Songwritingwithsoldiers

SongwritingwithsoldierSongwriting... (sw:s) delivers 3-day weekend retreats across the country for veterans, active military and their families and 2-day group workshops (warrior pathh) for veterans and first responders at no cost to the participants. In 2023, 227 new songs were written in eleven sw:s in person retreats serving 126 veterans and their families, 137 sw:s collaborative songwriting sessions in person for warrior pathh in 19 different locations serving 959 veterans. In 2023, retreat songs were also shared through 7 outreach events the veterans administrations inaugural veterans resource community network convening; park city song summit; sound union outreach concert, san francisco; (continued on sched o)buffalo veterans community event, 3rd & lindsley outreach concert in nashville; national defense industry association conference, boston; outreach house concert, ct.sw:s uses collaborative songwriting to build creativity. Through their songs and retreat activities, participants rediscover their creativity and reconnect with family, friends, and communities. When not writing songs, participants take workshops in creative writing, strengths spotting, mindfulness practices, and more to maximize the benefits of creative collaboration; connections. We foster continued connections among participants in our songwritingwithsoldierSongwriting... community through post-retreat online activities and in-person events; retreat participants acquire useful tools for finding hope, sources of meaning, post traumatic growth. Several songwritingwithsoldierSongwriting... alumni have trained as peer support for our retreats and events. Weekend participants receive a beautifully produced book that includes photographs from the retreat, song lyrics, as well as recordings of songs and performances. Retreat songs are also shared through cds, concerts, and social media in order to better connect the military and civilian communities, and build awareness of the challenges faced by our returning service members and their families. Results from the sw:s long-term survey of participants: 77% report increased feelings of hope and optimism; 83% report increased creative pursuits; 78% report increased connections with others; 100% would recommend sw:s to other participants. SongwritingwithsoldierSongwriting... is considered a groundbreaking program by researchers. Our program can help inform the science and field building in the area of wellness and music research. We are working to develop studies focused on how collaborative songwriting and positive psychology interventions can affect ptsi (post traumatic stress injury) and overall veteran wellness.songwritingwith:soldiers is the dba for songwritingwith: inc. Under songwritingwith: the organization has piloted and received dedicated funding for other populations including first responders, combat photojournalists and innocence project exonerees.