinitiative.org/military-voter-survey-results-how-the-findings-inform-our-work/] * Military Vote Coalition Facebook Live Q&A [https://www.facebook.com/securefamilies/videos/1442811546115662] with the Federal Voter Assistance Program (FVAP) * Federal Voter Assistance Program website [https://www.fvap.gov/] * Custom election reminders [https://securefamiliesinitiative.org/sign-up-for-custom-election-reminders/] for your state * How to get involved with the Secure Families Initiative [https://securefamiliesinitiative.org/get-involved/] Disruptive Storytelling with Military Changemakers is a bi-weekly podcast presented by Partners in PROMISE, a nonprofit dedicated to Protecting the Rights Of Military children In Special Education (P.R.O.M.I.S.E.). This podcast season, "We Love Data, But Stories Complete Us," aims to highlight the great work organizations have conducted to develop data-informed solutions and real stories leading to change. The podcast is hosted by Jennifer Barnhill with music by Stephen McDonough. Want to tell your Disruptive Story? Connect with Partners in PROMISE: info@partnersinpromise.org [info@partnersinpromise.org] Or follow us: Facebook - @partnersinPROMISE [https://www.facebook.com/PartnersinPROMISE] Instagram - @partnersinpromise [https://www.instagram.com/partnersinpromise/?hl=en] Twitter - @PartnersinPROM1 [https://twitter.com/PartnersinPROM1] thepromiseact.org [https://thepromiseact.org/]

Host: Jennifer Barnhill, Partners in PROMISE Guests: Jennifer Akin, Blue Star Families Rosalinda Vasquez Maury, Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University A new survey explores the experiences of military families of color and how they compare to those of their white peers. Researchers dig into the data, as well as personal anecdotes shared in the study. “What’s a little bit unique here in this study is that we were really focusing on the military families of color. And when we looked at their earning differences, we found that black military spouses earn about 54 percent less than the total, and Hispanic/Latino military spouses earn about 66 percent less than the total. I mean – those are really almost double digits and significantly greater impacts for sure, compared to their relative peers.” Learn more about: * Blue Star Families research on military families of color [https://bluestarfam.org/racial-equity-initiative/research-and-advocacy#reports] * Blue Star Families Racial Equity Initiative [https://bluestarfam.org/racial-equity-initiative/] Disruptive Storytelling with Military Changemakers is a bi-weekly podcast presented by Partners in PROMISE, a nonprofit dedicated to Protecting the Rights Of Military children In Special Education (P.R.O.M.I.S.E.). This podcast season, "We Love Data, But Stories Complete Us," aims to highlight the great work organizations have conducted to develop data-informed solutions and real stories leading to change. Music by Stephen McDonough. Want to tell your Disruptive Story? Connect with Partners in PROMISE: info@partnersinpromise.org [info@partnersinpromise.org] Or follow us: Facebook - @partnersinPROMISE [https://www.facebook.com/PartnersinPROMISE] Instagram - @partnersinpromise [https://www.instagram.com/partnersinpromise/?hl=en] Twitter - @PartnersinPROM1 [https://twitter.com/PartnersinPROM1] thepromiseact.org [https://thepromiseact.org/]