2018 NETA Awards - Community Engagement Based on a NATIONAL Initiative
From: WHRO
Project Budget: $21,682.00
Background: Hampton Roads is home to the world’s largest military naval base as well as all five branches of the military and NATO’s Allied Command Transformation, U.S. Joint Forces Command. WHRO employs veterans and has many retired veterans in volunteer roles, including board members. We felt it was essential to continue WHRO’s work around veterans’ issues and create distinctive and meaningful opportunities for engagement. As the years move us further and further away from the realities of the Vietnam war, it is important to keep alive the memories of those who sacrificed for us, and to honor those who returned home to an unwelcoming nation.
What Did the Judges Say?
I am overwhelmed at the complexity and multi-dimensional approaches taken to support three screenings of the The Vietnam War. Increasing the community's knowledge about the war through individual perspectives, presenting them as real people as well as members of the military, and encouraging the community at large to become engaged is truly exemplary.
This was an excellent combination of events, outreach, and education activities. Utilizing unique venues and specific programs to weave these stories is exceptional. From the Buddhist temple gathering to the graffiti project , the live readings, to the Telling Project along with the Traveling Wall exhibit with collection of Stories From the Wall -- all were Norfolk-unique.
This was a fantastic project. Every detail in this community engagement was executed according to the goals set forth. This project goes to the core of the mission of pubmedia at its best. Convening the entire station with the veterans community and their families and including the Vietnamese community in creating a community dialogue was a feat that WHRO executed in grand style. Bravo!