HonoRing oUR VTC CoMMUniTy HeRoeS
Military & Veterans Affairs Committee
Chairs: David Veenstra – Hunter Law, P.A & Alexandra Srsic – Bay Area Legal Services, Inc.
O
n October 12, Julie
Reyes, Founder of
the Diversity Action
Coalition, a 501c3
whose mission directly supports
our local military and veteran
community programs and
initiatives, hosted the Fourth
Annual Thirteenth Judicial
Circuit’s Veterans Treatment
Court (VTC) Heroes Gala Dinner
and Awards Event. Held at the
Hilton Tampa Downtown, the
event was a celebration of our
local community veterans who give
of their own time and experiences
to help mentor other veterans
who are in trouble with the law
and enrolled in the VTC.
The event also recognized the
veteran mentors’ families who
support those who continue to serve
and pay it forward, and our local
organizations that comprise the
greater VTC community team.
The evening’s events started
with traditional military custom,
including the posting of the colors
(Bloomingdale High School Junior
ROTC), the singing of the National
Anthem (Plant High School Pink
Panthers), and the Missing Man
Table ceremony. The crowd also
enjoyed opening remarks by our
VTC Judge, Hon. Michael J. Scionti,
and were thrilled to have the former
(eighth) U.S. Secretary of Veterans
Affairs, Hon. Robert McDonald,
provide the keynote address.
42
Former U.S. Secretary of
Veterans Affairs Robert
McDonald (center)
visiting the Thirteenth
Judicial Circuit.
He is shown along with
(l to r): former VTC
Judge Gregory P. Holder,
Public Defender Julianne
Holt, VTC Judge Michael
J. Scionti, State Attorney
Andrew Warren, and
Court Administrator
Gina Justice.
“VTCs save lives.” — Former US Secretary
of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald
The evening’s ceremony
culminated in the presentation
of awards in three categories: the
Legacy Award, Inspiring Mentor
Award, and Community Advocate
Award. The winners, nominated
and voted by the VTC’s Senior
Mentors, were Judge Michael J.
Scionti, Jim Salgado, and President
Jeff Day of the Argosy University
Tampa Campus.
Former Secretary McDonald
also visited the VTC in session
earlier in the day and shared some
words of wisdom with the court.
He met with VTC Judge Michael
J. Scionti, former VTC Judge
Gregory P. Holder, Public Defender
Julianne Holt, State Attorney
Andrew Warren, and Court
Administrator Gina Justice, and
listened to the testimonial of a
graduating veteran from the VTC
program. We appreciate Secretary
McDonald’s participation and
support of the VTC’s mission.
In the five years since it was
established, the Thirteenth Judicial
Circuit’s VTC and supporting
Volunteer Mentor Program have
evolved into arguably the largest
combined docket and mentor corps
in the nation. Over 400 VTC
programs in over 46 states currently
comprise this national program.
With a success/graduation rate that
exceeds 80 percent and current cost
savings of more than seven million
dollars per annum in county taxes,
it is an acknowledged fact that this
treatment and rehabilitation court
works, as we continue to seamlessly
and successfully re-integrate the
VTC veterans back into the very
local communities that they earlier
swore to defend and to protect.
Author: DJ
Reyes, Colonel
USA (retired) -
VTC Mentor
Program,
Thirteenth
Judicial Circuit’s
Veterans
Treatment Court
NOV - DEC 2018
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HCBA LAWYER