Lethal Minds Volume 18
Lethal Minds Volume 18
Volume 18, Edition 1 01DECEMBER2023
LETHAL MINDS JOURNAL
Lethal Minds Volume 18
Volume 18, Edition 1 01DECEMBER2023
Letter from the Editor
Regardless of your religious persuasion, or lack thereof, December is a special month. For me, once the madness settles and my wife has strung lights over every available piece of vegetation in our yard, it’s a quieter, more insular month. Work slows down a bit, the phone stops ringing with its normal fervor and, with my kid on break, I don’t build my days around school pick up. The reduced load gives me a few moments of contemplation to consider the preceding year, the year to come, and maybe offer a bit of kindness and understanding to a fellow human or two.
The Lethal Minds Journal staff is no different. We’re as diverse a group as any platoon of which you were ever a member. We come from all over the nation. We have different politics, different ideologies. Some of us have religious faith, some of us don’t. But all of us have some service connection and all of us care about you and your thoughts as service members. That’s why in December we take a moment to talk about Veteran owned, focused, and/or administered charities and companies.
The folks we highlight this month are known to us, as friends, as partners, and as patrons. They exist because you exist and each of them hopes to make your life better in some way because they value your service, often because it mirrors their own.
We hope you will both capitalize upon, and support the efforts of, the people and groups listed in this month’s volume. Some are pure charities, some are for profit ventures, but all of them are us.
We will take December off, since we are all volunteers, so look for us again Feb 1, 2024. I hope however you spend the time between, it brings you something you want and need. See you in the new year.
Fire for Effect,
Russell Worth Parker
Editor in Chief – Lethal Minds Journal
Submissions are open at lethalmindsjournal@gmail.com.
Dedicated to those who serve, those who have served, and those who paid the final price for their country. Submissions are open at lethalmindsjournal@gmail.com.
Dedicated to those who serve, those who have served, and those who paid the final price for their country.
Sponsors:
This month’s Journal is brought you to by Fieldseats.com and the Scuttlebutt Podcast.
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Be sure to also check out their Instagram and Twitter @field_seats
The Scuttlebutt Podcast is a free podcast and newsletter covering how to help you succeed outside of military service.
Recent episodes include:
23. Rich Jordan on Empowering A Team
41. How to use Chapter 31 Veterans Readiness and Employment benefits with Max
51. What If My Passion Has Nothing To Do With What I'm Doing Now with Bill Kieffer
Organization Spotlights
Pb Abbate
Dead Reckoning Collective
Marine Raider Foundation
Task Force Dagger
Blue Star Families
Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Armed Forces Initiative
Semper Fi and America's Fund
Back Azimuth Solutions
Brothers N’ Books
We Defy Foundation
Barracks Legend Foundation
The Warrior’s Keep
Veterans Repertory Theatre
The Pat Tillman Foundation
Warriors & Quiet Waters
Pb Abbate
Sergeant Matt Abbate
Sgt Matt Abbate (Navy Cross Citation) was committed to the protection of and service to others. Before he was killed in action on December 2, 2010 he composed "The Gunfighting Commandments” and “The Rules of War,” which dictate that:
-Nothing matters more than thy brethren to thy left and right…Thou shall protect no matter what
-Someone must walk the point
When we honor the legacy of the fallen, connect, and serve our communities we earn the title of Pointman.
You are now entering friendly lines.
The Patrol Base is a location for current service members and veterans to rest and refit inside the wire in order to deploy back to their local communities with a renewed sense of purpose. While it’s important that we carve out a space for our members, we want to make sure that we equip those who served with the right tools to get back in the fight. We believe that a tribe and purpose are the essential elements for a warrior’s mind and soul. As current service members and veterans, we are called to serve and seek to sacrifice. PB Abbate affords us an opportunity to continue that calling.
Our Patrol Base is built around a cabin in Big Sky Country. It is intentionally austere to get us outside and on the move. Each year, we run several programs that bring service members and veterans with similar interests together. Our shooters, fishers, hunters, lifters, artists, and more will all have the opportunity to gather in squad sized elements led by subject matter experts in these respective fields.
We intend to continually improve our position and ourselves, so grab your e-tool and get ready to fill a sandbag as we come together as a community to build a place where all military service members and veterans can rally.
