 Lately I've come to the conclusion that regardless of the situation, or crisis, or whatever is happening in the world, we are going to hold up our little corner of it. For the past five years that's exactly what we've been doing since we moved in our first resident at Bastion-- holding up our community, healing together, and building peace. When I think of those we have lost along the way, I immediately think of what I could have done to save them, to keep them out of harm's way. But then I am also reminded that so many things lie beyond our control. What is in our purview, however, is our willingness to trust each other, or rebuild trust when it is broken... even if it means taking the first step. In the spirit of those we have lost on the battlefield and at home, I am going to use my trust to restore peace and safety in my personal relationships, with my neighbors, with everyone I encounter in my work. It is mine to use and I will use it to take the first step, no matter what may come next. All my heart,   Since Bastion’s founding, the Bob Woodruff Foundation has been an invaluable partner and supporter. Like many of our residents, Bob and Lee Woodruff know firsthand the challenges that many of our veterans face. Bob was an ABC News reporter covering the Iraq War when his armored vehicle was hit with a roadside bomb. He sustained a nearly fatal traumatic brain injury (TBI). During his recovery at the Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Md., Lee met many families of veterans who were experiencing the impact of TBI and other hidden injuries including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and depression. It was a long road to recovery, but the couple took their experience as the impetus for starting the Bob Woodruff Foundation. Today, the foundation strives to “find, fund, shape and accelerate equitable solutions that help our impacted veterans, service members, their families, and their caregivers thrive.” Executive Director Dylan Tête is very direct about the foundation’s contributions to Bastion. “We wouldn’t be here without the Bob Woodruff Foundation,” says Dylan. “Their initial seed funding allowed me to quit my job and work full time on the project. Later they gave us the funding to pilot Headway, our signature brain injury program, and during the pandemic, they funded our telehealth program that provided services to more than 200 people across four countries in six months. Finally, the foundation awarded another grant to pilot our food program to address food insecurity among veterans.” On a recent sunny afternoon, Bastion hosted the Woodruffs, their son Mac and Bob Woodruff Foundation Chief Program Officer Meg Harrell. Here are a few photos from that memorable visit.       Bastion chefs Shantrise Sykes and Sylvia Magee Retirement didn’t slow down Bastion resident Sylvia Magee. Magee, a proud mother of two Air Force veterans, had worked as a cook in the Jefferson and Orleans parish school systems for 38 years before retiring in 2018, but that didn’t mean giving up her love of cooking for people. And that made her a perfect match for Bastion’s resident-driven food plan.
“I never stopped,” Magee says. “Before the program, I was feeding the sick and the homeless under the bridge. When they told me about the program, I thought ‘that’s right up my alley.’” Bastion’s food program, sponsored by the Bob Woodruff Foundation, kicked off this past June, working off the proverb If you give a man a fish, he eats for a day. If you teach him how to fish, he eats for a lifetime. One in four veterans have experienced food insecurity, which is the lack of access to healthy and nutritious food, and Bastion’s program provides residents with access to healthy fresh produce and other items and teaches them how to cook with it. “From the beginning we wanted something sustainable for the residents,” explains Bastion Program Manager Renard Dominique. “We have a food pantry onsite, which is regularly filled with produce from Culture Aid NOLA; we have a chicken coop on the grounds and we’re planting fruit trees. It’s one thing, however, to make this food accessible, and it’s another to show folks how they can make delicious meals with it. That’s where the Bastion chefs come in. Every other Friday, Magee and her fellow Bastion chef, Shantrise Sykes, a veteran resident and a former cook for the Louisiana National Guard, prepare dinner for the community. The dinners offer New Orleans cuisine like catfish, red beans and rice, fresh salads and other lesser known nutritious dishes like acorn squash casserole, and cooked with less sodium, half the fat and still high in taste. As residents stop by the Purple Heart Room for meal pickup, they can often also get the recipes. Prior to the recent spike in Covid cases, the chefs were also teaching cooking classes,and Magee hopes to return to that once the pandemic numbers are more manageable. With help from other Bastion residents, the chefs have prepared a number of community-wide holiday dinners, and Magee says that they will be doing something special for Valentines Day. “We’ll be cooking for the parents that day, so they don’t have to worry about making dinner,” says Magee. “And the kids will be giving out goodie bags to their parents, because you have to have something sweet on Valentine’s Day.”  2019 Team Bastion (pre-pandemic) The Crescent City Classic is back and we want YOU to join Team Bastion! With your previous support we have raised $150,000 from this prestigious race to benefit our veterans and families for which I am extremely grateful.
