Kelly Kiki has spent over 30 years focused on serving his local and global community. It makes sense as a 7-year veteran of the US Coast Guard, who flew search and rescue aboard the HH-65A helicopter, that he has remained committed to serving others in great need. He was a flight crew instructor, safety petty officer, and recipient of the YN1 Renee Russell Memorial Award in 1993 while at Air Station Los Angeles.

Professionally, Kiki has spent the past 25 years teaching high school and 35 years coaching high school wrestling and softball. It is here that Kiki received the honor of being a 2005 Lilac Festival Teach of the Year, recipient of the Inspiring Future Philanthropist Award in 2018, and recipient of the United States Navy Influencer Impact Award in 2022.

With this passion to educate, he created Education 4 Kids International in 2006 with Hope 4 Kids International (H4KI) to support schools in Uganda. Kiki has been boots on the ground four times in both Uganda. He continues to work with H4KI in supporting some of the most vulnerable children in the world.

Locally, he supported Blessings Under the Bridge here in Spokane from 2008 to 2020 as their Public Relations and one time Board Vise President and President serving Spokane’s homeless population. This work led him to sitting on Mayor Nadine Woodward’s Mayors Advisory Council on Downtown Environment for 10 months in 2022-23 where they sought ways to help not only the city but also the homeless community.

Looking back, Kiki’s prouder moments stem from his time serving his country; thus, he is honored to serve as Veterans Community Response’s (VCR) board member since 2020 and current Board President since 2022. His passion to serve with VCR comes from the understanding of the sacrifices of so many that served before him. From his own father, uncle, sister, and brother, Kiki understands the sacrifices one makes and the hidden wounds that are carried throughout a veteran’s life.

At the forefront of his journey, Kiki’s beautiful family is his truth. His wife, Dawn, of 31 years and two beautiful children, Caitlynn and Justus, have been, in some way or another, at his side for his years of service. 

Born and raised in West Seattle, with detours to the Bay Area and Washington D.C., Andy Hail was heavily involved with Boy Scouts, competitive swimming, lifeguarding, volunteer fire fighting and emergency medical work until my high school graduation in 1975. During a cross-country post graduation experience, he learned about a Para-Rescue program in the Air Force that transformed my life dramatically. Enlisting through, and serving with, the 129th Air Rescue and Recovery Group between 1976 - 1982, Andy received a wealth of training and field experience that laid the foundation for a 37 year fire service career that began in Redmond, WA and ended with retirement in Spokane Valley, WA. Along the way I acquired a BS degree in Fire Service Administration and a MS in Executive Leadership & Emergency Management.

Over the past 3 + decades, Andy has been the proud parent of two daughters, one son and grandparent to five g’sons and one g’daughter. He continued with community service through participation in youth sports coaching baseball and umpiring, becoming a youth sports organization board member, organizing community focused special events, food bank work, political activism, mentoring of grade school students, working with the Redmond and Spokane Valley Fire Fighter Benevolent organizations, serving on the Spokane Valley Fire Fighter Scholarship selection committee and assisting with the operations and fund raising for Veterans Community Response and Spokane Veterans Forum organizations.

After retiring from Spokane Valley Fire Department in 2016, Andy met and married my best friend, Suzie Spencer, and has been able to spend time involved in long neglected outdoor activities and travel, including two cross-country motorcycling adventures and backpacking into the the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area. More importantly, both have invested time and energy contributing to helping organize, sponsor and conduct veterans retreats through the Veterans Community Response (VCR) organization and participating with VCR partner organization All Hands and Hearts – a humanitarian disaster relief organization deployments to hurricane and tornado impacted areas in the Caribbean and Southeast USofA.

Additionally, Andy has spent over two years assisting with the operations of the Spokane Veterans Forum while also mentoring veterans involved with regional court systems. He looks forward to the continued development of the Community Response component of VCR, providing veterans with the opportunity to use their military background and skills in a productive manner while assisting communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters involving their towns and / or regions. While veterans contribute to communities through their contributions of time effort and energy, communities contribute toward the healing and development of veterans through recognition and appreciation of their previous military service and continued service to community.

Terri Fowler has been one of Veterans Community Response’s (VCR) most valuable volunteers working as the secretary and organizer of all that is successful. Her organization, energy, commitment, and heart are involved in about everything that VCR accomplishes.

Her leadership has now spread across the three Presidents that have led this organization.

Darrin was born and raised in Missoula, Montana.  His grandfather, a USMC Colonel, was instrumental in developing Darrin’s character.  The Colonel taught the grandchildren important life lessons as they helped him work his land, and as he led them on horse pack trips into the wilderness.   The Colonel taught them how to care for animals and humans, to be prepared, to keep a good camp and to leave every place better than how you found it.

Darrin is the founder of Veterans Community Response and continues to be a vital part of its growth and success. Now retired and living in Coast Rica his vision of life and the spiritual healing that comes from nature is found at the center of the man he is today.

Roger Vielle was raised by his grandparents on the Blackfeet reservation in Montana. After his grandparents passed, he went to a variety of Government Boarding Schools. He is currently an instructor in the American Indian Studies program at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho

He has traveled all over this country and has taken the Pow Wow trail many times as a Men’s Northern Traditional Dancer. He is also a renowned speaker and story teller speaking at resorts, retreats, schools, and youth functions. He was a featured speaker at” Native America Speaks in Glacier National Park. He enjoys sharing his stories, songs and culture with all people. Roger has been a bounty hunter, private investigator, process server, counselor, youth camp director, teacher, and a case manager (just to name a few careers). Through all types of employment and locations, Roger has continued to be involved in his communities, caring for people with a special place in his heart for the youth and Veterans. He has been a counselor in life skills for youth and adult detainees. With a unique “no-nonsense”, bold approach, he has been able to reach many individuals. He also facilitates traditional circle talks, sweat lodge ceremonies, and cultural connectedness. 

