• SCI Fundraiser

    David Crowley, Founder and President of Social Capital, Inc., Rebecca Serva, and Leroy Ashwood, at the SCI fundraiser, 2025. Congrats to SCI for exceeding your $10k fundraising goal!

    -June 2025

  • Brighton Marine Dedication

    BRAVE Leadership attended Brighton Marine Dedication with MA Rep. McGonagle.

    -May 2025

  • Brandeis History Department Commencement

    BRAVE’s Chief Recruitment Officer, Harry Watkin-Fox, receives History Department award at Brandeis University and delivers powerful commencement speech.

    -May 2025

  • Brandeis Alum, Jeffrey S. Shapiro, Esq., CIG, Inspector General for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, visits with BRAVE Veterans Fellows, Brendan Zuzak, '26, and Reid Etzback, '26, at recent Boston Alumni Chapter event.

  • Brandeis Alumni Board Member Alyson Popper, '90, is joined by BRAVE CEO, Leroy Ashwood, '71 and BRAVE Veterans Fellows, Brendan Zuzak, '26, and Reid Etzback, '26,.

  • BRAVE attends 2025 Veterans Day Ceremony at MA State House

    CEO Ashwood appointed to Veterans’ Quality of Life Commission (VQOL).

    - April 2025

  • The Valor Act I

    Impact of the Valor Act I: A Proven Model for Veteran Success

    Signed by Governor Deval Patrick on May 31, 2012, Valor Act I continues to demonstrate measurable, positive outcomes for veterans and for the Commonwealth as a whole. Preliminary analysis conducted by BRAVE, the original sponsor of the Prior Learning Credit (PLC) provision, in part based on documentation provided by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, highlights several key findings for its first 13 years:

    Significant cost savings for the Commonwealth. Reduced reliance on state-funded training and support services has lowered public expenditures.

    More than 8,000 veterans have used the PLC provision to complete their education.

    Veterans are completing training programs faster, accelerating their transition into civilian careers.

    Earlier workforce entry means earlier earnings, strengthening financial stability for veterans and their families.

    The Commonwealth benefits from increased tax revenue, both immediately and over time, as veterans join the workforce sooner.

    Valor Act I, PLC, stands out as a rare achievement by BRAVE: a law that meaningfully advances the interests of a protected group while simultaneously generating net revenue for the Commonwealth. It remains a model for how thoughtful policy can support veterans and strengthen the state’s economy.

April 12, 2025

Governor Healey Appoints

Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces Appointment of HERO Act

Commissions to Advance Veterans' Health and Quality of Life

Signed into law by Governor Maura Healey in August 2024, the HERO Act is the

most comprehensive veterans’ legislation in Massachusetts history, expanding

services, enhancing equity, and strengthening support for veterans across the

Commonwealth. Among its many provisions, the Act calls for the establishment

of these commissions to explore cutting-edge treatments and improve quality of

life outcomes for veterans.

The Veterans Quality of Life Commission is tasked with studying and developing

proposals to improve the overall quality of life for veterans in Massachusetts. The

Commission will explore ways to enhance employment opportunities, access to

healthcare, housing stability, and other critical areas that impact veterans’ well-

being. Through collaboration with veterans’ organizations and policy experts, the

Commission will generate actionable recommendations to strengthen services

for veterans statewide.

The Commission is composed of veterans’ advocates, policy experts, and

representatives from key organizations dedicated to supporting

veterans. Members include Leroy Ashwood, BRAVE’s Founder and CEO.

The VQOL Commission issues its 2025 Annual Report, which recommends:

“BRAVE Research and Student Engagement for Veterans’ Employment

  • To deepen the evidence base on veteran employment, the Commission is

partnering with Brandeis University’s BRAVE program to conduct applied

research and student engagement. BRAVE will:

  • Conduct evidence-based research on veteran employment barriers,

program effectiveness, and workforce outcomes.

  • Engage graduate and undergraduate interns in designing, analyzing, and

publishing data related to veteran employment and well-being.

  • Examine employer engagement and retention strategies, with attention to

regional and demographic disparities (including women, disabled, and justice-

involved veterans).

  • Develop interactive data dashboards and maps to support policy analysis

and public transparency.

  • Produce a comprehensive policy report with actionable recommendations

and a public presentation to inform future Commission initiatives.”

    •    Brandeis University endorses BRAVE’s Applied Public Policy Research

Fellowship Program as aligned with the campus’s new “second transcript”

protocol for student interns.