What exactly are the sacred “in*Between” spaces of military spouses?
In between moves and homes.
In between deployments.
in between friendships and support,
In between careers.
In between their authentic selves
“Only when we are truly vulnerable can we actually be seen.” – Lea Johnson, Executive Director /Veterans Spouse Project
Using the Arts to heal was first step in the “in*Between” journey
The Veteran’s Spouse Project offers classes and programs that give a voice to the military spouse populations through creativity. The Heart To Script class was the first step in this long journey to the stage in Knoxville.
The class, led by playwright (and VSP Co Founder) Amy Upgraft, spanned two years and many online sessions of bringing self care to the creative arts level.
All the participants had never met each other in person. Yet the atmosphere created by Amy welcomed the sharing of pain, loneliness, anger, joy, frustration and love.
“Sometimes self care needs to be painful and everyone’s pain is equally important. True self care is more than an escape, it should have lasting results and HTS offered that to us” – Kathleen Palmer, participant in Heart to Script.
And “in*Between” the sharing and the listening, came the WRITING.
The Maestro!
Amy Upgraft created the In*Between script to weave all the HTS stories together.
“It is always a huge release when you put something this personal, this creative out into the world for the first time. There is a letting go, a collective sigh that happens when something that has been years in the making finds its footing.”
“These aren’t all just my own words and stories, these are also stories of people that I hold so dear and these stories are precious to me. Fnding a way to pull them all together into one work while still giving each milspouse writer their own voice and space was hard, and something that I tried to be incredibly careful about.”
Upgraft also recognized that seeing the words played out in front of an audience gave her more incentive to keep working.
“Then there is also the moments when you hear the “wrong notes”, the words that don’t work, the threads that are still missing, and I immediately just want to go back and fix it, and then do it all over again.”
“I am Humbled… but I would counter that nothing I do inspires other military spouses to share their hearts and stories. They do that all on their own. I just try to create a space and prompts to help them do that. The bravery and hard work is all theirs. They are who inspires me. “
Bringing everyone HOME to Knoxville.
The HTS Class after the show
Planes, trains, and automobiles brought the Heart to Script class to the HEART of downtown Knoxville to complete this healing journey at The Old City Performing Arts Centre.
Prior to trip, class members only knew each other through ZOOM meetings and emails.
They shared their stories under the cover of night at kichen tables, computer desks, and even some in closets and pantries for privacy.
The show was the BIG finish to almost 18 months of writing, collaborating, and healing
Finding organizations who recognize the value of VSP’s journey
Dinner with Sponsors the night before!
No performance would have been possible without those who support VSP and believe in their mission.
The program got a huge boost from a 10K grant from the NEA and were further supported by USAA, Corvias, and Mesa Associates and Engineers. Other sponsors included: Northwest Mutual, and Trinity Homecare and Consulting LLC.
In addition to the sponsors, this weekend would not have been possible without the hard work of VSP’s Business/Marketing Director, Audra Edwards and their Accounting and Finance Manager, Kristie Rigdon.
Amy and Lea thank the sponsors
For Lea Johnson, Co-Founder of VSP, having the donors at the show was an honor.
Seeing our donors be able to experience, first hand, the impact that they are allowing us to have was a full circle moment. One of our donors told me after, “I thought I understood what VSP does, but there is nothing that compares to seeing it like this”.
WHat is next for VSP and the in*Between show?
“More of this… Honest, raw work that creates a safe space for spouses across generations to share. We already do that at VSP, but as we dive deeper into these stories and find ways for more spouses to open their hearts to their truths, I hope that VSP just becomes synonymous with authenticity.”
“She was a flight attendant on planes, flying young men in and out of Vietnam. As she briefly spoke of her experiences, her eyes teared up; mine teared up and we felt an instant connection. Continuing to build that community through shared experiences, that was what we always want for VSP.”
We are just getting started. As we offer more Heart to Script classes, hold more readings around the country and hope to workshop and fully produce in*Between down the road, our night together in Knoxville just proved yet again- when military spouses come together in authentic ways, there is nothing that we can’t accomplish.
Check out this news segment to learn more about the Knoxville performance
Mission Milspouse is PROUD to support the Veteran’s Spouse Project.
As nonprofits that support the same community (Amazing milspouses) both organziations realize the importance of collaboration to further our missions.
Amie and Shannon join KP at the theatre
We are also proud of writers Kathleen Palmer, Heather Barnhill, and Manda McVey who support military spouses through our organziation as well. A big shout out to our Director of Empowerment Amie Fisher for her in person support of the stage reading.
We are so proud to spend some time In*Between with our fellow spouses and supporters.
0 Comments