fall vov 2010 final

8/8/2019 Fall VoV 2010 Final

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VISTA Fall Regional Retreats VISTAs Get Up Close and Personal With Poverty, Food Insecurity & T

obin Lenner, Warren Wilson College VISTA

The 2010 western region VISTA retreat was held at the UNC Ashevillempus on Monday, Sept. 13. UNCA VISTA Laura Furey and Warrenilson College VISTA Robin Lenner organized the retreat with acus on proessional development, an introduction tood insecurity, and a related service project addressingcal ood issues.The retreat began with a presentation

om Debra Miles, Executive Director oe Center or Diversity Education,

n ostering conversation and respectmong cultures. Anna Littman, Programnd Volunteer Coordinator or Appala-

hian Sustainable Agriculture Project,ave the second presentation. ASAP is aon-prot agency providing advocacynd education to build healthier com-unities, support armers and localod markets, and preserve the agricul-ral herritage o Southern Appalchia.For their aternoon teambuildingrvice project, the group headed to

vergreen Community Charter School to break ground on a brand new school garden. VISTAs spent sev-al hours prepping the gardens winter beds. Terry Deal, the schools environmental education teacher,entioned undraising diculties, such as raising money or Seedolks by Paul Fleischman. Beore leaving

vergreen, the nine Western region VISTAs decided to purchase Seedolks to donate to the school.Three weeks later, Robin delivered the set o 30 books to Evergreen in ront o the entire middle school.

eedolks is particularly relevant to the VISTA experience, as it describes how one garden transorms aeighborhood and orges powerul community ties. It is a source o inspiration or all VISTAs as we strength-n our own communities and bring people together.

xploring the Wild, Wild West

t: Robin delivers books to Evergreen. Right: VISTAs work to remove overgrown weeds at The Earth Garden.

Neil Hoefs & Nicole Hampsten, Duke University VISTAs

With nearly two months o experience under theNC Campus Compact VISTAs in the Triad area travelUNCG or a un-lled day o learning and service. VIrom across the state have hosted volunteer airs, pnational days o service, written grants and coordin

deserts and innovative approaches to enable ood security. In the aternoon session, Dr. Lauren Haldproessor o nutrition, discussed eective ways to address ood insecurity using community needsassessment.

As NC Campus Compact VISTAs continue their year o service to America, theyll not only plug awthe tasks outlined in their Volunteer Assignment Description, but help bridge the gap between thecommunity and their respective campus. The scope o ood insecurity issues has yet to be ully outor understood; however, with a rm grasp o the needs o the community, the whole can become than the sumer o its parts, and the potential or change can be realized.

Food or Thought in the Tria

whole slew o service projects with an emphasis on oodinsecurity and poverty. While VISTAs are still actively learninrespective roles, a culture o collaboration has gone into e

where one great idea is replicated and tted appropriately to several camUNCG VISTA Emily Kamischke pulled together a retreat ocused on ood insecu

issues. Dr. Marianne LeGreco, proessor in the Communication Studies departmelivered a passionate and inormative presentation on ood insecurity issues, such

Goal-Setting and Tigers at

UNC Chapel HillBanjo Dryman, UNC Pembroke VISTA

VISTAs rom across the Triangle and Eastern part o

the state came together at UNC Chapel Hill or a dayo refection and networking. Kate Kryder rom Caro-lina Leadership Development acilitated a goal-settingactivity where VISTAs explored their values and theirvision or a meaningul year. Dr. Noal Ranells, AgriculturalEconomic Development Coordinator or Orange County,and Dr. Alice Ammerman, rom the UNC School oNutrition, spoke about ood insecurity and its prevalenceand impact locally and internationally.

For their service project the group headed toPittsboros Carolina Tiger Rescue, a wildlie sanctuarywhose mission is saving and protecting cats in captiv-ity and in the wild. The VISTAs were separated into twogroups, men and women, as there were several tigerswith strong aversions to males. The majority o theaternoon was spent teambuilding through helpingmaintain and landscape the property.

UNCP VISTA Banjo prepares or weed-pulling at CTiger Rescue.


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ive Reasons Why Being a VISTA Rockslook inside the social media resource world o AmeriCorps*VISTA

obyn Stegman, Mary-Baldwin College VISTA

ocial Media MondaysI youre a social media nerd like I am,en you will love monthly Webshops on

ocial media and web-based tools youn use during your VISTA service. Each

ebShop is led by technology expertsnd VISTAs who provide you with on-the-ound tips and experience to improve start your work using social media or

ocial good.There are hundreds o webinars on so-

al media these days, but this is the onlyne catering to VISTAs. The webshop pre-nters make sure you get the inorma-

on you need or your service and they are availableanswer any questions you may have online ater

ach webshop. This is one o the best social mediasources out there and VISTAs get it or a sweet, lowice: ree.Find inormation about upcoming Social Media

onday events and get recordings o all past web-ops (including webshops on Facebook and Social

edia Success eaturing yours truly) on the VISTAampusresource page.

