THE MILITARY SISTERHOOD INITIATIVE CHALLENGE: CREATING A FIRST-EVER PLATFORM FOR WOMEN OF THE MILITARY

November 7, 2019

 

The military experience is unlike any other. As one veteran stated, “There is nothing like your military family. No one else shares your experience or understands what it’s like to serve, and all that comes with it.” Formed in 2017, the Military Sisterhood Initiative (MSI) has created a community of women Veterans, offering them a way to share those experiences with those who can truly relate with what it means to be a woman in the service. 

 From their shared commitment to mutual respect, support, and military sisterhood, MSI has forged a national network of sisters built on the military concept of having your sister's "six". With disturbing numbers surrounding harassment and assault of female service members, it is critical to provide a safe space for military sisters to connect. While our MSI network has been successful at bringing women together through social platforms and regional gatherings, there exists a need for further development.

 The military experience is unlike any other. As one veteran stated, “There is nothing like your military family. No one else shares your experience or understands what it’s like to serve, and all that comes with it.” Formed in 2017, the Military Sisterhood Initiative (MSI) has created a community of women Veterans, offering them a way to share those experiences with those who can truly relate with what it means to be a woman in the service. From their shared commitment to mutual respect, support, and military sisterhood, MSI has forged a national network of sisters built on the military concept of having your sister's "six". With disturbing numbers surrounding harassment and assault of female service members, it is critical to provide a safe space for military sisters to connect. While our MSI network has been successful at bringing women together through social platforms and regional gatherings, there exists a need for further development. 

Enter MSI 2.0.

Built from the ground up, MSI 2.0 is a new online platform that aims to connect women Veterans to the one resource they trust above all: other women who share their unique experiences. To date, nothing like this exists for our female veterans.


As part of the Military Sisterhood Initiative (MSI) to forge a national peer support network for women of the military, the team is creating an online platform where military sisters can connect with one another, share resources, and give voice to their collective strength. This Fall, CAMVETS Team MSI sponsored by Acumen Solutions will come together to design and develop the MSI online platform during a three-day “make-a-thon” in Cleveland over Veterans Day weekend.


We checked in with Samantha Dunkle, a lead developer on the project, to get a sense of the Military Sisterhood Initiative platform’s direction and progress.


What are the top 3 things you wanted to accomplish with the MSI platform; as in, how will it serve women in the military?


SD: We wanted to build a platform to give veteran women a single place to connect with other women to gain support needed. The goal is to have this platform be a community for women to find like-minded individuals to help ease the transition back into civilian life (and beyond). Specifically, the platforms will allow them to connect with one another, share and find valuable resources, and organize local and national meetups.


What is the current status of the platform's development?


SD: As of 11/4, we will have a platform chosen, requirements populated and are spinning up a proof of concept to present during the make-a-thon this weekend. Our idea is that after this weekend, the Challenge America team can move forward with a pilot group of users (Cleveland, Ohio area and local vicinity to start--based on need) to help move forward to the end goal.


Who are the veterans helping to provide feedback on development?


SD: Danielle Krakora (Army Veteran, VA), Kaitlynne Hetrick (Navy Veteran, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America), AnnMarie Halterman (Air Force Veteran).


Thank you to all who have given their time to making MSI a reality!


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