Latino Military Coalition: Beneficios Militares Feria de Recursos

According to an article on racial disparities in the VA disability claims process via Military.com, "Black veteran groups seek policy agenda on racial inequities," the Associated Press found data on the VA claim approval rates for Latino/Hispanics is 36% and 30% for Blacks/African Americans.

To be a part of the solution to help bridge the gap between the Latino community and access to veteran benefits & resource information, the Latino Military Coalition of Monroe County in Rochester, NY hosted our primero Beneficios Militares Feria de Recursos (Military Benefits Resource Fair). Our goal was to bring the information directly into the community that is underserved and underrepresented.

The Veteran Service Agency brought 3 of their best veteran service officers, Kevin Kozlowski, Taisha Wright, and VSA Director Nick Stefanovic, to schedule appointments to have our veterans' records reviewed for service-connection claims, provided insight on the claims process, and shared information about the significant changes the VA has made to better assist veterans with healthcare and community resources, especially with the PACT Act.

Thank you to Monroe County Legislator D-22, Mercedes Vazquez-Simmons for pioneering this initiative to help our Latino community get the veteran benefits they deserve. She brought an elite team together to get this mission in motion. Thank you to the Latino Youth Development & Resource Center for hosting this event right in the center of our barrio. Thank you to the Veteran Service Agency, Compeer, Veterans Upward Bound, VFW Post 412, and Gilda's Club Cancer Support Group for bringing their resources. Lastly, thank you to Chief Diversity Officer Director, David Clarence Scott, from the Monroe County Department of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion for sponsoring the delicious food from Casa Campo!😋