2011 Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Reflection Program
•
1 like•894 views
33 AmeriCorps*VISTA members completed one year of national service with Ohio Campus Compact. This program details some of their reflections on their poverty alleviation efforts.
Recommended
More Related Content
What's hot
Viewers also liked
Similar to 2011 Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Reflection Program
Similar to 2011 Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Reflection Program (20)
More from Ohio Campus Compact
More from Ohio Campus Compact (20)
Recently uploaded
Recently uploaded (20)
2011 Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Reflection Program
- 1. 20102011 Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTAs and Site Mentors AmeriCorps*VISTAs Campus Site Mentor Cayla Adams Miami University Middletown Mira Smith & Eric Melbye Grace Andrews Miami University Oxford Monica Ways Jen Anthony Ohio State University Newark Katie Rappaport & Janet Schultz Zach Bartush University of Cincinnati Clermont Barbara Wallace Amanda Dever Marietta College Arielle Jennings Raven DeVoll John Carroll University Peggy Finucane Heather Eichner University of Mount Union Amanda Espenschied‐Reilly and Lorie Miller Rebecca Fensler Wright State University Cathy Sayer Kelly Ficker Denison University Lyn Robertson & Janet Schultz Mary Fox Central Ohio Technical College Tara Houdeshell & Janet Schultz Stephanie Gross Heidelberg University Paul Stark Ben Hastil Hocking College Suzanne Brooks‐Korner Katherine Hickman Ohio Campus Compact Dick Kinsley Mery Kanashiro Ohio Wesleyan University Sue Pasters Katrena Kugler Defiance College Mary Ann Studer Kristen Kuzmick Ohio State University Amy Wade Fran Larkin University of Cincinnati Kathy Dick Joe Lehnert Lorain County Community College Marcia Jones Bridget Ludwa University of Akron Laura Conley Pamela Pate Ohio University Kevin Smith Erica Phillips Otterbein University Melissa Gilbert Julia Provoznik Lorain County Community College Marcia Jones Richard Shafranek Hiram College Jason Bricker‐Thompson Nichelle Shuck Kent State University Tina Kandakai Julia Solow John Carroll University Peggy Finucane Gwen Stembridge University of Findlay Crystal Weitz Jesi Stewart Notre Dame College Anthony Camino Nancy Surella Mercy College Sr. Sally Bohnett Kathryn Terrell John Carroll University Peggy Finucane Zaia Thombre Marietta College Arielle Jennings Jessica Toglia Miami University Hamilton Jen O’Brien & Kelli Johnson Nicholas Weber Defiance College Mary Ann Studer Gillian Wynn Wright State University Cathy Sayer Emily Yurcich Hiram College Jason Bricker‐Thompson 1
- 3. CAYLA ADAMS Miami University – Middletown It’s strange to think that I have only a couple months left before I leave. The experience that I had through Miami University Middletown has been on both sides of the spectrum, frustrating and calming, challenging and effortless, sad and happy. It’s very conflicting sometimes but I suppose that all experiences have these elements within them. I think above and beyond anything that’s happened this year, my commitment to service has strengthened and this knowledge has begun to point me in the direction that I want to walk. When I began thinking about post‐graduate service, I knew I wanted to do something in a local community, so I chose Middletown because it has always been on my periphery. I hope that I have made an impact in this community even if it is on an individual scale. My work at the Center of Hope, seeing the women and children triumph over circumstances that are beyond their control, has been powerful. I hope that I will be able to affect others’ lives in such ways and I hope that they have learned as much from me, as I have from them. Future Plans: Peace Corps! Favorite Quote: This was said during my graduation, and I know I continually relay it to people, but I connect with the words. "I hope that you live a serious, joyous, consequential life, that you treat every human being as an end rather than a means to an end, and that if you cannot affect change on a macro‐ level, you can and will affect change on a micro‐level." ‐Myron Luine GRACE ANDREWS Miami University –Oxford I believe that national service is a critical step in developing citizenship. Before joining AmeriCorps, I thought of service to one’s country as military service. Now, I understand that we can all serve our country. When I step back and see the impact that I have had, as a dedicated citizen, through Ohio Campus Compact, it reinvigorates my hope for the future of our communities, nation, and world. Leading students through the transformative experiences of service and advocacy, and helping them make personal meaning out of their experiences, has been extremely rewarding. If every college student was encouraged to impact their communities like the students I have worked with, the results would be unbelievable. My greatest impact, and what I will remember most, is the new perspectives I have been able to communicate to and cultivate in students who will continue the ripples of transformation. Favorite Quote: “It is one of the beautiful compensations of life, that no man can sincerely help another without helping himself.” ‐ Ralph Waldo Emerson Future Plans: Next year I will be serving as a Corps Member for City Year Louisiana in Baton Rouge. My vision is to introduce young students to civic engagement by connecting them with their communities through service and leadership projects. In five years, I hope to be working full‐time in a humanitarian effort or NGO, preferably regarding women's issues in the developing world. 3
- 4. JEN ANTHONY Ohio State University – Newark My year as an AmeriCorps*VISTA has been a wonderful experience, one that I will never forget. It has meant so much to me to be able to work in, and give back to a community in need that is so close to my hometown. I hope that my impact is long lasting, that the programs and initiatives continue on and are the start of change in Newark. I had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people, and the college students that I worked with everyday were fantastic. I loved working with the students in the Newark City School system and teaching them about the importance of education and financial literacy. I truly believe that education is one of the key factors of alleviating poverty and I hope that my impact has begun to change the perception of higher education. I hope that the Newark community, as a whole, believes that every qualified student should have the opportunity to pursue education after high school. I hope they understand the importance of education and that I have helped them understand that education can lead to a better quality of life. Overall, I hope that people will remember me as someone who worked hard to make our community