Women Veterans account for approximately 10% of the US Veteran population, which will grow to 15% by 2030.  While many of their challenges and opportunities are similar to those of their male counterparts, some are unique or disproportionate to the female Veteran population, which is younger and more ethnically diverse than their male peers.  The 2017 National Women Veterans Summit will focus on the needs and issues important to women Veterans and provide training, information, and guidance to assist women Veterans and their supporters with navigating through VA and community resources.

This event, the first national-level women Veterans summit since 2011, will bring together key stakeholders from across a variety of sectors to identify challenges and opportunities facing women Veterans and collaborate on identifying and diffusing best practices in serving them. It is designed to promote forward-thinking dialogue and innovative collaboration among private industry, nonprofit organizations, the Federal government, innovators, researchers, care-givers, and Veterans.

The target audience for the summit includes women Veterans themselves; public sector partners including military, federal, state, and local agencies; Veteran Service Organizations and other nonprofit partners; academics and others in the research community; representatives from the tech industry and corporations; other community partners; and VA employees, including Women Veteran Program Managers and Women Veteran Coordinators. The summit will consist of lectures, discussion panels, an exhibit hall, and an open forum.  Discussion by all attendees will be encouraged throughout the event.

Attendees will have opportunity to hear from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, participate in breakout sessions focused on employment, mental health, entrepreneurship, military sexual trauma, reproductive health, culture change, and more.  Additionally, plenary sessions will focus on VA care and benefits, partner organizations, and a special “Voice of the Veteran” panel.  The event will also feature a display of artwork by women Veterans from across the United States. Partner organizations will be recognized in digital and print materials.

The event is tentatively scheduled for Dallas, Texas on Friday and Saturday, April 21-22, 2017 (dates to be confirmed shortly).

 

For more information, contact Jeanette Mendy at [email protected] or visit https://www.va.gov/womenvet/.