Empowering Military Families: Christina Etchberger on Building Community with It's a Military Life
- Empowering Military Families: Christina Etchberger on Building Community with It's a Military Life Shawn Welsh, Keith Cassant, Eric Brew, Mark Elder 26:16
In this heartfelt and insightful episode of the VET S.O.S. Podcast, we
welcome Christina Etchberger, founder and CEO of It’s a Military Life, a
nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting military families,
spouses, and veterans. Christina’s inspiring journey began as a military
spouse and educator, and her determination to make a difference has
evolved into a thriving 501(c)(3) organization that empowers the
military community through innovative programs.
Christina takes us through the origins of It’s a Military Life, which
started as a personal blog during her husband’s deployment and grew into
a full-fledged nonprofit. She shares how the organization addresses the
unique challenges faced by military families, emphasizing the
importance of connection, empowerment, and community.
We explore the three cornerstone programs of the organization:
– Veteran Pen Pal Project: Reviving the art of letter writing to connect
veterans in Hospice care, veteran homes, and deployed service members
with supportive communities through thoughtful correspondence.
– Military Child Life: Providing a platform for military spouse and
veteran authors, distributing books that reflect the military family
experience, and creating opportunities for children to connect and learn
through storytelling.
– Military Connection: Offering workshops, cohorts, and mentorship
programs to help military spouses and transitioning veterans build
careers, develop skills, and thrive in the civilian workforce.
Christina also highlights the impact of their efforts, from delivering
over 100,000 cards to veterans during the holidays to helping
military-focused authors bring their stories to a broader audience. She
emphasizes the organization’s commitment to collaboration, whether
through volunteer opportunities, ambassador roles, or partnerships with
other organizations.
In this episode, Christina shares actionable ways to get involved,
whether as a volunteer, donor, or sponsor. Her passion for empowering
others shines as she reflects on her journey, the dedication of her
volunteers, and the transformative power of community.
Tune in to this episode for a powerful conversation about resilience,
service, and the importance of creating meaningful connections in the
military community.
Listen now on YouTube, iHeartRadio, Odyssey, and the TuneIn app. Let’s
make a difference together!
https://www.itsamilitarylife.org/
#vetsos #MilitaryFamilies #VeteranSupport #MilitarySpouse #NonprofitLeadership #Empowerment