Abbate’s Pointmen live these values through service to their communities and in forming local tribes to protect our flanks. Every month, around the country, local chapters conduct social and service events. These local chapters serve as sustainable and enduring rally points, where our Pointmen connect and reignite their purpose through service to others.
We currently have over 35 active local chapters. Check our events page to discover local chapter events that are happening in your area.
Dead Reckoning Collective
Dead Reckoning Collective is a veteran owned and operated publishing company. Founded by Keith Dow (US Army) and Tyler Carroll (US Army), DRC views literacy as a component of a well rounded and healthy lifestyle, and actively seeks to encourage veterans to explore literacy and what it means for their identity.
In addition to pushing work by veteran authors, DRC sponsors events such as poetry readings, concerts, peer writing groups, courses, and workshops to promote veteran literacy to the military community as well as to the public.
The DRC is full of resources - podcasts, book recommendations, information on in person events - you can find it all right on their website. Interested in publishing your work? Review the submission guidelines, and begin your journey today. The stories, works, and perspectives of the veteran community are unique. DRC recognizes the need to support and encourage veteran stories, and successfully works to bring them to life.
Marine Raider Foundation
Since 2012, the Marine Raider Foundation has provided benevolent support to active duty and medically retired Marine Raiders and their families, World War II Marine Raiders, and the families of Raiders who have lost their lives in service to our nation.
The MRF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established to meet needs unmet by the government with an emphasis on building personal and family resiliency and supporting the full reintegration of wounded, ill, injured, and transitioning Raiders, their families, and MARSOC’s gold star families.
Forty-eight Marine Raiders have given their lives in combat and training leaving behind parents, siblings, wives, and children.
Every day Raiders are deployed to hot spots across the globe. Most often these Marines and the countries they assist won’t make the news, but the work they do helps prepare partner nations to defend themselves and reduce sanctuary for extremist organizations.
Please consider a donation to the Marine Raider Foundation.
Task Force Dagger
This year, I was introduced to the Task Force Dagger Special Operations Foundation after running into a friend who worked for the organization. He told me that they were looking for former military divers to assist the National Park Service’s Submerged Resources Unit and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in examining the WWII landing beaches in Guam for magnetic anomalies.
Then he asked if I was interested.
This, of course, sounded way too cool to be true, but I said yes, and determined to dig a little deeper into TFD. Their website lists the mission as: “To provide assistance to wounded, ill, or injured US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) members and their families. They also respond to urgent needs, conduct Rehabilitative Adaptive Events (RAE), and provide next-generation health solutions for issues facing our service members.”
I was able to participate in the Guam expedition. It was an incredibly meaningful event to dive the beaches that American forces came ashore on against a heavily fortified enemy, identifying Unexploded Ordinance, and other artifacts remaining from the battle that had taken place eighty years prior. TFD expresses the value of the Joint Recovery Team mission this way: “Too often when a SOF service member is injured or wounded and are unable to remain on their team, they say they have lost their sense of purpose. Our mission-based therapy events are designed to restore the sense of purpose by providing a specific task that challenges the individual both physically and mentally. The Joint Recovery Mission is our most impactful purpose-driven event. Members participating in the Joint Recovery Team assist in the mapping and documenting of potential archaeological sites where missing US Service Members lost in war and conflicts may be located.”
As a part of TFD’s Health Initiative Program, they are partnering with industry leaders to evaluate emerging treatment protocols including TBI treatments, heavy metal treatments, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and functional medicine evaluation and programs.
Finally, TFD involves families in Rehabilitative Adaptive Events (RAE) that assist with the service members' rehabilitation and recovery from injuries related to their service. TFD includes families in activities like scuba diving, white water rafting, biking, or kayaking. These events foster the family bonding and teamwork necessary to help the service member overcome their injuries and help the family heal together.
If you are able, consider donating to Task Force Dagger Special Operations Foundation.
Blue Star Families
Blue Star Families is the nation’s largest chapter-based organization supporting military and Veteran families. Its distinctive approach builds stronger communities around military families through knowledge and programs that address the unique needs of those who serve. Established in 2009 by military spouses, Blue Star Families’ nationally recognized surveys, such as the Military Family Lifestyle Survey, and analysis give military families an important voice that informs policymakers and its military family programs. The vision of the organization is to create a stronger nation where military-connected families feel welcome and supported through trust-based networks where they live and serve; this also includes addressing disparities for diverse military families through the groundbreaking Campaign for Inclusion initiative.
