Rob Arrington Rob Arrington serves as the Veterans Services and Programs Director for the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs. He is a native Oklahoman and has been involved in military and veterans issues for over 30 years. Arrington is responsible for addressing veterans issues such as education, employment, mental health, homelessness, and suicide prevention. Arrington has been involved in the arts and military partnership between Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs and Oklahoma Arts Council since its inception. He is currently a member of the 2017 Leadership Arts class.
Rob Arrington's Schedule
Engaging Veterans and the Military Community in Creative Self-Expression
Date: Wednesday – October, 25 2017 Time: 3:15pm - 4:45pm
Room: Junior Ballroom East Track: Community Development
Launched in 2015, the Oklahoma Arts Council’s Oklahoma Arts and the Military Initiative is a strategic effort directed at meeting the needs of Oklahoma’s military community through the arts. Through a partnership between the Oklahoma Arts Council and the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs two pilot arts programs were launched at the veterans’ centers in Norman (2016) and Lawton (2017). Formal evaluation of the first pilot program was conducted, resulting in the catalogue, "Engaging Veterans through Creative Expression," a free online resource that can assist individuals and organizations in providing programming for veterans and military members in their communities. Research findings from the evaluation will be shared during this session. Lead organizers and teaching artists who have been directly involved in the pilot programs will discuss the impact and healing components of the arts experiences.
