By Kiara Doyal, The Tacoma True Citizen
The 11th Annual Veterans Resource Fair will be held on Sat., June 1, at the Tacoma Dome. This free event, which serves as a welcoming event to the military community, is open to all veterans, active-duty personnel, and their families, exemplifying the community’s commitment to supporting those who have served our country.
Originally launched in 2012, the Annual Veterans Resource Fair has served over 64,500 veterans across the State of Washington. The event, hosted by Veterans for Veterans, will provide a safe space for the community to connect with and access vital services, including VA benefits, community services, medical screenings, employment opportunities, educational benefits, housing resources, and legal services.
“The overall purpose of these Resource Fairs is to alleviate any barriers,” says Shawn Durnen, Event Director and President of NineLine Veteran Services.
According to Durnen, many subpopulations in military communities have been historically marginalized and have historical barriers to resources and services that require intervention. The Veterans Resource Fair tries to make sure all veterans have access to resources that they need to make their transition to civilian life easier.
“We try to address the needs based on demographic information, and trends identified throughout the year by our partners at the Federal VA, and State VA, by creating a one-day event that encompasses all of those needs and allows us to help break down those historical barriers,” says Durnen.
Looking to heighten the experience for all of those who attend, the Veterans Resource Fair is taking a different approach this year by focusing more on providing more job opportunities to veterans. By taking a coordinated approach with state counterparts, resume support, job hires, and mock interviews, the resource fair hopes to connect veterans with viable employment opportunities in the region.
“We have partnered with the Washington State Employment Security Department and a couple of other stakeholders to have them directly engage with our employers across the state to get them at the event so they can do direct hiring,” says Durnen.
Fighting his own battles with addiction and homelessness, Durnen, who is a military veteran himself, is very optimistic that the annual resource fair can help provide resources for veterans going through similar battles. With the support of amazing mentors, support systems, and mechanisms, Durnen was able to get back on his feet, and he looks to spread his personal experience and help those who are in need.
“I am a product of the services we are rendering,” says Durmen. “Right when I got out of the military service I tripped, slipped, and fell into every bad choice a military service member could. It is imperative because I know firsthand what it is like to be on the streets and not know where your next meal is going to come from.”
Being able to experience firsthand the impact that the Resource Fair has had on thousands of people is one of the driving factors why Durnen and his colleagues keep organizing this annual event. For Durnen, positive feedback and admiration from attendees over the last years has been incredibly uplifting and validating.
“We are meeting the veterans and their families to help provide resources they may need,” says Durnen. “I could tell you 300 different success stories over the last 11 years, and that is why we do it; it is quite literally a labor of love.”
“The stakeholders and vendors that attend the Resource Fair are required to pay to attend, so they are the ones who are covering the cost of everything at the event,” he added. “There is no profit to be made, there is no cost benefit to anyone involved. Getting the word out is the most important thing, and I don’t want anyone who needs access to those services not to be able to get them.”
