True to drill sergeant form, Jerry Tovo wants to be seen and heard, loud and clear. A 68-year-old veteran and photographer, Tovo hopes to give faces to the mere facts and figures of veteran homelessness in the U.S. So far, he has photographed more than 100 veterans in Chicago, Indianapolis, Nashville, Washington D.C., and New York City. Tovo has undertaken the project as part of his nonprofit, They May Have Been Heroes: The Homeless Veterans Project.
An exhibit of the photographs, called “I Was a Soldier,” is on display at the Missouri History Museum in St. Louis, but Tovo hopes to gather enough support and acclaim to display it at the Newseum in Washington D.C. Tovo has invested more than $35,000 in the project and isn’t stopping there — he’s also working on a book about his travels. Any money donated to his campaign goes to his travel costs and to National Veterans Homeless Support. Tovo wants people to see what these veterans go through and doesn’t want anyone to assume the worst about them. “People tend to generalize that these guys are all just a bunch of drunks and alcoholics,” Tovo told Florida Today. “That they’re happy where they are. But every one of these people, every one of them, have their own story. There’s a reason why they are where they are.”
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Tag: Veterans’ Unemployment
This Partnership Encourages Vets to Become Farmers
The Farmer Veteran Coalition Partnership and the Farm Bureau have teamed up to encourage veterans to become farmers or seek employment in the agriculture industry. The groups released a guide for veterans interested in transitioning into agriculture, and plan to help them find farms they can buy or work for and offer assistance in purchasing farm equipment. 44% of people in the military come from rural areas, even though only 17% of Americans live in rural areas. The FVCP is hoping to return some of that talent to its rural roots.
Calling All Vets: Iowa Wants You!
Calling all [p2p type=”post_tag” value=”veterans”]veterans[/p2p]: Iowa wants you! Iowa Governor Terry Branstad recently launched Home Base Iowa, a new partnership between public and private interests in Iowa that will pair veterans with companies seeking employees. The program will raise private funds to make veterans aware of this service through social media and military publications. Branstad says that in his travels throughout Iowa, he’s encountered many employers who want to hire more workers but can’t find people with the right skills. Branstad hopes the program will encourage veterans to move to Iowa, help reduce veteran unemployment, and fill those positions that Iowa companies have ready and waiting for skilled workers.