On April 18, 1979, a band of veterans from the battlefields of WWII and the jungles of Vietnam embarked on a transformative journey that would reshape the future. Their mission was born from the harsh reality that for most of their comrades returning home from combat, there loomed widespread racism, unemployment, absence of quality medical care, and the challenge of reintegrating into a society that often misunderstood their struggles and disregarded their sacrifices. Soldiers who had once worn the uniform with pride were now navigating a world that seemed both unfamiliar and unsupportive.
It is from here that Black Veterans for Social Justice (BVSJ) in Brooklyn, NY emerged as not only a veterans service organization but as a beacon of hope in the community. As soldiers dealt with the invisible scars of combat and the deadly effects of the toxin Agent Orange, BVSJ provided the camaraderie that so many of these heroes missed. As the years passed, a new generation of veterans would face similar battles and BVSJ would be there to provide them with resources, offering not only services but tender loving care and a listening ear.
In 2025, BVSJ was awarded a Jacques Pépin Foundation Principal Grant to support the important work of their job training program. Graduates of that program are pictured here proudly wearing their aprons bearing Jacques’ words, “We are all equal in the eyes of the stove.”
On Veterans Day, and every day, we are proud to be in partnership with BVSJ, and thankful for each veteran’s service and sacrifice.