by SWS | Jul 18, 2016 | Uncategorized
By Mary Judd, SW:S Executive Director He stared at me, his eyes silver blue, intense. I could tell he was gritting his teeth behind his slight grin, jaw muscles pulsating. He thought he’d gotten me. I knew this was coming eventually, being cornered and questioned by a...
by SWS | May 11, 2016 | Uncategorized
At SongwritingWith:Soldiers retreats, veterans talk a lot about being inspired—inspired to share their stories with the songwriters, inspired by each other’s courage in opening up, inspired by the powerful songs written, inspired by a new community of friends....
by SWS | Feb 19, 2016 | Uncategorized
Our story is simple. One day in 2012, Darden Smith wrote a song with a veteran. The connection was so strong that he thought, What if I got more songwriters to do this? On that same day, Mary Judd watched them work together and recognized the impact of helping...
by SWS | Feb 4, 2016 | Uncategorized
At 6 o’clock I will defend you At 6 o’clock just call my name At 6 o’clock I’d die for you And I know you’d do the same From I Got Your 6 written at a SongwritingWith:Soldiers retreat by two Iraq war veterans and a professional songwriter If it weren’t for The Bob...
by SWS | Dec 8, 2015 | Uncategorized
WHAT DID WE ACHIEVE IN 2015? Doubled the number of veterans, active-duty service members, and military families served. 6 retreats, including our first for Student Veterans 2 songwriting workshops, at WAMFest Words & Music Festival and Walter Reed National...
by SWS | Nov 30, 2015 | Uncategorized
I was honored to perform at the Opry At The Ryman on November 28th, which just so happened to be the Grand Ole Opry’s 90th birthday. I brought some friends with me. Iraqi war combat veteran Josh Geartz (who co-wrote the song we played) and singer-songwriter James...
by SWS | Apr 23, 2015 | Uncategorized
We were honored to have writer Niva Dorell Smith join us at our November 2014 retreat. She took time to listen, learn, watch, and absorb much of what was happening throughout the weekend and captured it beautifully in her article for Narratively. Read it here:...
by SWS | Apr 15, 2015 | Uncategorized
For the past few years, my father, photographer Michael O’Brien, has volunteered his time to take portraits at various SongwritingWith:Soldiers (SW:S) events. This year, he invited my mother and me to join him at the February 13 – 15 retreat at the Cedarbrake...
by Mary Judd, Co-founder and Board Member | Jan 11, 2015 | Uncategorized
I write this piece in honor of Ana Rouse-Chatman and Adan Olid, two Veterans who wrote songs with us at the November 2014 retreat in New York, and who recently passed away. Our hearts go out to their families. The songs written by Ana and Adan live on as beautiful...
by SWS | Dec 30, 2014 | Uncategorized
Sometimes life makes no sense. We have learned of the passing of Adan Olid who attended our retreat in November. He had been ill last week. His family told us he died from natural causes. We are deeply saddened at the loss of such a wonderful man. We do know that he...
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