Freedom Church Veteran Support
At Freedom Church in Canfield, we believe that "freedom isn't free"—and those who have worn the uniform deserve more than just our gratitude. They deserve a community that understands their journey, supports their transition, and honors their sacrifice.
To assist with this, we are launching a new series of events to help veterans understand the resources available to them and help put “local faces” to those resources.
These resources may not deal specifically with veterans but operate in areas of concern for veterans.
Any questions? Contact us a FCCanfield@befreemc.org
To assist with this, we are launching a new series of events to help veterans understand the resources available to them and help put “local faces” to those resources.
These resources may not deal specifically with veterans but operate in areas of concern for veterans.
Any questions? Contact us a FCCanfield@befreemc.org
August 20, 2026: Veteran Lunch and Learn!
Resurrecting Lives Foundation (RLF) is a national nonprofit organization focused on raising awareness of the consequences of untreated brain injuries while advocating for services preventing suicides among veterans, allowing a path to a future for those veterans struggling with the signature wound of the Global War on Terror (GWOT), Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
The foundation advocates for veterans within their local communities and refers them to local hospitals and clinics to provide diagnostics and treatment. It also actively partners with other established 501(c)(3) organizations to coordinate programs and resources such as job training and career opportunities for veterans following their treatment and during ongoing recovery.
About the speaker: Dr. Chrisanne Gordon, MD is a board-certified rehabilitation physician, author, filmmaker, and nationally recognized advocate for veterans living with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and the invisible wounds of war. As founder and executive director of the Resurrecting Lives Foundation, Dr. Gordon has dedicated more than two decades to bridging military medicine, public awareness, and civilian action to improve the lives and futures of America’s veterans.
Between 2008 and 2009, Dr. Gordon conducted nearly 100 brain injury assessments at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Cleveland, Ohio, helping expose the devastating impact of untreated TBI and post-deployment trauma among returning service members. Those experiences inspired her groundbreaking documentary Operation Resurrection, narrated by Academy Award nominee Ben Gazzara, which chronicled the struggles veterans faced when returning home from war.
Her early advocacy work helped bridge the gap between military medicine and legislative action. In 2012, she presented on traumatic brain injury before the Army Medical Corps at Ft. Sam Houston, followed by continued advocacy efforts surrounding landmark TBI legislation introduced on Capitol Hill in 2013. Dr. Gordon later co-produced the award-winning short film Brainstorms, which premiered at the 2022 Soho International Film Festival, earning awards for Best Narrative Short and Best Actor at the 2023 San Diego GI Film Festival.
Today, Dr. Gordon leads the Resurrecting Lives Foundation, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving veterans across the country through advocacy, education, healthcare access, and employment initiatives designed to support successful transition from military to civilian life. Through media campaigns, community outreach, and public policy initiatives, she continues to champion innovative solutions to curb veteran suicide and strengthen long-term veteran recovery.
In 2025, Dr. Gordon expanded her national advocacy efforts with the Gold ADDY Award-winning public service campaign, We Need You Now Too, reinforcing the urgent need for civilian engagement in veteran transition and mental health support.
Dr. Gordon is also the co-author of the book, Guarding Our Guardians: Guaranteeing America’s Veterans a Future from Deployment to Employment, developed in collaboration with the Forbes Foundation and leading experts in healthcare, military service, education, and workforce development. The book advances a national movement focused on ensuring that those who volunteered to protect America are guaranteed the support, opportunity, and future they have earned.
A frequent speaker, media contributor, and national advocate, Dr. Gordon remains a leading voice in the movement to transform how America supports its veterans — not only with gratitude, but with action.
Registration & lunch is free.
Thursday, August 20, 2026
11:30am - 1:00pm
The foundation advocates for veterans within their local communities and refers them to local hospitals and clinics to provide diagnostics and treatment. It also actively partners with other established 501(c)(3) organizations to coordinate programs and resources such as job training and career opportunities for veterans following their treatment and during ongoing recovery.
About the speaker: Dr. Chrisanne Gordon, MD is a board-certified rehabilitation physician, author, filmmaker, and nationally recognized advocate for veterans living with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and the invisible wounds of war. As founder and executive director of the Resurrecting Lives Foundation, Dr. Gordon has dedicated more than two decades to bridging military medicine, public awareness, and civilian action to improve the lives and futures of America’s veterans.
Between 2008 and 2009, Dr. Gordon conducted nearly 100 brain injury assessments at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Cleveland, Ohio, helping expose the devastating impact of untreated TBI and post-deployment trauma among returning service members. Those experiences inspired her groundbreaking documentary Operation Resurrection, narrated by Academy Award nominee Ben Gazzara, which chronicled the struggles veterans faced when returning home from war.
Her early advocacy work helped bridge the gap between military medicine and legislative action. In 2012, she presented on traumatic brain injury before the Army Medical Corps at Ft. Sam Houston, followed by continued advocacy efforts surrounding landmark TBI legislation introduced on Capitol Hill in 2013. Dr. Gordon later co-produced the award-winning short film Brainstorms, which premiered at the 2022 Soho International Film Festival, earning awards for Best Narrative Short and Best Actor at the 2023 San Diego GI Film Festival.
Today, Dr. Gordon leads the Resurrecting Lives Foundation, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving veterans across the country through advocacy, education, healthcare access, and employment initiatives designed to support successful transition from military to civilian life. Through media campaigns, community outreach, and public policy initiatives, she continues to champion innovative solutions to curb veteran suicide and strengthen long-term veteran recovery.
In 2025, Dr. Gordon expanded her national advocacy efforts with the Gold ADDY Award-winning public service campaign, We Need You Now Too, reinforcing the urgent need for civilian engagement in veteran transition and mental health support.
Dr. Gordon is also the co-author of the book, Guarding Our Guardians: Guaranteeing America’s Veterans a Future from Deployment to Employment, developed in collaboration with the Forbes Foundation and leading experts in healthcare, military service, education, and workforce development. The book advances a national movement focused on ensuring that those who volunteered to protect America are guaranteed the support, opportunity, and future they have earned.
A frequent speaker, media contributor, and national advocate, Dr. Gordon remains a leading voice in the movement to transform how America supports its veterans — not only with gratitude, but with action.
Registration & lunch is free.
Thursday, August 20, 2026
11:30am - 1:00pm
Past Events
July 16, 2026: Veteran Lunch and Learn: Youngstown Blue Coats
June 18, 2026: Veteran Lunch and Learn: Concerned Veterans for America (CVA)
May 21, 2026: Veteran Lunch and Learn: Home Instead: Avoiding the Pitfalls of Loneliness
April 16, 2026: Veteran Lunch and Learn - Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
March 19, 2026: Veteran Lunch and Learn - Veterans Services Commission of Mahoning County
February 19, 2026: Resource Fair
June 18, 2026: Veteran Lunch and Learn: Concerned Veterans for America (CVA)
May 21, 2026: Veteran Lunch and Learn: Home Instead: Avoiding the Pitfalls of Loneliness
April 16, 2026: Veteran Lunch and Learn - Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
March 19, 2026: Veteran Lunch and Learn - Veterans Services Commission of Mahoning County
February 19, 2026: Resource Fair