With 13 Chapters and dozens of volunteer-led communities all over the world, the organization touches more than 1.6 million military family members each year. In our Chapter locations, military and Veteran-connected families are linked to resources and events in their communities, joining with their civilian neighbors and building supportive networks. Families can also connect in the virtual Neighborhood, or explore national programs, including Blue Star Careers, connecting military spouses and employers to address the long-standing issue of military spouse unemployment, peer-to-peer support networks, and welcome programs such as Blue Star Outdoors, Blue Star Coffee Connects, or Blue Star Books.
Blue Star Families recognizes the power behind collective action. No one individual, organization, or institution can achieve the change necessary to address current military family stressors; this requires a whole-of-society response. When everyone joins in the effort, military and Veteran families not only survive but THRIVE in their communities. In response, Blue Star Families asks every individual, business, and school to Do Your Part.
Do your part by making a gift (of any amount) and help military families meet the challenges they face in child care, spouse employment, and food insecurity through the website.
Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Armed Forces Initiative
Backcountry Hunters and Anglers’ Armed Forces Initiative is a conservation-focused non-profit formed in 2020. Our mission is to instill within the Military Community, a knowledge of conservation theory, a love of wild places, and a desire to elevate America's public wildlands as fundamental components of American freedom.
At the Armed Forces Initiative, we introduce the Military Community to public lands and waters by providing outdoor adjunct therapy to enhance their mental, spiritual, and emotional well-being while providing them with a new mission as conservationists. We host events all over the United States and Canada teaching participants how to hunt, fish, camp, hike, and recreate outdoors through the lens of conservation. Our events focus on conservation principles ensuring participants not only learn how to hunt and fish but why hunting and fishing are critical components of wildlife management. We don’t offer once-in-a-lifetime experiences but the knowledge and skills for a lifetime of experiences.
Our Theory of Change:
Provide short-term medicine – We know that being outdoors, hiking, hunting, fishing, camping, bike riding, etc. has a positive effect on transitioning veterans, or anyone experiencing symptoms of PTSD. We know there is a correlation between time spent outdoors and reduced stress, feelings of depression, and anxiety. Our first goal is to take members of the military community and show them an amazing time outdoors while teaching them to replicate the experience without being dependent on an organization to take them the next time. We like to say, we don’t do once in a lifetime experiences, we create a lifetime of experiences.
Build A Tribe – We know another issue being faced by the military community, particularly after transition, is a lack of a community or tribe. By introducing our event attendees to people with the same life experiences, who also like hunting and fishing, we can ensure that our events are not simply a one-off event or a once in a lifetime experience. Upon leaving our event each candidate should have the skillset to repeat the experience and a peer group with whom to get outdoors.
Inspire a Mission of Conservation – The last piece to this puzzle is the most important. We know from surveys and outside studies that having a cause bigger than oneself is hugely important to mental health in the military community. Service to a cause bigger than themselves is why most of our members chose to enlist in a time of war. Fortunately, with hunting and fishing, conservation offers a cause greater than catching a fish or harvesting a bull elk. Conservation is a cause that ensures an experience that meant so much to a participant, is there for another comrade in arms. Supporting conservation efforts is a way for members of the military community to continue to serve their country by protecting public lands that only exist in the United States. BHA wants everyone who leaves their events to understand not only how to recreate outdoors, and to have a peer group with whom to recreate but also to become so passionate about their chosen pursuit that they cannot help but get involved. BHA wants to give the military community a new mission, one of conservation.
So far, the Armed Forces Initiative has taken over 6000 participants afield hosting over 100 events annually all over North America. To get involved or get someone you care about involved please visit https://www.backcountryhunters.org/armed_forces or email armedforcesinitiative@backcountryhunters.org and follow us on social media @BHA_AFI.
Semper Fi and America's Fund
I have been blessed to work with, and be supported by, a number of 501(c)3 organizations chartered to help veterans in some form or fashion. From transition assistance training and education to employment networking to post service business development to service dogs to memorials to the fallen, you name it, I’ve either used it or helped someone else access it. But there is one organization that has been there every time I have asked. Actually, they’ve even been there when I didn’t.
