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
Programs & Events
A Reading with
Hugh Martin
On July 19, poet, writer, and veteran Hugh Martin will read poems from both of his collections of poetry: The Stick Soldiers and In Country, published by BOA Editions, Ltd. He will also read a creative nonfiction piece or an excerpt from a new work.
After the reading, Hugh will engage in dialogue with the audience, inviting the audience members to ask questions about writing poetry, creative nonfiction, and his relationship to poetry and war.
The dialogue will be facilitated by Leilani Squire.
Saturday, July 19
5:00 PM PST
Discovering then writing the story you need to tell
Memoir through the lens of creative nonfictionThrough writing exercises, dialogue, and reading brief memoir by other creative nonfiction writers, the participants will learn key points about what memoir is and begin discovering the story they have to tell.
Led by Thomas Allbaugh.
The workshop is open to the community and all levels writers and poets are welcome. Email contact@returningsoldiersspeak.org to register.
June 14 & June 21, 2025
10AM to 1PM, PST
Reflections:
Nurses on the Frontline During the Pandemic
Writing Workshop and Public Reading ProjectListen to the Nurse Dot podcast
Join us for a powerful and moving evening as frontline nurses share their stories from the heart of the pandemic. After participating in a series of intensive writing workshops, these dedicated healthcare professionals will read their original works to the community.
A program in collaboration with
Chin Family Institute for Nursing.
Saturday, June 7, 2025
Ongoing Event — Join Us!
Veteran's Creative Writing Workshop
All Writers WelcomePoetry, Prose, Creative Nonfiction and everything in between...
Thursdays 4pm - 6pm PST
Online via Zoom.
Must be registered to join.
Veteran's Creative Writing Workshop
All Writers WelcomePoetry, Prose, Creative Nonfiction and everything in between...
Thursdays 4pm - 6pm PST
Online via Zoom.
Must be registered to join.
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.
Programs & Events
A Reading with
Hugh Martin
On July 19, poet, writer, and veteran Hugh Martin will read poems from both of his collections of poetry: The Stick Soldiers and In Country, published by BOA Editions, Ltd. He will also read a creative nonfiction piece or an excerpt from a new work.
After the reading, Hugh will engage in dialogue with the audience, inviting the audience members to ask questions about writing poetry, creative nonfiction, and his relationship to poetry and war.
The dialogue will be facilitated by Leilani Squire.
Saturday, July 19
5:00 PM PST
Discovering then writing the story you need to tell
Writing Workshop and Public Reading ProjectThrough writing exercises, dialogue, and reading brief memoir by other creative nonfiction writers, the participants will learn key points about what memoir is and begin discovering the story they have to tell.
Led by Thomas Allbaugh.
The workshop is open to the community and all levels writers and poets are welcome. Email contact@returningsoldiersspeak.org to register.
June 14 & June 21, 2025
10AM to 1PM, PST
Reflections:
Nurses on the Frontline During the Pandemic
Writing Workshop and Public Reading ProjectListen to the Nurse Dot podcast
Join us for a powerful and moving evening as frontline nurses share their stories from the heart of the pandemic. After participating in a series of intensive writing workshops, these dedicated healthcare professionals will read their original works to the community.
A program in collaboration with
Chin Family Institute for Nursing.
Saturday, June 7, 2025
Ongoing Event — Join Us!
Veteran's Creative Writing Workshop
All Writers WelcomePoetry, Prose, Creative Nonfiction and everything in between...
Thursdays 4pm - 6pm PST
Online via Zoom.
Must be registered to join.
Veteran's Creative Writing Workshop
All Writers WelcomePoetry, Prose, Creative Nonfiction and everything in between...
Thursdays 4pm - 6pm PST
Online via Zoom.
Must be registered to join.
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.
Journal
The Power and Necessity of Community
Leilani Squire
Letter to Uncle Tom
Sarah Cosgrove Gaumond
Collateral Damage
Born on January 11th in the year 1920.
First Lieutenant of the Army Air Force.
Bomber in the 376th Bombardment Group.
Activated on October 31st in the year 1942.
Inactivated on November 10th in the year 1945.
Forever changed by war.
Sarah Cosgrove Gaumond
The Rescue
Ralph S. Carlson
Journal
The Power and Necessity of Community
Leilani Squire
Letter to Uncle Tom
Sarah Cosgrove Gaumond
Collateral Damage
Sarah Cosgrove Gaumond
The Rescue
Ralph S. Carlson
Journal
The Power and Necessity of Community
Leilani Squire
Letter to Uncle Tom
Sarah Cosgrove Gaumond
Collateral Damage
Sarah Cosgrove Gaumond
The Rescue
Ralph S. Carlson
Our Approach
Our Approach
Our Approach
Our Approach
Since the inception of Returning Soldiers Speak, we have held the belief that a neutral space allows our veterans, first responders, and their families 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 Approach
Since the inception of Returning Soldiers Speak, we have held the belief that a neutral space allows our veterans, first responders, and their families 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 Approach
Since the inception of Returning Soldiers Speak, we have held the belief that a neutral space allows our veterans, first responders, and their families 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.