“Together We Grow” |

MEA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose primary mission is to work with veterans and their families to publish short stories, essays, poems, and artwork in our bi-annual publication, As You Were: The Military Review, periodic editions of Blue Nostalgia: The Journal of Post-Traumatic Growth, and others. Each author or poet who submits work to us is afforded the chance to work one-on-one with a mentor to polish their work or learn new skills and techniques.

Our editors are based all over the country and includes college professors, professional authors, veterans’ advocates, and clinicians.

All editing, consultations, and workshops are free of charge. Veterans and their families pay nothing for our services, and they never will.

Under our Publications tab, there are more than a dozen volumes of creative work crafted by veterans and their family members as well as a virtual art gallery. Our blog posts feature short pieces that cover a wide range of opinion editorials, literary reviews, and profiles on veteran artists and writers.

Please consider spending some time navigating our site and reading and seeing the fine work of veterans and their families from around the globe.

“Together We Grow”

by Michelle Carlson

In all of us,
There’s magic.

Even in the tragic.

We shield the world from our pain,
But in that, there is no gain.

No connection.
No impact.
No affection.

Nothing is real,
Unless we allow ourselves to feel.

Oh … to touch that light,
Can drive away the darkest night.

Every day we live,
Shouldn’t feel like a fight.

From that open-hearted space,
That all-connecting place,
Together …
We grow.

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Michelle Carlson is a creative problem-solver with a background as varied as her interests. From serving as an MP in the CA Army National Guard, to web development and marketing to public speaking and teaching. She’s worn many hats—CEO included! Michelle holds a BA in Internet and Information Technologies and is a trained professional coach. When she’s not creating or teaching art, you’ll find her writing, exploring the great outdoors, or thinking up new ways to help people. Michelle’s on a mission to inspire, lead, and leave things better than she found them.

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