FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022
CONTACT: Colorado National Guard Public Affairs, 720-250-1053
CENTENNIAL, Colo. – As part of her Joining Forces initiative to support military families, First Lady Jill Biden joined National Guard families and state adjutants general for a roundtable discussion on support for National Guard children at the White House Roosevelt Room, Washington, D.C., Nov. 28, 2022.
Representing Colorado military kids, Shaun Gurtner, 14, son of U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Kaisha Gurtner Hatton, inspection coordinator, 140th Wing Inspector General, Colorado Air National Guard joined Biden for the discussion.
“For many Americans, our National Guard and their families are the only service members that civilians might know.” Biden said. “Because our Guard members may not wear a uniform every day—because you don’t live on or near military bases—sometimes neighbors, teachers, and other students, don’t realize your connection. That’s why it’s important for us to tell your stories through our Joining Forces initiative—and why I continue to meet with and learn from military kids just like you as First Lady.”
“This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for my family to represent National Guard families from Colorado,” Gurtner said. “As a family that has deployed overseas five times in the last decade it’s important for us to share our stories to help strengthen communities and policies that better support the National Guard and their families.”
This White House initiative, which the National Guard Bureau implements through states and territories, supports military families at the community level.
Joining Community Forces Colorado works alongside the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to present a single-entry point for resources and service providers interested in collaborating with other national and local civic-minded entities with a focus to connect community organizations that assist veterans, service members, and their families.
Resources are available for education, emergency assistance, employment, family and youth support, health and wellness, housing, legal assistance, and financial assistance.
Ultimately, JCF Colorado endeavors to strengthen pre-existing inter-service family assistance centers across the U.S. through a comprehensive strategic communications plan that leverages state-generated content, best practices, and training materials to raise public JCF collaboration and promote the initiative among prospective partner agencies and organizations.
Additionally, the JCF initiative’s mission includes guiding and informing community leaders and local commanders across America on how to establish and sustain collaborative community, state, and regional JCF teams. By building community capacity from the ground up, JCF will enable proactive and effective assistance right where veterans, military members, and their families live.
The JCF Colorado resource guide is available at https://coloradojcf.org/.
The JCF Colorado Eastern Slope liaison is Suzanne Buemi, 12200 E Briarwood Ave #160, Centennial CO 80112, 720-250-1186 or 303-921-6099, Suzanne.m.buemi.civ@army.mil.
The JCF Colorado Western Slope liaison is Dánielle Hindson, 2820 Riverside Parkway, Grand Junction CO 81501, 720-250-5571 or 970-640-7846, Danielle.n.hindson.nfg@army.mil.