What’s Happening for Houston Veterans This Week (June 1 - 7)
Happy June, Civvie!
A new month is here, and there’s no shortage of ways to stay connected, get involved, and continue building community across Houston. This week alone brings opportunities for veteran resources, career development, golf, pickleball, benefits education, and networking. Whether you're looking for support, new relationships, or your next opportunity, there’s something on the calendar for you.
This week’s spotlight features a veteran founder of a new non-profit whose mission is built around a simple but powerful idea: one meaningful conversation can change a veteran’s life. His story, from military service and global travel to launching a platform focused on connection, is a reminder that community often begins with a single conversation.
A special thank you to everyone who joined us at The Civvie Connect last week. We had a great group of veterans, supporters, and community leaders proving once again that meaningful connections still happen face-to-face. See group photo below 👇
Civvie Up 🤠🐎🫡
📆 VETERAN EVENTS
THIS WEEK
🤝 June 2, Tuesday
Office of Veteran & Military Affairs Open House
🕡 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
📍Webster
Connect with local veterans, explore resources and programs, and meet the new VA Medical Director.
🏓 June 3, Wednesday
Veterans Pickleball Tournament
🕡 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
📍Webster
Fun, competition, and camaraderie while supporting veteran families for Veteran College Grants.
🏌️♂️June 4, Thursday
3rd Annual Golf to Honor Vets
🕡 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
📍Texas City
Fun on the greens with a purpose. Join us for a great day of golf while raising funds to support local veterans and the programs that make a real impact.
📋 June 4, Thursday
Veterans Nexus Letter Workshop
🕡 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM
📍Houston
Learn how to avoid common VA claim mistakes, build a strong Nexus Letter, and get expert guidance with a live Q&A. Ideal for veterans filing, appealing, or seeking an increase.
💼 June 5, Friday
Veteran Career Transitional Workshop
🕡 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
📍Houston
Join Career Gear Houston for a hands-on workshop designed to help veterans build confidence, sharpen their résumé, prepare for interviews, and connect directly with employers.
🍳 June 6, Saturday
Breakfast with a Veteran
🕡 7:00 AM - 10:00 AM
📍Katy
American Legion & Elks Breakfast with a Veteran. A relaxed, welcoming way to connect with fellow veterans over breakfast.
NEXT WEEK
☕ June 9, Tuesday
Cup of Joey & HRVCC Networking
🕡 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
📍Houston
Join veterans and local businesses as they come together over a cup of coffee to support each other.
🤝June 10, Wednesday
HRVCC Mixer
🕡 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
📍Katy
Grow your knowledge and network. Open to all HRVCC Members, Veteran & Military Spouse-Owned Businesses, First Responder-Owned Business, and Passionate Patriot businesses.
📋 June 11, Thursday
Veterans Health & Resource Fair
🕡 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
📍Dayton
An event to connect Houston-area veterans with resources, opportunities, and community support.
👩 June 12, Friday
Women Veterans Recognition Day
🕡 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM
📍Conroe
Join American Legion Post 411 at the Honor Cafe for an evening honoring the service and impact of women veterans. Enjoy camaraderie, dinner, and drinks.
MORE JUNE EVENTS
🍻 June 25, Thursday
Veterans Beer Club
🕡 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
📍Houston
Join the Houston Chapter’s FIRST official event. This isn’t just about beer. It’s about community, connection, and building something meaningful for veterans and supporters across Houston.
🫡 Know an Event We Should Share?
If you’re hosting or attending a veteran-focused event in the Houston area → [Submit here]
🌟 THE CIVVIE SPOTLIGHT
The Power of a Conversation: A Veteran’s Vision for Reconnecting the Community
For many veterans, one of the most difficult parts of leaving military service is not finding a job or adapting to civilian life.
It is losing the sense of connection that comes from being surrounded by people who share similar experiences, understand military culture, and have lived through many of the same challenges.
That observation led John MacTaggart to create Veteran Fellowship, a nonprofit organization built around a simple idea: helping veterans reconnect through meaningful conversation.
John’s own military and professional journey spans more than two decades of service and a lifetime connected to the maritime world.
Originally from Iowa City, Iowa, he attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy, where he studied marine engineering and began a career that would take him around the world. While sailing aboard merchant vessels, he simultaneously served in the Navy Reserve, ultimately serving more than 23 years before completing his military career at Ellington Field in Houston.
His military career included a deployment to Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom, where he served as an engineering officer at Forward Operating Base Lindsey near Kandahar Airfield.
Throughout his Reserve career, he also served with expeditionary port units focused on assessing maritime infrastructure and supporting military sealift operations around the world. During his military service, John experienced both the strength of military camaraderie and the profound impact of loss. Those experiences reinforced his belief that connection, conversation, and community are not luxuries—they are essential components of resilience.
Professionally, John’s work has been equally global in scope. After relocating to Houston nearly 15 years ago, he traveled extensively as a service engineer supporting commercial and military vessels throughout
Australia, Guam, Saipan, and other locations around the world. Today, he works with the American Bureau of Shipping, helping ensure ships are built and maintained to rigorous safety and engineering standards.
But perhaps one of the most interesting chapters of John’s story happened far from any office or military assignment.
At age 30, he became the first person to cycle and sail across the United States using a combination of pedal power and wind power. Beginning in San Diego and finishing in St. Augustine, Florida, the journey took 46 days and covered thousands of miles. Along the way, he met countless people, heard their stories, and experienced firsthand how meaningful conversations can create unexpected connections between strangers.
Looking back, that experience reflects many of the same values that would later inspire Veteran Fellowship.
While completing his MBA at Rice University, John revisited an idea he had been thinking about for more than a decade. He had noticed that although many veteran organizations provide valuable services, there were fewer opportunities focused specifically on fostering genuine one-on-one conversations between veterans.
The military naturally creates environments where relationships form through shared experiences, daily interactions, and common purpose. After transition, many veterans lose access to those conversations and the sense of community that comes with them.
Veteran Fellowship was created to help fill that gap.
Launched earlier this year, the organization uses technology to connect veterans, active-duty service members, reservists, and retirees based on factors such as military experience, career stage, interests, and life goals.
Participants are matched with others who may share similar backgrounds or experiences, creating opportunities for meaningful discussions that might not otherwise happen.
Whether the conversation focuses on transition, career development, military experiences, family life, or simply sharing perspectives, Veteran Fellowship is built on the belief that one meaningful conversation can help a veteran feel seen, understood, and connected again.
The organization is currently preparing to launch its pilot program and begin matching participants for their first conversations. Interest has already been strong, with veterans from across the country signing up to take part.
For John, the mission is simple: ensuring that no veteran has to navigate life after service alone. Through meaningful conversations,
Veteran Fellowship seeks to reconnect veterans with one another, preserve the wisdom earned through service, and strengthen the bonds that have always defined the military community.
👉 Veterans, active-duty service members, reservists, and retirees interested in part more and register: https://veteranfellowship.org/
🤝 GET INVOLVED
• Tell us about yourself: Let us hear from you → [Share here]
• Know of a veteran event? Submit it → [Submit here]
• Have a story idea, business, or veteran to spotlight? Send it → [Send it here]
• Want to advertise or partner with The Civvie? Reach out → [Contact us]
