Veterans Resource Support Day
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Summit Agenda
| 12:00 – 1:00 pm | Lunch & Networking (in-office participants only) |
| 1:00 – 1:05 pm | Welcome by Dr. Jean Accius, President & CEO, CHC: Creating Healthier Communities |
| 1:05 – 1:30 pm | Icebreaker: Andrea’s Story |
| Group discussion for in-person and virtual participants Setting the Stage: Navigating the Cost and Complexity of Veteran Care |
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| Discussion Leads: Dr. Jean Accius, Col. Paige, and Dr. Evelyn Lewis |
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| This session opens the convening with Andrea sharing her personal journey of becoming the springing Power of Attorney for her disabled Veteran father after a debilitating stroke. Despite having every vital record—his DD214, birth certificate, and discharge papers—she spent over a year navigating red tape to secure VA benefits, paying more than $100,000 out of pocket for his care. | |
| Participants will gain a practical understanding of the VA system, including eligibility, benefits applications, care coordination, and common barriers. Experts will provide guidance to help Veteran caretakers access the support their loved ones earned, proactively plan for care, and avoid financial depletion. The discussion is designed to ease the stress and frustration of navigating the VA process while ensuring families are not facing these challenges alone. | |
| 1:30 – 2:00 pm | Fireside Chat Planning Ahead: Legal and Financial Preparedness for Veteran Care |
| Col. Paige will lead a candid fireside chat with Col. (Ret.) Mary Lowe Mayhugh to explore how Veterans and caregivers can access the benefits they’ve earned. You’ll hear practical insights, real-world tips, and leave with valuable resources and guidance to help navigate the benefits process with confidence. | |
| 2:00 – 2:30 pm | Discussion The Hidden Toll: Supporting the Caregiver |
| Discussion Leads: Mezeline Lindor, MEd, LPC and Moni Jefferson, CEO and Founder, Association of Military Spouse Entrepreneurs |
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| Behind every Veteran is a network of caregivers—often family members—carrying emotional, financial, and physical burdens. This session focuses on the human side of caregiving: isolation, burnout, guilt, and the struggle to balance care with self-care. | |
| 2:30 – 3:00 pm | Action Commitments & Closing Reflections: Preparing Families, Protecting Futures |
| Before we depart, we’ll take a moment to reflect on what we’ve learned and the community we’ve built. Participants will be invited to share one word or emotion they’re taking with them—hope, clarity, determination, or connection. | |
| 3:00 – 3:15 pm | Wrap Up and Closing Reflections |
| Join us as we reflect on the day’s key takeaways, share valuable resources, and preview upcoming events and opportunities. This brief session will help participants leave inspired and informed, with clear next steps for continued engagement. | |
| 3:15 – 5:00 pm | Close Out & Reception (in-person participants) |
| Join us for an informal gathering with music, light refreshments, and community connections. Visit with resource partners, meet other caregivers and Veterans, and celebrate the shared commitment to ensure that every Veteran receives the care, dignity, and benefits they’ve earned. |
Our Panelists
President and CEO
CHC: Creating Healthier Communities
Dr. Jean Accius
Dr. Jean Accius is a transformational executive, strategist, and thought leader with over 25 years of experience driving systemic change at the intersection of business, health, and social impact. He has dedicated his career to breaking down barriers to health, expanding access and opportunity, and building cross-sector collaborations that empower communities to thrive.
As President & CEO of CHC: Creating Healthier Communities, Dr. Accius leads a high-performing organization partnering with 650+ businesses and 5,000 nonprofits, reaching over 17 million employees and families. Under his leadership, CHC has achieved national and global recognition, including The Silicon Review® “50 Best Companies to Watch” and Real Leaders Top Impact Company, joining iconic brands like Patagonia and Johnson & Johnson.
Dr. Accius is a two-time Influential Marylander (2019, 2025), a Next Avenue Influencer in Aging, a 2025 Baldrige Executive Fellow, and recipient of the 2024 President’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He serves on multiple boards and is a member of the AAMC Center for Health Justice multisector partner group, advancing aligned strategies to eliminate health inequities nationwide.
A sought-after speaker and advisor, Dr. Accius has engaged leaders at the World Economic Forum, the United Nations, and across industries worldwide. He is a certified director with the National Association of Corporate Directors and is a graduate of prestigious executive programs at Harvard, Stanford, UNC Law, and Santa Clara University, and holds a Ph.D. from American University and master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Florida State University.
Driven by the belief that collaboration is the new currency, Dr. Accius continues to redefine what it means to create healthier, more resilient communities with opportunity and access for all.
