Residencies and retreats are led by experienced writer/facilitators, who have participated in and have a deep understanding of the format and philosophy of Veteran Women’s Voices activities. The VWV motto, Your Truth in Your Words, guides facilitation, ensuring that retreats are a safe and confidential space to write one’s story in whatever form or genre, such as memoir, poem, or fiction. While the facilitators guide specific aspects of the retreats, they also participate fully in all aspects of writing and discussion.
Priority is always on facilitation by women veterans, but we also are also joined each time by one or two of our “civilian witness” facilitators. Through their participation and support, they help to bridge the gap between military and non-military life.
Current VWV Facilitators
KATHLEEN TAYLOR
Air Force Veteran & VWV Founder
Kathleen is a social-cultural psychologist, published writer and storyteller in the role of Leader and Administrator of VWV. She has facilitated veteran writing groups since 2010 and is lead facilitator at all VWV retreats. She served in the USAF from 1979-1986 as a flight-line mechanic. Kathleen has a Social Psychology PhD from UC Davis and is a Professor at Sierra College.
KATY CAMPI
Army Veteran
A published author and an artist, Katy served as a medic in the US Army (1997-2001). As well as facilitating workshops, she worked closely with Maxine and Kathleen to develop an effective writing retreat model for women veterans. Currently, a Professor at Sierra College, Katy has a PhD from UC Davis in Biological Psychology.
BARBARA BRISCOE
Civilian Witness
Trained in mindfulness practices, Barbara is a licensed MFT and trauma therapist in private practice in Sacramento, CA, and a writer. She is on the Board of Directors for Sacramento Insight Meditation. Barbara also earned an M.S. in Genetic Counseling from UC Berkeley.
NANCY SUE BRINK
Civilian Witness
As a filmmaker, poet and writer, and educator, Nancy emphasizes storytelling as a means of creating healthy and compassionate communities. She has worked extensively with at-risk teens and transition-aged youth through Upward Bound, the National Hispanic University, and in East Palo Alto, where she spearheaded youth-led arts- and media-based health-education and social enterprise projects. Nancy earned an M.A. in Communication/Documentary Film from Stanford University.
MAXINE HONG-KINGSTON
Author, Woman Warrior
Veteran Writers Group Founder, and Project Advisor
Maxine developed the original Veteran Writers Group, innovating the model of writing and mindfulness adopted by Veteran Women’s Voices. Over 25 years, thousands of Veterans and their allies have participated in workshops and retreats that have created a community of writers working together to heal the trauma of war through art.
Award-winning author The Woman Warrior, and many other groundbreaking books, Maxine was awarded the National Humanities Medal in 1997, and the National Medal for the Arts in 2013.