This article was contributed by the San Benito Arts Council.
The community is invited to listen to high school student authors read from the newly published, “Veteran Voices Project: Honoring the Experiences and Perspectives of Local Latino Veterans,” and learn about the lives and sacrifices of the 13 local latino veterans that were interviewed as part of the San Benito County Arts Council’s “Veteran Voices Project.”
The book launch and celebration will take place from 6-7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 29 at the Historical Society Museum, 498 Fifth Street in Hollister. The event is free and open to everyone. A light reception will follow the book reading.
ABOUT THE VETERAN VOICES PROJECT:
The Veteran Voices Project is a two-year project by the San Benito County Arts Council to give voice to local veterans’ stories and to engage veterans, their families, and the broader community in the arts. This year’s project, funded by the California Arts Council’s “Veteran’s Initiative in the Arts” grant, involved over 40 high school students from Frank Perez’s Mexican-American Studies Class at San Benito High School, who interviewed local veterans and wrote narratives about their service, experiences, and sacrifices. The project was facilitated by lead teaching artist Trish Graves, a local writer and veteran, and Community Media Access Partnership, who trained students in audio recording and interviewing techniques. Lead Teacher Mr. Perez secured additional funding from the “Voice of Witness” fellowship, which supported the publishing of the narratives into book format.
The Veteran Voices Project was also made possible through the support and partnership of San Benito High School, American Legion Post 69, VFW Post 9242, VFW Post 6359, and Benitolink. For more information, please contact the Arts Council at 831.636.2787 or at info@sanbenitoarts.org. Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the event and they will soon be available to purchase online.