April 9
North Shore Community College (NSCC) student veterans turned filmmakers, along with other fellow vets, will share their recent powerful short films at a free screening and discussion by The Patton Veterans Project and the NSCC Foundation Monday April 8 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at NSCC.
The public is invited to join founder Benjamin Patton for a series of short films created and presented by area veterans about their service experiences.
The mission of The Patton Veterans Project, Inc. is to help veterans coping with post-traumatic stress reduce social isolation and strengthen family, community, and professional bonds. This is accomplished through intensive filmmaking workshops enabling participants to collaborate with peers to process their service experiences and screening events that validate veterans’ experiences, advance community dialogue, and educate the public about the mental health challenges facing veterans and military families.
“Making these short films that help veterans process their experiences and address PTSD is very therapeutic for the participants, noted Patton. “It can help bridge the gap of understanding between vets and civilian communities about what it means to serve. There’s power in these stories.”
Veteran filmmaker Carolyn Colley, whose film, made w two other vets, about veteran suicide will be shown, noted “All of us worked together to come together. “We went through the deep trenches of a very emotional subject together.”
One NSCC student veteran and past participant, Derek Brennan, noted, “I am someone who has tried every kind of therapy and this workshop worked the best for me by far. The collaboration between the student veterans and the filmmakers is key. I’m very grateful for this project.”
The screening/discussion will be held on Monday, April 8, 2019, 6:00 - 8:00 pm at NSCC’s Danvers Campus, 1 Ferncroft Road, Math & Science Building, Room DS119 (Lecture Hall). A reception hosted by the NSCC Foundation will follow. RSVP to Kristine Babcock,kbabcock@northshore.edu or call 978-762-4187.
To learn more or get involved, pattonveteransproject.org