Northern California Economic Development Initiatives (EDI) was a three-day online conference that took take place July 13-15, 2022, on Microsoft Teams. The goal of EDIs is to improve the total and economic well-being of transitioning Service members, Veterans, their families, and their communities.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA EDI AGENDA
Day One AGENDA: July 13, 2022
Spouse Support Summit
6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. PDT
Through these virtual workshops participants learned how to:
- Identify your eligibility for VA programs and services.
- Access survivor benefits.
- Find career-building flexible job options
Day one was presented by Veterans Affairs (VA) and included specific details about VA benefits, programs, and services. Day two was presented by DOL VETS and covered flexible jobs that match your skills, interests, and abilities, and where to identify sources of flexible employment.
Through this virtual workshop military spouses and caregivers learned how to explore flexible jobs that match their skills, interests, and abilities, and identify sources of flexible employment. DOL VETS workshops also addressed special situations military spouses and caregivers may experience.
Day Two AGENDA: July 14, 2022
Claims Clinics
9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. PDT
VA encourages all Veterans to continue exploring the benefits they have earned. Learn how to file a VA disability claim.
Town Hall
8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m. PDT
Open Dialogue – Communicate challenges and successes with local and federal government representatives.
Hear From Leadership – Hear from the California Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), U.S. Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (DOL VETS), and more.
Learn Key Initiatives – Learn about key initiatives and activities that affect the community.
Presentations
12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. PDT
There was two days of presentations.
Presentations on Key Topics – Workshops and presentations that helped you with your individual needs at any given time in your life cycle of returning to civilian life.
Tools for the Transition – Participants learned how VA benefits and resources will make your transition from military to civilian life easier for you and your loved ones.
Specific Strategies – Participants learned about the available benefits as well as new financial practices and strategies that optimize long-term success.
Stakeholder Roundtables – By invitation only
1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. PDT
Stakeholder Roundtables bring together private and public partners (e.g. Federal, State and local government partners, Veterans Service Organizations, and corporate leaders) with the goal of advancing the economic empowerment of Veterans, Service members and their families. Stakeholder Roundtables, driven by OTED, foster collaboration between stakeholders to encourage commitment to alleviate challenges in the Veteran community and provide support for pursuing sustainable public-private partnerships.
During Stakeholder Roundtables, participants are asked to commit to partnering with OTED and other participants to resolve the challenges identified during the discussion. Participants are tasked with creating a plan for long-term engagement. OTED will enable the follow-up plan, schedule check-ins, and provide support to participants after the initial Roundtable event.
Stakeholder Roundtable participants will discuss the following challenge statements:
- How do we support/reduce the Northern California Homeless Veteran Population?
- How do we prevent/reduce Veteran suicide in Northern California?
- How do we increase the number of Veterans receiving VA benefits in Northern California?
This event was by invitation only.
Spouse Support Summit
6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. PDT
The Spouse Support Summit took place over a two-day period from July 13, 2022, to July 14, 2022. Presentations ran from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. both days.
Through these virtual workshops participants learned how to:
- Identify your eligibility for VA programs and services.
- Access survivor benefits.
- Find career-building flexible job options
Day one was presented by Veterans Affairs (VA) and included specific details about VA benefits, programs, and services. Day two was presented by DOL VETS and covered flexible jobs that match your skills, interests, and abilities, and where to identify sources of flexible employment.
Through this virtual workshop military spouses and caregivers learned how to explore flexible jobs that match their skills, interests, and abilities, and identify sources of flexible employment. DOL VETS workshops also addressed special situations military spouses and caregivers may experience.
Day THREE AGENDA: July 15, 2022
Claims Clinics
9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. PDT
VA encourages all Veterans to continue exploring the benefits they have earned. Learn how to file a VA disability claim.
Presentations
8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. PDT
There was two days of presentations.
Presentations on Key Topics – Workshops and presentations that helped you with your individual needs at any given time in your life cycle of returning to civilian life.
Tools for the Transition – Participants learned how VA benefits and resources will make your transition from military to civilian life easier for you and your loved ones.
Specific Strategies – Participants learned about the available benefits as well as new financial practices and strategies that optimize long-term success.
