S2E15: Bridging The Military Civilian Divide

Register for Creating Community & Connection: A Workshop with
Kristin Schell.


 


In this episode of The Turquoise Table, host Kristin Schell
speaks with Maria Reed, founder of the home improvement
television show Moving with the Military. Maria’s mission is
to bridge the military-civilian divide through design and
community building. Kristin and Maria discuss the unique
hardships military families face and how the community can
welcome them with open arms. 


 


To begin, Maria shares her background and her own experiences
being in a military family. She was born in Cuba and raised in
Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She worked for many years in the film
industry as a producer. However, during this time she dated
long-distance and fell in love with her military husband. To her
surprise, soon after they were married her husband deployed, and
she found out she was pregnant. 17 years and five moves later,
her love for the film industry continued with her. She then
formed the idea for her television show, Moving with the
Military, from her own life experiences raising a military
family.


 


Maria describes the fear that comes with starting life over every
time her family moved. Sometimes, she would barely leave her
house and often felt paralyzed. She shares a story of making
friends with another military wife.


 


Now she can find excitement and positive experiences from moving.
While there are struggles for military families to build
community, Kristin and Maria agree that the Turquoise Table has
been a great resource for military families to find a sense of
place in their community.


 


With the growing number of military families living outside
military bases, Maria saw a need for home makeovers and her
television show. Maria is in charge of the difficult task of
choosing a military family for a makeover through the submission
of stories and nominations. From backyards to bedrooms, the show
has completed 27 makeovers in three years. With the work of her
show, she encourages civilians to be a part of the lives of
military families that live around them. Maria also describes the
purpose of DIY nights within the communities and is coming out
with a cookbook, The Military Melting Pot, as a way to meld
families together.


 


Her biggest tip to civilians is to reach out to military families
in their neighborhood and be in community with one another. 


 


Links/Resources:


Learn more about Maria Reed and Moving with the
Military on her website.


 


Submit a nomination of a military family for a Moving with
the Military home makeover.


 


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listening!


 


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