The nature of the United States military has changed. Women have had a presence in the military for some time, but their numbers have now reached unprecedented levels – over 15% of the total force.
As their numbers have climbed, women's roles have expanded well beyond the limited range of assignments available to them previously. Simultaneously the nature of armed conflict has fundamentally changed. Gone are the days when one could easily define a "combat zone," and gone with them are easy definitions of what it means to serve "in combat."
The combination of a changing U.S. military and the changing nature of war have led to a situation where more women serve in the dangers of combat more than ever before. Joint Chiefs Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen said in November 2010, "I know what the law says and I know what it requires, but I'd be hard pressed to say that any woman who serves in Afghanistan today or who's served in Iraq over the last few years did so without facing the same risks of their male counterparts."
Our America of the 21st century has women service personnel who truly are combat veterans, and those who have served in Afghanistan and Iraq now number over 280,000.
Journey to Normal: Women of War Come Home recounts the unprecedented story of women who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Filmmaker JulieHera DeStefano launched this project to explore the psychological and social dynamics of their service, to follow their reintegration into civilian life, and to preserve their stories.
Journey to Normal turns the film over to the true storytellers, the women themselves. Their collective narrative reflects these changes in our society and helps to bridge the perceived gap between military and civilian culture.
The Journey to Normal project will produce multiple outcomes:
The goals are:
Spring 2009
Spring 2009 – Fall 2009
Spring 2010
Summer 2010 – Fall 2010
December 2010 – April 2011
Summer 2011
Summer 2011 through Fall 2012
April 2012
Fall 2012 through Spring 2013
Spring 2013
Summer 2013
Fall 2013
Fall 2014
Spring 2015 and Beyond
JulieHera DeStefano graduated from Carnegie Mellon University (BFA, School of Drama), and has built a career both in front of and behind the camera. She served as the Managing Director and Producer of an award-winning off-Broadway theater company and as the Business Manager of a New York-based film and photography studio. Earlier in her career she performed extensively in Pittsburgh, working with Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, Pittsburgh Playhouse, and Gargaro Productions. Her acting credits include the films The Preacher's Wife and The First Wives Club.
Andrew Swensen advises nonprofits in Greater Pittsburgh and holds adjunct positions at Carnegie Mellon University and Point Park University. Past positions include Director of Pittsburgh Filmmakers and Special Assistant to the President at The Pittsburgh Foundation. His professional career began with faculty positions in the humanities at Brandeis University, Hamilton College, Wellesley College and Western Michigan University. He received his Ph.D. in 1995 from the University of Wisconsin.
Andrew C. Batista is an award-winning Cinematographer and Producer (Piano Story, Life at Twenty) based in the Pittsburgh region. His latest documentary (currently in post-production) follows members of the original Band of Brothers as they return to Walter Reed Army Medical Center to visit with current wounded warriors. A Pittsburgh Filmmakers graduate and grant recipient, narrative filmmaking is where Batista thrives. He is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of the University of Pittsburgh.
Nancy Frazen obtained her B.A. and California Teaching Credential from U.S. International University in San Diego and England, as well as, attending The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. After graduation, she joined the editing teams of feature films; "Man, Woman and Child," "Beatlemania," " The Breakfast Club" "Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling," "Black Rain," and "Mambo Kings" becoming an editor on "The Milagro Beanfield War". She has edited the films, "Space Jam", "Man’s Best Friend," "Brazil Film Festival Winner, "Allucinados" and Dubai Film Festival Winner, "Habibi". Nancy has also edited the Academy Award Winning Documentary, "You Don’t Have to Die" as well as the Academy Award Nominated Documentary, "Changing Our Minds" and the Documentary, "Climate Refugees." Sundance 2010. Nancy has also edited Academy Award nominated, "Surf’s Up," for Sony Animation and "Teacher’s Pet" and "Pooh’s Heffalump Movie" and edited Academy Award Nominated, "Runaway Brain" for Disney.
Anderson has a combination of musical talent and the ability to match music to the moving image. He has won two Emmy Awards, as composer for the documentary "From Pittsburgh to Poland: Lessons from The Holocaust" and as music director and co-producer of "Live From Studio A: American Standards." His performance credits include keyboard for the Temptations, the Drifters, Bo Diddley, the Coasters, Ronnie Specter, and the Vogues, as well as with jazz artists Claudio Roditi, Jerry Niewood and Marvin Stamm. Anderson is a graduate of the Duquesne University School of Music.
A Pittsburgh native for over twenty years, Roman Petrov graduated from Point Park University in May of 2012 with a B.A. in Cinema and Digital Arts with a concentration in editing. He has worked on dozens of professionally produced, student short film productions at Point Park in a variety of capacities, specializing in editing and on set sound recording and boom operation. Outside of Point Park, Petrov has worked on several professional productions, from commercials to features, including Pretty Little Things, the first feature length film completed solely by Point Park students. Outside of filmmaking, Petrov was on the advance staff for Obama for America in 2012 and part of the Presidential Inaugural Committee in 2013. Petrov continues to work periodically as an advance associate for The White House.