I was first introduced to Semper Fi and America’s fund when I attended the five-week Intrepid Spirit Traumatic Brain Injury Clinic. The staff there told me I needed an Alpha Stim device to increase Alpha wave activity in my brain. They also told me SFAF would pay for it. Ten days later, I was hooked up with a device that improves my focus and relaxes my mind. A year later, as I began building a business, the Special Operations Forces Care Coalition representative at my unit asked me what I needed to get off the ground. SFAF gave me a grant to secure the answer. They keep me in mind, even when I don’t return the favor. They call to check in, my case manager sends me notes and gifts, and every Christmas comes a new ornament for the tree. Sometimes, it’s the little things.
SFAF does all this while ensuring 92% of funds raised goes to Program Expenses for servicemembers from all branches (don’t let the name fool you). As a result, they remain in Charity Navigator’s top 2% of America’s charities with a 4-Star rating, they have the Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid/GuideStar, and recieved an A+ from CharityWatch – one of only three vet nonprofits to do so.
This year, help yourself by helping Semper Fi and America’s Fund.
Back Azimuth Solutions
“Back Azimuth Solutions” (BAS) founded by Tyler Heisey [ IG: @back.azimuth.solutions] is the first thing that came to mind as an honorable mention for groups doing some great and underrated things online in the veteran community. The increasingly popular page has hit the mark with vignettes of quality content geared effectively towards servicemembers, veterans, and ambitious leaders in a social media space with no shortage of motivational platitudes and mental health slacktivisms of little substance. As a former Army Master Resiliency Trainer (MRT) and advocate for mental health education that has been helped significantly by therapy myself- I think BAS is making great inroads in introducing overlooked concepts to the military community online that is often eager to discuss current events, tactics, gear, fitness, and skills training online, but finds little incentive to address the mind and our relationships with one another when we know that resiliency, adaptability and the capacity to endure are critical skills that will serve one well at any time in their lives, and significantly improve performance.
Obviously, this is no substitute for therapy, but Tyler who is studying to be a therapist himself has found an effective balance of graphics and warrior “Blaze Forward” theme is a fantastic introduction to introduce principles of subjects that may otherwise only be learned in therapy. Most troops (or the general population for that matter) rarely think about how they think, and don’t know what they don’t know when it comes to stressors and may only have one or 2 tools in their mental toolkit to navigate obstacles or interact with others. The Army understood this and the impact it could have on the resiliency of servicemembers and their families when it rolled out the “Whole Soldier Concept” over 10 years ago and made resiliency part of its mandatory training to arm its troops with some of the basic tools and frameworks of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), positive psychology, conflict resolution, and more. Honestly, if you are serving now I encourage you to fight to attend the Master Resiliency Training course -10 days of dedicated classroom training to learn 11 core competencies well enough to teach others.
Bringing this back to BAS, they appear to cover an important gap that leaders run into with any type of mandatory training in that others cannot be forced or coerced to do anything without their own intent- leaders instead need to meet people where they are taking them where they want to go. I have run into plenty of Soldiers that will do the bare minimum in mental health and resiliency information or resist participating altogether while leadership will push to get through 4 hours of material in 45 minutes so a box can be checked- so it is excellent to see a page carving out a niche in social media that is pushing out quality ideas in the space where people already are and presenting that information in a stylized manner that I think really will connect with the type of individuals that probably need to hear it the most. The formatting of the vignettes pairing the personal development concepts with the comic book adventures of Marine Sgt Johnny Blaze fighting through the Pacific is an excellent creative choice that I hope continues or even gets developed into its own comic strip or perhaps a training style booklet.
Take care, be kind, and Blaze Forward!
-Eric Strand: Director of the War Murals Project
Brothers N’ Books
Brothers and Books was founded in 2020, during the COVID-19 crisis that saw millions of people around the world experiencing isolation, poor mental health, and helplessness. Dylan Conway, founder of Brothers and Books, was also in the throes of despair, after suffering a significant injury that had left him bedridden and needing to escape.
Through reading, Dylan found that he was able to harness the power of bibliotherapy and keep his mind active during his hardest times. He spoke to a number of other people who had also experienced firsthand the benefits of reading, and decided to do something about the stigmatisation of reading in this country.
