Mil-Tree spoken word events share stories of service

Hilary Sloane Hilary Sloane Send an email May 28, 2026

This month in Twentynine Palms and Joshua Tree, Mil-Tree’s Writes of Passage program is bringing veterans and civilians together through storytelling, spoken word, and live performance.

After a retreat, writing workshops, editing sessions, and performance coaching, participants in Mil-Tree’s Writes of Passage program are preparing to share their personal experiences with the public at two live spoken-word events.

The performances blend storytelling, poetry, and live music to bridge the military-civilian divide through creative expression.

The first event is on May 14th at 6:30 at Ground Squirrel in Twentynine Palms. A second performance will be held on May 28th at 7:00 pm at the Z-Club in Joshua Tree.

Participants include veterans and civilians reflecting on service, hardship, healing, travel, family, and personal transformation.

Podcast producer Dawn Davis has been observing the process from the beginning. She says watching the performances come together over several months has been powerful.

“It was really nice to see where the stories have come from. I saw them being formed, and then to see the end product was really interesting.”

Mil-Tree says this project is about connection, understanding, and creating space for people to be heard.

Hilary Sloane Hilary Sloane Send an email May 28, 2026
Hilary Sloane

Hilary Sloane

After a long successful career as a Photostylist and producer in New York and Los Angeles, Hilary Sloane moved to the Morongo Basin and began a new career as a journalist and documentary photographer, getting a journalism certification from Michigan State. Hilary is a member of the Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ) and has documented the work of local and International non-profits. She has a podcast on Sound Cloud and is looking forward to adding more. Her favorite pastime is watching the wildlife around her home, traveling, and meeting new people.