You Know What Time It Is! 😁 

September was amazing! You ladies showed up and joined meetings from across the country. On top of that, our Peer Leader Meeting and WoVeN at Large, led by four of our phenomenal Trainers, reminded us why these connections matter. You connected, you gave back, and it was awesome to witness.

And now is the time we all get to come back together to celebrate this community for showing up and giving back in all of these amazing ways.

WoVeN National Summit

Saturday, November 7 - 10am-2pm ET

This is our annual celebration of WoVeN women. Reconnect. Socialize. Honor the year behind us. Look ahead to 2027. We’ll recognize standout members in a Recognition Ceremony and mark a milestone that still takes our breath away: 6,000 members strong. We hope to personally honor the Veteran who helped us cross that threshold. Details to come as they are confirmed. And this year, the circle stretches a little farther than it ever has. Stay with us as you read. We have a special welcome to extend, and a story of common ground we can’t wait to share.

Open to any WoVeN Veteran. Registration is required. Space is limited, and seats go quickly.

This month we also honor:

October 13: Navy's 251st Birthday
October 26: National Day of the Deployed

For now, secure your seat for this year's Summit - then keep reading to see what else we've got going on!

Sharing Space. Honoring Service.

This November, WoVeN’s National Summit opens a rare kind of room. Women Veterans from the United States will sit with women Veterans from Ukraine, not as distant strangers, but as peers who know what it means to serve, to come home changed, and to build a life larger than the uniform.

Veterans from NGO Zemliachky will be with us. Zemliachky is Ukraine’s largest organization supporting women in the Defense Forces. For nearly five years they have walked with servicewomen from their first days in uniform through the return to civilian life. Part of that work will sound familiar. They make sure women receive gear that actually fits: uniforms, boots, and body armor built for a woman’s body. Many of us know what it is to be issued equipment that was never made for us. Fitted gear is not a luxury. It is safety, dignity, and the difference between being handed a kit and being equipped. 

But Zemliachky’s work does not stop at equipment. Through the Institute of War Psychology (WISPR), a project of Zemliachky, the organization also works to strengthen psychological support, research, and training around the experiences of service members and veterans. Because coming home is not simply about leaving the battlefield. It is about having the support to process what happened, reconnect with yourself and others, and build what comes next. Zemliachky’s larger promise is just as close to home. See the whole woman, not only a status, a trauma, or a heroic image.

Who will be at the table

• Valeriia Burlakova left the front line as a journalist, then chose to join the fight, serving as a mortar squad commander before returning to writing and advocacy.
• Inna “Korolyok” served as a combat medic in Bakhmut, Soledar, and other frontline areas. Wounded in service, she rebuilt purpose through adaptive sport and represented Ukraine at the 2025 Invictus Games.
• Daryna “Firefly” gave more than eleven years to service, from a volunteer battalion in 2014 to Special Operations Forces. She completed her service earlier this year and is writing her way into the next chapter.
• Anastasiia Oriekhova, Head of Projects at Zemliachky, will co-facilitate.

​Why this conversation belongs at the Summit

Zemliachky co-founder Kseniia Drahaniuk put it this way: “Our countries and our experiences of war are different, but there is a unique understanding and solidarity that can exist between women who have served.” Veteran communities matter, she writes, because they are places “where women do not have to constantly explain their experiences.” After service there should be more than simply returning. There should be a life lived on her own terms.

That is the heart of this panel and of the Summit itself. Come share space with sisters who have walked a different road to a familiar place: the work of coming home, finding one another, and deciding what comes next.

Ready to be in the room? Hit the Register button below and grab your seat.

WoVeN Research Opportunity

Join a Study with Boston University and the Women Veterans Network (WoVeN) We invite women Veterans who are struggling with the effects of a traumatic experience to participate in a Boston University research study.   Overview We are conducting a study to learn more about how people feel about a self-help program for posttraumatic stress. Our goal is to see how this new kind of care compares to the usual ways people get help. We want to know if using a self-help program—either on your own or with peer support—can help people feel more connected and change the way they think about their trauma. The full study can be completed from your home!   Participation in the study includes completion of the following tasks: Complete an eligibility assessment about your mental health through a virtual interview and survey. Participate in 10 weeks of self-guided treatment (with or without peer support) or standard care. Complete weekly surveys to track engagement and symptoms. Complete follow-up assessments two weeks and 3 months after treatment. Earn up to $325 for your time. Call 617-435-2663 or email contact@wovenwomenvets.org for more information.   You may also complete this interest form and study staff will reach out to you

Cozy Connections

Looking for an opportunity to connect in this cooler month? Grab your favorite warm beverage and join us for one (or both) of our monthly meetings!

Peer Leader Meeting

Peer Leaders, check your inbox for your invitation! If you haven't attended yet, now's the perfect time to get back in the groove. Can't find your invite? Email us at contact@wovenwomenvets.org.

WoVeN at Large - Registration Required

Open to all women Veterans! Whether you've been a part of WoVeN for years or you've just been observing from a distance for a while - this meeting is for you! Take a chance, and check it out.

Still Serving in September

During the month of September, WoVeN members showed up for their communities by sharing resources, supporting local partners, and honoring those we have lost. We are grateful for every volunteer who carried the Still Serving spirit forward.

Third Annual Veterans Resource Fair at North Dakota State University

Cindy, Donna, Joel, and Ronda represented WoVeN at NDSU’s Third Annual Veterans Resource Fair. The event drew a strong turnout of military affiliated students, and the team connected with them while sharing information about the WoVeN community.

PHAD 23's 6th Annual Golf Tournament in San Antonio

Brenda and Janice partnered with PHAD 23’s 6th Annual Golf Tournament. They registered golfers, tagged carts, and facilitated a memorial balloon release in honor of their fallen sister, CMSgt Tresse King. Tournament proceeds support community outreach, youth mentoring, and scholarship programs.

Voices of Strength in San Antonio

Anita, Janice, Michelle, and Sonya tabled at Voices of Strength, a community event featuring local authors, artists, and resources in recognition of Suicide Prevention Month. They shared WoVeN information and welcomed conversations throughout the day.

Thank you to these members for serving with heart. Their willingness to still serve reminds us that connection and community begin wherever we choose to show up.

If you’re currently serving your community and would like some nice WoVeN swag to rep the next time you volunteer, we encourage you to register a Still Serving project!

Opportunities for EVERY Woman Veteran!

A new 8-week WoVeN group starts each month for the rest of the year, with opportunities in October, November, and December. Whether you are hoping to reconnect or join your first group, there is a seat waiting for you.

WoVeN groups bring women Veterans together for eight weekly gatherings of about 90 minutes. Each group is led by trained Peer Leaders and offers a safe, welcoming space to share experiences, build friendships, and grow in community. If you have been waiting for the right moment, review the upcoming opportunities listed below and choose the group that works for you!

Not ready to commit to eight weeks just yet? You can still join WoVeN. Membership keeps you connected to our national community, resources, and future groups so you can step in when the time feels right.

Peer Leaders, our sisterhood has now grown past 6,000 members, and more women than ever are looking for a group. If you are ready to help welcome them, please register a group soon.