By Tomas Alonso
Co-Arts & Culture Editor

Clackamas Community College’s Gregory Forum was filled with conversation and connection on Oct. 15 as it hosted the Clackamas County Veterans Expo, an event dedicated to serving local veterans with essential services, job opportunities and support resources.

Organized by CCC Veteran Service Coordinator Aubrie Balkwill, the expo drew a steady crowd throughout the day, the event started at 8 a.m. and ended at 6 p.m.

Balkwill in the Veterans Center. Photos by Kodiak Schoolcraft

“We’ve had a pretty good turnout, people coming in and out,” Balkwill said. “I got connected with this and the awesome veteran resources through Clackamas County, and they came in and said, ‘Hey, we want to do an event.’”

The event featured more than a dozen tables staffed by volunteers, nonprofit organizations, county agencies and employers. Representatives offered information on housing assistance, health care, disability claims, education benefits and employment opportunities.

With veterans making up roughly 13% of the nation’s homeless population, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, organizers said the expo is part of a broader effort to ensure those who served are not left behind.

Gregory Forum setup for the Veterans Expo.

One of the first faces greeting visitors at the door was Betty Fish-Ferguson, a retired Navy corpsman who served 37 years in both active and reserve duty between 1973 and 2010. Now a registered nurse, she said events like this are essential to keeping veterans connected to their communities.

“This is our attempt to bring vets back to the forefront,” Fish-Ferguson said. “This type of stuff is good for the vets. Sometimes you get out and really need a little help. It’s not a bad thing.”

Attendees were offered free food, water and snacks throughout the event, including sandwiches, scones and coffee. Staff and volunteers made frequent efforts to ensure guests felt welcomed and supported.

Cynthia Dusoleil who works for Goodwill Industries as a job connection employment specialist was invited to the event by Workspace Oregon.

Cynthia Dusoleil at her booth for the expo.

“I love resource fairs and I love to help people find jobs,” Dusoleil said. “We help veterans find jobs along with anybody else with any type of barriers.”

Balkwill said she hopes the expo becomes an annual tradition and continues to grow. “I think we’d all love to come back again.”

As the event wrapped up, volunteers packed up tables and shook hands with departing visitors. But for many organizers, the work continues, in offices, outreach programs and future events all with a single goal in mind, to make sure no veteran feels forgotten.