HEROES' VOICES INC

The Non-Profit Organization Providing Veteran Outreach and Service Through Music Veteran Outreach and Service Through Music Heroes' Voices helps veterans build confidence and community by connecting them with the power of music. Veterans raise their voices together in song with our free music workshops, free online guitar lessons, and on-line resources. Launched in the San Francisco Bay Area, we are expanding throughout the USA.Heroes' Voices puts the transformational power of music to work for our veterans by:• Creating opportunities for veterans to engage with music.• Building alliances with other veterans organizations to expand the use of music in their programs.• Connecting veterans to music and to their communities with an online database of art and music organizations.• Promoting and sponsoring research into music therapy for veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injuries.Heroes' Voices leverages the power of music and poetry to make a direct, positive impact on veterans who seek better lives and more satisfying reintegration into their communities.It is difficult for many veterans to re-acclimate to civilian life, especially the estimated 500,000 veterans who are returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injuries (TBI).Heroes' Voices empowers the men and women who have served our country with a sense of connection and pride through participation in musical ensembles and performances. The prescription of music as therapeutic tool is robustly supported by medical and scientific evidence.o Our Veterans' Voices programs build confidence and community as Veterans raise their voices together in song and poetry: o Vets Singing with Vets workshops provide opportunities for Veterans for camaraderie and joy by making music together.o Guitar Corps and Harmonica Corps teach Veterans new skills and the benefits of self-expression with free guitars, free harmonicas and free guitar lessonso Poetry Slam workshops encourage Veterans to explore and write poetry.o Our Voices for Veterans programs speak up for Veterans and their unique needs with: o Advocacy and national, regional, and local levels.o Partnerships with other organizations serving Veterans including the VA Medical Centers in Menlo Park and Livermore; CalVet Yountville, Gryphon String Instruments in Palo Alto, the American Music Therapy Association, and others. .o Research into music and music therapy, specifically exploring the most effective music therapy protocols for treating veterans with PTSD and TBI.o Music Soothes programs that provide entertainment in hospital and hospice settings.o And our Veterans Resources provide Veterans with comprehensive information about and access to music and music therapy in communities across the USA.Launched in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2012 we are now expanding to communities around the country.