Together, we can continue to provide:
Our Bastion community is expanding throughout the metro area with special programs that address brain health and food insecurity, but we need your help! As a member of Team Bastion you can raise $200 or more through the Run For It Charity Registration. Here's how to register:
If you encounter any problems with registration, we can help! Click here for assistance. As a member of Team Bastion you will receive a custom t-shirt and free pass to the finish line extravaganza for libations and high-fives with the rest of the team. Don't miss out, sign up today!  Bastion's Wilbert Young and Artist/Photographer Fanny Garcia. Photo courtesy of Fanny Garcia The cameras may be disposable, but the images captured are snapshot treasures of life in New Orleans. A group of Bastion residents and Headway members recently participated in a photo project, which became part of an exhibit at a New Orleans gallery.
Fanny Garcia, who is an artist/photographer based in Oakland, California and had previously worked with Headway members, presented a disposable camera workshop to Bastion veterans via Zoom earlier this year. Garcia thought the disposable cameras would work well because of the simple point and shoot instructions and their being lightweight, allowing the user to focus exclusively on what they’re shooting. Garcia is a US Army veteran and feels that helps her connect with Bastion community members. “It helps build trust and comfortability,” Garcia says. “It’s really special.” After the workshop, participants went into their neighborhoods and communities to shoot photos. The results were impressive, and through her connections with New Orleans Photo Alliance, Garcia had the photos showcased in the “Disposable Camera Project” which ran at the alliance’s gallery for the first two weeks of April. At the exhibit opening, many of our vets including Wilbert Young, Jeannie Morin, Dennis Delhom, Benjamin LeBoeuf and Marvin Belisle, were proudly standing by their framed work and answering questions. Garcia hopes to return to Bastion soon to teach another photo workshop on light painting.  The Bastion team along with our partners from Southeast Louisiana Building & Construction Trades Council and Deidre “Dee” Hall from Dee’s Coffee recently unveiled our new coffee cart. Due to the pandemic, the cart's design and construction took longer than usual, but as Bastion Founder and Executive Director Dylan Tête pointed out, it was worth the wait.
"We've been dreaming about this day for a long time. This is the culmination of a purpose to bring people together, build community and build skills. And it's right here in the Purple Heart Room in the center of Bastion," said Tête. The trades council donated the cart, which was built by Vulk Fabrication. The cart will be used for vocational skills training by our veterans in the Headway Program. Headway's Occupational Therapist Rachel Schwenk and OT LSU Intern Julia Brantley will be leading trainings along with barista/coffee shop owner Hall, who also helped with the cart's design .  Jeremy Brewer, Marine Corps veteran With the military being one of the most trusted institutions in the country during these divisive times and with the lessons we have learned from how our brothers and sisters were treated when they returned from Vietnam, we as veterans are accustomed to being thanked for our service. As Veterans Day approaches each year, the veteran community is bombarded with freebies and discounts from all manner of consumer establishments in addition to the cacophony of thank-yous.
