Arts in the Armed Forces

We're thrilled to announce Army Veteran Mary Tobin as the moderator for next week's event! Mary Tobin has over 17 years of leader development, project management, community engagement, public speaking experience, and she currently serves in the Biden-Harris administration as the Senior Advisor for Wounded Warrior, Veteran, and Military Family Initiatives at AmeriCorps. She is extremely passionate about addressing the social justice issues that negatively affect underserved c...ommunities and is committed to working with globally minded leaders and organizations to develop solutions that will positively impact underserved cities and communities. Mary is very active in the world of advocacy and activism as she focuses on addressing poverty through collective impact and race and gender biases in the military and the society at large. To read her full bio and to register for the event, visit http://events.aitaf.org//virtual-film-screening-amadeus-w-

Last Thursday evening, we hosted an online Q&A with actor Edi Gathegi (X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, THE BLACKLIST, HOUSE) facilitated by Col. Ricardo T. Player (USMC) about one of Edi’s favorite films, ROCKY (Dir. John G. Avildsen, 1976). ___ "I think the themes of the film are quite clear: keep poking and eventually you will hit a nerve. You just have to be ready when you get your shot. It is about not giving up. It's not about how many times you fall down - it's about how many times... you get up. Just keep going no matter what." - Edi Gathegi ___ "Stay in the game. Stay focused. Have a positive outlook on everything. It is hard. Because life can get hard. But that is what is going to save you - by figuring out how to turn everything into a positive. Looking at the crystal glass from many different angles, even in the trauma and hurt, there has to be an aspect of that that will make you stronger." - Edi Gathegi __ "I first learned about [AITAF] when I was working at the Pentagon, and I saw one of the productions they did at the Marine Mountain Warfare Center in California. The mental stress that some service members are dealing with because we've been at war for so long - it's the invisible enemy - so this outlet or outlets like these provide an opportunity to talk about the issues. A different setting, thinking outside the box - they bring this program into our auditoriums and theaters, and they dig into those thorny issues. You never know what life is saved or changed because of the platform that AITAF brings to the table." - Col. Player __ This event featured an audience from Edwards Air Force Base, and was open to civilians and military everywhere to join in. Edwards is the first beneficiary of our Action Fund, a strategic reserve that provides arts and dialogue to the military community, particularly in a swift response to a disruptive event on base. This event was presented in partnership with @amazonstudios and @tdfnyc. : @jemerling

In recognition of Black History month and the 2.15 million Black veterans and current military members serving this country, we at AITAF celebrate the monumental contributions and accomplishments of Black Americans as well as acknowledge the systemic racism embedded in our history and institutions. Our goal this and every month is to rigorously examine our past in order to build a more equitable future. In the words of the late great August Wilson, I think all in all, one t...hing a lot of plays seem to be saying is that we need to, as Black Americans, make a connection with our past in order to determine the kind of future we’re going to have. At AITAF, we celebrate heroes of Black history like Col. Adele E. Hodges, the first woman to command Camp Lejeune; Gen. Roscoe Robinson Jr., the first Black four-star general in the U.S. Army; and some of our favorite playwrights such as Lorraine Hansberry and August Wilson. We commit to working with partners like the People’s Institute for Undoing Racism in order to understand our current cultural crisis and build best practices as individuals and as an organization. We envision Black futures where the fullness of human potential is not impeded by the color of one’s skin, but enriched by the depth of their cultural heritage. #BlackHistoryMonth

Join Arts in the Armed Forces online for a conversation with Academy Award-nominated actor Annette Bening (CAPTAIN MARVEL, AMERICAN BEAUTY, THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT) about one of her favorite films, Miloš Forman's AMADEUS. Once you register for the event, you will receive an exclusive link to access Annette's selected film, AMADEUS, so you can watch it at home on your own schedule. You will also receive the webinar link so that you can tune into and participate in the Q&A on Fe...bruary 25th at 5pm PST / 8pm EST. This online event is sponsored by Amazon Studios and TDF and is FREE for U.S. Active Duty service members and Veterans. Register here: https://events.aitaf.org//virtual-film-screening-amadeus-w

Meet Kayla - our new Communications and Marketing Coordinator! She grew up in Daphne, Alabama, and studied at Auburn University majoring in Public Relations and minoring in Women's Studies. She will be completing her master's degree in Communication Studies from The University of Alabama in April. Kayla's father, SMSgt. Thomas Warner III, has served four years active duty in the US Air Force and 18 years in the Air Force Reserves. Her grandfather was a member of the US Army ...and a World War II veteran. *** "The opportunity to work with AITAF excited me because it was a chance to connect my appreciation and love for the arts with my family's military service. While I did not serve, I am eager to give back to people like my father, grandfather, uncles, and cousins. I look forward to the opportunity to learn about our community of service members and their families. Furthermore, this is a time to grow as a communications professional connecting people across the country to these works that connect us all. My Master's emphasis was communication and culture, so I am passionate about how women of color are represented in media. Also, just about anything online! I am a follower of pop culture - if it's trending on Twitter I probably know about it and have tweeted about it. Reading, writing, adding things to my online shopping cart - all those fun things." Welcome, Kayla!