Unable to hold employment or successfully retrain/go back to school; I dove head first into the art of pottery. I have found a great therapy in ceramics upon my discharge from the military. My love of the arts has only helped to propel me forward, allowing me to excel in this artistic medium. I have been transitioning into more sculptural work and am truly loving the new direction!

I am a retired (yes, at 32), disabled Iraqi war veteran. I served for nearly 4 years in the US Army as a combat medic. Right around my seventh month in Iraq, my health took a drastic turn; I began having seizures. It has been a downhill slide ever since with more health issues arising as time continues. While the doctors have not yet been able to nail down a diagnosis, I continue to strive and to push forward everyday with the love and support from family. No matter the situation encountered, I choose to always look for the silver linings, focusing on the negatives serves no purpose.

I am also the founder of a non-profit organization called Healing Arts of Maine. The therapeutic effects that I found in clay has led me to be quite passionate about being able to bring this simple method of healing to the greatest audience possible. I hope you take the time to follow the link and check out Healing Arts of Maine, and if so inclined to make a tax deductible donation through our financial sponsor, Fractured Atlas.

Sam Pressler is the founder and executive director of the Armed Services Arts Partnership (ASAP), and a 2015 Echoing Green Global Fellow. Under Sam’s leadership, ASAP launched the only stand-up comedy class for veterans in the United States, and the largest writing group for veterans in Virginia. Sam graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude from the College of William & Mary (’15), where he was a Ewell Award recipient, McGlennon Scholar, and TEDx Innovative Thinker. His efforts with ASAP have been covered by CNN, ABC News, BBC, Washington Post, NPR, the Military Times, Stars & Stripes, Soldiers Magazine, and Task & Purpose, among others.

http://veteranpodcast.com/045

Nancy’s interest in horses began at 16 months of age when she received a rocking horse on the first Christmas she can remember. Her interest in the challenges disabled people faced every day started with her Great Uncle Walter who she first met when she was 3 years of age. Uncle Walter was blind. He had lost his sight when he was taking money earned from his business to the bank for deposit. He was robbed by a thug who hit him with a blackjack (as it was called in those days), knocked him unconscious and robbed him of his hard earned money. Uncle Walter was kind, sweet, and never complained about his misfortune. At the time he was a young man, engaged to be married. He broke the engagement because he did not want to burden the girl he loved. Nancy was fascinated by what he could do without sight. Play the piano, he had even taught piano. He took care of his invalid sister, and did all the cooking. Later as a teen-ager, Nancy baby sat a disabled child.

In the early 1980’s Nancy went through a life altering experience. Not to be the first. But, this is when her horse “Dusty” entered her life. The Golden Palomino that she had always dreamed of having as a child. Dusty was her therapy. Dusty started the chain of events that led Nancy to her life’s mission.

In 1985 Nancy was certified by Happy Horsemanship For The Handicapped, Inc. as a Certified Administrator, Instructor, and Clinician. In 1986, she opened Heads Up Therapy With Horses for disabled children and adults. While being Founder and Executive Director of Heads Up she served as Set Advisor for NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicap Association; now know as PATH) in the production of a video with President and Mrs. Regan for Therapy On Horseback. She also served as the Volunteer Training Director for the newly forming California Network of Equestrian Therapy (CALNET). She is a Certified Direct Support Professional for California, and most recently finished her Army one Source Training, PTSD Then and Now.

On the more creative side Nancy has served as a Western Music DJ Host, KHTS Radio, Santa Clarita, California. The show “Around The Barn” featured guests for discussion on topics related to horses, therapy, and achievements of the disabled population, and interviews with celebrity Western Music Artists from all over the country. “Around The Barn” was nominated for Best Radio Show of Years 2011, 2012, 2013 by the Western Music Association (WMA). On a final note, she has become a story/coloring book author for a true story series called “Dusty And Friends”, an educational coloring book. The stories come from the 27 year operation of Heads Up therapeutic riding center for special needs children.

http://veteranpodcast.com/044

Animal trainer, Clarissa Black, graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science Animal Science and from Canisius College with a Masters in Anthrozoology. She discovered her passion for training while working with elephants and dolphins but gradually realized she wanted to develop relationships with the animals for which she cared. Through her career as a dolphin trainer, Clarissa learned advanced animal training principles and applied them to husbandry, veterinary, research and program training.
While working with these unique mammals in the water, she decided to further her work and experience training animals on land and began working as a professional dog trainer. She has been successful developing personalized training and behavior plans, as well as teaching dog obedience. Her motto is set both the owner and the dog up for success.

During her experience working with therapy dogs in the company of Americas veterans and wounded soldiers, she saw firsthand how important animals can be in recovery. She has a unique understanding regarding the training each dog receives, as well as being able to recognize what each veteran needs from his or her companion animal.
Pets for Vets, Inc. is Clarissa's way to say thank you to our country's heroes.

http://veteranpodcast.com/043