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J. Michael Haynie, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation and executive director of the (IVMF), testified before the New York State Legislature on Friday, Aug. 14, during a hearing on the impact of COVID-19 on New York’s veterans.

Haynie testified to the various implications for veterans, as well as the on the military-connected community. How these challenges and associated needs have been researched and observed nationally can inform relief at the state level, Haynie emphasized.

“Today, our New York state community faces unprecedented challenges. The pandemic has caused massive disruption in our collective health, economy and social stability,” Haynie stated. “Specifically, the pandemic has brought with it two distinct types of impacts. The first is the primary health impact of the virus. However, there is another set of impacts, the collateral economic and social damage caused by a devastating virus and the associated shut down. The veteran and military-connected community has not been immune to any of these challenges. Indeed, in some ways, this community has been harder hit than others.”

In the name of meeting veterans’ needs, IVMF offers programming to support all veterans, service members and their families as they pursue entrepreneurship, secure in-demand career certifications, and navigate support in their communities following their military service.

Friday’s hearing also included testimony from Coco Culhane, founder and executive director of the Veterans Advocacy Project; retired Staff Sgt. James Fitzgerald, executive director of the NYC Veterans Alliance; Laura Stradley, executive director of the Veterans Outreach Center; and Eva Usadi, executive director of Trauma and Resiliency Resources Inc.

The full text of Haynie’s testimony .