State Politics
How The Brickyard Veteran Movement Is Rebuilding Civic Trust Across America
In 2015, after 15 years in combat zones as a Marine and in East Africa working to alleviate extreme poverty, Jake Harriman came home to the United States and barely recognized it. The veteran and nonprofit leader was alarmed to…
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Key points
- Former Marine Jake Harriman created The Brickyard to help military veterans lead local civic engagement and rebuild community trust.
- The organization grew rapidly from 1,000 members in 2024 to nearly 40,000 across all 50 states by 2026.
- The movement emphasizes a five-step framework focused on voluntary service, personal responsibility, and practical community support.
NewsWK — Across the nation, growing political polarization and cultural isolation continue to strain local communities. Instead of waiting for Washington politicians to fix these divides, military veterans are taking action. Specifically, they are launching grassroots initiatives to restore neighborly trust. They do this through hands-on public service, shared fitness challenges, and local gatherings.
What Is The Brickyard Veteran Movement And How Does It Work?
The Brickyard veteran movement is a national non-profit organization. It mobilizes former military service members to lead local community initiatives. For example, the group organizes joint service projects, fitness events, and community dinners. Consequently, these events bring neighbors together across political lines. Members focus on practical problem-solving to strengthen local social trust and civic connection.
Former U.S. Marine Corps officer Jake Harriman founded the organization. He started it after returning from combat zones and overseas humanitarian work. Previously, he established Nuru International. That global organization helped over 500,000 people lift themselves out of extreme poverty. During his service abroad, his team raised more than $100 million for rural development programs. However, when he returned home, he noticed growing bitterness and social isolation across American towns.
Therefore, he spent four months researching civic engagement solutions to address these national challenges. Next, he launched the new movement to harness veteran leadership for local impact. As a result, the organization has experienced rapid growth in recent years. In fact, it expanded from about 1,000 members in 2024 to nearly 40,000 volunteers across all 50 states by 2026.
How Is Veteran Led Civic Engagement Healing Community Divisions?
Veteran led civic engagement targets social isolation directly. It unites residents around shared local projects instead of national political debates. Furthermore, organizers create safe spaces where neighbors work side by side to fix practical problems. Ultimately, this strategy relies on shared values, voluntary service, and personal responsibility. It fosters healing community divisions across diverse neighborhoods.
Jake Harriman grew up in Whetsell Settlement, West Virginia. There, 40 families relied on hard work, hunting, and mutual aid to survive. That rural Appalachian background taught him a vital lesson. Strong communities depend on self-reliance and strong local ties. Later, his military career reinforced the importance of clear, mission-driven teamwork.
How did the Glen Rose Texas Brickyard mobilize local support? The Brickyard Veteran Movement
The Glen Rose Texas Brickyard initiative demonstrated this local model in 2023. Specifically, the group hosted a “Share the Love” community roast. Local volunteers organized the event to help families in need. In addition, they distributed clothes, toys, and household goods directly to locals. More than 200 residents participated in the successful outreach effort.
The Texas event showed the power of simple, locally driven projects. Indeed, these efforts can restore a sense of unity among neighbors. Meanwhile, voluntary community action creates trust faster than ideological debates. As Harriman observed,
“It’s really hard to hate somebody while they are swinging a hammer next to them and building something together for somebody in the community.”
What Are The Five Steps To Rescuing Civic Life In America?
The framework for renewing local leadership relies on five core principles in Harriman’s work. These steps are believe, serve, connect, lead, and restore. Instead, it urges individuals to take direct responsibility for improving their own towns. They achieve this through practical service and strong moral commitment.
Therefore, the strategy outlines a clear roadmap for everyday citizens who want to strengthen their hometowns:
- Believe: Maintain hope while remaining clear-eyed about current social challenges.
- Serve: Focus outward by assisting neighbors rather than prioritizing self-interest.
- Connect: Build relationships with people who hold different beliefs or backgrounds.
- Lead: Practice servant leadership instead of relying on political candidates to fix local issues.
- Restore: Restore self-reliance by helping others gain tools for economic independence.
As Harriman stated regarding effective aid,
“It does not mean giving a handout. It means giving a hand up.”
Ultimately, organizers hope to open local chapters in every American town. Thus, veterans focus on shared service and individual responsibility. They are proving that citizens build strong communities from the ground up.
This article was produced with the assistance of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
Sources
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