a better place to live and learn. Favorite Quote: “Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world." ‐ Joel A. Barker Future Plans: Next year, I plan to be working in higher education at a college or university in Ohio. I would like to continue working in community outreach as well as continuing to enhance the experience of college students. ZACH BARTUSH University of Cincinnati – Clermont OCC VISTAs are supposed to "leverage campus resources into the community." For me, the "leveraging" part was interesting. It was not just about getting students, staff and professors involved in addressing issues of poverty in the community but also empowering them to do so, particularly the students. I hope that if nothing else, the students who have volunteered or participated in service learning courses I coordinated will become long term change agents in their local communities. The last year has changed me in two main ways: 1.) I feel more confident in my own ability to have an impact on the community. What I have done has not been small or easily dismissed and the testaments from students, faculty and community partners have only served to reinforce that. 2.) I am louder. That is, I am more of an advocate for community and social justice issues than I was before by extending my concern over these issues into action. Favorite Quote: My favorite quote comes from a variety of service learning students and is, essentially, "I am going to keep working with (insert partner agency) even after the quarter ends because this is an important issue." Future Plans: Next year I will be in my second term as an OCC VISTA at Miami University's Oxford campus. Five years from now I hope to be in the final couple of years of graduate school for community psychology. 4
- 5. AMANDA DEVER Marietta College Because I'll be coming back for another year of VISTA, I think it makes sense to be a little more focused on hopes for my community and campus in my final year as a VISTA. This past year has been all about growth for service at Marietta College and I can't help but hope that this positive energy continues to push the campus forward in the years to come. In the next year, I hope that the campus starts a conversation about institutionalizing a second position on campus that will sustain the work of the VISTA position. In addition, I hope that the campus and Marietta community continue to commit to partnership and collaboration! On a personal level, I will remember this VISTA year as exciting, personally challenging and ground‐breaking in the work that was done. I hope that this will continue, as the Office challenges the community to engage in new programming, social justice dialogue and new service experiences next year! Future Plans: Next year, I'll be returning for one final year as the OCC VISTA at Marietta College. RAVEN DEVOLL John Carroll University My year of service at John Carroll University has given me a whole new perspective on what it means to serve others. I have learned the difference between volunteering and true service, and I think it's amazing that the Center for Service and Social Action at JCU stresses the idea of service. JCU embodies what it means to be a "man or woman for and with others." This idea of service in relation to social justice and social action has really opened my eyes to the inequities in today's world, and has shown me that it is up to me and my peers to do something about it. I have changed as a person because I now look for ways to use my strengths and interests to serve others. Vocational discernment is something new I've learned while at JCU, and I understand that I don't need to be collecting food or cleaning up a park to give back to my community. I feel like I've matured throughout my year of service and have a better understanding of what it means to be an engaged citizen dedicated to civic responsibility. Favorite Quote: “Go forth and set the world on fire.” ‐ St. Ignatius Loyola Future Plans: After my VISTA term, I plan on finding a job within a non‐profit in Northeast Ohio. Five years into the future is hard to predict, but I would like to have an established career in the public relations field somewhere warm! HEATHER EICHNER University of Mount Union 5
- 6. REBECCA FENSLER Wright State University Many times this past year, I became caught up in the details surrounding the campus food pantry‐‐how many students we were serving, how to let students know about our services, how much money I had raised. I often overlooked all that I had accomplished and everything I had learned. The most important thing I have learned is that you can't feed every hungry person in the world but you can "do the thing in front of you." Because of my experience as a VISTA, I have renewed my commitment to fighting poverty in Ohio. I have also enjoyed my experience as a volunteer coordinator for the campus food pantry and hope to continue working as a volunteer administrator in the future. Being a VISTA has given my so many opportunities to use my talents and learn new skills. Favorite Quote: "Do the thing in front of you." Future Plans: Next year I will be returning as an OCC VISTA at Wright State University and will also be serving as a VISTA leader. I have no five year plan! KELLY FICKER Denison University As an Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA I have been able to serve the needs of a campus, a school system, and a community as a purposeful professional. During my two years as a VISTA I have learned to work with a mindset that is not restricted from 9‐5, but a mindset that considers the role of one’s work beyond the confines of a building. I have also learned that it is vital to become a member, rather than just a resident, of one's community. I am truly grateful for all that I have experienced during my service and all those whom I have met and worked with. In my position I have been able to work with students encompassing the levels of primary, middle, and higher education. I have also been able to work with professionals who dedicate their careers to the success of students as teachers, professors, and administrators. As a result, I have learned about the structure and students of each of these levels of education, while working to understand and serve the needs of students in a equitable and beneficial manner. As a VISTA, I also became a member of the Newark and Granville communities. I have enjoyed meeting with fellow residents to learn and discuss the history and current issues of these areas. With these residents, I have learned how each of us are bound to each other and the progress of our neighborhoods, regardless of our jobs, careers, and backgrounds. OCC AmeriCorps*VISTA has poised and motivated me to learn more about the policy that surrounds the students and circumstances that I have worked with thus far. As I work towards a Master's in Education Policy, my life and work as a VISTA will not leave me. I will continue to be intentional about my presence in local and global communities which I join. In addition, I will seek a career that will allow me to work and live for people and places, rather than just dollars and cents. Favorite Quote: "All of us in the academy and in the culture as a whole are called to renew our minds if we are to transform educational institutions‐‐and society‐‐so that the way we live, teach, and work can reflect our joy in cultural diversity, our passion for justice, and our love of freedom."‐Bell Hooks Future Plans: I will be attending the University of Washington for the Master's in Education Policy Program. From this program, and in the next five years, I hope to figure out whether or not I am best suited to work in the non‐profit or government sectors and find a position in the field of Education Policy. 6
