Eli Williamson is the co-founder and president of Leave No Veteran Behind, a non-profit organization that “provides educational and employment services to veterans who face economic hardship.” The organization’s work is especially important in light of stories like Josh’s. Eli sits down with Afternoon Shift Host Rick Kogan to talk about the discrimination veterans face when trying to find employment post-military and what his organization does to help curb the problem. 

“People join the military for all kinds of reasons. A big part of it is because it is a career.”

“We have a very big anti-stigma approach to the services and support we’re giving everyone. We talk about veterans as strategic assets. We feel that veterans are a platform for success…and part of building that platform is making sure that veterans have equal opportunities for benefits, have opportunities for gainful and meaningful employment, that they’re educated. But that’s just the ‘platform’ for success. The end goal is for us to look at veterans as if these are individuals that were serving our nation overseas, but when they come back, they still have fight left in them.” 

Listen to the rest of the conversation using the link above.