In collaboration with the Community Integration of Aviano Organization  (CIAO)

CIAO's motto is Support, Strengthen, & Serve.

CIAO is an all-inclusive charitable and social organization committed to supporting our community and improving the quality of life at Aviano Air Base.

Their mission is to promote charitable endeavors that benefit the Aviano Air Base community and to foster morale, goodwill, and fellowship among our membership, and our host nation. The organization is made up of all volunteers, who give their time to help better their community.

CIAO is primarily a philanthropic organization. Each year, they provide over $20,000 in scholarships to high school seniors and spouses,  and over $110,000 of support to the Aviano AB community. This work does not just happen; it takes a community of volunteers, and our members are instrumental in that.

"Being bold doesn’t mean being loud or the center of attention - being bold means being yourself, putting yourself out there…" -Claire M.

"Have you ever been told something that sticks with you for a long time? I had a female boss tell me that once you had kids, it was impossible to make new friends. Talk about a gut punch. There isn’t much I value more in life than friendship and I was determined to not let military life or potential parenthood or anything else get in the way of making friends.

12 years of military moves later and 10 years after the comment from my boss, I arrived in Aviano. After 5 moves, I started to recognize what works best for me when it comes to feeling settled, making friends, and finding my place in the community. I just have to jump in and try as many things as possible - gym classes, meetups, hikes, volunteering, anything, and everything! Moving to Aviano was different than those previous moves though because this time I had a baby in tow.

Just after I arrived in Italy, I went to the café down the street from my house. I saw a group of ladies and my ears perked up as I overheard them speaking English. I didn’t know anyone in Italy and as I walked past these ladies on their coffee date I told myself to turn around, go back, and introduce myself. I was probably jet-lagged and a little loopy but I gathered up my courage and said hello to this group of ladies.

Was it intimidating to walk up to a group of strangers and say hello? Yup. Could things have been weird? Absolutely yes. But thanks to the kindness and graciousness of these ladies, my daughter and I were welcomed in and given a seat at their table.

I am bold! Being bold doesn’t mean being loud or the center of attention - being bold means being yourself, putting yourself out there, and oftentimes taking the first step in social situations. I am bold and want to encourage others to be the same in their own way. Does it take guts to show up to social events where you don’t know anyone? Sure. Is it always fun trying something new? Nope. Is it awkward? At times, yes. Is it challenging to cart a baby around everywhere you go? Well, now I know a baby is easier than a toddler! But you better believe I will still show up.

It’s difficult to think of a word to describe ourselves. As women, we are simultaneously told we are too much and never enough so to choose one word feels both overwhelming and limiting. And we’ve been conditioned not to brag so describing ourselves in a positive way feels wrong.

But when I really thought about it, I thought…I am bold. I put myself out there, I accept invitations, I give invitations, I make my table bigger, and I include others. I believe that community makes us stronger and better and that we each must take responsibility for building up our support systems.

For me, being bold is always worth it. It is always worth it to plan the event (even if no one attends), to say hello to the stranger (even if they think you are weird), and to show up to an event alone (even if it’s awkward). Whether the results of my efforts are appreciated or noticed doesn’t matter; what matters is that I tried, I learned something, and I’ll probably have a good story to share in the future.

When I heard that spouses in Aviano were having difficulties making meaningful connections, I organized friendship speed-dating events. When I saw that female active duty, contractors, and working spouses weren’t able to attend events during the weekday, I coordinated meetups on the weekends. When I heard spouses struggled with pausing their professional lives due to limited work options and the SOFA, I created the Spouse Speaker Series to give spouses a platform to share their professional expertise in a meaningful way.

Being bold doesn’t mean being flashy or over-the-top. Being bold means making courageous choices to build the life, and community, you want. And sometimes, being bold means ignoring the advice of well-meaning people - I’m here as proof that you can still make friends when you have kids!"

I am BOLD.

"Resiliency to me does not mean that I’m immune to the pressure and stress that comes with the difficulty of a military lifestyle. It means that I know I have the capability and strength to overcome any and all struggles that I encounter." - Gianna J.

"In comparison to most others, I’m newer to the military lifestyle. However, I’m already familiar with the emotions and remarkably difficult times that moving frequently and far away brings each individual. The most significant struggle that I’ve experienced with this lifestyle was the impression that my education and career would be postponed for several years while living overseas in Italy. It made me feel apprehensive of what the move to Aviano would mean for my career and overall future.

