Aug 05, 2026
For the last eight-and-a-half months, Giancarlo Gonzalez, along with his other VFW-SVA Fellows, has been honing his advocating skills in preparation for a life-changing event.
The 2026 VFW Washington Conference offered the fellows an opportunity to meet with each of their state representatives face-to-face.
Impassioned with a desire to support veterans, the Fellows were ready to conclude their nine-month journey advocating in any way they could.
For Gonzalez, this would be his first time working directly with lawmakers.
Although he initially wasn’t sure what to expect while on Capitol Hill, he soon found it to be familiar.
“In the Army, you learn to communicate quickly, stay focused on the mission and operate within a structured chain of command,” Gonzalez said. “Sitting down with congressional members felt similar, just in a different environment.”
Gonzalez focused primarily on advocating for improving the Post-9/11 GI Bill during his time with the fellowship. He described his conversations with lawmakers about this particular bill as “meaningful” because he himself could benefit directly from it as a student veteran.
From 2007-2012, Gonzalez served with the Army’s 325th Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division.
“My experience in the Army shaped how I approach everything I do today,” Gonzalez said. “The mindset of taking care of your people and staying mission-focused carries over directly into my work now, whether it’s in business, advocacy or helping fellow veterans find stable housing.”
Today, Gonzalez focuses on the Housing and Urban Development Veterans Aff airs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program, where he made it his personal goal to see as many veterans housed as possible.
“Helping homeless veterans find housing is something I take personally,” Gonzalez said. “It’s not just about placing someone in a unit. It’s about helping them regain stability and rebuild their lives.”
In pursuit of his goal, Gonzalez is currently finishing a degree in building design and construction management at St. Petersburg College in St. Petersburg, Florida. He also holds a degree in business
management and currently works in real estate.
A member of VFW Post 2550 in Dunedin, Florida, Gonzalez plans to continue his advocacy for veterans, focusing particularly on education-related policy and transition support.
“I’ve come to respect the role [VFW] plays in both supporting and advocating for veterans,” Gonzalez said. “Being a part of this fellowship has strengthened that connection.”
‘OUR MEETINGS WERE EYE-OPENING’
For another VFW-SVA fellow, the 2026 Washington Conference would be her first time experiencing face-to-face advocacy with lawmakers.
Navy veteran Kimmie Kim envisions a world in which leadership at the highest levels can create a more welcoming environment so that the health and happiness of workers are a top priority.
Currently, she is pursuing a graduate degree in industrial-organizational psychology at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, California.
While on Capitol Hill, Kim realized just how important consistency is to advocacy.
“Our meetings with lawmakers were very eye-opening,” Kim said. “[The VFW Washington Conference] helped me better understand how federal advocacy works and how important it is to stay involved over time.”
To continue supporting veterans, Kim is ready to commit long-term to the process.
“Change may not happen right away, but showing up, talking and making connections are all important parts of the process,” Kim said. “I will continue to fight for veterans by getting involved in my community, taking on leadership roles and staying involved in conversations that shape policy.”
Kim served in the Navy from 2007-2012 and was on board the USS Green Bay (LPD-20) from 2010-2011. She is a life member of VFW Post 3173 in Anaheim, California.
“The VFW-SVA Fellowship changed my life as a leader,” Kim said. “It has helped me become more powerful and has reminded me of the values that made me want to help my community, fellow citizens and veterans after I left the Navy.”
‘IT WAS PHENOMENAL’
The 2026 Washington Conference would mark Marine veteran and VFW-SVA fellow Shadic Anderson’s third time advocating on Capitol Hill but the first time with VFW.
A journalism major, Anderson’s longterm plan includes going to law school, which he hopes will catapult him into a career in politics. After the Maj. Richard Star Act was ultimately blocked by Congress on March 3, Anderson’s desire to get involved with veterans’ policy grew significantly.
“I’m super passionate about advocating for our veterans,” Anderson said. “I’m a firm believer in ‘service after service.’”
Although currently at tending California State University, Long Beach, in Long Beach, California, Anderson is originally from New Jersey and hopes to return home one day to get involved in local politics. But his main goal is to pursue a role in federal politics.
“I want to take care of [veterans] as a whole,” Anderson said when asked about his passion for politics at the federal level.
From 2012-2020, Anderson served in three Marine units. These included Bravo Co., 1st Bn., 6th Marines; Fox Co., 2nd Bn., 9th Marines; and Lima Co., 3rd Bn., 1st Marines. Anderson earned his VFW eligibility when he was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve in 2014.
While on Capitol Hill, Anderson met with Rep. Dave Min (D-Calif.), Rep. Derek Tran (D-Calif.) and Rep. Hakeem Jefferies (D-N.Y.). It was in meetings like these that Anderson, along with the other Fellows, had an opportunity to showcase all their hard work over the course of the fellowship.
“It was phenomenal,” Anderson said. “The networking impacted me the most. You never know who you may run into or who you may speak with.”
Anderson is currently the junior vice commander of District 4 for VFW’s Department of California. He also serves as senior vice commander of Post 7243 in Hawaiian Gardens, California.
‘THERE WAS A CLEAR FOCUS ON WHAT MATTERS MOST’
VFW-SVA Fellow and Post 10018 Commander Juanita Garcia made it her mission to assist degree-seeking veterans in navigating educational benefits.
A graduate student at Northeastern University in Boston, Garcia is currently pursuing a doctorate in education.
“My goal is to continue bridging the gap between policy and practice,” Garcia said. “In my current role in higher education, I see first-hand how policies play out for student veterans, and I want to continue using that perspective to inform advocacy efforts.”
Being able to work alongside other student veterans during the Washington Conference, Garcia felt the experience closer to heart.
“Seeing familiar faces and friends made the experience more personal, because the legislation we’re advocating for directly impacts them,” Garcia said. “It’s not abstract. It represents something real for my students and the veteran community I serve.”
Although Garcia previously advocated directly with lawmakers on Capitol Hill alongside the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), this was her first time advocating alongside the VFW Department of Washington delegation.
“There was a clear focus on what matters most to veterans back home, and you could see the level of preparation and commitment that went into those conversations,” Garcia said. “This year felt different in a meaningful way.”
Garcia served in the Army from 2003 until 2011. She earned her VFW eligibility serving with the 51st Expeditionary Signal Battalion at a forward operating base near Tal Afar Air Base in Iraq and the 29th Signal Battalion at the Logistics Support Area near Balad, Iraq.
“VFW has been a key part of my continued service,” Garcia said. “I joined because I was looking for a community of like-minded individuals. I value being around veterans who have stories to share and experiences that shape how we continue to serve.”
Since 2022, Garcia has served VFW at both the Post and District level. She is the adjutant for District 3 in the Department of Washington and serves as the commander and junior vice commander for Post 10018 in Tacoma, Washington.
For more than a decade, the VFW-SVA Fellowship has developed student veterans into what VFW believes are active, policy-aware advocates who are willing to continue serving their communities and other veterans. Their influence has and will continue to shape veteran legislation for decades to come.
This article is featured in the 2026 July/August issue of VFW magazine, and was written by Danny Cook, senior writer for VFW magazine.