- 7. MARY FOX Central Ohio Technical College Prior to the start of this year my knowledge and understanding of college access programming and the struggles plaguing Licking County, and more specifically the Newark Community, was quite limited. I abstractly knew of college access programs, primarily just that there were programs such as Upward Bound, Gear Up and The Posse Foundation in existence. I had read the books by Kozol, knew of the Harlem Children’s Zone, and through some of my own experiences knew the repercussions associated with High Drop Out. But like I said, for the most part my understanding was academic. It was abstract. Over the past year, I have had the opportunity to integrate and engage myself in the Newark Community. I have had to face college access, or the lack thereof, in a very real and concrete way. This has occurred through my involvement with the following schools and organizations: Newark City Schools (Elementary: John Clem, Cherry Valley, McGuffey, Hillview, Ben Franklin, Legend; Middle School: Liberty, Wilson, Heritage; and Newark High School), Par Excellence Academy, Licking Valley High School, United Way, Closing the Achievement Gap, Good Guides, Goodwill Youthworks, A Call to College, YES Clubhouse, C‐ TEC, etc. From this involvement I have had a variety of experiences that have highlighted to me two things. First, that college going is intertwined within the culture of a community. Because it is a part of a culture, it is thus part of many individuals’ reality that college just isn’t possible. This has been expressed to me by students as young as 2nd grade. Second, that this community has a great deal of potential. While, there is a culture in which we are battling in our effort to increase high school graduation and college‐ going rates, there are individuals and organizations that are greatly invested in making this happen, even with the understanding that it takes time to change a culture within a community. That being said, I am one of those individuals who sees the potential, who wants the change, and who knows the commitment necessary to make such a change. Favorite Quote: "We are indeed a small boat attempting to cross a formidable, yet exciting to explore, ocean. If each of us rows hard, in unison and with our collective eyes enthusiastically set on the horizon, we will indeed continue to make great progress. I really am excited to have each of you as my 'crew'." ‐ Janet Schultz, taken from an email written at the beginning of the year by our site mentor, Janet Schultz, addressed to Kelly Ficker, Jen Anthony, and myself Future Plans: I am returning to do a second year of VISTA at Central Ohio Technical College. 7
- 8. STEPHANIE GROSS Heidelberg University Working for Ohio Campus Compact this past year has been an incredible experience. I have learned more than I ever imagined, and grew stronger in my commitment to service through the experience. I hope that I have impacted not only Heidelberg University, but the Tiffin community by building stronger partnerships with community agencies, and creating campus traditions in service. I think that OCC plays a vital role in serving Ohio's communities, and I hope that Tiffin continues to benefit from the programs and support that OCC offers. Working as an OCC VISTA has transformed the way I saw the small community where I went to college for four years, teaching me that severe poverty exists everywhere, but so do the extraordinary people that are fighting to change this harsh reality. Future Plans: I am planning to continue with Campus Compact in South Carolina at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. BEN HASTIL Hocking College When I think of my past year as a VISTA, one thing that comes to mind is the day‐to‐day work. Planning meetings, responding to e‐mails, developing polices or procedures, sending reminders, prioritizing tasks, and so on—the critical work by which everything gets done, but also the work in the weeds. In the midst of things, I hold my hand out and can’t see it because there’s so much to do and to plan growing up around me. I was raised, though, in a family that was highly engaged in social movements and activism, and as a teenager I was mentored by and learned from activists involved in many different struggles for justice. I learned at a young age the legitimacy and humanity of the struggles for justice of those of us who are oppressed, and saw how “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” I grew up dreaming about a world that can sustain more hope, creativity, joy, imagination, life, justice, and love, and is a world within which we can all fit. So, when I think of my past year as a VISTA, I am also reminded that I do this work in the weeds because of the desire I share with others to create a better world. Future Plans: Next year, I will be working as a VISTA Leader in Athens, Ohio with a non‐profit called the Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development (COAD), which supports community action agencies in southeastern Ohio. Ultimately, in the future, I hope to invest myself in committed and accountable relationships with a diversity of individuals who are also addressing power disparities, prejudice, violence, and inequality from the “bottom up.” I hope to be involved in empowering the communities I am part of in coming together to become more accountable and responsible for our collective social, economic, political, and environmental health. 8