My perception of what I could do and the goals I could set changed when I arrived and learned about the various opportunities and resources that Aviano AFB has to offer. My approach to continuing my education and fulfilling my career goals changed from apprehension to resiliency and determination to make the most of my time here in Aviano. 

I’m currently in the process of transferring my credits to one of the universities represented at the education center to finish the rest of my degree, have enjoyed my time volunteering, and recently became a new member of CIAO. Being able to continue my education and build experience for my career is only a portion of what motivation and resiliency have brought me here in Aviano. I now hope to help build up our community and help others find the same sense of resiliency that I’ve found for myself.

I believe that finding resiliency would help other women have the drive and courage to continue their passions and career aspirations. I want other women to know that they can be successful and pursue their goals, whatever they may be, and that there are still lots of opportunities for personal growth while being stationed overseas in Aviano."



I am RESILIENT.

"I began to understand that my curiosity was not a vulnerability, but my strength, my will, my purpose." -Keena H.

"A major part of my journey the last few years has been getting back in touch with my childhood self, endearingly referred to in my mind as 'Baby Keena'. Baby Keena was creative, outgoing, and adventurous, but, above all, she was curious. I asked 'Why?' endlessly. I wanted to understand the world and how it worked. I was a natural observer of people, places, and things. There was never a question I didn't want answered. 

However, as years went on, those parts of me, that were the most precious parts of my soul, were mistreated and shamed. To protect Baby Keena, I hid those traits deeper and deeper inside of myself, so that no one could access them anymore, not even myself. Yet, without those pieces of my soul, I felt aimless. Life didn't sparkle in the same way and it was difficult to feel joy and wonder. 

Remembering the excitement and amazement I once felt for the world, I thought about those parts of me again, the things I had hidden away, my curiosity. Slowly, I started to allow my inner child to resurface. I began to understand that my curiosity was not a vulnerability, but my strength, my will, and my purpose. Asking 'Why?' to everything and never simply accepting things as they are was not something to hide away, but my very core, my soul. 

Engaging my curiosity, and allowing Baby Keena's eyes to show me parts of the world I wouldn't have seen otherwise, has brought light and meaning back into my life. Trusting adult me to surround myself with people who will not mistreat my curiosity, but will encourage it, means connecting these two parts of myself that hadn't communicated for too long."



I am CURIOUS.

"At some point, I realized the only person I knew how to be was myself." -Sylvennie S.

'Be who you are and say how you feel because those that mind don’t matter, and those that matter, don’t mind' -Dr. Seuss. 

That is one of my favorite quotes and sums up, being your true authentic self.

Along this journey of what we call life I have tried to be multiple people from my mother to my sister, aunts, and a “good girl”, but failed because I was not being myself. At some point, I realized the only person I knew how to be was myself. In order to do this I have to unapologetically love and accept myself. Once you begin loving yourself with no apologies, no one can make you feel less than, because you know who you are. Authenticity! 

Continue to grow as a person. Support other women; it can be contagious. The world wants to dictate how we should look, what professions we should have, and what we should or should not be doing. Go against the status quo. There is enough food at the table for all of us to eat. Give each other a hand up; your only competition should be yourself. 

Look at yourself in the mirror every day and see the possibilities, not the roadblocks. Compliment her, support her, love her, encourage her, and accept her. Sis, you are not alone. I love you. We love you. No matter what you are facing or going through: Be Authentic, be Amazing, be Unapologetic, but most importantly be YOU. I will end with another favorite quote, 'God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference'.

I AM Authentic. You are Authentic. Be your Authentic self, because YOU deserve your authenticity."

"The one constant in my life has always been people who LOVE me, even when I didn't love myself." -Patricia M.

"When I think back over my life, I feel extremely blessed and grateful for the people who have been a part of my journey in life. I firmly believe that every encounter, no matter how big or small, plays a role in who I am today, and/or who I will become in the future. I always say that some people come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.

My life has not been easy, I grew up in poverty, moved a lot, didn’t always fit in, and had many twists and turns, ups and downs, successes, and failures. But the one constant in my life has always been people who LOVE me, even when I didn't love myself.

Early on, I went through a life-altering experience. I call it "walking in darkness" years. I found myself in a place where I could not forgive myself for something that at the time, I thought had derailed my life plan and hurt my family. I was angry with myself, God, and life; and I hid it from my family and friends. 