Dane Hutchinson is a Full Sail University graduate that found his niche in the audio end of film making. Most of Dane’s experience has come from his works on internal corporate videos and commercials shot in the local Pittsburgh area. Having a lifelong family friend serving in our Navy helps motivate Dane to want to share the real story of the lives of our female active and non-active service women. His deep respect for our Armed Forces makes him a great addition to our family.
John McDermott graduated from Brock University (BA, Theatrical Performance) in his native Canada, and then attended The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York. John has extensive experience both as an Actor and Director on stage and in film, and also served as the Artistic Director of an award-winning off-Broadway theater company for ten years. He also brings a wealth of business knowledge to Journey to Normal -- ranging from Technology start-ups to global Fortune 100 experience -- having also spent 20 years working on Wall Street. McDermott is proud be a part of what he believes will be an extraordinarily important and influential film, and also to be supporting the US Military through our ongoing JTN initiatives.
Erin Yanacek has been working with Journey to Normal in preparing transcriptions for production and post-production, and for the advisory panel of JTN. A multi-talented individual, Erin has been working both in nonprofit administration and music performance. A trumpet player who recently received her Masters Degree in trumpet performance, she holds a position with the River City Brass and substitutes with the Pittsburgh Symphony, the Wheeling Symphony, and other regional ensembles. Yanacek also works with the Pittsburgh Youth Chamber Orchestra and writes for the online journal, The Muse Dialogue.
Professor, Temple University; social/cultural historian of the 20th century United States; research has focused on the history of gender and sexuality and on war and society/military institutions in US history; most recent book: America’s Army: Making the All-Volunteer Force (2009).
Associate Vice Chancellor for Continuing Education and Industry Relationships, University of Pittsburgh; VP, Sponsored Programs, Research Support, and CME, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC).
Assistant Professor, Social Work, Chatham University; Women's Studies PhD Certificate (University of Pittsburgh); post-MSW Fellow at Yale University in Psychiatric Services.
President and CEO of Passavant Hospital Foundation; Past Chairman, North Hills Passavant Health Corporation Board of Directors and Passavant Hospital Trustees.
Historian, Combat Studies Institute; adjunct Assistant Professor of History for the US Army Command and General Staff College.
Research Professor, Clark University; research includes the intersections of women and the military both in the U.S. and internationally; multiple Fulbright recipient, author of numerous books including the most recent, Nimo's War, Emma's War: Making Feminist Sense of the Iraq War.
Author; Field Instructor; Psychotherapist.
United States Army Reserves; previously: Officer in Charge, Combat Stress Clinic, Forward Operating Base Gardez, Afghanistan; Children and Family Services, Allegheny County, PA; Veterans Administration.
Professor, Chair of Undergraduate Psychology at Chatham University; previously: founder and director of Women's Studies at the University of Maine at Farmington; and Research Associate at the Wellesley Centers for Research on Women.
Journey to Normal was incorporated and received its designation as a 501(c)(3) organization in Spring 2012. While the primary focus of the organization presently centers on the production of the film Journey to Normal: Women of War Come Home, we have created the organization to ensure that the project has sustaining impact.
Five areas of current focus will have ongoing relevance to the mission of Journey to Normal:
Journey to Normal invites philanthropic partners to support this endeavor to convey the stories of veterans, educate the public, and create a repository of the narratives of women serving in the combat environment. Journey to Normal is not affiliated with any political position or organization, and exists only to advance its mission of telling the story of veterans, educating the public about them, and providing media and research materials for those who serve them.
Print:
TV:
Radio:
Web:
We are grateful to all who have so generously supported Journey to Normal. Without your support, we would not have been able to achieve so much. We wish to acknowledge our funding partners to date, who include:
We invite Philanthropic partners to join the Journey to Normal initiative. Journey to Normal, Inc. is a charitable 501c3 organization and is not affiliated with any political position or organization. Journey to Normal, Inc. exists to advance its mission of sharing the stories of women in service, creating a network of connection for them, educating the public about them, and providing media and research materials for those who serve them.
Thank you for joining our community of support - your generosity assures that these incredible stories will be shared.
Tax deductibility: Journey to Normal is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, relying on charitable public support for the fulfillment of its mission. We thank you for your support!
For further information, please refer to the IRS website: http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc506.html
"Given the fact that we have been at war for the longest time in history, I wonder what the long term effects will be on children?"
-- Major Christine Mau, USAF 455th Air Expeditionary Wing
Contact Us:
Journey to Normal
420 Duke Court
Gibsonia, PA 15044
724-443-6343
Email: [email protected]