A Battle Lost by Jenn Hassin
The Austin Parks and Recreation Department’s Old Bakery and Emporium in collaboration with Austin Veteran Arts Festival (AVAFest), presents Celebrating Women Veterans exhibit and event on November 4 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The event will take place at the Old Bakery & Emporium at 1006 Congress Ave. The event is free and open to the public. RSVP online.
The art exhibit features the work of eight Austin women artists who are military veterans. This special event celebrates the 75th Anniversary of the Women's Armed Forces Integration Act, which allowed women to become permanent, regular members of the US armed forces in 1948.
- Moderator: Catherine B. Smith
- Speakers: U.S. Army Veteran Tracey L. Brown-Greene and Trish Alger of Help Heal Veterans
- Event Producer and Founder of AVAFest Glenn Towery will speak on the event’s meaning
- Artists: Jenn Hassin, Anita White, Morgan Belak, Angel D’Angelo, Torrie Rebuck, Lynn Berry, Juanita Gotts, and Patricia Morrison
- Performances: Music by the Veteran Suicide Prevention Choir & live Poetry by women veterans
- Food by veteran Irma Gottshalk of iGott Flava Catering
About Speaker Catherine B. Smith
Catherine B. Smith is currently employed by the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) in their Women Veterans Program. While with TVC, Ms. Smith worked as a Veterans Employer Liaison creating job opportunities for our Veteran community. She is now a Women Veterans Coordinator assisting our women veterans to gain access to the services and benefits they deserve. Ms. Smith served a little over 5 years in Personnel in the United States Army and Active Army Reserve (Operation Desert Storm Veteran). Ms. Smith received the following awards while in the military: Good Conduct Medal, Army Achievement Medal 1st OLC, Army Commendation Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Sharpshooter Marksmanship Badge Rifle M-16, National Defense Service Medal, and more.
About Speaker Tracey L. Brown-Greene
Tracey L. Brown-Greene rose through the ranks to MSG during her 22-year career in the United States Army. MSG (Ret) Brown-Greene served in combat during Operation New Dawn (Iraq) and Operation Freedom Sentinel (Afghanistan). Her military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, and several others commensurate with her distinguished career. Brown-Greene sustained wounds in Afghanistan in 2017 when a suicide bomber attacked. Her final assignment was at Fort Hood, Texas where she served as the 1st Calvary Sustainment Brigade as a Logistics manager. Brown-Greene graduated from American Military University with a Bachelor of Arts in Management and holds a Master of Arts in Management and Leadership from Liberty University.
About Trish Alger
Trish Alger is the Lead Craft Care Specialist for the Cahill Center of Help Heal Veterans, an organization that supports the military community with our therapeutic craft kits and clinics. Help Heal Veterans offers camaraderie, resources, and joy at our Community-Based Clinic. Trish is a mixed-media artist, writer, and a lover of all things crafty.