To deal with the self-inflicted condemnation and stress, I buried my pain in comfort foods and sleep and found myself continually gaining weight. I was disappointed in myself and life in general. I was depressed and didn’t know that I could get help. Things continued to spiral downward. I wanted the emotional pain to end, so I slept every chance I could to keep from feeling anything. My greatest challenge was I couldn’t love myself. Deep down, I knew I was loved by God, my family, and my friends, even though I felt shame, guilt, and disappointment. This love was my saving grace. 

Thank God for His unconditional LOVE! He never left me, and neither did my family and friends. In my search for help, I reconnected with God, and I stumbled on a book called, 'What to Say When You Talk to Yourself' by Shad Helmstetter. Reading both the Bible and the book a little each day, the scriptures and affirmations began to make a difference in my thinking. I actually started to feel better as I found myself saying more positive things to and about myself. 

As I reflect on those times, tears come to my eyes because I recognize that it was LOVE that brought me through. Not just the love of God, family, and friends, but self-love. I learned to be more intentional in showing love to myself. I eventually learned how to forgive, accept, and love myself unconditionally.

God’s unconditional love helped me see the world through His loving eyes. I have been tremendously impacted in such a loving way that I CHOOSE to love myself and everyone I meet. God, my family, and friends fill my heart with so much love; my cup runs over.

Patricia’s words of wisdom:

• Be intentional to love yourself, despite your flaws, shortcomings, failures, mistakes, or what anyone else feels or thinks.

• Speak kindly to yourself, as if you are speaking to someone you respect and honor.

• Surround yourself with people and things that lift you up. Read inspiring books, join organizations with like-minded positive people, and develop your mind, body, and spirit."



I am LOVED.

"But everyone has something to bring to the community. Everyone brings value."- Jen C.

"As military spouses, we regularly move to new locations and meet new people. Personally, I’ve moved thirteen times and I can relate to being the new person. There have been some bases where I’ve felt so loved and welcomed. But there can be pressure to try to fit in and act a certain way. But everyone is unique, special, and has value. 

It’s important to meet spouses where they are in their journey. There are people who are new to the military, some have been hurt in past experiences, and some may be arriving in a good place. But everyone has something to bring to the community. Everyone brings value. It’s important we love and care for everyone. By doing so, we can build each other up and help them through the good times and bad. It’s essential we encourage every spouse to be their best self through connecting."

I am ENCOURAGING.

"Finding light in the darkest of places is true power."- Skye J.

"When I was a little girl, I remember pouting at my dad and lamenting how not fun being a girl is. I had to wear a tank top outside in the sprinkler and a dress to the Catholic church on Sundays. Unlike my male cousins who seemed to have fewer rules. My dad softly chuckled and said:

'It seems dumb now and frustrating at the moment. When you grow you'll see, there is no greater pride than being a woman. You can do what a man can and even more. The whole world was born from women, that is why we call it, "Mother Nature". Some people will try and take and steal. But you'll have something they can not take and they can not steal. Your joy. Finding light in the darkest of places is true power. Dig deep and hold onto your joy. Be JOYFUL. Because then you will always have peace and goodness about you.' 

I remember nodding at my dad and running back outside to play. But my father's words took root. It was a little niggling feeling in my brain that kept cropping up when I needed it the most. Through a painful childhood, I argued those words. 'Joy? How can you be happy in so much pain?' As I began to experience adulthood and motherhood, I realized the 'joy' he spoke of wasn't the tangible happy feeling; brought on by people or things. It's that light inside. The calm in the turmoil of a chaotic world. That little voice of strength and resolve. That said: 'I am here and I am blessed to be me.' 

A joyful spirit is one of quiet resolve and peace. It can't help but flow out. Bringing hope and contentment to others. Alters pain to healing and hardship to resilience. We cannot be happy every moment. It's not realistic nor is it healthy. But we can dig down and find joy in our: breath to speak the truth, our hands to bring compassion, and our hearts to make room for one another.

That is why:

I AM JOYFUL."

"... As moms we need to embrace our power!" - Vanessa S.

"I have been called 'Super Mom' often, which I follow with a shrug or a joke and never really embrace those words. We have talked about survival mode-just making it through and doing what you HAVE to do to get things done and that’s often the mode I feel I am in with 5 kids! 

We homeschool and volunteer and it can be ALOT! So when I hear the words 'Super Mom' the heaviness of it all often supersedes those wonderful power words, we’re in survival mode, right? How can I possibly be 'Super Mom'?! With this campaign, I choose to embrace those words! 

