When returning to civilian lives, U.S. troops and their families face serious physical and mental wellness concerns combined with employment and financial challenges. East Carolina University has set a path to serve one of its region’s largest populations, the military, through its initiative, Operation Re-entry, which plays a role in the comprehensive national initiative, Joining Forces, “to mobilize all sectors of society to give our service members and their families the opportunities and support they have earned.” ECU deploys its many university resources and joins its surrounding communities to provide a system of support for transition and reintegration into civilian life while fostering economic growth for the region.

1. ORGANIZING REINTEGRATION & FUELING
COLLABORATION:
ECU’s Operation Re-entry joins forces
to serve Military and their families and
to spark Eastern NC growth
UEDA • Emerging Trends • 10.23.2012

2. RUTHANN CAGE
Director, Industry & Economic Development
JIM MENKE
Military Research Liaison & Project Manager Operation Reentry NC
KENNY FLOWERS
Director, Community & Regional Development
WAYNE GODWIN
Director, Innovation Design Lab
UEDA • Emerging Trends • 10.23.2012

3. Who
We Are

4. Initiative of National Importance
More than 2.6 million service members
have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan
National importance to address
employment, education, and wellness of
these returning veterans and their families Culture • Military
Gap • Civilian
The United States Department of Labor
(2008) predicts that annually, over Leadership • Department of Defense
Gap • Veterans Affairs
200,000 veterans with disabilities will
flood the civilian job market as they leave
the military in coming years. Services • Department of Defense
Gap • Veterans Affairs

5. Mission
As a public university centered in one of the most concentrated military corridors
in the nation, ECU has teamed up with the Department of Defense and VA in a
major initiative to address the deployment-related health concerns of service
personnel, veterans, and their families.

7. Getting Started
Example:

8. Local Model:
Charlotte Bridge Home

9. Goal: Community-Based Veteran Wellness

10. Examples of how your community/university may become involved
• Identify Attract and Advocate
• Help Navigate
• Form Partnerships
• Enhance Service Delivery
• Employment Placement

11. Regional Development
Objectives
• Community enhancement resources to increase capacity
• Partnership around community & economic development projects
• Engaged faculty, staff and students on behalf of communities
• Partnerships and collaboration beyond projects

12. G2T2 2012 - 2013
What is your vision of Goldsboro in
20 years?
UEDA • Emerging Trends • 10.23.2012

13. Goldsboro Community Visioning
• Global View
• Open
Dialogue
• Refined View
UEDA • Emerging Trends • 10.23.2012

14. G2T2 A Clear Vision for
Goldsboro
• Define the vision (Current)
• Criteria for achieving the vision (Oct.)
• Models and alternatives (Nov.)
• Feasibility of our vision (Dec. & Jan.)
• Refine our vision (Feb. & Mar.)
• What now Goldsboro? (April)
UEDA • Emerging Trends • 10.23.2012

15. Middle School
Innovators’ Academy
UEDA • Emerging Trends • 10.23.2012

16. QUESTIONS
POSSIBILITIES
Can we establish eastern North Carolina as
a destination for military families and their
talented students?
UEDA • Emerging Trends • 10.23.2012

17. PEOPLE
How do we identify and encourage the next
generation of innovators?
How do we teach students in military
families innovation to solve complex
problems using new processes, solutions
and products?
How do we prepare leaders of innovation by
providing STEAM education programs for
students in military families?
UEDA • Emerging Trends • 10.23.2012

18. MIDDLE SCHOOL
INNOVATORS’ ACADEMY
UEDA • Emerging Trends • 10.23.2012

19. QUESTIONS?
UEDA • Emerging Trends • 10.23.2012