SongwritingWith: Inc.

Our goal is that, through creative self-expression and positive connections, participants will release pain, reduce stress, increase well-being, build hope, and return home supported by their songs and their new SongwritingWith:Soldiers community.

In 2012, SW:S began with one veterans retreat in Texas. Since then, we've held more than 45 retreats and workshops in 7 states, and expanded our program to include military families, military couples, female veterans, and student veterans. We hope to bring the SongwritingWith:Soldiers program to veterans and their families in every state across the nation. Too often, military men and women carry their stories alone. Through collaborative songwriting, stories are shared, released, and transformed into something beautiful.

Key Activities 2021
4 - SW:S Retreats (3 TN, 1 CO)
4 - SW:S PATHH Retreats
2 - One-day online program w/individual writing sessions
4 - Half-day online reunion program w/group writing session
98 - PATHH (12-VA, 12-AZ, 10- MTT, 11-CSG, 12-GAF, 12-TMF,
12-BRB, 10-SDI, 7-NWP)
Core Programming
● Build on post-retreat tools and offerings
● Support PATHH expansion
● Build out online offerings
SW:S Team
● Further develop curriculum and training (PATHH, Retreat and Online)
● Add resources to support organizational capacity
Evidence-Based Applications and Outcomes
● Partner on research to strengthen/refine program offerings
● Further develop and apply Positive Psychology/Character Strengths
Outreach and Community
● Cataloging, sharing content
● Robust social media presence
● Connecting through live performances in Q4
Development
● #Creativity Reflections Book - donor recognition
● 10th Anniversary multi-year gift solicitation and cultivation
● Increase monthly donors

We continued our strategic focus on ensuring long-term financial and program sustainability, while gaining important growth and recognition of our signature programs for veterans, active duty service members and their families.

As SW:S moves towards our 10th anniversary in 2022, we remain committed to strengthening the organization and furthering the mission-driven purpose established by our founders.

To achieve this goal, our initiatives embrace three requirements: Solidify. Amplify. Sustain. With this strategic emphasis in place we successfully accomplished the following key objectives:

o Focus on Existing Demand—continuing to service existing military-focused demand (veteran, active military, and families)
o Grow Through Partnership—Leveraging evidence-based programing through strategic partnerships that explore both ingredient and stand-alone approaches
o Build Infrastructure—Invest in strengthening infrastructure to ensure that we are building a sustainable, scalable, self-supporting nonprofit able to carry our mission into the future

SongwritingWith:Soldiers continues to connect with funders and partners who strongly believe in our mission and wish to support us.

Examples include two "in progress" partnerships with corporate sponsors, a new board member who is spearheading the first SW:S research project, a renowned documentary filmmaker who is filming SW:S retreats for a feature-length project, invitations to present our unique program to audiences at universities, conferences, corporate gatherings, and private parties.

Like many nonprofits, we continue to rely on individual donors to keep our program free to veterans and their families. At the same time, the high level respect for our young organization assures us that we will continue to meet and exceed our goals.

Despite the challenges of 2020, SW:S did not pause in our mission to build #CREATIVITY, #CONNECTIONS, and #STRENGTHS for veterans and active duty military in need. In the face of increased isolation and pressure on those living with PTSD, we're proud that our whole community rose to meet this moment with resilience and inspired action.

We served hundreds of veterans and their families with new web-based offerings, including four innovative virtual songwriting sessions, eleven live streaming concerts, creativity and wellness offerings engaging more than 400 past participants, a redesigned website, and additional measures to work with veterans safely resulting in four in person retreats in 2020.

PROGRAM
● 4 SW:S PATHH in person retreats with Boulder Crest serving 21 veterans with additional measures to ensure safety of participants within pandemic restrictions
● 51 SW:S collaborative songwriting sessions in person for Warrior PATHH in 7 different locations serving 275+ veterans and first responders
● Held first retreat with new Facilitator/Songwriter Team (Kevin Reeder and Jay Clementi)
● Creative Community Courses (CCC): 50+ courses and interactive interviews engaging more than 400 past participants, 10 CCC sessions featured SW:S veterans
● Online Group Songwriting Pilots: 4 sessions including events for non-SW:S participants; Covid Responders; All-Female Veteran and Tennessee Retreat reunions
● New tools and skills developed to present online collaborative songwriting and after-retreat engagement giving us powerful resources that will continue to benefit and help deliver our mission
● Added online follow up group song to in-person retreat outreach and community building
● Pilot retreat with Ohio Innocence Project supported by the Mayerson Foundation

MUSIC
● Named Jay Clementi in a new position of Music Director
● 7,694 complete listens on Bandcamp
● Trained new Lead and PATHH writers for both in-person and online sessions
● 10 “Songs From Home” concerts on Facebook Live featuring SW:S writers performing songs written during retreats and PATHH and giving insights into the backstory of the experience.
● 3 Collaboration videos released on SW:S Facebook and YouTube channels featuring veteran’s perspective and a look at its longer-term impact
● PBS concert special Songwriting With Soldiers available for free streaming during National Military Family Appreciation Month in November

ORGANIZATION -Held Strategic Direction Planning session and developed a 3 year Strategic Plan:
o Focus on Existing Demand—continuing to service existing military-focused demand (veteran, active military, and families)
o Grow Through Partnership—Leveraging evidence-based programing through strategic partnerships that explore both ingredient and stand-alone approaches
o Build Infrastructure—Invest in strengthening infrastructure to ensure that we are building a sustainable, scalable, self-supporting nonprofit able to carry our mission into the future