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THE MINNESOTA HUMANITIES CENTER 987 IVY AVENUE ~ SAINT PAUL, MN 55106-2046
WVI Chair Tenure is UpTrista Matascastillo is stepping down as the WVI Organizational Chair this June, 2016 after eight years of service. WVI began in
2008 to help other women veterans reintegrate back into their communities after there military service. She was voted to chair the founding board and has done so with great success. Since 2008, Trista has been employed as the Government Relations Senior Associate for Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity; served as the Vice President of the United Nations Association; involved with veterans programs the National Alliance on mental illness {the congressionally directed Medical Research Program for Autism} and serves with the Veterans Health Research at the Minneapolis VA Hospital. Her extended participation with various other veterans and civilian programs include: Habitat for Humanity International; University of Minnesota’s ADAPT program; Humanitarian Assistance Program; Veteran Resilience Project EMDR {Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing} Therapy; Veterans Voices Project; and in 2011 she won the Minnesota Woman Veteran of the Year. This year she received the 2016 Bush Fellowship Grant. For the Bush Grant, Trista wanted “to respond to the growing number of women vets nationwide and to guide her organization as it grows from a working group to a robust nonprofit.” With her Bush Fellowship, Trista will pursue post-secondary and
graduate degrees to strengthen her leadership skills.”
Trista served from 1992 to 2008 in the U.S. Navy, was commissioned in the Marines and became the first woman Air Defense officer and commander of the 34th Military Police Company in the MN Army National Guard. She is currently the Program Officer of Veterans Voices at the MN Humanities Center in St. Paul.
* * * * * * * * Sheila Laughton has been nominated as the new WVI chair which will be voted on this June, 2016. She is one of the founding members and co-founded WVI’s Coffee Talk in 2008. During the week she is involved with the “Welcome Home” program at the Loyola Spirituality Center in St. Paul, MN, which provides a free service for veterans, service members and their families. Sheila is a spiritual director, not a therapist, although her background in counseling can allow her to “switch hats,” she said, if she needs to. “In spiritual direction, the client’s relationship is with God or the Holy Spirit, or for some people, their higher power. In spiritual direction, there is an underlying belief that ‘between God and me, we can work things out.’ It’s more about healing and growth, rather than fixing a problem. It’s sort of like looking at God looking at me and smiling. I am sitting there as a facilitator.” Continue page 2
WHO WE ARE WVI works to improve the lives and wellbeing of all women veterans through: Advocacy at the state and federal level; Innovative outreach programs and Holistic health & wellness programs that address the unique needs of female veterans.
Our WVI Newsletter was created “to inform the reader, share local women veteran accomplishments and to advertise who, what, and why we are doing what we are for other women veteran in Minnesota.” ~ Chante Wolf, USAF 1980-92, Desert Shield/Storm, 1991.
* * * * * * * Find us on FaceBook or our website: www.womenveterans initiative.com/
BOOKS: “The Gifts of Imperfection” Brene’ Brown, Ph.D., LMSW
“Honor Betrayed: Sexual Abuse in America’s Military” Dr. Mic Hunter
“War and the Soul: Healing Our Nation’s Veterans from Post Traumatic Stress” Ed Tick Ph.D.
Women Veterans
Initiative Newsletter
WOMEN VETERANS INITIATIVE NEWSLETTER ISSUE N0. 6 ~ 2016
THE MINNESOTA HUMANITIES CENTER 987 IVY AVENUE ~ SAINT PAUL, MN 55106-2046
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Sheila is a retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col., and Gulf War veteran with two son’s currently serving in the U.S. military.
* * * * * * * WVI received funding in 2015 to specifically work on organizational strategic planning. Committee members are wrapping up that process and will be bringing the strategic plan to the board in the next 2-3 months. To help with direction and growth, WVI did a shout out on the Group FB page for interested women veterans to join the board. Six women responded elections will happen in June. The 2016-2017 board will be more involved with strategic planning and other volunteers will take on the day to day and monthly operational duties. If you didn’t have time commitment to be on the board but still want to volunteer in the areas of advocacy, outreach, and wellness for WVI, we still need your help! Email us at [email protected] or call/text WVI at the NEW PHONE NUMBER 612-930-2WVI (2984).
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WVI has grey ball caps and beret’s with the WVI and “Woman Veteran” patches sewn on. You can purchase headgear to support WVI’s website costs for $25 by cash or online donation on the WVI website (womenveteransinitiative.com). Headgear will be available a multiple events this summer where WVI is participating.
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Six MN Women Veterans {photo above second L to R: Dajon Farrell, Chante Wolf, Kathleen Culhane, Angie Batica, Deanna Griffin and Colleen Kelly} participated in the internationally known MOTH storytelling program through the Veterans Voices Program. The 11 veteran and one civilian participants were divided into three groups for two days to discover a story to tell, break it down tight enough to fit into six minutes of stand-up time before a public audience. Upcoming speaking events TBA on WVI website.
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WVI has been given the opportunity to collaborate with DAV to recognize MN Women Veterans at the WNBA Lynx
Home games. Look for these women on center court this season!
Last year Trista Matascastillo was on
center court and received a signed basketball on behalf of WVI-Go Lynx!
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Alternate PTSD therapy for vets ruffles VA feathers, but shows results http://www.startribune.com/alternate-ptsd-therapy-for-vets-ruffles-va-feathers-but-shows-results/381263491/
DONATE to WVI at: www.womenveteransinitiative.com
Find us at the "Salute to Women Veterans event" on June 18th!
WVI has a new phone number 612-930-2WVI (2984)
Get on our Gmail list! [email protected]
WOMEN VETERANS INITIATIVE NEWSLETTER ISSUE N0. 6 ~ 2016
Out of every crisis comes the chance to be reborn, to re-concieve
ourselves as individuals, to choose the kind of change that will help us to grow and to fulfill ourselves more completely. ~ Nena O’Neill
“Healing After Loss: Daily Meditations for Working Through Grief ” Martha Whitmore Hickman
L ~ R Sheila Laughton and Barbara Jungbauer
