Editor’s Note: The following story has been revised to attribute the MCN Displaced Warrior’s Support Office as one of the Work for Warriors event’s main hosts.
MASKOKE, Oklv. – It was a slow two days in Muskogee for the various vendors at the Work for Warriors event on May 22 and 23. Designed as a reintegration hiring event meant to help the tribe’s veterans and their families find employment, Work for Warriors was hosted at American Legion Post Number 15, just off of US Highway 64 in Muskogee. The location was easily identifiable by the artillery cannon located outside on Honor Heights Drive.
Although the main purpose of the event was to provide reintegration services and to help veterans gain employment, there was also a decent variety of vendors. Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s Vocational Rehabilitation Services, for example, is designed to provide assistance to Muscogee citizens who have disabilities. It provides them with services such as counseling, transportation, handing out professional clothing for work, and general help while transitioning into the workforce.
Departments sharing hosting duties included the MCN Reintegration Program, which provides a variety of different services to help Muscogee citizens reintegrate and become self sufficient by providing housing, food, clothing, legal services, job training and various types of assessments. Muscogee Staffing Solutions played host as well, specializing in securing job placements. The American Legion Post itself was also a host, they aim to provide support to veterans from fellow veterans.
The event’s main host from the tribe was the MCN Displaced Warriors Support Office. According to their website, their primary goal is “to be there for our veterans and their families in their time of need, with the ultimate goal to end homelessness among veterans. To help our veterans regain self-sufficiency through the provision of holistic supportive services, including housing, employment and training, case management, food security, health and wellness, and women and family support programs.”
However, for the many vendors there it was reportedly far from a success. There were a wide variety of vendors in attendance, including vendors from Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Muscogee Nation Business Enterprises, Muscogee Staffing Solutions, LLC, United Healthcare, Muscogee Nation’s Reintegration Department, and the Cherokee Nation’s Office of Veteran Affairs, among others. However, these vendors reported low turnout on both days, with there being just a handful of attendees present each day.
The first day’s events, which included resume writing and networking with companies, was hampered by storms during the majority of the event’s duration, during which there were severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall all across northeast Oklahoma. The low turnout was reportedly no surprise to vendors. “We haven’t had as many come in because of the weather, but we’re hoping that more people will show up tomorrow.” one of the MCN vendors said.
The second day, however, was relatively calm. There was very little in the way of severe or inclement weather, leaving vendors scratching their heads as to the reason for the lack of attendance. “These people are here to help everyone out. I’m glad they’re here. Wish there were more people here.” one attendee said. The disappointment with the turnout was echoed by other vendors hoping for more foot traffic.
“It’s been a slow day.” one vendor said. “If I’d have seen some more people, it would have been nice.”
Rain or shine, the MCN Reintegration Department can be contacted at 918-549-2632, applications for the program can be found here. Likewise, the MCN Displaced Warriors Support Office can be contacted at 918-549-2719, or by email, tberryhill@muscogeenation.com.
