THE VETERANS COMMUNITY MEDIA NETWORK

It's ALL about Vets!

aka THE VETERANS COMMUNITY MEDIA NETWORK   |   Oakland, CA   |  tvcmn.org

Mission

The Veterans Community Media Network’s mission is to show our veterans through referral and education the possibilities of improving the quality of their lives by exercising their rights to benefits and resources due them and their families.

Ruling year info

2016

Principal Officer

DIANE M WILLIAMSON

Main address

1485 8th St

Oakland, CA 94607 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

81-1055224

NTEE code info

Community, Neighborhood Development, Improvement (S20)

Services to Promote the Independence of Specific Populations (P80)

Alliance/Advocacy Organizations (P01)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990-N.

Sign in or create an account to view Form(s) 990 for 2018, 2017 and 2016.
Register now

Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

TVCMN wants help improve the lives of veterans through access to technology. Too many vets are at risk of losing housing, employment, health care and resources due to not being reintegrated in society properly. The older veterans also need to be reassured that they are INDEED eligible for the same benefits and resources. By providing referrals, computer classes, monthly town hall meetings and access to media and broadcasting, our vets can stay proactive in obtaining the resources and benefits they deserve for themselves and their families. IT IS ABOUT EDUCATION! The Veterans Community Media Network recognizes the need for integrated and closely coordinated services for this vulnerable population. We have active partnerships with more than 10 civic agencies and human service organizations providing critical services like healthcare enrollment, and education, mental and behavioral healthcare, and job training. TVCMN engages congregations and community organizations in the Bay Area.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

ANNUAL VET2VET CONNECTION FESTIVAL

Annual Vet2Vet Connection Festival-This will be an annual fundraiser for TVCMN. An all-day event featuring all possible veteran’s organizations represented as vendors with music, refreshments, interviews, etc.

Population(s) Served
Veterans

VTV-NOW! Veterans Television: is a 30-minute show broadcast on local Community access Channels in the Bay area. It is a magazine style show with happenings on a local level, a sort of "news you can use now" format. Topics are 1-2-minute VA help videos, interviews in the studio or on location with local VA/community people, a local veteran art scene segment, Calls to Action segments, etc.

Population(s) Served
Veterans
Unemployed people

Maintain monthly townhall meetings with good attendance and timely presentations from a variety of VA and community organizations, Attendance should be at least 20-30 with 4 presenters. These will be held every other month at our partner organization, the West Oakland Library from 1030a to 1p.
OVERALL OBJECTIVE: Make sure veterans have a regular place to go to hear about their benefits, get help signing up for resources and meet the VSO’s (Veteran Service Officers) at the community level.

Population(s) Served
Veterans
Economically disadvantaged people

Where we work

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

The veteran needs to be educated about their benefits and resources. Staying in the know about the latest developments, laws and programs designed for them, they can be proactive about how these changes/improvements impact them and their families. This takes community support. Support in the form of a resource center; a one-stop shop for the veteran and their family. Our programs and services have been expanded and enhanced to reflect a self-sufficiency model. Under this model, TVCMN can serve all veterans, older and those just out of the service. Oakland, Ca, has a high rate of vets that aren’t aware of their benefits as well as those who have pursued their benefits with little or no success. This leads to losses of income, housing and access to healthcare. TVCMN can train the vet to go onto the computer, set up accounts on the E-Benefits portal, monitor claims, health concerns, jobs and housing. This approach builds confidence in their ability to manage their affairs as well as have community support while doing so. For the veteran, knowing that they are NOT forgotten, when they’ve laid their lives on the line, is invaluable. This philosophy grew out of a personal situation from the director and founder of TVCMN, who, back in 2004, was out of work and homeless, waited 8 years for the VA to help her obtain her benefits. She vowed that this would not happen to another veteran.

1. Every other month townhall meetings with representatives from every possible Veteran agency; government to private industry.
2. Creating a complete social media platform to help get the word out and connect with other vets.
3. Creating a 30 minute TV show on local community channels shown at least twice a month: showcasing local vets, news, and grassroots efforts for veterans.
4, A vigorous membership drive
5. Developing a street team approach to finding veterans living in the ever growing homeless encampments. By finding where they are, what they need, and with the proper training and support of other organizations, we can affect change.
6. Development of a STRONG walk in program. TVCMN needs to let vets know that we are right here in their community! Some vets are intimidated by going to the state or federal offices to get information because of the security procedures, etc. Our goal is to have representatives from these different agencies, including advocacy groups, (DAV. VFW. AmVETS) come to our offices twice a month for outreach. Vets can feel more comfortable meeting them one on one. If there is a need for the vet to eventually go to the federal offices, TVCMN's intake workers can possibly accompany them to the offices.
7. There is always a need for a robust Board of Directors and members. For 2020, TVCMN's main goal is to create a TOOLBOX approach for our BOD. This includes key personnel in the areas of, but not limited to: compliance, mental health, finance, social services, fundraising and law. Expertise in these areas can cover many areas of veterans concerns.
8, TVCMN wants to host a twice yearly STAND DOWN for Oakland. Oakland veterans seem likely to not take advantage of their benefits; particularly the older veterans (Vietnam, Korea and some WWII). It would be a weekend event in a large venue providing services, everything from housing, health, education, and employment to haircuts, clothing, dental work, expunging of negative records and disability claims processing.

Financials

THE VETERANS COMMUNITY MEDIA NETWORK
lock

Unlock financial insights by subscribing to our monthly plan.

Subscribe

Unlock nonprofit financial insights that will help you make more informed decisions. Try our monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights?
Learn more about GuideStar Pro.

Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

THE VETERANS COMMUNITY MEDIA NETWORK

Board of directors
as of 08/15/2022
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

DIANE WILLIAMSON

81-1055224

Term: 2016 -

DIANE M WILLIAMSON

THE VETERANS COMMUNITY MEDIA NETWORK

Rev. Mabel D. Banks

THE VETERANS COMMUNITY MEDIA NETWORK

Kathy JACKSON

THE VETERANS COMMUNITY MEDIA NETWORK

AARON JACKSON

THE VETERANS COMMUNITY MEDIA NETWORK

IVEY L WILLIAMS

THE VETERANS COMMUNITY MEDIA NETWORK

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? No
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? No
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? No
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 8/15/2022

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
Black/African American
Gender identity
Female
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or Straight
Disability status
Person with a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

Transgender Identity

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

Equity strategies

Last updated: 08/15/2022

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
  • We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Policies and processes
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.