- 9. KATHERINE HICKMAN Ohio Campus Compact This year really reminded me of the fact that you don't have to go far to find people who need help. I've grown up in this area [Licking County], and I am still amazed by the diversity of people living in such a small geographical area. It seems like every day I learn something new about the community that I thought I had known so well. Furthermore, this experience really reaffirmed my goal to teach High School English in Licking County. I feel that I have so much that I can both learn and give in Central Ohio, and AmeriCorps*VISTA helped to open my eyes in ways which I can make the biggest impact. Future Plans: I am starting the M.Ed program at Ohio State starting this summer. In five years, I will hopefully be teaching in the Licking County area. MERY KANASHIRO Ohio Wesleyan University Throughout my time as an undergraduate psychology and sociology student at Ohio Wesleyan University, I learned much theoretically and abstractly about issues such as poverty and inequality in America and their potential root causes. However, while being educated on items such as government policy and theories of social justice is key to developing a full understanding of how to make sustaining change, I have found that my AmeriCorps experience has done more to help me truly grasp issues facing low‐income populations than anything else I have done to this point. While I have lived in Delaware, Ohio for the past five years, I have never been as immersed and felt as much of a sense of connection to my community as I have over the past year. Working with community partners, helping grassroots organizations find their footing, and networking them all with students and their passions has helped me to combine idealism with practicality to motivate change. I believe that there is so much work to be done domestically, and committing a year to full‐time service has given me a whole new set of applicable skills and a renewed commitment to help remain a life‐long engaged citizen. Favorite Quote: “I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should Burn out in a brilliant blaze than It should be stifled by dry rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, Every atom of me in magnificent glow, Than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, Not to exist. I shall not waste my days In trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.” ‐Jack London “You've got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down.” ‐Annie Dillard Future Plans: I'm excited to continue working with Ohio Wesleyan and my community partners for a second year. Post‐AmeriCorps, I hope to be in graduate school for public health, social work, urban planning, or non‐profit management somewhere in the Pacific Northwest or back home in the D.C. area. 9
- 10. KATRENA KUGLER Defiance College I came to Ohio Campus Compact VISTA because I needed a better job and I wasn’t finished serving others. By the end of this year of service, I realize I’ll probably be serving others throughout my entire life. Service is an important aspect of my personal concept of what it means to live fully. I have really enjoyed serving with Ohio Campus Compact for a number of reasons. I am meant to be part of the educational environment into which OCC places VISTAs; enabling campus‐ community connections has been the most rewarding aspect of my work, along with offering our armed forces veterans tangible proof of how much the Defiance community really appreciates their sacrifices. I have really had a chance to explore “poverty” in Ohio, visit different communities I wouldn’t have otherwise traveled to through retreats, learn to communicate more professionally, and save for my future plans thanks to the OCC contract with colleges to cover room and board. I’ve had some real challenges this year, both personally and professionally, and the positive feedback I’ve received from those who have worked through it all with me tells me that the experiences have both strengthened me and I’ve handled them very well, so I’m pleased with that. I have grown so much from living by myself, figuring out how I do life, savoring both my solitude and the new friends I’ve made in Defiance. Thank you, Lesha, Dick, Susan, the OCC team, Erica, and Nichelle for your support, guidance, enthusiasm, and a good year of service! Favorite Quote: “Don't thank me (for my service). It was my duty.” ‐Veteran Attendee of Defiance's "Stand Down" “I say to my heart once again: little heart, come from behind me, and go away before me. Sail me gently now, as far as you can. For I am a sea of stars that I am trying to cross.” ‐Author Unknown Future Plans: Next year I will be pursuing Master’s degree studies in the history of art and visual culture at the University of Oregon, focusing on Spanish Renaissance and Baroque painting, sculpture, and architecture. Immediately following my Master’s degree, I plan to pursue my doctorate, and my career goals include teaching art history at the university level, curating in a museum of fine art, independent research, publishing scholarly work, and participating in community service, both directly and indirectly through hands‐on volunteer projects and through perhaps supervising and guiding future VISTA Volunteers. 10
- 11. KRISTEN KUZMICK Ohio State University As an Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA at The Ohio State University, it has been my pleasure to serve the Columbus community by providing college access programs to students and connecting parents to resources so that their children may realize their college‐going dreams. President Obama said in his State of the Union address that, "In the 21st century, one of the best anti‐poverty programs is a world‐class education." I believe that access to education is a direct route out of poverty for families in the Columbus community and I have been dedicated to this issue during my year of service ‐ helping inspire current college students to serve as College Access Ambassadors and providing resources to parents and their children about the college preparation process. Through this experience, I have discovered my passion for college access and my longing to serve low‐income and first generation students both at the secondary and higher education level. Listening to an eighth grader talk about his dream of going to college and becoming a pilot, making a college savings piggy bank with a second grade student, helping Columbus City School parents open 529 college savings accounts, teaching college students about the inequities in education and empowering them to do something about it, and developing a system of support for low‐income and first generation students at OSU ‐ all of these moments have helped define my year of service. My hope is for my work to continue long after I have left; for OSU to continue serving underserved students and teaching families about the steps necessary to prepare for higher education so that students will attain their college‐going dreams. Favorite Quote: “It is time not just for compassionate words, but compassionate actions.” ‐Marian Wright Edelman Future Plans: I am working as the College Access Coordinator at Oberlin College. In five years, I hope to be on my way to my Ph.D. and working in