Community

Community

Veterans holding American flag in a parade


The NYC Department of Veterans' Services aims to connect transitioning veterans and veterans experiencing isolation to their veteran peers as well as their local community. This section provides resources for veterans looking to join their local community boards, access veteran identification, or participate in NYC's Veterans Advisory Board meetings. The page also features valuable data on the demographics of the veteran community.

For those looking for services that help them to connect to peers, visit our Social Enrichment or Sports and Recreation page.


Honoring Veteran Community Changemakers

The DVS Veteran Community Changemaker Series is our way of highlighting Veterans, spouses/caregivers, civilian volunteers, and other practitioners who actively support the NYC Veteran community. Each month NYC's Department of Veterans' Services will honor two New York City Veteran champions with a certificate and feature in our newsletter and on social media.

2023

March Honorees


Let's take a moment to congratulate our March Veteran Community Changemaker Honorees—Wendy McClinton and John Rowan. A decorated Army Veteran—Wendy served during the Desert Storm Persian Gulf Era and is now the President/CEO of Black Veterans for Social Justice. John is an Air Force Veteran who served as a linguist during the Vietnam War and served eight terms as the National President of the Vietnam Veterans for America. Both Honorees are also members of the NYC Veterans Advisory Board and wholly committed to making sure those who serve our country receive the care and respect they have earned.

February Honorees


For the inaugural edition of our Honoring Veteran Community Changemakers series, we are celebrating two of our own—Donee Smalls and Terrance Holliday. A former supply sergeant for the U.S. Army, Donee now serves the New York City Veteran community as a Community Coordinator for our agency. Terrance a.k.a. Terry is a retired Air Force Colonel and the former Commissioner of the New York City Mayor's Office of Veterans' Affairs. Please join us in congratulating them as our inaugural Veteran Community Changemakers!


How to Nominate a Veteran Community Changemaker

Do you know someone who could be the next NYC DVS Veteran Community Cangemaker? Could it be you? The Department of Veterans' Services is looking to you for nominations! All applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis and we do accept self-nominations. Submit your nomination today!


HVCC Nomination Form