Maureen Stewart is the MC, Host & Workstop Producer for the DC Shootoff Video Workshop.  Maureen has over 13 years of experience as a videographer, and graphic designer. She joined the Air Force in 1999, and served for 10 years. While in the Air Force she served with the 1st Combat Camera Squadron as an Aerial Videographer, documenting contingency operations around the world. She also has more than 6 years of experience as an instructor and was certified in and taught 3 courses at the Defense Information School. While serving she earned her BFA in Digital Design.

Currently she is the Chief of Publishing and Design for AIRMAN magazine, the official magazine of the United States Air Force. She also runs her own freelance graphic design business, Design Stew, where she regularly volunteers her talents to non-profit agencies in need of design work.

For More Information:

DC Shootoff Video Workshop Website:  http://shootoffvideo.net/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/shootoffvideo/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/designstew

Design Stew:  https://www.facebook.com/DesignByStew

SUMMARY:

Maureen Stewart is the MC, Host & Workstop Producer for the DC Shootoff Video Workshop.  Maureen has over 13 years of experience as a videographer, and graphic designer. She joined the Air Force in 1999, and served for 10 years. While in the Air Force she served with the 1st Combat Camera Squadron as an Aerial Videographer, documenting contingency operations around the world. She also has more than 6 years of experience as an instructor and was certified in and taught 3 courses at the Defense Information School. While serving she earned her BFA in Digital Design.

Currently she is the Chief of Publishing and Design for AIRMAN magazine, the official magazine of the United States Air Force. She also runs her own freelance graphic design business, Design Stew, where she regularly volunteers her talents to non-profit agencies in need of design work.

The DC Shootoff Video Workshop teaches and mentors military, government and civil service video professionals with an emphasis on storytelling fundamentals. Participants are given the tools and advanced techniques needed to become better, faster and more creative. After guest speakers and training modules, participants will be placed into teams, assigned a mentor and will produce a documentary short or feature. Each finished product will then be viewed, critiqued by a panel of judges and made eligible for awards.

BR McDonald is the Founder and President of the Veteran Artist Program (VAP) and has a vocal performance degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. When 9/11 happened, BR made one of the most crucial career decisions to do something bigger than himself and chose to enlist in the US Army. He served as an Arabic Linguist and Special Operator in the Joint Special Operations Command deploying seven times to Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq for some of the toughest assignments with the most elite units in the military. After leaving the military in 2009, BR founded VAP and has now given voice to over 1000 veteran artists in 5 years. BR received his Executive MBA from Loyola University Maryland in 2013 and currently lives in Brooklyn, NY where he runs VAP full time. BR’s work has been highlighted on CNN, Fox News, ABC, BBC, MSNBC and covered by NPR, Baltimore Sun, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Christian Science Monitor and The New York Times.

For More Information:

Veteran Artist Program Website:  http://VeteranArtistProgram.org

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/veteranartistprogram

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/VetArtistProg

BR’s Twitter:  https://twitter.com/BRMacJR

SUMMARY:

BR McDonald is the Founder and President of the Veteran Artist Program (VAP) and has a vocal performance degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. When 9/11 happened, BR made one of the most crucial career decisions to do something bigger than himself and chose to enlist in the US Army. He served as an Arabic Linguist and Special Operator in the Joint Special Operations Command deploying seven times to Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq for some of the toughest assignments with the most elite units in the military. After leaving the military in 2009, BR founded VAP and has now given voice to over 1000 veteran artists in 5 years. BR received his Executive MBA from Loyola University Maryland in 2013 and currently lives in Brooklyn, NY where he runs VAP full time. BR’s work has been highlighted on CNN, Fox News, ABC, BBC, MSNBC and covered by NPR, Baltimore Sun, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Christian Science Monitor and The New York Times.

Veteran Artist Pogram is a 501c3 nonprofit that takes artists who are also veterans, and propels their works and careers into the mainstream creative arts community through networking, mentorships, collaborations with professional artists, and original productions. We are based in New York City but are currently creating programming across the country to expand the network and visibility of veteran artists.

Since 2009, VAP has worked with national veteran and arts organizations to produce six music/theatrical live events, filmed three documentaries, one feature film, curated gallery exhibits, provided videography/photography services, and helped organize more than 30 community improvement projects, including painting two murals in Baltimore. VAP has conducted projects in New York City, San Francisco, Baltimore, Washington D.C., Chicago, Orlando and San Diego. Projects include the Arts, Military + Healing Initiative in D.C., the opening of Bloomberg’sWorkforce1 Veteran Career Center in New York, the first-ever all veteran artist exhibit at the Pentagon and the Arts and Service Celebration in New York City. VAP’s work has been seen on CNN, Fox News, ABC, BBC, MSNBC and covered by NPR, Baltimore Sun, The Washington Post, and The New York Times.

VAP has reinvested in our veterans so they can make a living. Veteran artists are very much welcome to join the VAP community https://www.facebook.com/groups/VAPCommunity/.  The community is a platform or a venue for emerging veteran artist to network and support each other. Curating and helping these veteran artists to get their work in public and staying innovative adds value to our veterans.
One of our VAP artists has already created an exclusive military label for a beverage company . VAP is also partnering with a new men’s fashion line. Six of our artists created some work for them.  We should support our veterans as they move into the next phase of their creative careers.

Veteran Resource Podcast was created to introduce veterans to Veteran Service Organizations.  There are literally thousands of VSO’s out there, each with a different mission.  The one thing that they have in common is that they want to help veterans in their own way.  Some might help financially, some might help emotionally, some might help with homelessness, and others might help by providing the opportunity for veterans to serve their community and help others in need.  Each week Jeremy will interview a different VSO to find out what their mission is, what projects they have going on, what challenges they face, and the type of veteran that is in their wheelhouse.  With thousands of VSO’s there has to be something out there for every veteran.