the world of college access and/or higher ed. FRAN LARKIN University of Cincinnati I served my first term in AmeriCorps directly after graduating from The Ohio State University as a City Year Corps Member. That experience changed the course of my life, and ignited my passion to afford other college‐aged students an opportunity to experience life‐changing service. Being an Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA is a perfect way to inspire others to service at a critical, defining stage of life. My goal is to make service an everyday part of a young person's adult life, educate true citizens, and send highly skilled professionals into the community‐‐wherever their career might take them‐‐with an informed perspective on the dynamics of the cycle of poverty, and a passion for doing their part to end it. Favorite Quote: "Let us realize the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice." ‐ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Future Plans: After serving as an Ohio Campus Compact VISTA at the University of Cincinnati Center for Community Engagement, I've earned the opportunity to continue to support the great work of students and the University as a full time Program Coordinator. 11
- 12. JOE LEHNERT Lorain County Community College Serving as an AmeriCorps*VISTA over the past year has helped reaffirm my desire to return to graduate school in order to fulfill my professional/academic ambitions. Engaging in social justice related service work in a professional setting has been beneficial for me personally, as it has allowed to me to return to my “roots” so to speak. I did a variety of social justice related activities as an undergraduate at Wilmington College, so serving as an AmeriCorps*VISTA has made me realize once again how important it is to me. Additionally, I feel I am better able to face the challenges of graduate school, as serving as an AmeriCorps*VISTA has allowed me to grow as a person and gain some perspective on the world around me. When I started my VISTA year, I felt my knowledge on workforce/economic development was lacking. Through my year of service I have learned so much. The complexity of workforce/economic development is far too great to detail in this space, but suffice it to say, it goes far beyond the term “job creation” we hear so much in public discourse. My greatest challenge was to help breed a broader understanding of workforce/economic development, and how it can be addressed at all levels. This could mean bringing more partners into the discussion, such as local libraries, to help solve this problem, or the need to address educational inequalities as to better prepare individuals for these jobs that are being created. The stress placed upon families that experience unemployment, and the strain on social services often goes unnoticed as well (which is why a service like the Ohio Benefit Bank is so needed). I think a more holistic approach/understanding of workforce/economic development is needed, and I have tried to do this during my year of service. Whenever I see the word community, I am reminded of the oft‐cited phrase “Think globally, act locally.” By serving our Ohio communities, we are helping to put this ideal into action. The problems of the world will not be solved overnight, but trying to improve the world around you will also help change the world at large. Favorite Quote: “Identity is also about self‐understandings, not about objective truth, or how we are perceived by others.” “Never doubt that a small group of citizens can change the world, indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” Future Plans: I will be returning to graduate school to finish my Master’s in political science. In five years I will likely be sequestered in a library somewhere working on my dissertation. 12
- 13. BRIDGET LUDWA University of Akron This experience has helped me realize how I can be most relevant in my immediate community, and larger global community ‐ working with veterans. This year of service has really reinforced the already budding thoughts of needing to be a part of my community, rather than simply being a resident. I think my greatest impact was calming the territory issues I walked into when I started; territorial issues are counterproductive to any student population! Service to our Ohio communities is important because it reminds people that we count, our jobs here in the community matter, our dollars staying in the community matter, the sense of community itself matters. I will remember my VISTA year as an awakening. In this year, I experienced wonderful things in my personal life, and realized where I fit in the universe. Favorite Quote: “Not every GI is a Joe.” ‐ American Women Veterans Future Plans: I will be attending the University of Akron for a Master’s in Social Work; my field placement involves 'motivating' homeless Iraq and Afghanistan veterans to use their earned education benefits. Five years from now I hope to be working for the Department of Veterans Affairs as a Licensed Social Worker and using alternative means to help my fellow veterans heal. PAMELA PATE Ohio University Being an OCC VISTA has meant freedom, structure and opportunity to be full‐ on passionate about helping people. My greatest hope for OU and Athens is that they will continue to collaborate and build more positive "Town‐Gown" relationships that will benefit both parties that make up the community. My greatest impact I believe was letting people know that the University felt that OU students learning more about community service was important and so they brought me there. There was pushback to my VISTA role and work. OU has been in a season of transition for many years: cuts, lay‐ offs, limited resources... etc. The climate can get tense. I managed to adjust my attitude, finish strong with my character intact. At the end of the day, we are just professional people trying to make something happen. Favorite Quote: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” ‐Martin Luther King Jr., Strength to Love, 1963 Future Plans: I am the new North Carolina Campus Compact VISTA at University of North Carolina ‐ Charlotte. I start the first of August! Five years from now I hope to be A.) A licensed practicing counselor & B.) Working to support youth in a non‐profit. :) 13
