News Archive
MERIT x ZOE
An Impact Short
Marvin Strategies proudly supported the short narrative film MERTIT x ZOE. This powerful film by writer/director Kyle Hausmann-Stokes was designed to be an impact film aimed at the veteran community. Chris Marvin served as a producer and an impact producer on this project.
PARK to park tour
A Celebration of Patriotism & Parks
Marvin Strategies’ principal, Chris Marvin, led an epic series of road trips that touched dozen states and more than 25 national parks. This adventure was co-sponsored by the National Parks Conservation Association, Blue Star Families, Peace Vans, Kodiak, Homage, Travel Lodge, and Rocky Mountain Campervans. The trip followed the 1920 Park-to-Park Highway Tour, a barnstorming activism trip meant to encourage the paving of roads in the west. For Chris, the national parks are a tangible representation of what he fought for overseas during his military service.
“I served my country in combat. As a veteran, I view America’s National Parks as a tangible representation of what I fought for. So, I want to share and experience them with my daughters.”
it’s just common sense
Outdoor Leaders Combating Gun Violence
In response to the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Marvin Strategies worked with a group of outdoor industry leaders to create a short video demanding that the U.S. Senate pass a law requiring background checks on all gun sales.
NPCA Veteran Engagement
Speaking Up for Our Legacy
When the National Parks Conservation Association wanted to launch a national Veterans Council, they turned to the leadership of Marvin Strategies. Featuring a small group of veterans from diverse backgrounds, the council helps NPCA advance their veteran engagement strategy. Read more about the role veterans can play in national parks advocacy and how national parks can be a legacy for veterans to pass down to their children in the guest blog that Chris published for NPCA.
Read the piece now: Finding Patriotism in National Parks
The Veteran Civic Health Index 2021
Defining Leaders and Civic Assets
In 2021, the National Conference on Citizenship released the newest addition of the Veteran Civic Health Index. Marvin Strategies was hired by VCHI partner, The Mission Continues, to serve as the primary author of this report. The VCHI is an empirical analysis of the civic health and engagement of veterans, as determined by data from the U.S. Census Bureau. NCoC regularly creates CHIs for cities and states. This special VCHI looks at veterans and makes the case that they are and should be held up as leaders and assets to our communities.
Media Projects Archive
Veterans for Gun Sense
Marvin Strategies designed and led Veterans for Gun Sense, a virtual forum hosted by the Everytown Veteran Advisory Council. The forum addresses pressing gun violence prevention issues that are important to veterans and discusses ways in which veterans can work to end gun violence in America. The forum was created in anticipation of the 2020 election and continues beyond around targeted moments and issues. Recorded Veterans for Gun Sense sessions are available on YouTube. Watch now.
The learn more about the forum, contact Marvin Strategies. Connect now.
Voices of Resilience
A documentary short from Thoughtful Robot and Emmy-nominated director Michael Collins in partnership with Marvin Strategies. Originally aired on PBS, the film addresses society’s role in war through the lens of moral injury and resilience. Watch now.
Reclaiming Patriotism
A podcast from Crooked Media, hosted by Ken Harbaugh with production assistance from Marvin Strategies. Released in July 2019, the series features Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, and other great Americans talking about what patriotism really means in the 21st century. Listen Now.
Research Archive
the backbone of our military
Qualitative research on the military spouse community
The USO engaged Marvin Strategies to take a deep dive into the lives of military spouses. Using human-centered design principles, the project developed themes and insights by visiting a dozen military installations around the world. The final report was the center piece of the USO’s Salute to Military Spouses in November 2018, and the insights gained have been integral to improving existing USO programs and designing new initiatives to support military spouses.
Re-imagining Public Lands
Developing a campus for social innovation on an historic site
The Presidio Trust partnered with Marvin Strategies to conduct research for the future utilization of Fort Scott—a century old former military base now operated by the Trust in association with the National Park Service. The report re-imagined Fort Scott as a campus for social innovation and prepared the Trust to request proposals that would define the future of Fort Scott.
Advocating for a Modern Military
Exploring innovative ways to reform defense personnel policies
The Bipartisan Policy Center called on Marvin Strategies to build their Task Force on Defense Personnel. The engagement centered on recruiting diverse and representative task force members from the defense and national security communities, authoring white papers and the final report, and leading a listening tour on military bases across the country. Many of the final report’s recommendations have been incorporated into Congressional legislation, appropriations, and defense policy.
Marvin Strategies is certified by the Small Business Administration as a service-disabled veteran owned small business.