Give an Hour (www.giveanhour.org), a non-profit organization dedicated to meeting the mental health needs of military personnel, their families and the communities affected by the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, will lead a panel discussion following a screening of “Hell and Back Again,” a feature film depicting the realities of war in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as the needs of returning veterans.
“Hell and Back Again” is the winner of a Grand Jury Prize at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and a 2012 Academy Award nominee for best documentary feature. It is told by Danfung Dennis, an embedded photojournalist who follows the experiences of a wounded combat soldier as he tries to readjust to civilian life. The Community Blueprint Network provides community leaders with specific guidance regarding precise areas of focus: employment, education, behavioral health, housing stability and homelessness assistance, financial management/legal assistance, family strength, integration, and volunteerism. Within each area of focus, several concrete suggestions for action are provided. www.handsonnetwork.org/community-blueprint