I am pleased to announce that VA’s Center for Women Veterans is partnering with LeanIn.Org to advance and improve the quality of life for our nation’s Women Veterans.

Our Lean In Circle initiative responds to the top issues women Veterans continue to articulate to us and facilitates a stronger connection among women Veterans. For many years, women Veterans have continuously expressed to us that they would like to have a mechanism that allows them to engage with their fellow women Veterans and to make a difference in their communities. We believe this initiative is the perfect match. This strategic partnership will provide women Veterans with tools to enable them to make a difference “after the uniform” in their lives and the lives of their fellow women Veterans.

Building on the successful launch of LeanIn.Org circles within the Department of Defense, we established the LeanIn.Org Women Veterans’ Chapter . It is comprised of two distinct pilot programs: the Veteran-to-Veteran program and a face-to-face pilot circle. The Veteran-to-Veteran program is a virtual program that allows any woman Veteran to participate, no matter where she is located. Meetings will be moderated and attended by women Veterans throughout the United States. The face-to-face pilot circle is created in partnership with the existing LeanIn.Org chapter in Seattle, Washington. This circle is an innovative hybrid of women Veterans and non-military members, providing an environment for both to learn and share leadership skills.

Lean In provides free tools and resources for creating successful peer mentorship. This program will provide a greater national network, for women Veterans to connect and share their stories. Through these collaborative efforts, women Veterans will be more connected and better equipped to support themselves and their peer Veteran community.

I am thrilled to have LeanIn.Org as our collaborative partner. Joining the Lean In Women Veterans’ Chapter is simple. Just visit leanin.org/womenvets for the Veteran-to-Veteran community, or http://www.leaninseattle.org/veterans for the community-to-Veteran meetings.

For more information, please view the Lean In Women Veterans Fact Sheet at LeanIn.org, or submit inquiries to lean-in-women-Veterans+leaders@leanincircles.org.


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Kayla Williams

Kayla Williams is the director of the Center for Women Veterans at VA Central Office, in Washington, DC. The Center monitors VA’s administration of benefits and services for women Veterans, and promotes recognition of contributions made by women who served in the armed forces.

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8 Comments

  1. Gail L'esperance June 11, 2016 at 23:10

    I am a veteran, a woman, and a yoga instructor. I would like to begin offering yoga for women veterans with PTSD, in the Atlanta area, but don’t know where to begin. Any suggestions?

  2. Kc June 11, 2016 at 09:07

    Ok good they are doing this. Now as a male veteran I have seen numerous female “homeless veterans ” they should clean this up first. .

  3. Monica M Murgatroyd June 10, 2016 at 22:32

    I’d like to know if this women’s group is going to help those of us women veterans that have been injured as a result of being stationed at Ft. McClellan, AL?

  4. Melody Brocato June 10, 2016 at 21:18

    Because of the lack of Woman Veteran Groups here in the Rockford, IL area, we have started our own. We have partnered with the National Woman Veterans United out of Chicago, and we now have a Facebook page. We are the NWVU Rockford SheVets Chapter. We encourage all women veterans to check out the page and join us for our monthly meeting. We want to make sure all women veterans are aware of their benefits, and resources available to them. We also want to get them the opportunity to gather with other women veterans to share their experiences. I can be reached by email at: mel1msb@gmail.com, or email shevets@yahoo.com. We look forward to your input.

  5. c waldrep June 10, 2016 at 11:14

    And which Male veterans group does the VA fund?

  6. Jan Huisman June 10, 2016 at 11:04

    Is this a support group for women w/PTSD and other issues?

  7. Junk Bin June 10, 2016 at 10:35

    When women are drafted and start dying in front line ground infantry actions, they will have reached equality. Anything less and you have fake equality with special treatment. Tie to stop the special treatment programs

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