VISTAbuzzI youre on Twitter you should

make sure to ollow @VISTAbuzzor the latest inormation aboutVISTA projects, training opportun-ties and resources. I youre a Face-book user, then the VISTA Face-

ook page is or you. Get updates, inspiring quotesnd stories about the successes o your ellow VISTAs

the community. Like the

acebook page to be kept up to date.ISTA Volunteer ReportersIn honor o their 45th anniversary, VISTA sent outree reporters to create videos about their VISTArvice. They came back with stories and interviewsat showcase the power o VISTAs to change lives

nd communities. Each month VISTA posts new sto-es or their reporters. You can see these videos oneir YouTube site.I you would like to be a part o this project, VISTA

ill loan you a FLIP video camera to begin recording

your story. You can apply to be a VISTA reporter bycontacting Elizabeth Matthews.

VISTA ViewfnderThe VISTA Viewnder is a monthly newsletter just

or VISTAs. Each month the ocus is on a particularissue such as reugees, microenterprise, or veteransand provides resources, discussion, and stories oVISTAs working in those elds. Its a great resourceor inormation on policy, best practices, and ex-amples o successul models. You can nd the latestVISTA Viewnder and archives o past issues here.Make sure to sign up and get the VISTA Viewnder inyour inbox each month.

V is or...Flickr ContestDid you know each month you have a chance to

win a VISTA hoodie? Submit your VISTA photos tothe V is or...Flickr contest and you could be select-

ed as one o their monthly winners. Check out theirFlickr gallery. See what other VISTAs have submittedand submit your own photo that represents yourVISTA service. What does the VISTA V mean to you?

There are many otherresources to be oundon the VISTA Campusand beyond. There arenot just ve, buthundreds o reasonswhy being a VISTArocks.

Twenty Years of Student-Led Service-LearningCarolyn Byrne, UNC Chapel Hill

In partnership with the Campus Y and the Student Coalition or Action in Literacy Education (SCAthe APPLES Service-Learning program celebrated its 20th anniversary on Saturday, Oct. 20. Twenty ago, a small group o students led by Tony Deiell, UNC class o 91, noticed a lack o connection betstudents classroom learning and their service work in the community. These students had an idea tintegrate service-learning into the academic curriculum, and out o their eorts the APPLES ServiceLearning program was born. In 1991, APPLES oered its rst six service-learning courses to the studbody. Through the next ew years, APPLES expanded the number o courses oered, added a series ellowships, spring and summer internships, alternative break trips and a rst-year program, ServiceLearning Initiative.

The APPLES reunion included two decades o program highlights rom students and alumni speaopportunities to reunite with colleagues, meet current APPLES organizers, hear about current APPLprogramming as well as view a new short lm eaturing APPLES connections to students, aculty ancommunity partners.

Other weekend events included The Record Speaks: UNCs History o Social Justice, an oral histo

perormance showcasing the rich history o the Campus Y and SCALE, table discussions around cu

issues in education, healthcare, the environment and more, and a keynote address by Majora Carterpioneer o successul urban green-collar job training and placement systems, Carter spoke about epreneurs around the country who support her idea that you dont have to move out o your city to a great one. Using this ormat, Carter talked about activism and making it accessible to all people, nthat there are things we can all do to make our communities better, saer and stronger.

Best O the [VISTA] BlogosphereDid you know NC Campus Compact VISTAs have their very own bIts true. In case you havent been tumbling through it lately, heresmall sample o what youve missed. So ar, weve...

Ventured into VISTA

Oce Space (literally)

Celebrated our VISTA

Directors birthday

Found out VISTAs & pu

service worcan get lo

paymen

reduced

Have something interesting or useul that youd like to share on theblog? Click on the envelope icon in the VISTA Lie box on the blogsubmit an article/resource without even signing up on Tumblr! Ask

question on the blog too, just by clicking on the question mark in the same blue box.

Planned ahead or our hal-price GREor AmeriCorps Alums

VISALieTe lie and times o 33NC Campus CompactAmeriCorps*VISAs.Fighting poverty. Making adiference. Rocking out.

