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Tag: At Ease

Pencil

August 19 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Initiatives

At Ease: Art and Nature for Veterans
Free

Virtual

Combat Poetry: Poetry Workshop for Military Service Members & Veterans

This poetry workshop is an informal environment combined with a bit of formal instruction. We will write. We will learn. Most of all, we will have fun.

We will be led by poet Douglas Self, a United State Marine Corps, Army Reserve, and Iraq War veteran armed with a BA in English and Creative Writing. He’s also the author of Blast Radius, a collection of poetry that examines his experiences with combat and PTSD. This workshop is open for Veterans and military service members of all levels. Don’t worry if you are new to poetry. Come find your poetic voice! This is event is open to combat and non-combat veterans and service members.

Register for the Zoom

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Pencil

July 15 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Initiatives

At Ease: Art and Nature for Veterans
Free

Virtual

Combat Poetry: Poetry Workshop for Military Service Members & Veterans

This poetry workshop is an informal environment combined with a bit of formal instruction. We will write. We will learn. Most of all, we will have fun.

We will be led by poet Douglas Self, a United State Marine Corps, Army Reserve, and Iraq War veteran armed with a BA in English and Creative Writing. He’s also the author of Blast Radius, a collection of poetry that examines his experiences with combat and PTSD. This workshop is open for Veterans and military service members of all levels. Don’t worry if you are new to poetry. Come find your poetic voice! This is event is open to combat and non-combat veterans and service members.

Register for the Zoom

Related Events

Pencil

June 17 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Initiatives

At Ease: Art and Nature for Veterans
Free

Virtual

Combat Poetry: Poetry Workshop for Military Service Members & Veterans

This poetry workshop is an informal environment combined with a bit of formal instruction. We will write. We will learn. Most of all, we will have fun.

We will be led by poet Douglas Self, a United State Marine Corps, Army Reserve, and Iraq War veteran armed with a BA in English and Creative Writing. He’s also the author of Blast Radius, a collection of poetry that examines his experiences with combat and PTSD. This workshop is open for Veterans and military service members of all levels. Don’t worry if you are new to poetry. Come find your poetic voice! This is event is open to combat and non-combat veterans and service members.

Register for the Zoom

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June 30 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Initiatives

At Ease: Art and Nature for Veterans
Free

American Legion Cicero Post 96

5820 W 35th St
Cicero, Illinois 60804 + Google Map

Creative Journal Expressive Arts Institute for Veterans

What special powers do you possess? What are your best qualities? Do you know you are 
special? Why? You Are You Own Superhero! 

Come out and explore your superhero powers by enjoying a FREE workshop with Creative Journal Expressive Arts Instructor learning “The Creative Journal method”

This workshop can help you to: 
*Express feelings and thoughts 
*Make more conscious choices and decisions 
*Enrich your relationship with yourself and others 
*Find deeper meaning in your life 
*NO JOURNALING EXPERIENCE REQUIRED 

—

Street Parking Available

register

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A child outside, next to a spinning wheel of prizes

June 13 @ 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Initiatives

At Ease: Art and Nature for Veterans
Free

Kids Rank

View Organizer Website

Veteran Art Tribe

View Organizer Website

Blue Star Families

View Organizer Website

Independence Grove, North Bay Pavillion

16400 Buckley Rd
Libertyville, IL 60076 + Google Map

Military Kids Fest

Celebrate Summer with Brushwood Center’s At Ease initiative and enjoy art, music, activities, games, and nature with other members of the Military Community! In collaboration with Kids Rank, Veteran Art Tribe and other Veteran organizations. Brushwood’s third annual Military Kids Fest offers nature, art, exploration, and fun.

Join us for:

Activities

  • Nature Acrylic Painting with Veteran Art Tribe
  • Face Painting by Kirsten Saunders
  • Children’s Yoga with Christine Lopez
  • Outdoor games
  • Snacks
  • Art activities
  • More!

Resources and Information

Information and Tables by:

  • American Legion Gurnee Auxiliary
  • Brushwood Center
  • Kids Rank
  • National Museum of the American Sailor

Please note, that this event is designed for Veterans, current service members, and their families.

Contact Jessica Klinge at jklinge@brushwoodcenter.org if you have questions or concerns.

Register here

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Pencil

May 18 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Initiatives

At Ease: Art and Nature for Veterans
Free

Virtual

Combat Poetry: Poetry Workshop for Military Service Members & Veterans

This poetry workshop is an informal environment combined with a bit of formal instruction. We will write. We will learn. Most of all, we will have fun.

We will be led by poet Douglas Self, a United State Marine Corps, Army Reserve, and Iraq War veteran armed with a BA in English and Creative Writing. He’s also the author of Blast Radius, a collection of poetry that examines his experiences with combat and PTSD. This workshop is open for Veterans and military service members of all levels. Don’t worry if you are new to poetry. Come find your poetic voice! This is event is open to combat and non-combat veterans and service members.