But for many of us, these expressions of appreciation ring hollow. They come across as banal platitudes that don’t mean anything when so many of us still struggle with the challenges of reintegration. We get frustrated or angry because civilians “just don’t understand”. And why would they? Only a small percentage of Americans have served in the military, and fewer and fewer people have friends or family members who served. So even if folks want to be supportive, many just don’t know how. It’s not just me. According to a recent poll by the Cohen Veterans Network highlighted in this Newsweek article, almost half of the veterans surveyed were uncomfortable being thanked for their service. The article went on to give tips to civilians about how to interact with veterans in more meaningful ways. While these tips are useful to civilians who want to show their appreciation on Veterans Day, how civilians show their appreciation is not something we can control. However, we can control how we respond. A few years back, I heard Clint Bruce, a Naval Academy alumnus who went on to serve as a Navy SEAL, speak at a Veterans Day at the National WWII Museum. In his speech, he shared how he started responding to “thank you for your service” with a sincere “you were worth it.” Since the end of the draft, most of us joined the military to be part of something bigger than ourselves, which can be easy to forget when our service ends. For me, responding to “Thank you for your service” with “you were worth it” immediately helps connect me to the reason that I volunteered to serve in the first place. It also creates an opening to talk about my service in a more meaningful way with people who have not served. Over time, I reflected on the call to action at the end Bruce’s speech. Like other veterans who have lost friends – whether it was in combat, training accidents or suicide after service – I have often felt guilty about still being here. But the lesson that finally started to sink is that while I really do believe that the civilians that I know and love were worth any sacrifices I might have made, those who did not make it back thought that we veterans were worth that sacrifice. What do we do with that? Our task as veterans who are still alive and breathing is to live lives worthy of those sacrifices. We have the skills, training and experience to make our communities better by continuing to lead and serve. If you are not sure where to start, check out The Mission Continues, Team RWB, and Team Rubicon - three national organizations with a local presence that make it possible for veterans to connect with others and help strengthen their communities from the ground up. But continued service doesn’t have to be with a veterans organization. Go out and find the needs in your community that match your skills and passion. Connect to your neighbors and others in your community. And when someone thanks you for your service today, smile and tell them that they were worth it. Then, remember that you are, too. We are always excited to hear from our former residents and are proud of the amazing things they are doing in service to others! This post features two U.S. Army veterans who were among the first residents at Bastion in New Orleans. Brandon Dorrington
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"At Bastion, I met my neighbors, attended weekly social events, and interacted with the community as a disabled military veteran. I truly felt accepted there and no longer felt like a green apple compared to some other experiences I've had since leaving the army. I no longer felt isolated and was able to engage in meaningful conversations on a daily basis due to the similarities we all shared! Today, I counsel veterans struggling with addiction and contribute to veterans group discussions to continually heal, grow, and evolve from trauma."
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Rick Hall
U.S. Army, OIF
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"Bastion has had a profound impact on my life. As an Iraq war veteran, I struggled with PTSD and found it difficult to reintegrate into civilian life. I cannot give the people at Bastion enough credit for helping me stabilize, reintegrate and ultimately experience post-traumatic growth. I am currently working on an anti-child trafficking initiative called A Day of Freedom and finishing my degree. Without Bastion, I would not be where I am today. Thank you!"
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I am sitting at a sidewalk café in Kyiv, surrounded by the ancient ruins that are the apartment buildings lining Volodmyrska Street, one of my favorites in the world. There is the playful banter of young women at the table next to me, smoking, drinking Americanos with milk. I’m holding a moment, thinking about the conversation I had with Bob McDonald the previous night. There is a Harvard case study about the cultural transformation he catalyzed after inheriting a department dogged by scandal as the eighth Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2014. That impresses me, the fact there is a Harvard case study written about him. His reforms were the types of things he implemented at Procter & Gamble where he commanded the global giant as the Chairman, President, and CEO at the pinnacle of a 33-year career. This also impresses me. Bob is impressive to say the least. But what gets me the most, beyond what his mere presence brings to a country struggling for its own identity, is that he fits in so well with anyone lucky to share his time, no matter their background or status or age, whether it is the new Minister of Veterans Affairs in Ukraine, Iryna Friz, or John Boerstler, a former Marine NCO now nonprofit leader who organized the trip. He exudes something I picked up in Chicago at the Patrick Tillman Leadership Summit this year called “transformational humility.” It’s a leadership trait of some who inspire their teams and organizations through their own humility. Humility isn’t to be confused with meekness. Humility is what gives us the ability to see and treat others as equals, and leaders who practice humility can often transform the dynamic across their spheres of influence. How is this relevant in Ukraine? Well, as the U.S. continues to use its soft power to help our strategic partner rid itself of a Russian-backed insurgency on its border in the Donbas Oblast, we ought to keep in mind as Bob so aptly put it during our trip—“a stronger veteran makes a stronger country.” If I know as a soldier that when things go wrong on the frontline, that I will be medically treated and successfully reintegrated into society, then I am more apt to serve. And Ukraine needs good people who want to serve in its armed forces. From a geopolitical standpoint, I would rather the U.S. and Ukraine invest more in healthcare infrastructure for soldiers and veterans than build another missile silo, for example. When the Donbas finally frees itself from Russia, it could be that a strong economy and modernized Ukraine is what tips the scale in favor of freedom and human dignity. And is it possible from a global leadership perspective to exercise humility over military power to create the conditions in which peace and security can take root? Remember that a former U.S. Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs went to Ukraine because he loves veterans, and he insisted that you call him “Bob.”
