The veteran community has lost a stalwart supporter and advocate this month, and I lost a friend and colleague. Steve Robinson, who died earlier this month, was a former Army Ranger, a retired soldier and a lifelong veterans' advocate, who lived by the code of "duty, honor and country." We collaborated often on how we could partner to help veterans coming home. We were more than just colleagues. We were friends. Read more

More than 200 veterans attended the University of Southern California's "Serving Those Who Have Served" Veterans Career Event last month. Organizers hoped to create an event unlike typical job fairs where applicants would leave with slim possibilities of employment. Two key components administered by CIR included a navigator program that paired veterans with volunteers to help them through job-seeking process and an online training course for employers. Read more  

Earlier this month, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti launched a veteran hiring initiative -- 10,000 Strong -- with the aim of matching 10,000 veterans with jobs by 2017. The $9 million initiative brings together more than 100 employers and 40 nonprofits. At the press conference launching the campaign, CIR director Anthony Hassan said a job provides more than economic stability; "it helps save lives." Read more

This month, an online referral network for Los Angeles veterans launched to help connect them to needed resources throughout the county. Using LA County 211 and Los Angeles Veterans Collaborative networks, the Los Angeles Veterans Portal will allow veterans to search for and access needed services on their own or with the help of a personal navigator. Visit laveteransportal.com