Executive Director
Concerned Citizens Network of Alexandria
Col. Jim Paige
Jim Paige is a retired U.S. Army Colonel and senior executive with extensive experience in international affairs, strategic communication, and leadership development. As Executive Director of the Concerned Citizens Network of Alexandria (CCNA), he leads initiatives that promote equity in education, health, and social justice through collaboration with civic leaders, faith-based institutions, and community organizations.
His numerous awards include the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, Living Legend of Alexandria Award, Champion of Children Award, Men of Courage Award, NAACP Community Service Award, Foundation for the Advancement of Music & Education (FAME) Community Service of the Year Award, and the Veteran Support Award.
A passionate advocate for veterans and mental health, Jim works tirelessly to address homelessness, PTSD, and suicide prevention among service members. He partners with the American Psychiatric Association Foundation (APAF), Creating Healing Communities (CHC), Howard University, St. Joseph Catholic Church, and others to promote mental wellness and expand access to care across the community.
Jim and his children co-founded the Page1 Foundation to support underserved high school students with college preparation, mentoring, and scholarships. A lifetime member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Jim exemplifies a steadfast commitment to leadership, service, and community empowerment.
President & Chair
Veteran Health and Wellness Foundation
Dr. Evelyn L. Lewis M.D., M.A., FAAFP, DABDA
Dr. Lewis earned her medical degree from the University of the Health Sciences, Chicago Medical School (Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science), and completed a residency in family medicine at Naval Hospital Jacksonville. She holds a Master’s in Social and Behavioral Sciences and retired from the U.S. Navy after 25 years of service. She served as Director of Medical Policy at Pfizer and is co-founder of Warrior Centric Health, LLC. Currently, she is Chief Medical Officer and President & Chairman of the Veterans Health and Wellness Foundation.
Dr. Lewis is an Adjunct Associate Professor at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Clinical Instructor at Rosalind Franklin University. She chairs the VA Advisory Committee on Disability Compensation and serves as a delegate to the AMA House of Delegates. Her expertise spans veteran health, cultural competency, health disparities, and community engagement. She is a nationally recognized speaker and has received numerous awards for her leadership and innovation in healthcare.
CEO and Founder
Association of Military Spouse Entrepreneurs
Moni Jefferson
Moni Jefferson is an innovator committed to social impact. An active duty Air Force Spouse and accomplished multi-venture entrepreneur specializing in public relations, marketing strategy, business development, and community building.
Moni is known for advocating for military spouse entrepreneurs and international speakers across local and national venues. Since 2014 Moni has helped build and scale multiple military spouse programs. Moni was invited to the White House and featured in Military Spouse magazine on the Nasdaq Tower in Times Square, Inc., and Forbes Next 1000 entrepreneurs for her work.
Her most recent venture as the CEO and Founder of The Association of Military Spouse Entrepreneurs (AMSE) since 2019 has helped over 10k + military spouses all around the globe to start, scale, and sustain their businesses. AMSE is the first fully digital military spouse entrepreneur program and platform with education, community, digital masterclasses, resources, national partners, and more. It was built by military spouse entrepreneurs for military spouse entrepreneurs. AMSE was inducted into the DOD’s Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) in its first year for its work and impact on the military spouse community and the Spouse Ambassador Network part of Dr. Bidents Joining Forces Initiative. And Employment Chair for the Military Family Advisory Council at Newrez.
Moni is also known for working in tech; Moni has created and raised Capital for her three Military lifestyle apps, MilCam, MilEmoji, and My Ultimate PCS.
Moni holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke in Communications and Public Relations and is a member of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority Inc.
Moni has been married for 25 years, has three children, and lives on the East Coast. She loves traveling and is dangerously addicted to nachos. In her downtime, she enjoys teaching her children how to cook traditional Puerto Rican meals and diving into a good crime podcast.
President and Founder
John P. Mayhugh Foundation
Colonel Mary Lowe Mayhugh MA, MBA U. S. Army, Retired
Mary Lowe is Principal at MITRE Corporation and the President and Founder of the John P. Mayhugh Foundation. At MITRE, Mary Lowe has led transformative studies and initiatives across multiple Federal agencies, specializing in organizational change and advanced program management. She is recognized for orchestrating high-impact events that unite experts to develop collaborative solutions addressing critical issues such as mental health access, the integration of virtual and digital technologies in healthcare delivery, and innovative approaches to program management. As President of the John P. Mayhugh Foundation, Mary Lowe spearheads a national symposium that convene thought leaders from Congress, federal agencies, and the private sector. Her leadership drives multi-sector collaboration to advance mental health initiatives for military service members, veterans, and their families affected by trauma, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress, addiction, and suicide.