Philadelphia names Gregory Wright director of Veterans Affairs; outlines VetFest, Army 250th events and priorities

Gregory Wright Jr., the newly appointed director of the City of Philadelphia Office of Veterans Affairs, told the Veterans Advisory Commission that his office will focus on housing access, mental health support, veteran-owned business development and stronger community partnerships.

Wright made the remarks during the commission’s meeting and said the office is working to “remove barriers, build partnerships, and increase visibility for our veteran community.” He previewed two summer events: a citywide Army 250th commemoration June 13–15 at Independence Mall and other sites and a VetFest on June 25 that the office will host in partnership with City Council, American Airlines and Wawa and that will bring employers, housing and wellness resources to veterans and their families.

Wright said his office intends to be proactive rather than reactive. “We are working to build a city where veterans not only survive, but where we thrive,” he said. He described staff efforts to “vet the apartment or the place of housing” and to ensure veterans have the supports needed to maintain housing, including job placement and health connections.

The director credited staffers such as Wanda Pate Dennis for longstanding outreach work and said his office currently includes a small staff that is “growing” and that he is training as a veteran service officer himself. He described partnerships the office is pursuing with universities, hospitals and nonprofit groups to expand mental health counseling and group supports.

Commission co-chair Myra J. Fields Rouse and co-chair Al Newman introduced Wright and underscored the commission’s role in connecting veterans to services. Darby Ford, community engagement liaison for City Council’s Department of Veterans Affairs, also addressed commissioners about outreach and advocacy.

Wright invited commissioners and service providers to participate in the VetFest and in efforts to improve hiring and training for veterans. He said the office will pursue outreach to employers and offer guidance on hiring veterans, including training for recruiters to better interpret military resumes.

The director’s remarks set a forward-looking agenda for the city office, emphasizing coordination among city staff, nonprofit providers and federal partners to reduce veteran homelessness, shorten waits for benefits and expand employment and wellness services.

Looking ahead, Wright said the office will continue to build partnerships and expand its staff, and he encouraged commissioners to “show up” at outreach events to help connect veterans to resources.