SAIC Alum Helps Veterans Struggling with PTSD

CreatiVets was started by SAIC alum and Iraq War veteran Richard Casper (BFA 2012) who found healing through his sculpture courses and guitar. "It gave me whatever I was missing back," Casper tells DNA Info. "There's something so magical about healing yourself in that way, and veterans should have a chance to know art is an option." His professor Bill O'Brien (Ceramics) pushed him to express himself through his art. Casper says that his time spent and friendships made at SAIC healed him more than months of therapy, and the idea to help other veterans was born while he went to school here. CreatiVets has helped many veterans express their feelings through song as they fly out to Nashville, all expenses paid, and co-author a song with professional songwriters. The nonprofit is going to hold to fundraisers later this year to be in a position to help more veterans. Casper will also be returning to SAIC next summer to teach a class.