P.S. A big thank you to Ben Butler whose generous support enabled me to travel to Ukraine for this mission. While I was there, I also conducted a four-hour mind-body skills workshop with Donbas veterans, spouses, clinical and non-clinical professionals, and researchers. The response was overwhelming and I’m working with the Center for Mind-Body Medicine and the veteran community in Ukraine to provide more training in the very near future!
This year, Bastion is primed to widen its reach and welcome new veterans to our community with a specialized day program, Headway. With support from Baptist Community Ministries and the NFL-Bob Woodruff Foundation partnership, Bastion and Spero Rehab have had the opportunity to partner to bring on a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and Certified Brain Injury Specialist to build and execute this program - and that person is me!
My name is Allison Tebbe, and I'm so excited to be a part of the Bastion and Spero Rehab families and to have the opportunity to bring this day program to fruition. I was born and raised here in New Orleans, and prior to joining the Bastion Community I've spent my professional life working in disability services - specifically work around brain injuries. I worked in vocational rehabilitation at a Maryland brain injury non-profit, then for Wounded Warrior Project's brain and spinal cord injury program before returning home to New Orleans in 2017. Until on-boarding with Bastion in October 2018, I administered a city-funded home modification program for low-income homeowners with disabilities at Advocacy Center of Louisiana. I believe deeply in creating an accessible and equitable community for all people, and recognize that people with disabilities have often gone under-supported and under-accommodated. I hope in our work here at Bastion, with Spero Rehab, Headway will be an accessible place for veterans dealing with substantial injuries and disabilities to build community, develop new skills, and connect with themselves and each other.
Opening in April 2019, Headway is a two day per week day program focused on community integration and skill building for veterans who served on or after September 11, 2001 and are living with a brain injury, spinal cord injury, or other neurological condition. From 10 AM - 3 PM each Tuesday and Thursday, warriors will engage in creative expression, vocational skill building, wellness activities, community outings, and more. Headway will also provide opportunities for family support members to connect and enjoy respite events. By participating in Headway, the entire veteran family unit will have new community supports to help them grow closer, happier, and healthier together.
With thanks to the generosity of Baptist Community Ministries and the NFL-Bob Woodruff Foundation partnership, Headway is free of cost to participants.
To be contacted by Headway staff for more information or to register via contact form click the button below.
My name is Allison Tebbe, and I'm so excited to be a part of the Bastion and Spero Rehab families and to have the opportunity to bring this day program to fruition. I was born and raised here in New Orleans, and prior to joining the Bastion Community I've spent my professional life working in disability services - specifically work around brain injuries. I worked in vocational rehabilitation at a Maryland brain injury non-profit, then for Wounded Warrior Project's brain and spinal cord injury program before returning home to New Orleans in 2017. Until on-boarding with Bastion in October 2018, I administered a city-funded home modification program for low-income homeowners with disabilities at Advocacy Center of Louisiana. I believe deeply in creating an accessible and equitable community for all people, and recognize that people with disabilities have often gone under-supported and under-accommodated. I hope in our work here at Bastion, with Spero Rehab, Headway will be an accessible place for veterans dealing with substantial injuries and disabilities to build community, develop new skills, and connect with themselves and each other.
Opening in April 2019, Headway is a two day per week day program focused on community integration and skill building for veterans who served on or after September 11, 2001 and are living with a brain injury, spinal cord injury, or other neurological condition. From 10 AM - 3 PM each Tuesday and Thursday, warriors will engage in creative expression, vocational skill building, wellness activities, community outings, and more. Headway will also provide opportunities for family support members to connect and enjoy respite events. By participating in Headway, the entire veteran family unit will have new community supports to help them grow closer, happier, and healthier together.
With thanks to the generosity of Baptist Community Ministries and the NFL-Bob Woodruff Foundation partnership, Headway is free of cost to participants.
To be contacted by Headway staff for more information or to register via contact form click the button below.
Author
Tess Riley
Bastion Communications
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