MISSION BELONGING
Mission Belonging brings together military, veteran, and military-connected participants to experience self-discovery and expression through poetry, visual art, and music in a safe community space. Through recurring experience, participants make connections and build a community that counteracts loneliness and social isolation. An annual celebration and public performance allows Veterans, military, and military families / caregivers to find their voice and experience the power of being witnessed.
Online Music Workshops
Free, Virtual, & open to all.*
Intro to Music with Wytold
📅 On the 1st Monday of each month at 3:30 PM ET
Used to play an instrument but it’s been a long time? Always wanted to try to learn an instrument or write a song, but not sure where to start? Join cellist and composer Wytold on the first Monday of each month and get started! Instruments are welcome but not required.
Online Visual Arts Workshops
Free, Virtual, & open to all.*
Visual Arts Workshop with Veteran Artists Valerie Acosta, Joe Merritt, & Special Guests
📅 Every Wednesday evening at 7 pm ET
Join Veteran Artists
Online Creative Writing Workshops
Free, Virtual, & open to all.*
Creative Writing Workshop with author Seema Reza
📅 Every Friday at 12 pm ET
Join us for a generative creative writing workshop with author Seema Reza where we use the written and spoken word to find healing and self-discovery together in a welcoming, safe community. Open to all voices. No experience necessary.
Comedy Writing Workshop with writer Amelia Bane
📅 On the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 12 pm ET
In Partnership with Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Easterseals & The Up Center
Join comedian Amelia Bane for a comedy writing workshop. Give yourself a break from your routine and take some time to laugh in community. Each workshop, we will read a humor piece and react to it together. After some discussion about technique and what makes comedy writing work, we’ll write our own pieces. We’ll come together at the end of the hour to hear a few participants share their work. You never have to share if you’re not in the mood. Come write with us or just come laugh with us! Open to all, and no experience required.
Creative Writing Workshop with author Ben Weakley
📅 On the 4th Tuesday of each month at 12 pm ET
In Partnership with Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Easterseals & The Up Center
Join poet Ben Weakley for a generative creative writing workshop where we use the written and spoken word to find healing and self-discovery together in a welcoming, safe community. Open to all voices. No experience necessary.
Mission Belonging is funded in part by Creative Forces®: NEA Military Healing Arts Network, an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the U.S. Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs that seeks to improve the health, well-being, and quality of life for military and veteran populations exposed to trauma, as well as their families and caregivers. Creative Forces is managed in partnership with Civic Arts, the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, and Mid-America Arts Alliance.
For our complete program calendar, visit our Events page.
