About MilSpeak Foundation ™

MilSpeak Foundation, a 501c3 public charitable organization, celebrates the creative endeavors of military people. By developing new audiences, creating new avenues for delivery, and encouraging creativity among military people, MilSpeak Foundation makes creative works by military people directly relevant to the public, while diminishing the military stereotype and assisting military people assimilate their experience through participating in the Arts. In writing, creating art and performing, military people preserve the history of everyday military life, learn about stress management benefits of participating in the Arts, and increase civilian understanding about military life.

MilSpeak Foundation grew from MilSpeak Creative Writing Seminars (MCWS), a creative writing workshop for military people that began in August 2005 at Marine Corps Air Station, Beaufort, South Carolina. The Foundation incorporated in South Carolina in November 2009, and was recognized as a 501c3 public operating foundation in June 2010. MilSpeak Foundation has no paid employees and is staffed entirely by volunteers. MCWS workshop leaders volunteer their services, and participants never pay a fee. The Foundation’s charitable organization status is available at the South Carolina Secretary of State website

MilSpeak Foundation defines military people as active duty, reservists, retirees, medical retirees, and veterans, those who have served for any period of time, even those now serving in a brig or in prison. Further, the term Military People includes family members: children and spouses, parents, grandparents, etc. - any family member of any veteran. Federal employees who have served in the US Department of Defense, and civil servants aboard our bases are included in this definition, as are members of the Merchant Marine. If you’re not sure if you qualify as a military person, but you’re wondering, then you probably do. Ask us. MilSpeak Foundation is inclusive, not exclusive.

Military people are proving with every story, poem, painting, photograph, and song created what a little ‘Can do-Make do’ can do to improve understanding about military life and the difficulties of coming home, of finding home, after the war ends.

MILSPEAK foundation PROGRAMS

MILSPEAK CREATIVE WRITING SEMINARS (MCWS) (2005)

MAKE-A-BOOK (2007)

SIED BOOKS (2009)

MILSPEAK MEMO (2009)

MILSPEAK BOOKS (2009)

Scars on my heart (2009)

if you wanna talk the talk,
you gotta walk the walk

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tracy Crow, MFA
Author, Cold War Veteran
President, MilSpeak Foundation.
Publisher, MilSpeak Books & MilSpeak Memo

Michael Kobre, PhD
Author. Educator. Administrative Director, Queens University of Charlotte MFA in Creative Writing Program.
Shawn Steiger, MSW, MFA
Author. Lead Clinician, VA Clinic, Syracuse, NY.
Tom Sheehan
Author. Korean War Veteran, U.S. Army.

Harry Parmer
Writer. Vietnam Veteran. Desert Storm Veteran. USMC
MilSpeak Foundation Business Manager

MARINE CORPS COMMUNITY SERVICES LIAISON
DAVID ELLARD, MFA
MCWS/BFT Facilitator

MCWS FACILITATORS
SALLY DRUMM
DAVID ELLARD
ROB BERGMANN

Contact: milspeakfoundation@milspeak.org

Copyright 2005-2015 MilSpeak Foundation
Disclaimer:
The appearance of hyperlinks or logos does not constitute endorsement by Milspeak Foundation, Inc., Milspeak Memo, or linked sites, or the information (written and graphic), products, or services contained therein, by the Department of Defense, or any other government agency or office. MILSPEAK FOUNDATION (501c3), foundation programs and publications, do not engage in political activity; however, writers and artists may present political opinions. Every attempt will be made to make space for diversity. Content on these pages represents thoughts and opinions of the writers & artists, and not the official position of MilSpeak Foundation, its directors or of any other person, organization or institution.

Purchasing a MilSpeak Books title supports MilSpeak Foundation. Milspeak Books are available at MilSpeak Books on Smashwords! Enter coupon code LN46E at checkout to receive a free copy of the MilSpeak anthology.