Our Mission
We provide veterans a platform to speak their truth and guarantee that truth is heard.
Through storytelling, collaboration with writers and artists, and public exhibitions, we empower veterans to share their journeys, connect with others, and promote empathy across communities.
Our Vision
We envision a world where the stories of veterans are understood, respected, and even celebrated. By using the arts as a vehicle for healing, we strive to promote emotional recovery, foster a deeper connection between veterans and civilians, and raise awareness of the challenges veterans face. Our work aims to create a stronger, more supportive society through the courage of veterans sharing their own experiences, the honor of listening to them, and the dignity we share by the end.
Our Organization
Bullets and Bandaids is a 501c3 veteran-centric art therapy non-profit. We are volunteer-run, and our work is only possible through support from our donors, participants, and partners. More than 95% of donations go directly to support our programs.
Our Work
Our primary work is to connect veterans with artists and writers, creating collaborations that heal and works of art that drive dialog and engagement. We show our work at galleries, through editions in print, and online. We host discussion panels, meet-ups, workshops, and other community-engaging events that support veterans, creators, and communities. Our approach helps both veterans and civilians alike engage in deeper empathy, understanding, and healing. We embrace the bonds formed from our shared human experiences through the lenses of art and stories. We give communities something to talk about and reflect upon. We give veterans’ lived experiences a home.
The Problems We Address
We address a multitude of issues faced by veterans, including social isolation, mental health challenges, societal stigmatization, and the lack of platforms for their voices to be heard. We tackle these problems through our innovative approach of collaborative storytelling and artwork.
Social Isolation
Veterans often struggle with feelings of isolation and disconnection from civilian life. Through our program, we provide a platform for veterans to share their stories and connect with others who may have had similar experiences. By fostering a sense of community and understanding, we combat social isolation and promote a sense of belonging.
Mental Health Challenges
Many veterans grapple with mental health issues such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Our program encourages veterans to share their experiences in a supportive environment, allowing them to confront and process their emotions. Additionally, the act of storytelling and artistic expression can serve as a therapeutic outlet, promoting healing and resilience.
Societal Stigmatization
Veterans often face societal stigmatization and misconceptions surrounding their experiences. Through the power of storytelling and art, we challenge these stereotypes and humanize the veteran experience. By amplifying the voices of veterans and showcasing their diverse stories, we strive to break down barriers and foster empathy and understanding.
Lack of Platforms
Many veterans lack platforms to share their stories and experiences with a wider audience. Our program provides veterans with a creative outlet to express themselves and ensures that their voices are heard and valued. Through collaborative storytelling and artwork, we amplify the voices of veterans and create opportunities for dialogue and connection.
What sets us apart?
We are unlike any other. We believe in the power of self-expression and offer programs that provide creative outlets. We also recognize the importance of dialogue between veterans and civilians.
Our touring art program fosters this dialogue while reinforcing our shared human experience. It supports veterans, civilians, local nonprofits, and businesses, emphasizing our interconnectedness and the responsibility and support we owe each other.
Our Process
Our process starts with the veteran. We interview the veteran and have them tell their story in their own words. We explore their experiences in depth. We ask them candid questions about their experiences. We do our best to open the door to their truth.
This helps our veterans on a few different levels. The first is that telling your story to someone you don’t know allows for the sort of agency that brings forth bare honesty. This is important to all involved, be they friend or family, but also for the veteran themself, as having the fortitude to tell their story is an obvious sign of strength. It also allows for conversations to open up, which bring support, understanding, patience, and a sense of belonging. And there’s also the echo of accomplishment in their future, knowing that they used their courage and personal experience to help benefit their brothers and sisters in arms, as well as society as a whole. In other words, we give the veterans an opportunity to seize the power and responsibility that comes from the character building experiences through which they’ve lived.
After the initial interview, the veteran is paired with a writer, often someone from the local community. The writer takes the interview and may follow up with more questions. Then they write the veteran’s story in their own words. This synthesis can create a bond of its own, and is one of many bridges we help form between veterans and civilians.
Next, the veteran is paired with an artist, again often someone from the veteran’s community. Their story, already retold through the lens of the writer, is given to the artist. The artist then transforms the story into something else entirely: a painting, a sculpture, a collage, some new form. This creates another unique connection to which the veteran’s experiences reach – another bridge.
The stories go on to be told, to be said aloud, to be repeated in print, in audio, to be shared. The works of art go on display. They are photographed, talked about, relived. Their inspirations are front and center, bringing about understanding and empathy. The connections reveal their own truths.
When we say our mission is to make veterans heard, it’s not just about their voice. It’s not just about what happened. It’s about the whole experience: from what gave them something to say in the first place, to expressing it in a way that is fully connected to our shared, creative humanity – to truly make them heard.
Help us make veterans heard.
Learn More About Us
- Our History – Learn how a TedX event set the trajectory for what we have become.
- Who Benefits – Our aim is to make a positive difference for veterans, their communities, and society!