FINE FOLK

Explored Idealist.orgs Guide toNon-Prot Careers

(or our students & post-VISTA planning)
http://vistacampus.org/mod/resource/view.php?id=1597http://www.twitter.com/vistabuzzhttp://www.facebook.com/AmeriCorpsVISTAhttp://www.youtube.com/vistaoutreach/mailto:EMatthews%40cns.gov?subject=http://vistacampus.org/course/view.php?id=18.http://www.flickr.com/groups/visforhttp://www.vistacampus.org/http://www.vistalife.tumblr.com/http://www.tumblr.com/http://vistalife.tumblr.com/post/1367608160http://vistalife.tumblr.com/post/1367608160http://vistalife.tumblr.com/post/1367608160http://vistalife.tumblr.com/post/1367608160http://www.tumblr.com/http://www.vistalife.tumblr.com/http://www.vistacampus.org/http://www.flickr.com/groups/visforhttp://vistacampus.org/course/view.php?id=18.mailto:EMatthews%40cns.gov?subject=http://www.youtube.com/vistaoutreach/http://www.facebook.com/AmeriCorpsVISTAhttp://www.twitter.com/vistabuzzhttp://vistacampus.org/mod/resource/view.php?id=1597


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Northern Exposure: Who IS Robyn Stegman?erhaps you noticed her social media article on page 4 o the newsletter, or maybe youveeen her name on e-mail l ists, and wondered, who IS Robyn Stegman?Wake Techommunity College VISTA Dallas Thompson has the scoop.

trepid amateur reporter Dallas Thompson cratedist o questions or our own Mary Baldwin CollegeSTA, to nd out more about the mos t northerly NCampus Compact VISTA member!allas: Who are you? (Authors note: Nothing like

arting out with the obvious.)

obyn: My name is Robyn. Im a service nerd andurrent AmeriCorps*VISTA at Mary Baldwin College.T: Why did you decide to do a second year with

STA?

S: My rst year o service was at the Michiganommunity Service Commission where I served with

earn and Serve-Michigan. My rst year o serviceave me a great introduction to CNCS and to thervice eld.

T: Whats your avorite thing about bein g a VISTA?

S: VISTA has changed my lie in many unexpectedays. When I started as a VISTA I didnt know that ach community exists o ormer and current VISTAsnd AmeriCorps members. It has been sonriching to be able to connect with members romcross the country on Twitter, on the VISTA Campus,nd in person. I had no idea how many members

nd ormer members there were even in my ownommunity. This past December when I was in themergency room or a cat bite, I provided myealthcare inormation only to nd out that both myoctor and one o the assistants weremeriCorps Alums. The amount o connectionsade each day because I am a member is crazy.T: Whats your most avorite ood?

S: Cheese. Its the real reason I could never goegan. (Authors note: Amen!)

T: And whats your avorite hobby?S: Doing good is denitely a avorite hobby oine. When Im not serving as a VISTA I usually amorking on one o several projects I rope mysel into.ost recently I started the Yak Bell Project and Imorking to raise $24,000 or Room to Read to buildx libraries in communities that have never had a

brary beore. Thats kept me pretty busy. I supposey other hobby would be reading. I recently startedew Pub Book Club, a book club at a local

bar in town and weve become the rebel book clubo Staunton, VA. I think about 50% o the book club is

discussion o the book and the other 50% is randomtangents on societal gender roles and Taoist phi-losophy. It denitely is one o the highlights o mymonth.

DT: Last, but defnitely not least, whats one thingthat everyone should know about you?

RS: I sign all o my letters and emails Peace andHappy. Its a phrase I learned rom two Burmesenuns I met while in India. It reminds me that i I amcompassionate in everything I do I can bring peaceand happiness to the world.To learn more about the Yak Bell Project, or to sup-

port Robyn, go to:

http://roomtoread.org/yakbellproject.

Fighting Poverty With Passion: VISTAs Share TheStories o Service From Across the State(s)

Twenty-nine students, one student tealeader, and our advisors rom NC StateUniversity traveled to Washington, D.C.

third annual Altive Fall Break tthe nations capStudents volunat D.C. CentralKitchen, the CaArea Food BanOthers Might E(SOME), Carpen

Shelter, and NeHousing ths yeStudents alsoparticipated in service refectiotime to see histsites, and spentassessing the rahomeless

individuals around their hostel as they passed out ood in the evenings. The team generated 371 houservice which also included 13 international students rom India, China, Kuwait and Arica.

JackieJazwa,NCState

LauraFurey, UNC AshevilleThe September 11th Day o Service ood drive was the rst eventI organized here. An email rom VISTA Director Jonathan Rommasking what we were doing or the day prompted some

serious last minute planning. We decided to host a ood driverom Wednesday 9.8 to Friday 9.10 with the donations benetingthe Emma Family Resource Center in West Asheville. Wechallenged oces and departments to collect items and bringthem to the Key Center, with the largest donor being recognized

in an email to all aculty and sta. Wednesday and Thursday werea little nerve-wracking with a ew donations trickling in here andthere. By the end o Thursday, Cori (the Key Centers AmeriCorpsState and National member) and I were considering going toAmazing Savings grocery store to stock up on a ew items so weat least had something to give. However, Friday came around andthe donations rolled in (the winning department, Campus Recre-ation, had a move-in day cart ull) rom across campus, includinga personal delivery rom Provost Jane Fernandes. By the end othe day we had several ull boxes totaling over 300 ood items!
http://roomtoread.org/yakbellprojecthttp://roomtoread.org/yakbellproject


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fall vov 2010 final

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