- 14. ERICA PHILLIPS Otterbein University If you had told me three years ago that I would spend two years coordinating a community garden, I would have laughed at you. The old Erica didn’t do dirt . . . now I do dirt, bugs, heavy lifting, you name it (in small doses still, I’m working on it). And it’s amazing! Two years ago, prior to my Otterbein position, I began to read and learn about our food system, the politics of food, and its many complexities and complications. Fascinated, I continued to read, talk, listen, and absorb. Encouraging families to grow their own food and to take back their control over what enters their bodies is a key aspect of this conversation. As an Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA, I do just that – empower families to grow their dinners. My position at Otterbein encourages, indeed requires, me to act on my beliefs and principles surrounding food and hunger in real, tangible ways. It has changed me too, in ways more transformative than a bit of dirt under my fingernails (though that’s a big deal, too), challenging me to continue to ponder tough issues and delve into possible solutions. What began for me as abstract theory and individual choices has become my VISTA work, part of a larger fabric of small changes in the food system as a whole. Future Plans: I will be doing a third term of service as a VISTA Leader. My five year plan is currently under construction. 14
- 15. JULIA PROVOZNIK Lorain County Community College My service as a VISTA has provided me with amazing experiences; personally and professionally. It came at the most opportune time in my life after undergrad where I was ready and waiting to go out into the world and start moving mountains. I was able to start my Master’s degree during my VISTA service and would not have learned as much as I know now if not for the perfect marriage between my course work and VISTA work. I’d learn things in the classroom and turn around and complete them in my VISTA work. Because I am working towards my Master’s in Nonprofit Administration & Leadership, while taking a required course, Grant Writing, I was able to “kill two birds with one stone” and write a couple of grants required for both class and work. It was a mutually beneficial relationship between experience and education. I was also able to learn about my community and so many issues our society faces and have grown further due in part to the topically themed OCC retreats (Veterans’ issues, Hunger, Rural poverty, etc). This knowledge is invaluable to me since I lack in the basic knowledge of a wide variety of social issue topics. In a way, it helps to make up for not receiving my undergrad in Social Work. Also of note would be the relationships I have been able to form; particularly with community partners and students. Everyone has specific needs and I have been able to learn the challenges both go through and both overcome. The students have been inspirational to me. Some have broken through barriers they face and others are struggling to break through. I have found that most of the time, all a student needs is someone to believe in them and tell them they can achieve anything if they set their mind to it. Students are going through so many struggles let alone the typical course load requirements. Our community is also struggling. I’ve learned about many of these struggles due to the funding cuts looming before many, if not all, of our community partners. I was able to attend Second Harvest’s info session speaking of what the federal cuts could and would mean to our local community and it is a haunting reality. I was also able to learn intimately of the struggles one of our partners was facing due to a class project I completed analyzing their financial situation. All of these experiences have helped me to understand and develop the case for Civic Engagement/Service Learning/Community Service or whatever you would like to call it. Our community has so many needs and the financial resources in our community have been drained. What better of a fit than developing our “in‐kind” resources in the form of our student population to fill in this need gap? On the flip side, our students are struggling to get through college and find a job. What better way to increase their engagement (retention) than involving them in meaningful service activities where they are utilizing their specialized skills learned in the classroom, making a difference in their own communities, and gaining real‐world experience that can be translated to their resumes and assist them in obtaining a future job. It makes perfect sense and if executed correctly, can have a life changing effect upon the community short‐term AND long‐term. We would be then breeding a new self‐sustaining society that understands the needs of our communities and takes care of them. Mother Teresa said it best, “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” Favorite Quote: "Courage is fear that has said its prayers and decided to go forward anyways." ‐ Joyce Meyers "Live simply so others may simply live." ‐ Ghandi "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." ‐ Ghandi “The only real failure in life is the failure to try.” ‐George Bernard Shaw "Success is following the pattern of life one enjoys most." ‐Al Capp "If you move though the world with only your intellect, then you walk with only one leg. If you move though the world with only your compassion, then you walk with one leg. But if you move through the world with both intellect and compassion, then you have wisdom." ‐ Maha Ghosananda 15
- 16. Julia’s Reflection Continued… Future Plans: I will be completing a second year with OCC and LCCC. My future plans here at LCCC involve an "adrenaline shot" into the service learning program in regards to projects, students, faculty, and community partners. I hope to be able be a "Match Maker" and a successful one where the projects/relationships are sustained long after I am gone. Five years from now I hope to have my Master’s degree in Nonprofit Administration and Leadership from CSU, have gone out of the country again (whether it be study abroad, language school, PeaceCorps, or the likes) and have landed myself a great job that I love and will provide me with the essentials. RICHARD SHAFRANEK Hiram College The AmeriCorps Pledge I will get things done for America to make our people safer, smarter, and healthier. I will bring Americans together to strengthen our communities. Faced with apathy, I will take action. Faced with conflict, I will seek common ground. Faced with adversity, I will persevere. I will carry this commitment with me this year and beyond. I am an AmeriCorps member, and I will get things done. 16
