CASE STUDY
Intergovernmental Affairs at the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services
Expanding Digital Access for Veterans camaraderie, just like our weekly Thursday meetings.” – Tribal Community Member
Cultural Healing Through Peer Support
Through this initiative, Starlink internet kits are being deployed across Arizona’ s 22 federally recognized tribes. Four tribes have already benefited from this endeavor: the Gila River Indian Community, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, the San Carlos Apache Tribe, and the Navajo Nation.
The impact is immediate:
Beyond digital access, Roger That supports Televeda’ s Hero’ s Story Project, a suicide prevention initiative backed by the VA to help prevent veteran suicides.
The Hero’ s Story Project fosters cultural healing through Talking Circles, both online and in person, where veterans connect with peers, traditional resources and other veteran benefits.
“ Having access to Wi-Fi will be a great benefit for veterans, allowing them to connect through their phones, tablets and TVs – at no cost to them. We hold veterans’ meetings on the last Tuesday of every month, with nearly 800 members strong. Expanding this to Bylas, Arizona, is a major milestone for our community.” – Veteran Participant
“ This technology is especially valuable for younger veterans while also helping older veterans connect. The real benefit is the ability to interact and build
In May 2024, the Navajo Nation led the way as the first to partner with and launch the Hero’ s Story Project.
Veterans who have participated in Televeda’ s Talking Circles hosted at the Navajo Nation have shared:
“ The Talking Circle provided a space for veterans to open up about personal struggles and healing. I felt the support of my fellow veterans and hope these circles continue.” – Tribal Veteran Participant
“ Veterans helping veterans has been the most effective form of support. These circles give us a space to discuss military experiences in ways that family and friends may not fully understand.” – Tribal Veteran Participant
“ The Talking Circle helps me feel supported— like we’ re all helping one another‘ climb out of the hole together.’” – Tribal Veteran Participant
A Measurable Impact
Early results from the Hero’ s Story Project, launched in partnership with the Navajo Nation in 2024, highlight promising improvements in community well-being. While feedback was collected from a broad range of participants on the Televeda platform, veterans participating in the program were among those who reported significant emotional benefits. Of all respondents, 100 % felt happier and more connected, 96 % experienced greater relaxation and overall wellbeing and 95 % stated they felt less lonely during the pilot period.
During the 2024 pilot, 285 veterans engaged with the platform, gaining access to peer support, traditional cultural programming and virtual resources. As the initiative expands in 2025 through the Roger That program, 60 % of participating veterans have already scheduled appointments with the state’ s Veteran Benefits Counselors to receive additional support and services. p
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