Veteran Education

Prior to the pandemic, Brentwood School launched a series of cooking classes at Building 209 and the Domiciliary on the West Los Angeles VA Campus. It was a wonderful opportunity for our faculty and staff to connect with Veterans and provide a culinary lesson and demonstration of an easy recipe, which then culminated in enjoying a meal together. Our faculty and volunteers soon realized that the best part of the cooking class was the connection and conversation with Veterans while sharing a meal together. 

When the cooking classes stopped due to Covid-19, Brentwood School wanted to continue its longstanding mission and support of the residents at Building 209. We started by reaching out to our BWS faculty and community members to collect their personal favorite cooking recipes, creating a 45-page bound cookbook. Recipes consisted of simple dinners, lunches, snacks, and desserts; some faculty favorites and “secret” family recipes; and “meals for a budget.” Then, on April 29, 2020, Brentwood School delivered the cookbooks with groceries to Veterans in the 54 housing units at Building 209. Each cookbook was placed in a reusable bag filled with items to make two of the recipes: curried lentils and Spamaroni. The residents at 209 were delighted! If we couldn’t provide cooking classes, we could at least bring the recipes and supplies to Veterans so they could make meals in their unit kitchens.

Post pandemic, Brentwood School now offers monthly outdoor cooking classes for Veterans at the West Los Angeles VA Campus Domiciliary. These cooking classes have included some easy and healthy recipes with an emphasis on cardiovascular health and nutrition, such as Greek garden gazpacho, juicing classes, lemon vinaigrette potato salad with grilled fish, vinegar coleslaw with fish tacos, garlic hummus with kabobs, and homemade salsa with fresh fish. Classes are always very well attended, and as soon as Covid is well under control, classes will expand to include CTRS and Building 209 at the West Los Angeles VA Campus as well.

Weekly afternoon yoga classes are spearheaded by Brentwood faculty and are held at the West Los Angeles VA Campus Domiciliary. Yoga classes provide Veterans an opportunity to increase flexibility, muscle strength, and tone. Yoga is also a mindfulness tool to experience a sense of well-being, safety, self-regulation, and active engagement without stress. Our current classes provide a secure environment for participants to learn the basic yoga postures, breathing techniques, and safe alignment with a focus on bringing harmony between mind and body.

Brentwood faculty and staff have led various classes to help not only Veterans, but VA staff members who assist Veterans too, in order to help Vets navigate the job search landscape and prepare for interviews. Some classes have included: Resume Writing, Advanced Resume Web Training Parts 1 & 2, Interviewing Tips and Skills, and LinkedIn Training and How to Market Yourself.