Happy Holidays! As we enter the winter holidays and reflect back on the year, many veterans, service members, and their families might find this an especially difficult time. I want to encourage you to check in with yourself often; reach out to friends and family and let them know that you’re there. Maintain your communities, and lean into them when things become challenging. We’re still living under unprecedented times as COVID-19 continues to create barriers and restrictions to our daily life; so, please be equipped with as much information as possible to protect yourself. Check out these Tips and Resources for a Safe and Connected Season athttps://www.eachmindmatters.org/holidays2020/. Consider getting the vaccine and/or the booster shot, and learn more by visiting https://www.calvet.ca.gov/COVID19.
At CalVet, veterans and their family are at the center of everything we do. Last month, I joined the American GI Forum’s (AGIF) event in San Jose in honor of Veterans Day. The AGIF is a congressionally chartered Hispanic veterans and civil rights organization. Its motto is "Education is Our Freedom and Freedom should be Everybody's Business". The AGIF advocates on behalf of all Hispanic veterans and you can learn more about them at https://www.agif.org/.
“A Day That Will Live in Infamy”. On the morning of December 7, at close to 8 a.m., the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, came under attack by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). This single act by the IJN launched a historic and groundbreaking change in enlistments and how the U.S. Armed Forces operates in regards to gender and race. Women and Black Americans, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, Native Americans, and Hispanics answered the call and the need for more soldiers, forever changing the landscape of service members and veterans. California is home to 47,000 WWII veterans according to 2019 United States Department of Veterans Affairs VetPro report. To read more on the Pearl Harbor attacks visit https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor.
Remember, if you need assistance accessing your benefits or other veterans services, give us a call! Stay safe.
Sincerely,
Xóchitl Rodriguez Murillo
Deputy Secretary
Minority & Underrepresented Veterans Division
Welcome Christina Salazar!!!
We have some exciting news to share! Please join me in welcoming Christina Salazar to the division! Christina is our new Office Technician. She has been with the CalVet team since 2016. Christina has a wealth of knowledge and experience in assisting our nation’s heroes. Her addition to our division ensures that we are better equipped to deliver services to our veterans.
President Barack Obama declared January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Slavery and human trafficking are often considered a historic problem. Sadly, it is an issue which is growing on a worldwide basis and one which many people in our communities could be vulnerable to. In collaboration with CalVet’s Women Veterans Division, the Department of Veterans Affairs Tribal Relations, and tribal service providers, we will host a webinar on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. The webinar is scheduled on Jan. 20 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Please stay tuned for further information.
Partner Events
When: Wednesday, December 15, 2021
Time: 3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.: Self-Help Workshop
4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Attorney Consultation
Where: Virtual
The Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA), Veterans Legal Services Project is hosting A FREE Legal Clinic for Veterans. Event is on Wednesday, December 15 from 3 p.m.-6 p.m. This free workshop is open to any veteran in need of help with: Tickets for minor offenses (infractions) such as jaywalking, running a stop sign, failure to appear charges & warrants stemming from tickets.