- 17. NICHELLE SHUCK Kent State University To me being an Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps* VISTA Program means being a change agent for your campus and your community. It teaches you how to listen, see, and speak of creative solutions. This experience has changed my living definition of being a citizen and an advocate. It has also reinforced my passion for making change through education. I am now a strong, confident leader who wants to ask the hard questions in hopes that if there are no answers or if I do not agree with the answers provided that I can be a part of the solution. My hope is that I helped to develop a movement on KSU’s campus for addressing social change and service‐learning. That as time goes on that often KSU students, faculty, and community leaders will sit around a table and ask themselves what they can do for their community. I have also had the honor to be a VISTA leader for the past year and this has given me the opportunity to get to know and support some of the best, most genuine, kind‐hearted and sincere people I have ever met. Thank you all for giving me the opportunity because it has truly been a pleasure – Best of luck! This type of public service is crucial for our communities because it is through education that we are able to open minds, mend hearts, and change lives for all people and develop communities where people are truly neighbors and public service is a way of life. Favorite Quote: To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded. Ralph Waldo Emerson Future Plans: It is hard to close this chapter of my life but for now I know that this experience has ultimately changed the person I am and the legacy I work to leave here on this earth. Next year, I will be attending Kent State University for a Masters degree in Higher Education and Student Personnel. I will be working as a graduate assistant at Case Western Reserve University. It is my goal to stay in touch and up‐ to‐date with social issues and the Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps program. As a soon to be professional at a institution of higher education, it will be one of my goals to advocate and educate for social change and the importance of community. I am unsure of where I will be in five years but I do I know that wherever I end up I will be an advocate for social equality. 17
- 18. JULIA SOLOW John Carroll University The mission of our office and at JCU is to create a "culture of service" across campus. My greatest hope is that, in the absence of three full‐time AmeriCorps*VISTAs next year and the addition of two full‐time staff members, the office will begin to develop firmer roots within the institution, allowing for that culture of service to blossom and grow so the community both within and outside of the school can increasingly experience mutual benefits through their partnership. One of the most challenging parts of my year was to maintain vision and long‐term goals in the face of so many bureaucratic barriers and slow‐downs. I have learned to be extremely patient and to persevere despite such barriers, but also to be flexible and creative when things may not have worked out. Above all, I learned the value in maintaining a sense of idealism balanced by realism. Future Plans: After my VISTA year, I will be travelling to Guatemala for a 9‐week Spanish language immersion program. Upon my return to the States, I plan to live in the D.C. area where my family currently resides and gain work experience as a community organizer. Within the next two years, I will be returning to school for my Master’s in Social Work, most likely specializing in Community Organizing, Planning and Development. My goal within five years is to have a position as a community organizer and to help effect change in solidarity with immigrant communities in the U.S. GWEN STEMBRIDGE University of Findlay I was able to take my unique experiences and background to change the view of service at The University of Findlay. Because of my unique experience working directly with two community partners and sitting on community boards, I was able to better understand the needs of the community and express those to students and administration at The University of Findlay and find mutually beneficial solutions. I was able to incorporate a spirit of hospitality into programs that were smoothly running, but missing the direct interaction and connection parts of service. I have learned so much about successful programs as I worked with so many different non‐profits and I will be able to take that knowledge of those successful programs to the next community where I serve. I hope that The University of Findlay will continue to use the amazing assets they have and delve more deeply into reflecting on the possible solutions that exist as opposed to dwelling on the issues. Favorite Quote: "If you've come to help me you're wasting your time. But if you've come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together."‐Aboriginal Activist Sister Future Plans: I'm not sure yet. I will definitely use my passions and skills to make a difference in whatever way I can. I also might join the circus. 18
- 19. JESSICA STEWART Notre Dame College My greatest impact was bringing the Students in Service program to the campus. I think it's going to do a lot of good and help many organizations grow. That was the biggest impact for me because I brought it to Notre Dame. The biggest impact from Notre Dame was the Welcome Weekend Food Collection. We collected almost 5,000 lbs of food! All of the food was donated to the Heights Emergency Food Center. The event was a huge success. Future Plans: Get a job within the communication/PR/marketing field NANCY SURELLA Mercy College I have been so proud to be an Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA! Over the last two years my fellow VISTAs have blown me away with their knowledge, compassion, commitment and innovative service to their communities. It's been a privilege to serve with them. Moving to Toledo, a town where I knew no one, was a bit scary initially. I've come to love the city and it's people. Toledo has a thriving arts community, and many other 'little known' gems, so I plan to stay here after my term of service with AmeriCorps ends. Service to others is a Mercy Core Value and I hope that the College will create a center for social justice after I leave here. I also hope that the programs that I've created carry on after I'm gone. I believe my greatest impact on Toledo has been through my work with small businesses, and the economic development that it has created. Helping someone realize their lifelong dream of owning their own business, and through that passion, support their family, has been immensely fulfilling. Because this work is attached to my volunteerism with SCORE, and is not tied to the College, I will continue to embrace the challenges and rewards that this service has afforded me. The biggest challenge that I experienced was also the biggest lesson that I learned during my tenure as a VISTA. While I've been involved as a volunteer my whole life, I hadn't experienced collaboration with paid employees of non profits as much as I have over the last two years. The one thing that I learned is that people, who are paid to work, work much more slowly than people who volunteer. Favorite Quote: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop to look around once in a while you could miss it.” ― Matthew Broderick as Ferris Bueller, "Ferris Bueller’s Day Off" Future Plans: Ideally I'd like to pick up a not too hard job working for a nonprofit in Toledo, which has become my home. I have however, just picked up a freelance advertising job with a Credit Union here in Toledo. Yesterday I ran into the Executive Director of another nonprofit, and he wants to meet to discuss my handling some marketing duties for his organization, on a freelance basis. So who knows where life takes us....if this keeps going, I may just hang out a shingle and go into business again!! KATHRYN TERRELL John Carroll University 19
