Last Friday in Dallas, Texas, VA’s Center for Minority Veterans hosted the inaugural National Minority Veterans Summit focusing on the needs and issues imperative to minority Veterans.

Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs James Byrne welcomed the more than 750 attendees to the conference.

“This event provided an opportunity to meet and engage with a diverse collection with people of color, and was outstanding,” said Marine Veteran William O. Dwiggins from Dallas. “I’m looking forward to learning about the 2020 National Minority Veterans summit location and dates.”

The summit was led by Center Executive Director Stephen B. Dillard and Deputy Director Dennis O. May. Its goal was to honor the service of minority Veterans, and to provide them and the organizations that serve them with information about VA benefits and services. Lastly, to serve as a platform for VA leaders to hear directly from minority Veterans.

A growing minority population

Currently, minority Veterans make up about 23 percent of the Veteran population. VA expects the number to grow to 36 percent by 2043, with the biggest increase among the Hispanic Veteran population.

“From the Veterans Health Administration perspective, we use events such this summit to share information about how VA health care makes a difference in the lives of minority Veterans,” said Veterans Health Administration Chief of Staff Lawrence B. Connell. “One recent study indicated that African American males are twice as likely to die from prostate cancer than their white counterparts. However, this isn’t the case with the VA; the survival rates here are equal. What this means is VA provides African American Veterans better access to health care.”

Connell joined Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Benefits Margarita Devlin, Veterans Benefits Administration; Jacqueline Hayes-Byrd, VA Center for Women Veterans executive director; and Deputy Under Secretary for Finance & Planning Matthew Sullivan, National Cemetery Administration on a panel discussion about VA care and benefits.

During the conference, attendees were also able to participate in breakout sessions focused on employment, mental health, and entrepreneurship. They also had the chance to establish and strengthen their relationships with numerous partners. Among those were VA subject matter experts; military, federal, state, and local agencies; Veteran Service Organizations, and tech industry and corporations. They also participated in “Voice of the Veteran” panels.


Bobbi Gruner is a public affairs specialist for VA’s Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs. 

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8 Comments

  1. KEITH October 15, 2019 at 12:07

    Y’all should not be putting racists stuff on this sight if you don’t have nothing nice to say keep it to yourself I think it’s a great program it’s about time for this program thanks VA

  2. Carl Kenneth Webb October 13, 2019 at 18:29

    Did you check out the agenda at https://whova.com/web/nmvs_201909/ and you saw no mention of Native American Veterans?

    Native American Song
    8:20am – 8:25am, Sep 27
    Performer: Anthony Nauni, Comanche Nation Outreach

    Native American Prayer
    8:30am – 8:35am, Sep 27
    SpeakerL John Tiddark, Former Captain, US Army Special Forces

  3. J King October 9, 2019 at 14:45

    You guy are bunch racist because you are not looking for solutions you looking for Dissension instead of the beauty of the program it self

    • Carl Kenneth Webb October 13, 2019 at 18:31

      What beauty?

  4. Shannon Jordan October 7, 2019 at 09:16

    Native American Veterans were there and spoke also. The Summit opened with song and prayer from Native American Veterans before Dep. Sec. Byrne’s welcome. I especially enjoyed the prayer by John Tiddark, former Captain, US Army Special Forces Vietnam Veteran and Purple Heat & Bronze Star with Valor. His brother-in-law (also a Native American Veteran) joined him on the stage and they gave a nice presentation on their family history in the military and some of their traditions.

  5. Bruce October 3, 2019 at 17:01

    I don’t see a thing about Native American Veterans.

    • j.m. rodriguez October 6, 2019 at 23:10

      No Red, Yellow or Brown Vets there???????

    • Shannon Jordan October 7, 2019 at 09:58

      The Summit opened with prayer and song from Native American Veterans. I especially enjoyed the prayer by John Tiddark, former Captain, US Army Special Forces Vietnam Veteran Recipient of the Purple Heart and Bronze Star Valor. His brother-in-law, also a Native American Veteran, joined him on stage and they shared their family’s military experiences and traditions.

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