Native flowers add pops of color to the landscaped grounds of the nonprofit Patriots’ Hall in Dripping Springs. Visitors can sit back in a blue Adirondack chair in the shade of a patio, with a nearby American Flag fluttering in the wind.
Patriots’ Hall is the fruition of Founding Board Member Kathryn Chandler’s dream. An homage to her father, a Vietnam veteran, the 10-acre campus provides a retreat and resource hub for active military members, veterans and their families. This includes free counseling services, job training and recreational activities. Successful reintegration is crucial for the well-being of veterans and the communities they join, fostering mutual growth and understanding, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ website.
Retired Lt. Gen. Scott McKean exemplifies how military leadership skills can be effectively applied, Chandler said. Upon retiring from his 33-year career in the Army in January, McKean embraced a new mission as executive director of Patriots’ Hall. In the role, he is dedicated to the organization’s goals.
“The military community finds strength through service,” he said, emphasizing that as the needs evolve, ongoing research and policy development are essential to ensure that support systems remain effective.
“Continued collaboration between nonprofit organizations, and local communities will be key to facilitating success,” Chandler added.
One of those collaborations is with the nonprofit ArenaM, which originated in the Washington, D.C., area and is developing a second home in Austin. ArenaM supports elite athletes and military to create fulfilling post-uniform lives.
Upon transition out of uniform, service members often experience challenges navigating the world from which they’ve been previously isolated. In addition to a need for career and industry orientation and opportunity, military veterans can experience a loss of purpose, identity, belonging and perceived value, said Karen Charchan, a retired Army veteran and founder of ArenaM.
“We often tie our identity and purpose to what we did in uniform," she said. "Collaboration and bridge-building is the only way this works. No person or organization can do this alone.”
ArenaM and Patriots’ Hall will be hosting roundtables and workshops for Austin-based veteran nonprofits to collaborate and leverage one another’s strengths and observations to better serve those who have served.
To get involved with Patriots’ Hall, visit patriotshall.org. To learn more about ArenaM, visit ArenaM.org.