We’re all in survival mode or autopilot at times, but as moms, we need to embrace our power! In this journey, I’ve watched other super moms, learned their tricks, embraced their tips, and grown as a woman. I wouldn’t be the mom I am without the other amazing supermoms that I’ve learned from. I hope to inspire other mamas, that they too, even on their heaviest days, can feel their power and know they’re Super Moms too!"

I am SUPERMOM.

"You have to focus on the people that build you up and what you want for yourself."- Jessie C.

"I came here to Italy unmarried as well as not American. So to begin with, I was very much an outsider in this community. Through volunteering and putting myself out there socially, I started to find my place within this community and improved my quality of life. However, as a non-American spouse, I still can’t get a job on the base which limits my career options so I started volunteering in areas that could help my professional development. 

I have been very fortunate to meet women along the way who were willing to guide, encourage, and help me continue my path of self-improvement. More recently, my aim has been to take ownership of how I have improved and what I have achieved. Which is quite difficult for me. There are people everywhere who won’t think anything of tearing you down or stunting your personal growth. You have to focus on the people that build you up and what you want for yourself."

I am IMPROVING.

"You must be brave enough to say yes or no…" - Brittany W.

"My story isn’t very long yet as we are just starting out our journey. I grew up incredibly close to my family and went to the same school with the same people starting from elementary through high school. I went to college in my hometown and lived at home. I married my best friend, moved two hours away for a few years, then we moved to Texas, Arizona, and now Italy. I had to learn how to make new friends, be home alone for days/weeks, interview for jobs, and travel on my own.

You have to be brave to face all of these without breaking. You have to be brave when getting hard news from home when living far away. You have to be brave when your spouse is gone for months because of work. You must be brave enough to say yes or no to protect your mental health. You have to be brave enough to admit you are not okay and that it is okay to ask for help. Be brave and join the events. I jumped into CIAO after being here for three weeks. Be brave and join people for coffee or lunch or volunteering. That’s how I found my people. 

It is so hard and scary to be brave but that’s how I face each day. I have days that are super hard and I’m not always brave but each day is a new day. Embrace life by being fiercely brave!"

I am BRAVE.

"I want to make new friends, push myself out of my comfort zone, and be brave, even if that means taking a moment to pause."- Meghan S.

"I want to strive to live undefined. What undefined means to me is being open to the world around me. 

I don't want to take any moments or opportunities for granted. I want to make new friends, push myself out of my comfort zone, and be brave, even if that means taking a moment to pause. I hope to inspire others to live outside their roles and responsibilities and enjoy life! 

I think we do that every day living overseas, sharing a new culture, and seizing our new adventures no matter where the military takes us. Living undefined for me means believing in respect, equality, being curious, and having love for one another and the beautiful world we live in. Thanks for this opportunity!!"

I am UNDEFINED.

"The closed doors are not an accident. You may not understand it now, to you it looks like the opportunity of a lifetime just passed you by, but one day you'll look back and thank God for the closed doors; because if God hadn't closed the door you'd have been stuck at one level and not seen the amazing favor that God has in store for your future." -Unknown

Four and a half years ago, when we first moved to Aviano, Italy. I stumbled across this beautiful location. I knew at that exact moment I was going to photograph something special there. Then in 2022, I decided to take a chance on myself and dive full-time into photography. When starting from scratch, I believe everyone goes through times of darkness before seeing the clear path. Whether it is moving to a new country and not knowing anyone or starting a new career path.

This vision formed while researching what selflove was, positive words of affirmation kept popping up. Along the way of starting this journey, there were many closed doors and rejections along the way. This vision I had was one of them. However, I knew somehow I was going to make this vision happen one day. I joined the Community Integration of Aviano Organization (CIAO) at the end of 2022 because I wanted my photography to make a difference and make a positive impact on the community. Also, I was one of the recipients of their scholarship program and wanted to give back to the community in any way I could. It only took one person to believe in my vision to make it possible. Thank you to the CIAO Historian Team, to these amazing women, and everyone who helped make this possible. I hope to continue this campaign at every location we move to.

-Soukchay S

I have been through many obstacles in my life and have learned how to adapt and overcome each one of them. As long as you keep moving forward, no matter the speed, as long as it's one step at a time. You can succeed at accomplishing any goal you set. Believe in yourself, be fearless, and have faith. Lastly, do not give up and keep persevering.

The word I have chosen is Becoming.

Each day I choose to strive towards becoming the woman I envision and aspire to be.

I am becoming a mother. 

I am BECOMING.