Cooperative Living January 2017 - 18

The veterans and their supporters
who sign up for the class come from
all walks of life. " The stories they write
are varied and fascinating, " says
Robbins. It's not all tales of bravado
and bravery, either. There's much more
to real-life military heroes. " It's
whatever they choose to put onto
paper. Many of them write about
combat or other experiences while
serving, but others simply choose to
write about family and hobbies, "
Robbins explains.
For those veterans who choose to
lay down old combat burdens to pick
up the pen, writing has the power to
heal. Gail Chatfield of Veterans' Voices
described this when she said, " We
stand naked, exposed and unmasked
by the presence of our words on a
piece of paper. It is at that intersection
of vulnerability and insightfulness that
the journey of self-discovery through
writing begins. "
What's more, writing can boost the
immune system, and reduce stress,
anxiety and depression. In a world
where veterans are often plagued by
mental health issues and high suicide
rates, picking up a pen could
potentially stop a tortured veteran
from picking up a gun. According to
the Veterans Health Administration,
the suicide rate among male and
female veterans and military service
members exceeds the national rate for
the general population. Additionally,
many service members are diagnosed
with post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD) or depression.
" While our goal isn't to provide
therapy through writing, it happens on
its own. It's not our destination, but a
stop along the way, " Robbins explains.
By shaping and reshaping negative
experiences and memories through the
written word, they can ultimately be
transformed into memories that no
longer hurt. Says Malik Hodari,
Mighty Pen Project graduate, " I
learned technical aspects of writing
that enabled me to cathartically
express my experiences and 42 years
of repressed pain. Learning with likeminded
souls enables honest,
free-flowing discourse. "
The benefits of the class also include
the ability to help veterans feel less
16 | Cooperative Living | January 2017
Hankerson
looks forward
to learning to
write her own
story.
alienated by sharing traumatic events
and other experiences with other
military veterans. " The class
composition allows us - and the
participants - to see lives of service
and world events through a diversity
of lenses, encompassing veterans,
spouses, family members and friends
spanning every military uniform
through eras of conflict and times of
peace, " Robbins explains.
As Mighty Pen Project writers open
up about their military experiences,
they do so in an environment of
understanding and compassion. The
thread that weaves together this group
of men and women of diverse
backgrounds is a deep understanding
of service to country, of war, and of life
following military service. It's an
understanding that extends beyond
what can be put onto paper, a deeper
acknowledgment of emotions that
often go unspoken.
When M.E. " Mike " Malandro, Army
veteran and Prince George Electric
Cooperative CEO, first heard Robbins'
presentation about the program at a
local Rotary Club meeting, he was
immediately on board.
" Every veteran has a story, whether they know it or
not, " says Prince George Electric Cooperative board
member and Army veteran, Denya Hankerson. " This
writing program is invaluable to helping veterans learn
to write their own stories - and I very much look
forward to taking the class. "
" Mike walked up and said, 'I love
what you're doing. How can I help?' "
recalls Robbins. " Rarely do I meet
anybody who grasps so quickly - and
with such enthusiasm - what we are
doing with the Mighty Pen Project as
Mike Malandro did. Mike, and Prince
George Electric Cooperative, have
been very supportive from very early
on in our history. It's gratifying to get
that level of support. "
For Malandro, it was all about
honoring the seventh cooperative
principle, " Concern for Community. "
He says, " As a co-op, it's really
important for us to give back to the
community. When Prince George
Electric Cooperative was asked to
help sponsor publication of the Mighty
Pen Project Anthology & Archive, a
collection of writings from Mighty Pen
Project participants, we were happy to
partner up with Fort Lee Federal
Credit Union and support a program
that helps those who have sacrificed
and served. " The poignant 73-page
anthology includes some of the best
pieces of the class's written work for
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Cooperative Living January 2017

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cooperative Living January 2017