Dylan began speaking about the importance of reading to his close friends and family, and created an Instagram platform that allowed others to share their stories of adversity, success, and the books that helped shape their lives. The platform quickly gained traction and media attention as it grew to over 20,000 followers in less than a year.
From there, Dylan and the Brothers and Books team began donating books to local communities, which quickly turned into setting up community libraries to spread life-changing books to as many people as possible. Since then, Brothers and Books has set up community libraries all over Australia, and inspired people around the world to read more books when they are facing hardship. The charity is collectively growing the resilience, education, and emotional intelligence of thousands of people.
We Defy Foundation
We provide combat veterans coping with military connected disabilities a long term means to overcome their challenges through Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and fitness training.
WE ARE COMMITTED to our country, to creating a better life for our veterans and their families, our team, and accomplishing our mission by providing training and support.
WE EMPOWER through integrity, discipline, personal accountability, mental and physical development, improved coordination, flexibility, adaptability, confidence, patience, and selfless service.
WE EVOLVE and expand our reach with the help of our volunteers, our sponsors, and approved training facilities to stay relevant and effective for the long term.
Barracks Legend Foundation
Our vision is to create a nationwide network of electrifying fundraising events, providing non-profit organizations with the resources and capabilities to reach and support a larger number of veterans.
Through our diverse range of events, we will foster an inclusive and compassionate community that prioritizes understanding and connection. By channeling our efforts towards taking concrete action, we aim to significantly reduce the prevalence of veteran suicide and create a lasting positive impact on the lives of those who have served our nation.
Past Events include
Vetsgiving 2023
FAU'S 2nd Annual Veterans Panel 2023
NSU'S Veterans Day Celebration 2023
2023 MD Turbines 4th Annual Veterans Day Fundraiser & Relay Challenge
Comedy Show 2023 Headlined By: Mike Eshaq, Mitch Burrow, Shane McCrea
Our Partnership with diverse organizations has created a task force to provide unparalleled support for our nation's veterans.
The Warrior’s Keep
All veterans were trained to go to war but never trained to come back home. The goal of the warriors keep is to fill a part of every veteran’s life that was left behind when we left active duty. The sense of purpose and camaraderie we all felt when we served is the driving force behind the warrior’s keep.
The Warrior’s Keep is a 501(C)(3) tax exempt non-profit organization whose mission is to unite, empower and enhance the quality of life for veterans with the use of Outdoor Therapy.
We at The Warrior's Keep believe that sometimes the best medicine is nature's medicine. Our programs provide Veterans with free access to outdoor activities, designed to educate and assist with the difficulties of reintegrating back to civilian life.
Outdoor Adventure Therapy for Heroes:
O.A.T.H. is our motto and belief that engaging in outdoor adventures with other veterans allows for real therapy to naturally take place in a neutral, safe environment.
"Awesome group...doing great things for the veteran outdoor community. Looking forward to more opportunities to get outdoors with them again."
- Brandon S.
Veterans Repertory Theatre
Christopher Paul Meyer, Artistic Director/Founder
I remember the first play I directed. It wasn’t anything to brag about. It was a one-act comedy playing Off-Off Broadway but I was elated to be directing. I’d been acting for a few years and I felt that my instincts as an actor might make me a halfway decent director. Our opening weekend was promising – folks were laughing and the actors were at the top of their game. I started to plot my next directorial effort. We were dark on Monday night. And then came Tuesday, when a few assholes flew some planes into the tallest buildings in my hometown. The play never opened again. It’s safe to say my life took a few sharp turns after that.
It’s taken me twenty years to get back to the theater. I founded VetRep to bring the veteran community (including military, law enforcement, fire/EMS, foreign service, intelligence services, DoD contractors – and their immediate families) with me.
Theater is the most imaginative, subversive, creative, and unpredictable performing art. Theater is also a writer’s medium where the script is sacrosanct. It demands real craft. And those that can master it can write anything. It is the perfect hothouse in which to develop writers from the veteran community. Yet veterans may be the most underrepresented group in American theater and the live performance arts.
We aim to change that.
