Join us for the WVOP Networking Hour, where we invite strong members of the veteran community to come and speak about services available to all our veterans. This week we welcome Tess Banko from West Los Angeles Veterans Collective as our guest.

Topic: Veteran Housing on the West LA Campus and how to support our Sister Veterans

Tess Barragan Banko, MSW/MPA, enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in the Engineer field in 2000. She serves as the Project and Community Development Director for the West Los Angeles Veterans Collective (WLAVC) for homeless and at-risk Veterans, families and Veteran caretakers.

Tess deeply identifies with fellow Veterans on their paths to recovery, wellness and empowerment. With a diverse background that includes organizational management, community organizing, human services, and behavioral health and wellness (including trauma, resilience and post-traumatic growth), Tess has a holistic and unique perspective to the needs of Veterans and their families.

Tess serves the community on behalf of her military and veteran sisters, brothers and their families. She is an LA County Mental Health Advisory Commissioner for 3rd District County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, a member of the Los Angeles Mayor’s Veteran Suicide Prevention Challenge for Military and Veteran Families, and the 2nd Vice Chair of the Pacific Palisades American Legion Post 283 and the American Legion District 6 Service Officer.