Wurzweiler and The Telling Project Present May 29 Veterans’ Mental Health Event at Lincoln Center

What does it mean to come home after military service? Does military service and war change the idea of home forever? “Telling Care Cafe: Veterans’ Journeys Home,” a program hosted by Yeshiva University’s Wurzweiler School of Social Work, in partnership with The Telling Project, will present a poignant exploration of these and other questions that resonate with many veterans on May 29, 6-8 p.m. at the David Rubinstein Atrium in Lincoln Center, 61 West 62^nd Street, New York City. The storytelling event will feature a talk by Dr. Max Rayneard, co-creator of The Telling Project, as well as veterans sharing their military experiences—whether in Vietnam, Iraq, or on the home front—and how their service continues to shape them. The discussions will include issues ranging from mental health to raising families to finding one's purpose. The program is part of Wurzweiler’s Care Café series: a free, traveling, psycho-educational community resource program which support individuals and families seeking help and information around issues of concern. Through presentations on a variety of topics, Care Café aims to educate, motivate, empower and nurture hope around pressing psychosocial challenges and solutions, as well as create a sense of community and connection among participants. “We have cafés to feed our bodies, but we don’t always have a place to go to feed our souls, nourish our flagging spirits or get information around significant life issues in a supportive space,” said Dr. Katherine Mitchell, Care Café’s program director. “Our goal is to provide this public service plus connect those in need to targeted referrals and resources for additional help.” The Telling Project is a national performing arts non-profit founded by Jonathan Wei in 2008 that employs theater to deepen our understanding of the military and our veterans' experiences. Understanding fosters receptivity, easing veterans' transition back to civil society, allowing communities to benefit from the skills and experience they bring with them. The Telling Project has produced almost 60 original productions, putting over 300 veterans, as well as military and Gold and Blue Star family members, on stages across the United States. Wurzweiler Care Café is a grant-funded program produced and staffed by Wurzweiler School of Social Work, in collaboration with local community partners. For more information or to participate, please visit www.yu.edu/wurzweiler/carecafe or contact Dr. Mitchell at katherine.mitchell@yu.edu or (631)481-6550. To learn more about The Telling Project, please visit www.thetellingproject.org.