Humanitini: Veterans & Reintegrating with Civilian Life – Nov 2

What is Humanitini?

Humanitini is an exciting happy hour event where Washington’s movers, shakers, and creators come together to think and drink. It is a place for you to engage with your peers, meet your neighbors, and speak with experts about what makes our city a unique place to live and play.

What is your DC?

DC has always been a city of change, forward-thinking even as we struggle with and celebrate the complexities of our past. Now, our city is evolving faster than ever before, and we want to capture the excitement of our vibrant communities where culture is created every day. Join us for the 2017 Humanitini series as we explore our city and ask the question: “What is your DC?”

This Month: Veterans & Reintegrating with Civilian Life

The challenges of reintegrating veterans have been well-documented. Life as a military servicemember can be jarringly different than the life that awaits after discharge or retirement. But Washington, DC is filled with options for military veterans; representatives from the panel represent government agencies and organizations dedicated to easing the difficult transition to civilian life. This event will provide a platform for veterans and their loved ones to share their perspectives. Panelists include

Ely Ross
A third-generation veteran, Ely S. Ross understands the value of a career in public service. During his time on active duty in the US Marine Corps, Ely accumulated over 1,300 flight hours with deployments to Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He continues to serve his country – as a civilian – and in 2016, Ely was appointed by Mayor Muriel Bowser to serve as the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Veterans Affairs. He believes in a community-based approach to ensuring that veterans have access to the resources and services they need as they transition into civilian life.

Mike Duerr
A retired US Army Officer with three deployments to Iraq and Afganistan, Mike Duerr helps returning veterans secure employment through the Washington Center on Internships and Academic Seminars’s Veterans Employment Trajectory (VET) program. He supports his fellow veterans through mentorship, professional development through internships, and veteran transition challenges. Previously, he lived and worked in Israel as a security contractor for the Dept. of Defense, working closely with the Israeli Defense Forces.

Emerson Jones
A US Marine Corps veteran and former infantryman, Emerson Jones served in numerous positions and deployed with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, serving throughout the Asia-Pacific area. Following his career in the military, Emerson enrolled in college with and became heavily involved within the community. Emerson was endowed with the prestigious 2016 Veterans in Global Leadership Fellowship, Driven by his experience, he currently holds a position at GW Veterans at George Washington University.

Aundrea Hunt
During her service in the US Army, Aundrea Hunt was deployed to Afghanistan in Operation Enduring Freedom and was honored with the Bronze Star Medal and NATO Afghanistan Service Medal. She worked as a Transition Service Officer, providing counseling and advocacy to Transitioning Uniformed Service Members. She is also an alumna of Dog Tag Inc. – a local nonprofit organization that offers experiential learning and job training at Dog Tag Bakery in Georgetown as well as education at Georgetown University.

Pamela S. Perkins
Specializing in Behavioral and Professional Communication Services, Pamela S. Perkins is the Founder, CCO of the Human Communication Institute, LLC and currently an Adjunct Professor of Communication at the University of the District of Columbia Community College. An alumna of UNC-Chapel Hill, New York University, P.S. is the author of the highly acclaimed business self-help book, The Art and Science of Communication: Tools for Effective Communication in the Workplace, by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., as well as a contributing author to the books Laws of Communication, Wiley Publishers. She writes articles on Human Communication for a variety of publications. As a Motivational Speaker and Training Specialist P.S. offers presentations and workshops on the variety of Human Communication topics. She is the moderator of the panel.

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