Tri-Ad Veterans League, Inc.
INTRODUCTION:
Tri-Ad Veterans League, Inc.’s start goes back 20 years, Haywood Fennell, Sr. and a few other veterans attending colleges in the Tri-Ad area of North Carolina founded it. The Tri-Ad area is composed of Greensboro, High Point and Winston-Salem. The Mission of the group was to develop a social network of support for veterans attending classes in the area, develop culturally related educational activities, and be involved in community activities. It was incorporated by the Secretary of the State of North Carolina as a non-profit veteran’s group to do business anywhere in the United States and its territories.
Tri-Ad Veterans League as an organization ceased to function for several years prior to its reformation about ten-years ago in Boston, MA. It receives major technical development support from the Multicultural AIDS Coalition; Inc. where it is housed located at 31 Heath St., Jamaica Plain.
VISION:
Tri-Ad Veterans League, Inc. is committed to the principle of collaboration in working with other veteran’s organizations to enhance health services for veterans, develop strategies for harm reduction in the areas of substance abuse, HIV/AIDS awareness, Prostate Cancer Education Outreach, health disparities removal, policy changes to create culturally sensitive and appropriate health service and treatment models for both medical and administrative personnel and facilitate veteran’s involvement in community education/cultural projects. Some of these projects include; the development of educational and cultural awareness programs that encourage all to improve their communication abilities by improving their reading and writing skills.
We believe that through working to affect positive change in the community veterans using some their skills learned in the military and expanded through education/vocation in post military life can impact the mind set of apathy and improve the sense of self-esteem, dignity, and belonging crucial to the development of an individual and the community which they live.
MISSION:
Some areas of the City of Boston have large populations of veterans that remain under served by traditional veterans services. This is particularly true of minority communities such as those living in Roxbury where there is often a lack of trust in the “system.” Tri-Ad Veterans League, Inc. continues to work with the other established veterans organizations as well as community based organizations to better serve the needs of the veteran community. We will accomplish this by advocating for improved services. Cultural sensitivity training and outreach for the development of coalitions that advocate for dignified and qualitative health care for Black veterans.
MEMBERSHIP:
While primarily a Veterans group membership is open to all who share the vision of the Tri-Ad Veterans League, Inc., However as a condition of its charter and to maintain it’s non-profit status the group must maintain a majority membership of United States Veterans. The composition of the Board of Directors reflects the rich cultural diversity of the community.
ACTIVITIES/COLLABORATIVES:
Other Faces and Places for Veterans Living with HIV/AIDS, a joint health awareness outreach education event with other community based organizations.
“Double Trouble, a Look at HIV and Hepatitis C, a co-infections”, a luncheon forum with a featured expert speaker.
Healthy Mind, Spirit and Body Health Expo Collaborators from other community-based agencies focusing on community specific health issues, e.g., prostrate cancer, HIV/AIDS hypertension, smoking cessation, etc.
Annual Roxbury 9/11 Memorial and Tribute Service
World AIDS Day
State of Minority Veterans Health
Questionnaire on African American veterans health concerns collaborative with the Boston Department of Public Health and Northeastern University.
AFFILIATIONS:
William E. Carter American Legion Post No. 16
MSM Project
Minority Veterans Affairs Program
Boston VA Medical Center’s HIV Unit
Veterans Benefit Clearinghouse, Inc.
New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans
Boston Police Department
Roxbury Community College
Multicultural AIDS Coalition
Berklee College of Music, Office of Community and Governmental Affairs
Blackstone Community Center
New Fellowship Baptist Church
New Faith Missionary Baptist Church
Greater Love Tabernacle Church
Prince Hall Masonic Temple
Northeastern University, Office of Community and Governmental Affairs
Unity First Direct
The Stanley Jones Clean Slate Project
Whittier Street Community Health Center
Stanley Jones Clean Slate Project
Principal Member & Founding Organization
Strategic planning and Think Tank model for the development of an educational strategy for issues that affect veterans and others returning to the community from incarceration e.g. employment, housing, health issues, counseling, etc. using a collaborative approach with other agencies and individuals.
OTHER PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS:
Tri-Ad Veterans Communications Group is a media strategy that includes a weekly BNNTV cable TV program recorded live with invited guest from the community speaking about community development, health issues, cultural issues and economic development, etc. Tri-Ad Veterans includes in this strategy, “Veterans Forward” a bi-annually published newsletter formatted like a magazine highlighting veterans and their respective contributions to the community, health topics, American history and other interesting articles about life or people’s endeavors that give balance to the publication. Tri-Ad Veterans has a monthly one-hour radio program “The Family Tree” broadcasted from WRBB AM Radio studio at Northeastern University talking about community issues.
The Annual Tri-Ad Veterans Community Service Award (formally the Crispus Attucks Community Service Awards) – given to community members who have worked to improve the quality of life in the community.
African American Military Heroes: Essay and Poetry Writing Contest. Public and private school children compete for prizes donated by local business in association with the William E. Carter American Legion Post No. 16.
“Continuing Our Cultural Lineage”
Oscar Micheaux Theater Program:
Is a Repertoire Theater program with an intergenerational cast. African American history is used as script source material. Youth from both the public and private school system audition and some adults learning from a thematic curriculum of basic theater dynamics and about their history. The two annual productions are, “From Gospel to Hip Hop and All in Between,” and the “A Story From the Harlem Renaissance,” formerly “Harlem Renaissance Revisited With a Boston Flavor.” Lecture Series on the Harlem Renaissance can be scheduled.
VOLUNTEERS/DONATIONS:
Tri-Ad Veterans League, Inc. is a 501c3 organization. Donations are welcomed and encouraged as we strive to support those who served. All donations are tax deductible and should be mailed to:
Tri-Ad Veterans League, Inc.
31 Heath St.
Jamaica Plain, MA. 02130
Tel: 617-238-2460
Fax: 617-442-6622
www.traidveteransleague.org
Email: Triadveterans@hotmail.com
