The Veterans Writing Project, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., is holding a workshop at the College of William and Mary this weekend to help former servicemembers find some therapy through the written word. Created in 2011 by Army veteran Ron Capps, the nonprofit hosts workshops led by professional writers who are also combat veterans, according to the organization's website.
Capps, who grew up in Virginia Beach and served in Rwanda, Kosovo and Afghanistan, told The Virginia Gazette that he decided to work with other veterans after receiving his master's degree in creative writing. Suffering from stress and trauma, Capps found therapy in writing and wanted to share his skills with other servicemembers, especially those with post-traumatic stress disorder.
At this weekend's workshop, 25 pre-selected veterans will have a chance to share their stories, thanks to the generosity of William and Mary students, the news outlet reported.
"I knew I wanted to do something to help veterans, and I was looking at more creative ways to do it," Sam Pressler, a 21-year-old junior at the college who helped organize the event, told the news source. "The goal is to create this experience with veterans of different generations. Each generation has a story to tell."