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.

Cast from ACROSS TIME: LOVE & HUMANITY DURING WAR.

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.

Cast from ACROSS TIME: LOVE & HUMANITY DURING WAR.

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

ACROSS TIME: LOVE & HUMANITY DURING WAR

An original theatrical production inspired by letters from past wars and conflicts that provide a poignant window into the hopes, fears, and experiences of those who served.

Read more about the play, the cast, and the veteran playwrights at the link below.

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

Veteran Short Film Project

ArtsUP! LA and Veterans Empowerment Theatre is launching the inaugural Veteran Short Film Project. The project provides military veteran writers with screenwriting workshops to hone their skills, learn more about the film-creation process, and to fully produce one selected screenplay. Military Veterans from all over the country are invited to submit their short film screenplay for consideration.

Returning Soldiers Speak is a partner in this project.

Click here for more information and to submit

Our Projects

The Letters Project

ACROSS TIME: LOVE & HUMANITY DURING WAR

An original theatrical production inspired by letters from past wars and conflicts that provide a poignant window into the hopes, fears, and experiences of those who served.

Read more about the play, the cast, and the veteran playwrights at the link below.

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

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

Veteran Short Film Project

ArtsUP! LA and Veterans Empowerment Theatre is launching the inaugural Veteran Short Film Project. The project provides military veteran writers with screenwriting workshops to hone their skills, learn more about the film-creation process, and to fully produce one selected screenplay. Military Veterans from all over the country are invited to submit their short film screenplay for consideration.

Returning Soldiers Speak is a partner in this project.

Click here for more information and to submit

Our Projects

The Letters Project

ACROSS TIME: LOVE & HUMANITY DURING WAR

An original theatrical production inspired by letters from past wars and conflicts that provide a poignant window into the hopes, fears, and experiences of those who served.

Read more about the play, the cast, and the veteran playwrights at the link below.

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

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

Veteran Short Film Project

ArtsUP! LA and Veterans Empowerment Theatre is launching the inaugural Veteran Short Film Project. The project provides military veteran writers with screenwriting workshops to hone their skills, learn more about the film-creation process, and to fully produce one selected screenplay. Military Veterans from all over the country are invited to submit their short film screenplay for consideration.

Returning Soldiers Speak is a partner in this project.

Click here for more information and to submit

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.