Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Casper.
Hi Richard, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Creativets was founded in 2013 by Marine Corps veteran Richard Casper, who discovered that art and songwriting helped him cope with his own post-war trauma. Experiencing the impact of creativity on healing, he set out to create a space where other veterans could experience the same transformation. What began as one veteran’s personal journey has grown into a nationwide movement that has helped thousands of veterans turn their pain into purpose and their stories into works of art.
CreatiVets is a national nonprofit organization that empowers wounded veterans to heal through the arts and music. We provide veterans with opportunities to express their experiences through creative outlets such as songwriting, visual arts, photography, and storytelling, helping them process trauma, reconnect with their identities, and find community.
Many veterans face challenges that go far beyond the physical wounds of war. They return home carrying emotional scars, often struggling with post-traumatic stress, depression, and a deep sense of isolation. For many, it can be incredibly difficult to talk about what they have been through or to find the words to explain those experiences.
Art provides a different way to communicate. Through songwriting, painting, photography, and other creative outlets, veterans can tell their stories without having to speak them out loud. The process allows them to express pain, grief, pride, and hope in ways that words alone cannot capture. In doing so, they begin to release what they have carried inside and find new meaning in their experiences. Art becomes a bridge between the veteran and the world around them, helping them heal while also helping others understand.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We started with humble beginnings and grown steadily year over year. Earlier in 2025, we purchased an abandoned church building off of Robertson Ave in West Nashville with a vision to make it the nations first 24 hour center for veterans suffering from PTSD and anxiety. Not long after the ink dried from the purchase, we received a call from neighbors that vandals were smashing out our windows. Many of them beautiful stained glass. Our founder and executive director put out a Instagram video on the way to the building expressing his heart ache and frustration. Little did he know that video would receive the warmest response from a company, Power Home Remodel, that employee many veterans, and they offered to replace all the windows for us as a donation. We are now in middle of remodeling and plan to move into the building in 2026. We were also able to use the broken stained glass in a veterans art class, to make themed stained glass panels, that now shine through our new building auditorium. Making the broken, beautiful again.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Creativets?
“I have personally been impacted by the power of art in my own healing,” says Richard Casper, Co-Founder and Executive Director of CreatiVets. “Hit with four IEDs in Iraq and suffering from a traumatic brain injury, I also lost my best friend and gunner, who was shot and killed right beside me. I returned home with PTSD and thoughts of suicide. Returning home and attending a local community college, I enrolled in an art class in hopes of isolating myself in something that wouldn’t make me talk—and it ended up saving my life. I found a way to use art to express what was happening to me without talking, and I found a way for people to translate the meaning behind my trauma without me having to relive it verbally. I also found that art was helping the injured side of my brain heal. I went on to attend the Chicago School of the Arts and then to Nashville, where I embedded myself into the Nashville songwriting scene. It was at this point I found I was no longer surviving but thriving. The idea was then formed—I could create a nonprofit to help other veterans go from surviving to thriving as I did. Twelve years ago, CreatiVets was formed. So, to see so many veterans begin to thrive again is my life’s mission.”
Creative expression resonates so deeply with veterans because it taps into the same principles found in art therapy and other evidence-based therapeutic interventions. Research has shown that engaging in creative activities such as songwriting, painting, or photography can reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression by activating different parts of the brain associated with emotional processing and memory.
For veterans, creative expression offers a safe and nonverbal way to confront and release emotions tied to their experiences. It allows them to tell their stories without having to relive them through direct conversation. Creating art gives shape to what is often too painful or complex to put into words, helping them regain a sense of control and purpose. At the same time, sharing that art helps bridge the gap between the veteran community and the public, building empathy, connection, and understanding.
Veterans can get involved with CreatiVets simply by visiting our website and filling out a short application. There is no cost to participate in any of our programs, and we welcome veterans from all branches and backgrounds who are interested in exploring the healing power of creativity. Once accepted, participants are matched with a program that best fits their experiences.
From there, the experience is fully immersive. In our songwriting program, for example, veterans are paired with professional songwriters in Nashville who help them turn their life experiences into original songs. In our visual arts programs, they work side by side with instructors at top universities, gaining hands-on experience in painting, ceramics, and other art forms. They spend time in beautiful, peaceful environments learning to create while connecting with others who understand their journey.
Each program ends with a moment of sharing—whether that means hearing a completed song performed at a writer’s round, seeing their piece displayed during a gallery show, or showcasing a photograph of the night sky. For many veterans, that moment marks the start of an ongoing relationship with CreatiVets, as they often stay involved through alumni events, exhibitions, and continued creative projects. The goal is for every veteran to leave with a renewed sense of purpose, confidence, and connection.
Through their own stories of impact from our programs. We hear over and over how our programs have saved lives. Our impact reports show a significant reduction in feelings of isolation and anger, along with marked improvements in sleep, confidence, and positivity.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
We are fortunate to live in an amazing town full of great talent. Our music programs are embedded into the songwriting community, and we’ve been highly fortunate to make key relationships over the past 12 years with artists who are highly supportive of veterans’ causes and initiatives.
From the very beginning, CreatiVets has been built on collaboration. What started with a handful of professional songwriters volunteering their time has grown into a nationwide creative community that now includes hundreds of musicians, artists, and educators. We have been fortunate to partner with some of the most respected institutions in the arts, including the Grand Ole Opry, the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Glassell School of Art, SAIC, and Belmont University. These collaborations have helped elevate the veteran voice to national stages and provided our participants with world-class creative experiences.
Over the years, the creative community around CreatiVets has evolved into something truly special. Many of the artists and songwriters who collaborate with us continue to stay involved long after their first session, mentoring new veterans and helping to grow the next generation of creative leaders. It has created a ripple effect of compassion and connection that extends far beyond a single song or artwork.
Together, the Nashville community has shown that creativity and service can go hand in hand, uniting people through the shared power of storytelling and healing.
Pricing:
- Free to Combat Veterans
- Welcome Donations
- https://creativets.networkforgood.com/projects/93343-creativets-donation-page
Contact Info:
- Website: https://creativets.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creativets/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creativeterans
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/creativets
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/creativets1
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYccjG_BTRUoXFxmQAyF5KA
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5IvR5LShfLCBvBMt2KPaBc?si=nYLReg2NR8arvHltHV7bqQ
