He comes from a family of addiction and trauma. He is an Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom Veteran. Upon separation from the military, Ryan face repeated homelessness, misdiagnosed mental disorders, family separation, and joblessness. Ryan has been homeless three times since 2003. He has faced 3 separations from his spouse since 2008, the longest being, the most recent, at 18 months. Ryan has had 36 jobs in the last decade. He was with Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska “At Ease” Program through 2015. He has been to 11 hospitals and 6 rehab centers, since 08. Ryan believes he has found his passion, working with other veterans, their families, and traveling to tell his story. Ryan is a part of numerous steering committees, councils, National Veteran Organizations, like Team Rubicon, and the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. He sits on the Mental Health Advisory Board for the Governor of Nebraska, Pete Ricketts. Ryan has been published in Project Headstrong’s Ebook, “Words of War”, and an all military veteran blog, “Task and Purpose”. Ryan is certified by the State of Nebraska in Peer Support, SAMSHA Certified in Mental Health First Aid. December of 2016, Ryan is a graduate from Doane College, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Communication, and currently enrolled in the Master’s Programming in Leadership and Management. Ryan has found through service to others, he can be given an opportunity to heal and pay it forward for to the next veteran he comes into contact with. Emily is a Lincoln, NE native. She comes from a wholesome All-American Family. She met Ryan in 2006. They were married 2008. She sought services through the Vet Center, in Omaha. In 2010, she had to make the difficult decision of separating from Ryan for, in hopes is God willing, the last time. She has taught middle school for 15 years. She has a degree in Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. A Master’s of Arts in Education from Doane College. She believes in paying grace forward. In doing so, she started a spouse trauma support group in Grand Island, NE to assist in serving those who are left behind when the service member deploys, and ultimately returns. She is involved in task forces and committees in her community to serve children and spouses of veterans. Emily is a mother of two children, Eden and Sawyer, who are 2 and 1. She has spoken on numerous occasions to Nebraska spouses of veterans for the last 3 years. She believes telling her story is a way she can heal, and hopefully reach someone who is suffering, letting them know they are not alone in this fight, when the war comes home.
