Episode 77 · Season 1
If Not Me, Then Who? Inside the Travis Manion Foundation
Twenty-seven years as a military spouse and twenty-nine homes teach you that the hard seasons are the ones that shape you, and that nobody gets through them alone. Charlene Miseli, Senior Director of Chapter Operations at the Travis Manion Foundation, explains how a family’s loss in 2007 grew into a nationwide movement of veterans and families of the fallen mentoring youth and serving their communities.
What you’ll learn:
- How Character Does Matter puts veteran mentors in front of youth to teach character rather than recruit, and why it remains TMF’s flagship program
- How over 50 chapter communities grow from a single service project, and where the 9/11 Heroes Run, Manion WOD, Honor Project, and Service Expeditions fit
- Why Charlene launched the first Nonprofit Leadership Alliance military spouse cohort, and what employers miss when they overlook military spouses
Who it’s for:
Veterans and families of the fallen looking for a place to keep serving, military spouses in the middle of the journey, and the employers and community members who want to understand what this population brings.
Guest + credibility:
Charlene Miseli is Senior Director of Chapter Operations at the Travis Manion Foundation, supporting the veterans and families of the fallen who lead TMF’s over 50 chapter communities across the country. She has been military connected her entire life: an Air Force kid, sister to two Army officers, a military spouse for 27 years, and now the mother of two soldiers serving in the U.S. Army.
Primary CTA:
Visit the Travis Manion Foundation website to find your local chapter, register for a 9/11 Heroes Run, or start with a single service project, and sit with the question Charlene lives by: if not me, then who?
Recommended Links & Resources:
Charlene Miseli on LinkedIn
Travis Manion Foundation
Greg Banks on LinkedIn
Jason Fowler Music
Cirrius Solutions – Use this link to find a curated list of resources we promote based on first-hand experience.
Any Questions: Reach out to us at CirriusTalk@cirriussolutions.com
We cover
- The Travis Mannion Foundation’s Mission
- Impact of Family Loss and Community Building
- Charlene’s Journey to Nonprofit Work
- Defining Identity Beyond Roles
- Passion and Purpose in Nonprofit Work
- The Importance of Community and Service
Chapters
- 0:00Introduction to Military Life and Service
- 0:16The Travis Mannion Foundation’s Mission
- 0:42Impact of Family Loss and Community Building
- 0:56Introduction to Charlene Masselli and TMF
- 1:37Charlene’s Journey to Nonprofit Work
- 3:29Defining Identity Beyond Roles
- 6:00Passion and Purpose in Nonprofit Work
- 7:32The Importance of Community and Service
- 9:55Navigating Military Life as a Spouse
- 12:15Growth Through Challenges
- 13:46Key Milestones in Charlene’s Journey
- 15:26The Role of Wisdom in Life Experiences
- 17:24The Story of Travis Manion
- 19:28Evolution of the Travis Manion Foundation
- 22:03Character Does Matter Program
- 24:22Pillars of Service at TMF
- 26:57Scaling the Mission of TMF
- 27:58Addressing Veteran Suicide and Community Support
- 30:09The Growth of the Travis Manion Foundation
- 31:16Engaging the Community and Building Connections
- 32:46The Significance of the 9/11 Heroes Run
- 35:39Programs for Families of the Fallen
- 41:16Empowering Military Spouses through Leadership
- 46:32The Importance of Community and Service
- 55:06The Legacy of Travis Mannion
- 56:24Community Support for Veterans and Families
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