by Robert Milligan, General Manager, Prescott Media Center
Did you know that 16 percent of the Yavapai County population is comprised of veterans? They’re one of the largest demographics in Prescott. And yet they’re also one of the few groups often disconnected with the community at large. Some veterans are bedridden or rarely leave their houses, and some are homeless. But, the one thing most of them have in common is despite the numerous organizations created solely to serve them, many don’t take advantage of the services available because they either don’t know about these opportunities or don’t understand them.
Well that’s about to change!
Prescott Media Center, the local nonprofit public access channel since 1986, is creating a brand new channel on cable dedicated entirely to our local veterans. This channel will include veteran support services, veteran-to-veteran communication, public service announcements with topics ranging from PTSD trauma, suicide awareness, education, employment, everything a veteran may want or need from the community all in one centralized location, as well as relevant programming.
This is a first of its kind, no other community has a channel created for and only featuring veterans. This is a project that involves the City of Prescott, the Prescott Chamber of Commerce, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Yavapai College, Department of Veterans Affairs, the DAV, American Legion, VFW, New Horizons Disability Empowerment Center, among others, and is run by the Prescott Media Center.
The Veterans Access Channel is something I’ve been wanting to bring to the Prescott community and greater area since I took over a year ago. It’s been something that we as a community have desired for years.
And, if you are so inclined, it’s something that everyone can be a part of. This channel will need volunteers in front of and behind the camera, it will need businesses showing their support, it will need organizations contributing their content and services, and it will need the community to embrace it as has so many other wonderful projects over the last year. This is our chance to be that missing link between veterans and our community.
Thanks.
For information about the Veterans Access Channel and Prescott Media Center, visit prescottmediacenter.org or call us at (928) 445-0909, or stop by our office in the Grace Sparks Activity Center at 824 E. Gurley St., Prescott.
