State Representative Nora Slawik
403 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-7807
For Immediate Release
For more information contact:
Posted: 4/10/2007
PRESS RELEASE
STATE REPRESENTATIVE NORA SLAWIK ASKS CITIZENS TO JOIN
MAPLEWOOD EFFORTS TO SUPPORT RETURNING IRAQ WAR VETERANS
This summer, over 2600 members of the Minnesota National Guard will return from the Iraq war. How will our community prepare to welcome them home and support them as they transition from warrior to citizen?
State Representative Nora Slawik is asking Maplewood residents to join in a comprehensive effort to support local members of the Minnesota National Guard scheduled to return from Iraq in August.
"Whatever our views, we can all agree on the need to support our Minnesota soldiers who have sacrificed so much on our behalf," said Slawik. "Community efforts will be an important part of helping our citizen solders make the transition from military life to civilian life."
A meeting to discuss a range of community efforts is planned for Saturday, April 28 from 10:00 AM to 11:45 AM at the Maplewood Community Library. The discussions will center on ways citizens of Maplewood and communities across Minnesota can utilize their assets to assist returning Iraq War veterans reintegrate their family and civic lives. The public is invited to come and share ideas and experiences in large and small group discussions, and to begin planning for the citizen soldiers' welcome home.
Representative Slawik will convene the non-partisan meeting with special guest speakers from the Minnesota National Guard and the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute Center for Democracy and Citizenship. Participants will also be invited to join a 4-to-6 week "Warrior to Citizen Study Group" to further explore the issues and topics raised in the meeting. The study group will create action plans to help communities prepare to give citizen solders both a heroes' welcome and on-going support during their journey from warrior to citizen.
"I'd encourage everyone to participate in this landmark meeting," said Slawik. "Minnesotan's share their thanks and their best wishes for our returning veterans. This is a way for a variety of ideas to be heard, as well as an opportunity to meet community leaders, and influence the direction our community and state takes in order to fully embrace the courageous men and women who have sacrificed so much for us."
For further information about the meeting, please call Mike Fink at 612-801-3381 or email at finkx113@umn.edu
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Community Meeting Details:
Maplewood Community Meeting
Saturday, April 28th
10:00 AM to 11:45 AM
Maplewood Community Library Community Room
1670 Beam Avenue
Maplewood, Minnesota