June,2009

My name is Michael Patrick Brewer. Welcome to the Citizen Journalist’s Fourth Estate.  We are entering “Operation Information.” Our mission is to provide a space for advocacy and dialogue with veterans worldwide.  I am a trained Veterans Service Officer, and  published writer in the arena of  Veterans Affairs. I served in the United States Marine Corps as a combat squad leader with the 7th Marines and 1st  Marine Air Wing/ MAG-16 Provost Office in Vietnam. Currently a mentor for returning combat veterans. I am the beneficiary of training for this role from the following stellar organizations. Merritt Retreat Center Veteran Program in Payson, Arizona. Betty Merritt changes lives. A grant from the San Bernardino County Veterans Affairs for Resiliency Training via Trauma Resource Institute at Claremont College. Crisis Intervention Certificate St.Mary’s Hospital Mental Health Unit. RN Nursing Program; University of Arizona and Pima College. Gestalt Institute of Tucson. Transcendental Meditation. EST Graduate. Pointman International Ministries/Arizona State Coordinator. Vietnam Veterans of America Leadership and Veteran Advocacy workshops. International Council of War Veteran Ministers. Mindfulness curriculum with Purple Mountain Institute.Thirteen years in combat veterans group at Tucson Vet Center. “Soldiers Heart” Retreat and training for Military Chaplains, Psychologists and Family Therapists with Edward Tick PhD, author of “War And the Soul.”The Desert Sanctuary Ashram. Holy Trinity Benedictine Monastery. Picture Rocks Retreat Center. St.Thomas More Newman Center. Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale,Arizona. Very tolerant children, “the child is the father of the man.” And my beloved wife Lydia,a natural born Avatar.

I am a 51 year resident of Tucson, and now a winter visitor residing in Southern California. We have an office downtown Tucson. Married to Lydia, a writer of her own fame, with three grown children, and three grandchildren. I attended St. Josephs Catholic, Rincon High School, University of Arizona,  majoring in Nursing/Philosophy and Religious Studies. Bachelor of Science Degree in Business and Sports Management/ Tucson University. Completed a few Journalism classes, under the fine tutelage of Jane White, at Pima Community College and wrote for the Aztec News. Contributor to the Northwest Explorer News. An essayist by nature. Member of the Tucson Citizen Editorial Advisory Board for the old print edition in the mid 1990’s. An original Blogger for the “TucsonCitizen.com” from June, 2009 until its perfunctory closing on January 31st,2014.

We moved to Tucson, Arizona from Dixon, Illinois in 1959.  I love to tell family and friends that I was the first paper boy for El Con Mall! What a wonderful way for a young boy to  get to know a new city, by way of a relationship with all of the retailers at El Con, many of whom were long time Arizona families. Abby Grunewald, Dave Bloom and Sons, Levy’s, Steinfelds. It is no wonder I went on to a 24 year career in commercial property management and leasing. I was recruited by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson as a Property Manager in 1989. The project was complete in 1993.

Two term  past president of the Building Owners and Managers Association International, (BOMA) and their Congressional Liaison for five years.  Served for five years on the Downtown Advisory Committee,  Chaired the Downtown Committee for the Tucson Trade Bureau. Served for 9 years on City of Tucson Budget Advisory, 1989-99. Founder of El Centro de Tucson Executives. Executive Director of Pima County Sports Authority 1995-97. Selected for Tucson Town Hall Leadership and Consensus Building 2007. Emcee for a variety of community events.

Founding member and Past Commandant of the Apple Valley Marine Corps League; Veterans of Foreign Wars; American Legion; Catholic War Veterans, Disabled American Veterans. Past President and Life Member of Vietnam Veterans of America. Past Arizona State Coordinator and Chaplain for Pointman Ministries International. Member of International Conference of War Veteran Ministers. Volunteer at Orenda House for Homeless Veterans.

Served on the Boards of; YMCA, Salvation Army, Fan Kane Foundation, American Youth Soccer/Area Coaching Administrator for nine years and selected for World Cup 94′ Venue Committee.  Section Trainer. AIA High School Soccer Referee.  Two terms as Grant/Campbell Neighborhood Association President. Boy Scouts of America Troop Leader and Chairman of Soccer and Scouting for Catalina Council.  Director of Volunteers and Ambassador Program for Tucson Downtown Alliance.  Certified Tourism Ambassador. Conductor for Old Pueblo Trolley.  Recipient of two Copper Letters from the City of Tucson for civic involvement. Vice Chair of Victor Valley College Bond Advisory.

I love soccer; the “beautiful game”. Coached for 24 years, both youth and high school. Certified National Referee. Officiated in high school for 11 years. My wife and I were part owners, along with retired Air Force Col. Bob Meacham and Dan Byers  of the Tucson Amigos USL Soccer Franchise 1996-2000. A predecessor to FC Tucson, yet never permitted to play seasonally in City or County owned stadiums. It is joy to now see that soccer has a seat at the table in Tucson. No more upstairs, downstairs.

I retired in February of 2002. Life’s mission now is the beaches, mountains and lakes of California and to be accessible to family and life long friends. And Prayer of course.