Statements
Mission
We transform lives by using collaborative songwriting to expand creativity, connections, and strengths.
Background
SongwritingWith:Soldiers (SW:S) was founded in 2012 to transform lives by using collaborative songwriting to expand creativity, connections, and strengths. Grounded in the belief that veterans carry experiences they need to share and that the world needs to hear, SW:S uses songwriting as a catalyst for positive change. We offer our participants a unique way to tell their stories, rebuild trust, release pain, and forge new bonds. In SW:S retreat and workshop settings, service members are paired with professional songwriters to craft songs about their experiences, often about combat and the return home. The songs are recorded and shared through digital media, band camp, concerts, and social media in order to bridge the divide between military and civilian communities, and build awareness of the challenges faced by our returning service members. The impact of our program ripples far and wide.
Impact
SongwritingWith:Soldiers is considered a groundbreaking program by post-traumatic growth researchers. We are helping to develop studies focused on how collaborative songwriting and positive psychology interventions can affect post-traumatic stress and overall veteran wellness.
The impact of our work is important because:
- Many veterans do not seek services after returning home from combat, while often struggling to adapt to civilian life.
- Many SW:S participants avoid therapy or military resources because of the stigma associated with PTS and depression.
- The Veterans Administration estimates that approximately 20 veterans take their own lives each day, of that, 14 have little to no contact with the department.
-There is an increasing need for new alternative approaches to therapy with healing through the arts having a proven record (reference NEA and creativity and healing)
Needs
Each year SW:S hosts at least one ​retreat for veterans in Mid TN at Evins Mill in Smithville, TN. While the range of our programs serve nationally, it is important for us to continue our Tennessee based retreats and deepen our community of veterans, supporters, and funders specifically in middle Tennessee.
Your support will help us:
- Train additional program teams and songwriters, enabling us to hold more retreats and post-retreat offerings for veterans and their families.
- Connect to research and advocacy in order to develop best practices for post-traumatic growth and integration of military experiences to civilian life.
- More actively distribute the music to build connections and awareness around the globe.
With your help, we can be sure veterans are feeling heard, more hopeful and supported.
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | Public & Societal Benefit - Military/Veterans' Organizations |
| Secondary Category: | Arts, Culture & Humanities - Music |
| Tertiary Category: | - |
Areas Served
We host weekend retreats for veterans, active-duty military, and their families at retreat facilities around the country, including retreats in Middle Tennessee.
| TN - Davidson |
| National |