Register for the Zoom

Related Events

July 14 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Initiatives

At Ease: Art and Nature for Veterans
Free

Virtual

At Ease Book Club: Blast Radius, by Doug Self

As Veterans and military community members, we will explore Iraq War veteran Doug Self’s poetry and how his experience impacts the author, ourselves, and our community. 

Blast Radius explores the lasting impact of war, both on the battlefield and at home, through the eyes of combatants and their families.

This event is virtual; a Zoom link will be sent to those who register. If you have any technical needs, please email Jes Klinge at jklinge@brushwoodcenter.org.

Review of Blast Radius

“A poetry collection that is both visceral and vulnerable, Blast Radius tackles the complexity of serving in the military and questions whether anyone can return “… home / safe and sound.” Douglas E. Self employs psychological twists and raw physicality to shed light on the battleelds we carry within. A surprise at every turn, these musical lines will knock the wind out of you, in the way only a skilled poet can.” -Tina Parker, author of Lock Her Up

About the Author

Douglas Self is a father, poet, and a veteran of the USMC, U.S. Army Reserve, and the Iraq War who considers both Chicago, IL and Lexington, KY home. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English and Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University and a trade school certificate in audio and video engineering from the Lexington School for the Recording Arts. Through his art, he hopes to show other military and combat veterans that healing is possible.

Questions? Please contact Veterans Program Specialist, Jessica Klinge at jklinge@brushwoodcenter.org.

Register here

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July 7 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Initiatives

At Ease: Art and Nature for Veterans
Free

Virtual

At Ease Book Club: Blast Radius, by Doug Self

As Veterans and military community members, we will explore Iraq War veteran Doug Self’s poetry and how his experience impacts the author, ourselves, and our community. 

Blast Radius explores the lasting impact of war, both on the battlefield and at home, through the eyes of combatants and their families.

This event is virtual; a Zoom link will be sent to those who register. If you have any technical needs, please email Jes Klinge at jklinge@brushwoodcenter.org.

Review of Blast Radius

“A poetry collection that is both visceral and vulnerable, Blast Radius tackles the complexity of serving in the military and questions whether anyone can return “… home / safe and sound.” Douglas E. Self employs psychological twists and raw physicality to shed light on the battleelds we carry within. A surprise at every turn, these musical lines will knock the wind out of you, in the way only a skilled poet can.” -Tina Parker, author of Lock Her Up

About the Author

Douglas Self is a father, poet, and a veteran of the USMC, U.S. Army Reserve, and the Iraq War who considers both Chicago, IL and Lexington, KY home. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English and Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University and a trade school certificate in audio and video engineering from the Lexington School for the Recording Arts. Through his art, he hopes to show other military and combat veterans that healing is possible.

Questions? Please contact Veterans Program Specialist, Jessica Klinge at jklinge@brushwoodcenter.org.

Register here

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Drum kit

May 23 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Initiatives

Public Arts Programs and At Ease: Art and Nature for Veterans
$25

Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods

21850 Riverwoods Rd.
Riverwoods, IL 60015 United States + Google Map
224.633.2424

Broken Pieces Benefit Concert

Join us for an inspiring afternoon of music, resilience, and community at a special benefit concert supporting Broken Pieces; a remarkable band made up of outpatient Veterans from the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Healthcare Center. Through their music, these talented musicians share powerful stories of healing, camaraderie, and creative expression forged through their service and recovery journeys.

Recently awarded First Place at the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival, Broken Pieces has earned the opportunity to perform at the national event in Columbia, South Carolina. This benefit concert will help raise the funds needed to make that journey possible, ensuring these Veterans can take the stage and represent their community on a national level.

Your support will directly help these Veterans continue their musical journey and share their voices with a wider audience.

Schedule

12:30 pm – Doors Open and Lawn Seating Available

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Concert

Get your Tickets

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Pencil

April 20 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Initiatives

At Ease: Art and Nature for Veterans
Free

Virtual

Combat Poetry: Poetry Workshop for Military Service Members & Veterans

This poetry workshop is an informal environment combined with a bit of formal instruction. We will write. We will learn. Most of all, we will have fun.

We will be led by poet Douglas Self, a United State Marine Corps, Army Reserve, and Iraq War veteran armed with a BA in English and Creative Writing. He’s also the author of Blast Radius, a collection of poetry that examines his experiences with combat and PTSD. This workshop is open for Veterans and military service members of all levels. Don’t worry if you are new to poetry. Come find your poetic voice! This is event is open to combat and non-combat veterans and service members.

Register for the Zoom

Related Events

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