He has been a Board member since 2009 with BTYR and also the Native Spiritual Advisor for the organization. Amongst other duties with VCR he is the builder and facilitator of the Sweat Lodges for the Retreats.

He is a U.S. Army Veteran and specially trained Tribal Veterans’ Rep. He lives with his wife and two dogs and they all enjoy traveling around the country doing various speaking engagements, trainings, and attending Pow wows.

Conferences/Training/Professional Experience

Talking Circle Facilitator, Traditional Sweat Lodge Facilitator (ongoing)

Blackfoot Confederacy staff, Glacier National Park Conference (2009)

Crazy Dog Society Member, Blackfeet Tribal Warrior Society inducted in 2009

Native Historical Trauma and Grief, trained as facilitator, Browning, MT (2010)

Tribal Veterans’ Representative, Helena, MT (2011-2012)

Native Spiritual Advisor/Board Member, Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, Spokane, WA (2010-Current)

American Indigenous Research Conference in Polson, Montana, October 2016. Out of the Box 

Presenter on Indigenous Teaching Methodologies, Success in the College Classroom.

Invited Talks and Presentations

Career Advisor, Grant County Jail inmates, Silver City, NM (2012)

Youth Day presentation, Red Paint Pow Wow, Silver City, NM (2012-2013)

Native Traditional Healing presentation, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA (2014)

Native Traditional Healing presentation, Spokane Vets’ Center, Spokane, WA (2014)

Storyteller, Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute, Moscow, ID (2014-15)

Presenter, Religion and Social Work, Whitworth University, Spokane, WA, Feb. 12, 2015

Keynote Speaker, Mother Language Symposium, Washington State University, Feb. 22, 2015

Keynote Speaker, Spirituality, Eastern Washington University, Feb. 25, 2015

Teaching Experience

Life Skills Coach, New Mexico Correctional Facility, Belen, NM (1998-1999)

Teacher, guiding sweats, talking circles and Medicine Wheel for incarcerated Native male youth State of Montana Juvenile Youth Authority, Deer Lodge, MT (2009-2010)

Instructor on Native Tradition and Culture, HOIST, University of Idaho (2014)

Instructor ANTH 329, North American Indians, University of Idaho, Spring Semester, 2015-16

Instructor, ANTH 404 Sacred Lands, University of Idaho, Spring Semester, 2017

Investigator, Tribal Juvenile Court, Toho’ O Odham Tribe (Pima), Sells, AZ (2007-2008)

Manpower TANF Case Manager, Browning, MT (2010-2011)

Counselor, mentor, Sierra Counseling Services, Silver City, NM (2011-2012)

Support Staff, Spokane Vets’ Center, Spokane, WA (2010-Current)

Native Youth Mentor and Assistant Teacher, NASC University of Idaho (2014-Current)

Michael Patterson has volunteered with the Veterans Community Response (VCR) organization since 2013. He has served as a retreat coordinator, community responder, mentor, board member, and now resides as the president of the VCR board. Mike served as an Infantryman in the 2nd Ranger Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division and as a Special Forces Communications Sergeant. Mike closed out his military career in 2017 after 23 years of service, retiring as a Command Sergeant Major, from the Special Operations Detachment Pacific (SODPAC). He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University and is currently a Firefighter with Spokane Valley Fire Department. Mike lives with his wife and three children in Spokane Valley. In his off time he enjoys hunting, backpacking, camping and other outdoor activities.

Mike served as Veterans Community Response’s President for two years before stepping back as a husband, father, and Captain in the Valley Fire Department. His leadership remains a great value to our board and teams.

Travis Fletcher has spent the past couple years helping Veterans Community Response find its success by serving with our Community Service, Community Responder, and Spiritual Team. He has become a true asset to our serving our veterans in the greatest need.

Branch:     Army 1997-2003

Awards:    ARCOM (x3), AAM (X3), GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, NCO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RIBBON, ARMY SERVICE RIBBON, OVERSEAS SERVICE RIBBON, NATO MEDAL, KOSOVO CAMPAIGN MEDAL, IRAQ CAMPAIGN MEDAL (2 BRONZE STARS) GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM SERVICE MEDAL.

Professional Career:     Operations Manager Arcata Recycling Center 1995-97, US Army 1997-2003, Senior Maintenance Technician Treasury wine estates 2005-2011, AS in Natural Science, SRJC, 2019, BA in Philosophy with focus on Ethics, Minor: Psychology & Sociology, Eastern Washington University 2022-current.

VCR:     Community Responder, 2019-current

Homer found an opportunity to serve his community through attending a retreat sponsored by Veteran’s Community Response and was moved to not only give back but become engaged with an organization that provides so much meaningful support to the Spokane community and beyond. With a diverse team of truly inspirational individuals who believe in purposeful engagement, VRC has been a comprehensive outlet to engage in meaningful action in the community, Veteran’s in need, providing healing through mission-driven focus, peer development, and support. He is thankful for the great opportunity that VCR has provided and is excited to be part of fostering the organization’s future vision.