Lisa Regina, Founder/President
Pen to Paper
“As a young child I used writing and drawing as a way to express whatever I was feeling inside. My father was a blue-collar construction worker and my mother’s medical history was an amazing story of survival. I was just a teen when her final diagnosis of cancer took her life. I believe the trauma that I’ve experienced as a young girl is what inspired me to release my emotions in a creative way in order to find solace.
Little did I know that in my adult life that same approach to healing would be needed. On April 2, 2005, I was assaulted by my then fiancé and the entire trajectory of my life changed. After being released from the hospital I was in so much physical and emotional pain that putting pen to paper once again offered healing.
Writing to Stage
Following my assault, I shaped my original writings into spoken word monologues for stage and keynote presentations.
I became an international keynote speaker for the YWCA and shared my writings with women who also survived trauma. On July 13, 2006 I formed my nonprofit 501(c)(3)
A Write to Heal .
Over 12 years ago my advocacy work expanded to include veterans. This turning point occurred when I met Retired Army CPT Leslie Nicole Smith and her service dog Issac. As a result of her service in Bosnia, Leslie lost her left leg and is legally blind. She shared that attending my NYC acting class gave her the confidence that she needed. Our friendship deepened as Leslie and I connected over our individual shared stories of trauma. As a civilian I was able to gain insight of the challenges our veterans face.
Writing to Film
This led me to cast Leslie in the role of Dr. Myers in ‘The Shooters Nail’ my short film about an Army veteran surviving the violence of war. Leslie shared that being on my film set allowed her to experience the camaraderie she so dearly missed from her military service. I wanted to know if other veterans would feel this same way, so I cast a large group of military men and women in my next film ‘The Shades.' Again, the veterans expressed that being on my film set made them feel like they were not forgotten and that it gave them the same feeling of mission and teamwork that Leslie experienced. I knew I was onto something. These amazing experiences with our veterans led me to develop the Veterans Drone Training Program and the series Heroic Episodes.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
A Write to Heal is a nonprofit 501C3-
EIN #51-0586776
Your tax deductible donation will help veterans discover a better quality of life through A Write to Heal's programs: Heroic Episodes & the Veterans Drone Training Program.
Veterans Drone Training Program (VDTP)- helps veterans to become Part 107 Commercial Drone Pilots. It's a chance for veterans to heal from the traumas of war and assimilate back into civilian life through job opportunities & training in the aviation and the film industry.
Heroic Episodes is a series based on the true stories of veterans, first responders, firefighters and their families. Healing happens when we give voice to their stories.
Every donation counts. Thank You!
Healing Bonds
Trauma is Trauma
The stories of survivors of domestic violence, traumatic events and war are vast. Overcoming trauma with other survivors can become a common bond that has the power to bond, heal and lessen the gap between between civilians and veterans.
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