Veteran Advocacy at Portland State University
Through the lens of a Veteran Advocate
My name is Josh Davis. I am a husband, a father, a veteran of the armed forces, an advocate, and a student in my final term as a senior at Portland State University. As a student veteran studying social work, in my heart I am an advocate. I have a passion for serving the veteran community. As I take ownership of my own education, I see things that are missing. I feel that it is my duty to bring the lens of the Veteran, and the advocate to the community of learners at Portland State University.
My name is Josh Davis. I am a husband, a father, a veteran of the armed forces, an advocate, and a student in my final term as a senior at Portland State University. As a student veteran studying social work, in my heart I am an advocate. I have a passion for serving the veteran community. As I take ownership of my own education, I see things that are missing. I feel that it is my duty to bring the lens of the Veteran, and the advocate to the community of learners at Portland State University.
My History of service
Portland State University's history of serving the educational needs of veterans stretches back to 1946 when it originally opened in Vanport City post World War 2, called The Vanport Extension Center. This was built to serve the needs of returning wartime service members who were able to use their Montgomery GI bill to further their education.
Through PSU's many iterations, and with the evolution of academic needs in the area, PSU has grown. Now situated in downtown Portland in the south park blocks, PSU serves 26,012 students, over 800 veterans, and offers 211 degree programs.
As social work students we are trained and educated to look for gaps that may hinder the progression of social justice and seek out interventions to interrupt cycles of oppression that exist in the systems around us. As a student veteran of Portland State University, I see a tremendous gap when I look at the education that is being taught to social work students as it relates to the advocacy of veterans in the field of Social Work. There are nearly 41,000 veterans residing in Multnomah County alone, and many more in the surrounding Tri-County area and not one single class on how to advocate for them. This is a gap large enough to drive a tank through.
Portland State University's Motto is: Doctrina urbi serviat—"Let knowledge serve the city" I intend to do that very thing.
Through PSU's many iterations, and with the evolution of academic needs in the area, PSU has grown. Now situated in downtown Portland in the south park blocks, PSU serves 26,012 students, over 800 veterans, and offers 211 degree programs.
As social work students we are trained and educated to look for gaps that may hinder the progression of social justice and seek out interventions to interrupt cycles of oppression that exist in the systems around us. As a student veteran of Portland State University, I see a tremendous gap when I look at the education that is being taught to social work students as it relates to the advocacy of veterans in the field of Social Work. There are nearly 41,000 veterans residing in Multnomah County alone, and many more in the surrounding Tri-County area and not one single class on how to advocate for them. This is a gap large enough to drive a tank through.
Portland State University's Motto is: Doctrina urbi serviat—"Let knowledge serve the city" I intend to do that very thing.
My vision on how to let knowledge serve the city
I intend to build upon some of the existing framework to first bring awareness to the veteran population seeking higher education within the PSU academic community. Additionally I wish to work with faculty advisors and the Student Veteran Population and the families of veterans seeking their education at PSU to develop a course, and then a major, that emphasizes veteran advocacy within the PSU community. To teach those who would go out into the world and either knowingly or unknowingly serve this vulnerable population and help them to understand the barriers and intersectionality that exists within the veteran community and know that the struggles are more than just PTSD.
How do we get there?
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When we met today, Josh and I talked about things that might benefit the entire PSU community, like a list of recommendations or principles that all classes/instructors could use when including content on veterans' issues. Josh has some amazing and easy-to-implement suggestions that would increase visibility and inclusion of veteran students on campus and improve students' preparedness to serve veterans and their families in the community. |
Reflection
This has been a long journey. I decided to go to school in order to harness all of this passion that I have to serve. Although it has taken me much longer to get to this point in my education, than I planned, I am a much better advocate for it. I am not coming away from my education empty handed. I owned my education. I used it to inform myself on the subject matter that is most relevant to my visions and dreams for the future. Even if I was unable to develop the curriculum all on my own at PSU, it doesn't mean that the idea has to die. There are many communities that need this, and this process has helped me refine my approach. I'll take it with me and try again.
Additionally, it opened the door for further conversation by leadership on how best to serve these agents of change that are graduating from Portland State University in the coming weeks. If in the course of this journey I have convinced even one student, veteran, administrator, professor, or leader within the realm of PSU to take a second look at how as an educational institution they can serve the veteran community and their families, then that my friends is progress.
To my fellow students, please know that when you leave PSU and you begin practicing social work in the community, the likelihood of a veteran or a family member of a veteran walking through your door looking for services is high. What happens next, is going to be up to you. Will you look for ways to provide them with the services that they need by demanding an education surrounding veteran advocacy? Or will you send them up the hill?
Additionally, it opened the door for further conversation by leadership on how best to serve these agents of change that are graduating from Portland State University in the coming weeks. If in the course of this journey I have convinced even one student, veteran, administrator, professor, or leader within the realm of PSU to take a second look at how as an educational institution they can serve the veteran community and their families, then that my friends is progress.
To my fellow students, please know that when you leave PSU and you begin practicing social work in the community, the likelihood of a veteran or a family member of a veteran walking through your door looking for services is high. What happens next, is going to be up to you. Will you look for ways to provide them with the services that they need by demanding an education surrounding veteran advocacy? Or will you send them up the hill?