Michael Blecker
Executive Director, Swords to Plowshares
Michael Blecker is a Vietnam combat veteran and an expert in veteran issues. He has devoted more than 30 years to the San Francisco-based non-profit, Swords to Plowshares.
He continues to lead efforts at the local, state, and national level to ensure that veterans receive the services and benefits they are due, and is a founding director of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans and the California Association of Veteran Service Agencies. He has also served on the congressionally chartered Commission on Service members and Veterans Transition Assistance and on the Secretary of Veterans Affairs' Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans.
Amy Fairweather
Policy Director, Swords to Plowshares
Director, Coalition for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans
Amy Fairweather is an expert in veteran's issues, particularly those affecting post 911 veterans. Fairweather has knowledge of the status of new veterans transitioning to civilian life as well as the bureaucratic, financial and psychological obstacles they face. Fairweather is an attorney and has extensive experience as a policy advocate on issues related to trauma.
She is the director of the Iraq Veteran Project, which engages in research, direct services and advocacy to identify gaps in services for post-9/11 veterans and promote policy and programs to meet those needs. Additionally, Amy oversees the Coalition for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans, a clearinghouse of over 52 agencies serving a myriad of needs associated with deployment in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
Veterans and Clients
If you are working on a story and would like to interview a veteran, please contact Colleen Corliss at 415-655-7248 or ccorliss@stp-sf.org
