CURRENT FIRST 5 SERVICE CORPS VISTA MEMBERS SERVING IN Del norte, Fresno, mendocino, nevada, and placer counties.
VISTA LEADER:
VISTAs:
Del Norte County
Megan VanGorden , Del norte Rural human services
Hometown: Olivebridge, NY
Service Term: April 2014-2015
Service Project Description: I am currently serving as a Nutrition Education and Outreach Coordinator. I work out of the Family Resource Center in Crescent City as a member of the Building Healthy Communities Food Team. I will be expanding and building upon existing nutrition education programs to families and 0-5 providers including home day-cares, Head Start programs, and pre-schools. These programs include Harvest of the Month, the Rethink Your Drink campaign, and Potter the Otter.
Why did you join AmeriCorps*VISTA? I previously served as an AmeriCorps State member with an Area Agency on Aging in Vermont. I had a great experience and I wanted to serve another year with AmeriCorps. I am looking forward to serving an underserved community while gaining work experience and skills that will help me to pursue a career in the public health or social services sector.
Do you have an interesting fact about yourself? I love to travel and experience new cultures. .
Service Term: April 2014-2015
Service Project Description: I am currently serving as a Nutrition Education and Outreach Coordinator. I work out of the Family Resource Center in Crescent City as a member of the Building Healthy Communities Food Team. I will be expanding and building upon existing nutrition education programs to families and 0-5 providers including home day-cares, Head Start programs, and pre-schools. These programs include Harvest of the Month, the Rethink Your Drink campaign, and Potter the Otter.
Why did you join AmeriCorps*VISTA? I previously served as an AmeriCorps State member with an Area Agency on Aging in Vermont. I had a great experience and I wanted to serve another year with AmeriCorps. I am looking forward to serving an underserved community while gaining work experience and skills that will help me to pursue a career in the public health or social services sector.
Do you have an interesting fact about yourself? I love to travel and experience new cultures. .
Cara Brustol, Del norte Department of Education Local Planning Council
Hometown: Crescent City, California.
Service Term: November 2013-2014
Service Project Description: I will be serving First 5, LPC Child Care and Development and be involved in community-wide strategic planning around kindergarten readiness, working with teachers, administrators, preschool teachers, parents and the community members to gather information about how to best support efforts to improve the school readiness for young children.
Why did you join AmeriCorps*VISTA? AmeriCorps VISTAS are really making a difference in America and right away I became so inspired and wanted to be a part of it. I moved away after High School to gain an education, experience and grow personally and always had a dream to come back to my hometown to give back. Working with First 5 and LPC Child Care and Development in Crescent City felt like the perfect opportunity to be active in supporting the needs and quality education for local children, families and those that provide, care and educate them.
Do you have an interesting fact about yourself? I am an identical twin.
Service Term: November 2013-2014
Service Project Description: I will be serving First 5, LPC Child Care and Development and be involved in community-wide strategic planning around kindergarten readiness, working with teachers, administrators, preschool teachers, parents and the community members to gather information about how to best support efforts to improve the school readiness for young children.
Why did you join AmeriCorps*VISTA? AmeriCorps VISTAS are really making a difference in America and right away I became so inspired and wanted to be a part of it. I moved away after High School to gain an education, experience and grow personally and always had a dream to come back to my hometown to give back. Working with First 5 and LPC Child Care and Development in Crescent City felt like the perfect opportunity to be active in supporting the needs and quality education for local children, families and those that provide, care and educate them.
Do you have an interesting fact about yourself? I am an identical twin.
FRESNO COUNTY
Carissa Wheeler , First 5 Fresno
Hometown: Aurora, NY
Service Term: April 2014-2015
Service Project Description: I am here with First 5 Fresno County to work with our Sustainability Project which helps to teach organizations how to become and remain sustainable. Also, I have the opportunity to be part of The Children’s Movement, which works to bring children to the forefront of our priorities because, of course, they are our future
Why did you join AmeriCorps*VISTA? As corny as it may sound, I wanted to make a positive change in the world and this seemed like a very good place to start.
Do you have an interesting fact about yourself? I love rainstorms with sheets of rain and thunder and lightning…and I enjoy being outside in them :)
Service Term: April 2014-2015
Service Project Description: I am here with First 5 Fresno County to work with our Sustainability Project which helps to teach organizations how to become and remain sustainable. Also, I have the opportunity to be part of The Children’s Movement, which works to bring children to the forefront of our priorities because, of course, they are our future
Why did you join AmeriCorps*VISTA? As corny as it may sound, I wanted to make a positive change in the world and this seemed like a very good place to start.
Do you have an interesting fact about yourself? I love rainstorms with sheets of rain and thunder and lightning…and I enjoy being outside in them :)
Mendocino County
Greg Etter, First 5 mendocino
Service Term: February 2014-2015
Service Project Description: While working at FIRST 5 Mendocino, I will use small business concepts and build partnerships to raise financial and social capital needed to sustain FIRST 5's programs.
Why did you join AmeriCorps*VISTA? I joined VISTA because I feel that it will be a stepping stone to future endeavors and seemed like a great position to gain work experience while also helping out the community around me.
Do you have an interesting fact about yourself?After graduating college, I took a 3 week roadtrip outlining the southern part of the US, from New Jersey to Portland, OR.
Sanders Sanchez Erebia, First 5 Mendocino
Hometown: Troy, Michigan.
Service Term: February 2014-2015
Service Project Description: This year I will be the Maternal and Child Health Advocate and it will primarily focus on promoting the health and development of healthy habits targeted at pregnant women and mothers of children through programming and community outreach.
Why did you join AmeriCorps*VISTA? I joined AmeriCorps VISTA because I was looking for a worthwhile experience, during my gap year between undergrad and medical school, that would challenge me intellectually and force me to step beyond my comfort zone.
Do you have an interesting fact about yourself? I have found a hobby in DJing and learning how to produce music.
Service Term: February 2014-2015
Service Project Description: This year I will be the Maternal and Child Health Advocate and it will primarily focus on promoting the health and development of healthy habits targeted at pregnant women and mothers of children through programming and community outreach.
Why did you join AmeriCorps*VISTA? I joined AmeriCorps VISTA because I was looking for a worthwhile experience, during my gap year between undergrad and medical school, that would challenge me intellectually and force me to step beyond my comfort zone.
Do you have an interesting fact about yourself? I have found a hobby in DJing and learning how to produce music.
Nevada County
PLACER COUNTY
Melissa Granville, Placer county office of Education
Hometown: Auburn, California
Service Site: Placer County Office of Education
Service Project Description: Melissa will be charged with connecting children and families to the plentiful resources in the county by attending outreach and networking events, growing local non-profit organization capacity, and building and maintaining a sustainable online database of local resources called the Network of Care.
Why did you join AmeriCorps*VISTA?: Along with the desire to give back to her hometown and its community members, Melissa chose to serve as a VISTA because she believes everyone deserves access to basic amenities and the opportunity to improve their standard of living.
Interesting Fact: She is an avid reader, a proponent of new urbanism and holds a volleyball record at Wichita State University (KS)