TAMPA, Fla. – For nearly a decade Art2Action Inc., has been hosting a series of open mic nights specifically geared toward veterans.

“Often you’ll hear veterans say that people don’t necessarily understand their experience and we found that the veteran community open mic is a great opportunity to get both veterans and civilians sharing their stories and relating to each other and connecting,” said Andrea Assaf with Art2Action Inc.

After a brief pause during the pandemic, the free events are back in full force in person at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts. 

The events bring people together at the mic and also artists like Nadine McDowell.

“It’s an experience that I would never give up,” said McDowell as she looked through photos of her military moments.

She served in the U.S. Army as an intelligence analyst from 2005 to 2009.

“Really what I wanted to do was change the world, and the Army was the quickest way to do it,” McDowell said.

She deployed to Korea and Iraq, and once she got out, she did contract work in Afghanistan.

“I still have this kinship and pride to help other veterans,” she said.

When you look around her house, it’s easy to see her passion for the military and her art.

When Nadine was younger, she had a hearing impairment and sculpting made sense.

It helped her through tough times in childhood and during her military service.

“Leaving the military was hard because you felt like you’re almost leaving behind your battle buddies,” she said.

Now she works with the organization Paint 22.

The organization helps veterans through art.

Paint 22 teamed up with Art2Action and Straz and Nadine had a place to showcase her work at the veteran open mic night.

Coming from all walks of life and eras of service, the open mic nights are a place where veterans can express themselves in an audience of camaraderie.

“Feel honored because so many people have gone through so many things and there are people who sacrificed more. It feels great and I just hope that people like what I have so I can give more,” said McDowell.

The next open mic night is scheduled for June 12.