In our first full year, we showcased over 75 veteran performing and visual artists from across the country through the Savage Wonder Festival of Veterans in the Arts, the Savage WonderGround immersive art event in Alexandria, VA, our Savage Wonder podcast (we just released our 53rd episode!), our Write Loud shows on Instagram Live, and our daily literary blog. We awarded $25,000 in grants to veteran playwrights, welcomed 2 playwrights into the Artists-in-Residence program, conducted 2 workshops of veterans’ plays, and presented 30 performances at our Parlor performance space in Cornwall, NY. On top of all that, we now have 13 plays that we have in various stages of development.
Why is it so important to bring veterans into the theater? Because veterans are special – no they’re not stronger, faster or better-looking than anyone else. But they are bonded by 1) a high volume of significant emotional events, 2) experienced over a compressed period of time and 3) relatively early in life. That creates a special kind of person – a person familiar with the extremes of the human experience, a deeper understanding of conflict, an appreciation of a high-stakes, life-or-death profession. That, my friends, is an understanding of drama. Veterans have a wealth of experiential knowledge that can make for wildly unpredictable, compelling, entertaining theater. Now, not every veteran will be a phenomenal playwright or world-class artist. But VetRep takes the wager that, given the opportunity, we can find the ones that are. The wide variety of life experiences, the low-maintenance mindset, the painfully accumulated self-knowledge – veterans can offer a lot to an arts culture that can often seem increasingly provincial, close-minded, one-sided, self-important and lacking perspective.
Pat Tillman Foundation
Pat’s story on the football field and the Army is well-known, but it is his principles and service that are his true legacy. Pat believed in something bigger than himself, and dedicated his life to serving it. We’re dedicated to honoring that legacy.
Pat’s family and friends started the Pat Tillman Foundation to carry forward that legacy by giving military service members, veterans and spouses who embody those principles the educational tools and support they need to reach their fullest potential as leaders – no matter how they choose to serve.
Our mission is to unite and empower remarkable military service members, veterans and spouses as the next generation of public and private sector leaders committed to service beyond self.
Tillman Scholars are finding comprehensive solutions to everything from water scarcity, to human rights, to national security. With your contributions and support, we’re able to identify and empower the next generation of leaders who are dedicated to service beyond self. The Tillman Scholar community is making a real impact in the world.
Warriors & Quiet Waters
Warriors & Quiet Waters guides post-9/11 combat veterans and their loved ones to thrive and find peace, meaning, and purpose through fly fishing and other inspirational activities in nature.
When service members are in the military, their mission and sense of purpose are clear, and their lives are structured to meet those objectives. Service members’ needs – basics like food and shelter, as well as emotional needs like connection and self-esteem – are met by the military so that they can focus completely on their mission.
But when service members suddenly take on the new title of “veteran”, their new mission may not be so clear. They have to fulfill these needs on their own – often for the first time in their lives. They often do it alone. They may not have structure or purpose in their days, teammates to rely on, or even ready access to the most basic needs. Add in a physical, moral, or psychological wound, and the likelihood of struggle is even higher. Without a clear identity and purpose, it’s difficult to find a path forward.
Now, more than two decades after 9/11, it’s more important than ever to enable veterans to find peace, meaning, and purpose after their military service. Many service members are now exiting the military after 20-year careers, having spent all of their adulthood in the service during a time of war. Their new critical mission is to find peace and meaning in an environment that is completely unknown to them. At Warriors & Quiet Waters, we guide Warriors and their loved ones to thrive.
WQW provides a safe, secure environment – created by our volunteers, guides, and other veterans – that feels like a home. Through outdoor experiences, veterans find space to ponder the big questions about their life after service: What do I want to do with my life? What do I value? What brings me joy? Through this reflection, veterans can find their new mission in life after service.
In the process, WQW fosters the kind of community that becomes a family. Warriors make lifelong connections with people they walk alongside as they work toward their newfound purpose.
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This ends Volume 18, Edition 1, of the Lethal Minds Journal (01DECEMBER2023)
The window is now open for Lethal Minds’ nineteenth volume, releasing February 1st, 2024.
All art and picture submissions are due as PDFs or JPEG files to our email by midnight on 20 January 2024.
All written submissions are due as 12 point font, double spaced, Word documents to our email by midnight on 20 January.
lethalmindsjournal@gmail.com
Special thanks to the volunteers and team that made this journal possible: