Support for Veterans
The New Veteran's Memorial Building & Senior Center
Mayor Arnerich was the chair of the new Veteran's Memorial Building & Senior Center oversight committee in planning this wonderful new community facility. Located in the heart of Old Town Danville the building houses all of our local veterans organizations, a military museum, veteran's services offices, military library and many other functions to support our past and current veterans. The new Senior Center shares large common meeting and assembly areas with the Veteran's. The Senior center is staffed daily along with a Senior Counselor from Discovery Counseling in support of senior needs.
Operation Welcome Home
Mayor Arnerich cofounded Operation Welcome Home for returning veteran's along with Mike Conklin to make sure all of our military personnel were welcomed back to their community in 2002. Another program was founded following the start of Operation Welcome Home, the Sentinels of Freedom Program - to assist severely wounded military personnel. Mike Conklin is the CEO/President of this nationwide program that started in Danville. Mayor Arnerich and many others helped Mike Conklin start this program. Our first local veteran who was helped by this program was Jake Brown, a San Ramon Valley High School Graduate, who was severely injured. Jake was assisted with housing, mentorship, and education career counseling. Jake went on to receive both his Bachelors and Masters degrees and works in a Fortune 500 high tech company.
Operation Wounded Minds- Operation Healing Minds
Operation Wounded Minds was founded in 2014 by Dwayne Jones and Mark Carter to bring attention to veterans with post-traumatic stress and to veteran suicides. Newell joined the organization as a spokesperson for mental health awareness and how the community can get involved.It goal was to put an end to the stigma of PTS and bring community awareness to the issue. The program evolved into Operation Healing Minds. Newell joined VillageUp Foundation to start Operation Healing Minds that was born out of our experience with veterans and first responders. We took what we learned from the Operation Wounded Minds program, and evolved that into a program that curates innovative and emotionally provoking art exhibits to portray the realities, pains and joys of living with mental health challenges. We also design engaging curriculums that allow participants to administer Mental Health First Aid on social media and other online communities. https://www.villageupfoundation.org/programs