G4V/CAVARTS Live Event with G4V Director of Online Learning, Paul Lilley and featuring a panel discussion from veterans who have pioneered ways to use the arts to enrich their lives. We will explore the concept of Post Traumatic Growth and how the guitar, music, nature and the arts can provide pathways to deal with trauma and its lingering effects. Trauma effects everyone differently but our guest presenters will inspire hope as they talk about how they have thrived on their journey of growth. And, because we are all about guitars, we might have some live music!
Panelists:
Joe Wood - Joe is the Vice President for Strategy and Operations of Boulder Crest Foundation’s 130-acre ranch in Sonoita, Arizona. Every year, hundreds of veterans visit the ranch for rest, reconnection, and training experiences in the science of Posttraumatic Growth. A current G4V student, he traveled around the world in service of his country and its mission as an Geospatial Imagery Analyst and leader - serving a hardship tour in Korea in 2000, deploying to Iraq in 2004, and serving on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific in 2005 (amongst other assignments).
Malachias Gaskin - Singer/Songwriter/Author, Malachias served for 17 years in the Army with multiple combat deployments. He entered into a medical retirement in 2014. During his medical retirement process, he ended up writing a book called “A Warrior’s Garden, a therapeutic guide to living with PTSD. ” this book is a document of his journey to find a way to heal holistically. It focused on three main pillars. Faith, music, and gardening. Integrating all three spiritual, creative and physical aspects.
Nigel Fischer- Nigel is the Director of Advancement for Guitars4Vets and served on active duty as a Marine 1993-2013. During his twenty years of service, he deployed numerous times, both peace time and in combat. Nigel’s personal experiences of being wounded in combat (Ramadi, Iraq - 2007), military to civilian transition and lengthy Post Traumatic Growth journey, are all fuel for his passion in serving Veterans at G4V.
We will also hear from Challenge America's own Tatiana Penagos, a Board certified, guitar playing music therapist who will have us pick up our guitars and .....well.....have us experience the healing power of music for ourselves!
Runtime: 94 minutes