VOICES March Newsletter

VOICES March Newsletter

/ 1 March 2024 /
Voices Newsletter
 

This month, our Accidental Advocates series features a compelling presentation by 9/11 Healthcare Champions, Lila Nordstrom and Bridget Gormley. Both women found themselves thrust into advocacy at a young age, passionately advocating for the continued healthcare of 9/11 WTC survivors and responders.

As part of our Meet the Author Series, we are thrilled to welcome our good friend and world-renowned, international terrorism expert and author, Dr. Sajjan Gohel! On Thursday, April 4, Dr. Gohel will discuss his fascinating book, Doctor, Teacher, Terrorist, and provide insights into the infamous terrorist, Ayman Al-Zawahiri.

Our enthusiastic Committee is busy at work planning for our upcoming inaugural Building Bridges Luncheon, and invitations are in the mail. We are honored to recognize award-winning journalist Bob Woodruff who, after recovering from a TBI, has established a foundation to support veterans returning from the battlefield.

A special note of interest to our golfing members – registration is now open for VOICES 10th Annual Golf Outing, which will be held on Monday, June 10 at the majestic Quaker Ridge Golf Club in Scarsdale, New York.

As always, we hope you will join us for our upcoming events. Please contact us by email at support [at] voicescenter.org (support[at]voicescenter[dot]org) or call 203-966-3911 if we can be of assistance.

With warm regards,
Mary Fetchet & the VOICES Team

 
 
Accidental Advocates: 9/11 WTC Healthcare Champions
 
Accidental Advocates
9/11 WTC Healthcare Champions
 
Presented by Bridget Gormley and Lila Nordstrom
 
Tuesday, March 19th - 7:00pm EST
 
 
Join us for an inspirational conversation with 9/11 World Trade Center healthcare advocates - Lila Nordstrom and Bridget Gormley.
 
Lila and Bridget will share their personal journey and how their circumstances thrust them into activism at an early age. Through their collective efforts, they have advocated tirelessly to promote medical and mental healthcare for 9/11 survivors and responders.
 
Participation is free and registration is required.
 
 
VOICES Meet the Author: Dr. Sajjan Gohel
 
VOICES Meet the Author: Dr. Sajjan Gohel
Author of Doctor, Teacher, Terrorist
 
Thursday, April 4th - 10:00am EST
 
 
VOICES welcomes Dr. Sajjan Gohel, author of Doctor, Teacher Terrorist: The Life and Legacy of Al-Qaeda Leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri. Dr. Gohel is a world-renowned authority on global security issues, international terrorism and emerging geopolitical threats.
 
Join us for a compelling conversation with Dr. Gohel about the infamous commander of Al-Qaeda who succeeded Osama bin Laden in 2011. Al-Zawahiri collaborated with shadowy elements in Pakistan and Iran as the terrorist group reconstituted itself in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.
 
Participation is free, registration is required.
 
 
Building Bridges Luncheon
 
Wednesday, April 10, 2024 - 12:00pm to 2:00pm
 
The Country Club of New Canaan
 
 
2024 Building Bridges Honoree
 
Bob Woodruff
 
Bob Woodruff
Emmy Award-Winning Journalist
 
Ali Ewoldt
 
Ali Ewoldt
Renowned Broadway Actor & Soprano
 
David Hancock Turner
 
David Hancock Turner
Composer and Music Director
 
 
 
 
VOICES 10th Annual Golf Outing
 
VOICES 10th Annual Golf Outing
 
Monday, June 10, 2024
 
Quaker Ridge Golf Club
146 Griffen Ave, Scarsdale, NY
 
 
Registration is Open! Get set for an extraordinary experience at VOICES 10th Annual Golf Outing. We are thrilled to host our event for the fifth year in a row at the glorious Quaker Ridge Golf Club. For many of you, this will be a welcome back!
 
For more information, contact Frank Fetchet at: ffetchet [at] voicescenter.org (ffetchet[at]voicescenter[dot]org) or call 203-966-3911
 
 
The Families of Continental Flight 3407
Accidental Advocates
The Families of Continental Flight 3407
 
Presented by Karen M. Eckert and Susan Eckert Bourque
 
In February we launched our series of Accidental Advocates, highlighting the efforts of victims’ families and survivors who have transformed their grief into making a difference. Karen Eckert and Susan Eckert Bourque shared the tireless efforts of the Families of Continental Flight 3407 to promote aviation safety reforms. On February 12, 2009, Continental Flight 3407 crashed outside of Buffalo, New York. 50 individuals perished in the crash including their sister, the late Beverly Eckert, co-founder of Voices of September 11th.
 
The presentation was informative, enlightening, emotional and thought provoking. The families’ commitment and continued efforts over the past 15 years have led to comprehensive aviation safety reforms that are making us all safer. If you missed the broadcast, you can view the presentation online.
 
 
Victim Compensation Fund Annual Report
Victim Compensation Fund Annual Report
 
The Victim Compensation Fund recently released its Twelfth Annual Report that is now posted on the VCF website. The report details how the VCF team successfully navigated the significant changes, challenges, and achievements of 2023. The Fund hit new milestones, awarding $12.8 billion to over 56,600 claimants since re-opening in October 2011. In addition, in 2023 the VCF decided more claims and issued more award dollars than in any previous year.
 
 
Mindful Moment Meditation
 
Friday, March 8th - 10:45am EST
 
Join VOICES for this month’s Mindful Moment Meditation facilitated by Meg Rooney – Cultivating Self-Advocacy. Participation is free and registration is required.
 
Mindful Moment Meditation
 
 
VOICES Support Groups
 
VOICES is committed to providing long-term support and access to resources, mental health care, and programs that promote resilience. Our Community Peer Support Groups provide an opportunity to connect and discuss shared experiences.
 
VOICES Support Groups
 
Bereavement Group Who Lost a Loved One in the Past 3 Years
March 14 & 28 - Register
 
Caregivers
March 20 - Register
 
Family Members
March 11 & 25 - Register
Parents Helping Parents In-Person Peer Support Group
March 6 & 20 - Register
 
Responders
March 4 - Register
 
Survivors
March 19 & 26 - Register
 
 
We Remember
 
1993 WTC Bombing
 
February 26 marked the 31st anniversary of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. We remember the 6 people and the unborn child who were killed, and the over one thousand individuals who were injured that day. Fortunately, 50,000 people were safely evacuated from the building.
1993 WTC Bombing