The drive to serve our communities is a common attribute and value for civilians and veterans alike, it just plays out in different ways.

In New Orleans, we met artist and activist Brandan “Bmike” Odums, who spoke about serving his community through his art and how his father’s service as a Marine inspired him to service. As we wander the streets of NOLA, he talks to us about the value of public art, especially in “at-risk” places, and how he takes negative images and makes them positive. We also hear how this art has transformed lives from the local residents— “Artists are just like soldiers” one woman who lives across from building transformed by Bmike’s art says, ”They make no money and no one celebrates them until after they’re dead.”

This is a video from VETERANS COMING HOME, an innovative public media project exploring the lives of post-9/11 veterans, the divide between them and their communities, and the stereotypes that veterans and civilians hold about each other. Why does this divide exist? How does it affect communities across the country? And why does it matter?

VETERANS COMING HOME (VCH) is a project by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Kindling Group, and Wisconsin Public Television. This video was made with help from Louisiana Public Broadcasting.

Learn more about the Veterans Coming Home project at www.VeteransComingHome.org.

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