OMVS Team Member Attends NMFA State of Military Family Summit

On Thursday, April 27, the National Military Family Association held its State of the Military Family 2023 Summit in Arlington, Virginia. NOVA’s Veteran Center Coordinator Maura Keenan-Gondek attended the summit that brought together representatives from a variety of military family and veteran organizations, policy makers and military family members. The summit honored military spouse advocates and engaged with military teens and young adults to discuss the next generation of leadership and how military family members can be their own best advocates. The National Military Family Association amplifies the voice of military families through advocacy, innovative programming and dynamic and responsive solutions.

Panel discussions included a military spouse panel, led by active-duty spouses who have developed and put their advocacy skills to use. These spouses have advocated for food security for military families as well as access to services and resources, employment opportunities for military spouses and combatting the underemployment of spouses.

Following a video message from Dr. Jill Biden, a second panel discussion was held that focused on Military Teens and “The Future Of Service.” Panelists shared their experiences of being a military child as well as what leadership and service means to them.

Submitted by:
Maura Keenan-Gondek, Veteran Center Coord., MKeenanGondek@nvcc.edu