- 20. ZAIA THOMBRE Marietta College My OCC AmeriCorps *VISTA year gave me more insight into the nonprofit world, than any book or other experience could. I was able to build a foundation of knowledge that will keep me engaged for the rest of my life. Not only will I stay involved in the nonprofit sector, but the Mid‐Ohio Valley will always have a very special place in my heart. I am so proud to know that I have started programs that are sustainable and that I have helped to foster connections that will benefit the community in a major way. It also meant a lot to know that there are passionate, young, motivated leaders out there who are working to make our communities a better place. The VISTAs brought so much to the table this year and it was amazing to see how much all of us accomplished. Reflecting on some of the friends I formed makes me realize that we are not alone in this world and people are beside you fighting the good fight. I hope that I am remembered as the VISTA who built a solid foundation for nonprofit collaboration and capacity building. I hope that people remember me as a positive influence who truly cared about the people and their work. Favorite Quote: Amanda Dever is the love of my life. Future Plans: Teach for America in the Mississippi Delta teaching math. Not sure what grade yet. 5 years later? I'll be at a VISTA reunion. JESSICA TOGLIA Miami University Hamilton My time as an Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA has been both rewarding and challenging. Volunteerism continues to grow at Miami University Hamilton and I am happy to be a part of the success. One of my greatest impacts as well as something that changed me was the STAYcation program. This was a transformative experience for the 8 students who stayed in Butler County and dedicated their spring break to service. It was powerful for me as a facilitator to bring the joy of service and connect students to our local community. This is important because it strengthens the ties between the community and the campus to come together to solve the most pressing issues of poverty and inequality. I hope to be just as successful and even more in my second year! Favorite Quote: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” ‐Margaret Mead Future Plans: I am doing a second year of OCC AmeriCorps*VISTA at Miami University Hamilton. Also, as of right now, I plan to go back to school in the next five years. 20
- 21. NICHOLAS WEBER Defiance College My time as a VISTA has been one of constant revelation; just when I think I have a problem figured out, I realize I have merely scratched its surface. I chose to serve as a VISTA because I knew it would push me to grow, both personally and professionally. I had no idea though how intense the work of addressing community need could be. There is never a nice, neat, end point that you reach to where a problem is truly solved. Rather, these challenges were made far more complicated when I realized we are dealing with real people with real problems, and that these are no longer the hypothetical situations I used to discuss in undergrad classes. Some of my greatest program successes were the ones I thought would never work, while some of my worst were projects I thought could never fail. From each experience though, I came away a little stronger, more prepared for the next undertaking. I realize that if the problems we faced were simple, they would have already been solved long ago. The problems we deal with are complicated, and so too are their solutions. Favorite Quote: "I do not suppose I shall be remembered for anything. But I don't think about my work in those terms. It is just as vulgar to work for the sake of posterity as to work for the sake of money." ‐Orson Welles Future Plans: I will remain with OCC for a 3rd year, serving as a VISTA Leader for this final year. I then plan to attend graduate school for International Law. GILLIAN WYNN Wright State University I have learned more about my community in the past two years as a VISTA, than I have my entire life. I have a better understanding of what an active citizen should be doing and why they choose to be active. My hope is that people will continue to be active citizens and to teach others what an active citizen does. It is so important to inform. Information is power! Favorite Quote: “What if the Hokey Pokey IS what it's all about?" ‐Unknown "Not all those who wonder are lost." ‐J.R.R. Tolkien Future Plans: I will get a job in the community next year and finish my application for seminary to enter into youth ministry. 21
- 22. EMILY YURCICH Hiram College It was a really great experience being an OCC AmeriCorps*VISTA. Being a VISTA means that I have the opportunity to make positive changes on the Hiram College campus and build structure to make those changes sustainable in the future. Over the past year I have developed a deeper understanding of community service and how small changes can really make a big difference. I hope to see Hiram College continue to advance in its effort to support students and community service work surrounding local foods and hunger awareness. I hope to see more local foods and food security issues addressed on campus and in the community. It will be great to see the programs that I worked on this past year continue to evolve. My greatest impact this year is the knowledge that I gained and the experience of working with local food issues in the community and seeing programs like Hiram Farm and Hiram House Camp growing and becoming resilient. I enjoyed learning from the other VISTAs’ experiences at their host campuses as well. Being able to share information through a wide network of people is valuable. Being an OCC VISTA at Hiram College has provided me with great experiences and opportunities to learn about food issues in a rural community and to see programs I was involved with begin to impact the community. Favorite Quote: “New knowledge is the most valuable commodity on earth. The more truth we have to work with, the richer we become.” ‐Kurt Vonnegut Future Plans: Next year I plan to travel more, continue to work with local food issues in the community. 2010‐2011 Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Program VISTAs always remember to… be the change you wish to see in the world 22