Our Mission

We believe in the transformative power of story. Through dialogue, workshop, and performance, veterans, first responders, and their families gain new understanding about themselves and the world around them. Empowered, they seek integration back into the community, and at the same time the community gains new perspective and understanding about what it means to serve.

Our Mission

We believe in the transformative power of story. Through dialogue, workshop, and performance, veterans, first responders, and their families gain new understanding about themselves and the world around them. Empowered, they seek integration back into the community, and at the same time the community gains new perspective and understanding about what it means to serve.

Our Projects

Veteran's Creative Writing Workshop

All Writers Welcome

Poetry, Prose, Creative Nonfiction and everything in between...

Thursdays 4pm - 6pm PST

Online via Zoom.
Must be registered to join.

Register via Email

The Letters Project

Submissions to the Letters Project is now closed and we want to thank everyone who submitted their letters! We are excited to move forward to the next stages of the project and invite you to be a part of the journey.

Click on the link below to learn more.

The Letters Project is a collaboration of ArtsUP! LA & RETURNING SOLDIERS SPEAK.

Learn More

Writing Prompts

We believe in the transformative power of story, and one way to story is through writing, and writing is a practice. Sometimes we need a nudge because picking up that pen or pencil and staring at the blank page stops us from even starting. Starting is the key, moving the hand gets us there.

To encourage your writing practice, we offer writing prompts and a few guidelines. Click the link below to discover more.

Writing Prompts

Our Projects

Veteran's Creative Writing Workshop

All Writers Welcome

Poetry, Prose, Creative Nonfiction and everything in between...

Thursdays 4pm - 6pm PST

Online via Zoom.
Must be registered to join.

Register via Email

The Letters Project

Submissions to the Letters Project is now closed and we want to thank everyone who submitted their letters! We are excited to move forward to the next stages of the project and invite you to be a part of the journey.

Click on the link below to learn more.

The Letters Project is a collaboration of ArtsUP! LA & RETURNING SOLDIERS SPEAK.

Learn More

Writing Prompts

We believe in the transformative power of story, and one way to story is through writing, and writing is a practice. Sometimes we need a nudge because picking up that pen or pencil and staring at the blank page stops us from even starting. Starting is the key, moving the hand gets us there.

To encourage your writing practice, we offer writing prompts and a few guidelines. Click the link below to discover more.

Writing Prompts

Our Projects

Veteran's Creative Writing Workshop

All Writers Welcome

Poetry, Prose, Creative Nonfiction and everything in between...

Thursdays 4pm - 6pm PST

Online via Zoom.
Must be registered to join.

Register via Email

The Letters Project

Submissions to the Letters Project is now closed and we want to thank everyone who submitted their letters! We are excited to move forward to the next stages of the project and invite you to be a part of the journey.

Click on the link below to learn more.

The Letters Project is a collaboration of ArtsUP! LA & RETURNING SOLDIERS SPEAK.

Learn More

Writing Prompts

We believe in the transformative power of story, and one way to story is through writing, and writing is a practice. Sometimes we need a nudge because picking up that pen or pencil and staring at the blank page stops us from even starting. Starting is the key, moving the hand gets us there.

To encourage your writing practice, we offer writing prompts and a few guidelines. Click the link below to discover more.

Writing Prompts

Our Story

Since the inception of Returning Soldiers Speak, we have held the belief that a neutral space allows our veterans to express their views and stories without fear of being judged or rejected. If we had said, “We are a liberal organization,” then the veteran with conservative views might have turned away. If we had said, “We are a conservative organization,” then the veteran with liberal views might have fled. It does not matter to us if the veteran’s views are to the left or to the right or in the middle of the political spectrum. What has always mattered is that we offer a safe place for veterans to write their stories, and a venue for them to tell their stories, to speak their truths.

Our Story

Since the inception of Returning Soldiers Speak, we have held the belief that a neutral space allows our veterans to express their views and stories without fear of being judged or rejected. If we had said, “We are a liberal organization,” then the veteran with conservative views might have turned away. If we had said, “We are a conservative organization,” then the veteran with liberal views might have fled. It does not matter to us if the veteran’s views are to the left or to the right or in the middle of the political spectrum. What has always mattered is that we offer a safe place for veterans to write their stories, and a venue for them to tell their stories, to speak their truths.