Author: Megan Beirne

AmeriCorps Week, March 8-14, 2020, is a celebration of all things AmeriCorps – from the programs and organizations that make this national service initiative possible in communities across the country, to the members who have pledged to “Get Things Done” since the program’s inception in 1994.

“My time as a VISTA has given me first-hand experience of the challenges of navigating poverty in a resort economy. Last year I piloted a housing counseling program and an employment mentoring program through the Garfield County Housing Authority, and I interacted with people who could be considered very low income to middle income. I was able to gain a very complete perspective on housing challenges in the Roaring Fork Valley, and what became apparent was that affordable housing is a problem for a wide and diverse range of people in this region.” – Bo Blodgett

“What I’ve learned is a life lesson. One, that empathy is important, but it’s also important to see and experience these things firsthand. Two, there are so many ways to help. I was a little anxious about not being able to contribute, but different organizations need different things, of course. Varying knowledge and experiences are valued (and needed).” – Nichole Westfall

“One thing I have learned so far is that equality is not common in communities!” – Carolyn Sherrick

“As an AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer I learned how to create, sustain, and manage projects with little to no supervision. My role within my organization was new and not defined. They did not know what they needed – all they knew was they needed help. The opportunity pushed me to be creative, self-motivated, and teach myself a ton of new skills!” – Rachel Baiyor

“I have learned how to coordinate projects on a regional scale with many partners involved.” – Katrina Stevens

“One thing I have learned is that the site supervisor may not be clear on what capacity building is. It is the VISTA’s role to fully understand capacity building and be willing and able to propose capacity building projects and take the lead on starting them and explaining to the site supervisor why it is capacity building and how it will help the program. I have found it easiest to find and start projects and give my site supervisor a brief summary as I ask for approval to move forward with the project.” – Cindy Packer

“One thing I have learned is how to successfully execute tasks and projects with little to no supervision.” – Megan Beirne

On this month’s show, LIFT-UP Executive Director Angela Mills provides insight into this organization’s history, ongoing initiatives and partnerships and how local residents may best benefit from the program. https://www.kdnk.org/post/lift-and-united-way-partner-tackle-hunger

Katrina Stevens at West Mountain Regional Health Alliance applied for the Rocky Mountain Health Foundation grant and was awarded $10,000 for the use of general operating funds.

Bo Blodgett at Habitat for Humanity Roaring Fork Valley applied for a grant at CORE and was awarded $100,000 for solar panels. He also applied for another grant and was awarded $150,000 for the remodel of Rifle Senior Housing.

Cindy Packer at Colorado Mountain College applied for the Workforce Diploma Pilot Program and was granted up to $7,000 per student for high school diplomas and career technical education programs which was awarded from the Colorado Department of Education. http://Cde.state.co.us/cdeadult/wdpp

Rachel Baiyor at Literacy Outreach has co-wrote many grants with Martha Fredendall, Executive Director of Literacy Outreach. A few of these grants included: $1,000 from the Aspen Thrift Shop for general operating support specifically for services in Glenwood and Carbondale, $11,000 from the Aspen Community Foundation and $3,000 from the City of Glenwood Springs – both for general operating support.

Sunlight Mountain Resort’s 35th Annual Skier Appreciation Day is now on January 10. Marketing and Sales Director Troy Hawks describes this year’s theme and events on United Way Cares. Listen to the episode by clicking this link: https://www.kdnk.org/post/skier-appreciation-day-benefits-united-way?fbclid=IwAR2fhqBmh3-XlIXm4Ra1n8SwxzTvaTG8G3-3GpZoyHe3pC-PJEa08PHSeb8

This month’s VISTA Spotlight is Cindy Packer of Colorado Mountain College.

https://coloradomtn.edu/

On this month’s show, Traci is joined by Sandy Swanson, executive director for Family Visitor Programs, and AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer Kaylee Peterson. Family Visitor Programs provides home visitation services to pregnant women and to parents of young children residing in the Aspen to Parachute, Colorado region. Programs are offered to families at no cost, regardless of income. https://www.kdnk.org/post/family-visitor-program-provides-parenting-consultation

This month on United Way Cares, Highwater Farm Project Director Sara Tymczyszyn talks about her initiative to connect youth with sustainable agriculture beginning at the Silt River Preserve in 2020. Listen to the interview here: https://www.kdnk.org/post/highwater-farm-project-connects-youth-and-local-ag

This month’s VISTA Spotlight is Nichole Westfall of GarCo Design Works.

“GarCo Design Works is a collaborative program birthed by Garfield County and Colorado Mountain College in 2012. It’s one part of a large program — GarCo Enterprise. I don’t want to be bias, but it’s my favorite part. This program helps its students get ready for the workforce – their main focus is to get people on their feet, and give them the skills and confidence to be self-sustainable.

Day-to-day, the students and staff make reusable bags out of sterile wrap. Sterile wrap is a fabric made by recycled plastic bottles. We grab it from four local hospitals after they use it to protect instruments in their autoclave(s). It can be washed, manipulated, and loved — that’s why we use it (and, of course, to get it out of the landfill). Students learn the responsibilities of working with a team, but they also learn all of the design process (and how to use an industrial sewing machine).

I’ve been a VISTA since April of this year. I wanted to become a VISTA because I didn’t feel fulfilled with what I was doing. I had finished college and was working a few design and art jobs in West Virginia. I suppose, in a sense, I had “made it,” because I was able to sustain myself with creating art. However, my art practice was very introspective, and I felt as though I wasn’t really doing my part for the larger collective. I wanted to help more people, and more directly. I chose to go to GarCo because it was created and run by women; their students are mainly single mothers as well. I have this urge to fight injustice, and, as a woman, social injustice based on gender is one I know too well. I knew this would be a place that I could help, because I’d have a fire under me pushing to do all that I could. I also knew this would be a place that I would fall in love with my work, and have a reason to fight for them (and all of us) everyday.

During my service, I’ve created a new website, Pinterest, and Instagram for the program. I’ve started a monthly newsletter highlighting former students and their incredible stories. With the help of generous donors and former Director, Jill Ziemann, I got a new place for us to set up shop. The former space was dark, smelled of mold, and everyone was separated from one another in little caves. Our new space is an (updated) open, industrial space where we are have the option of growing!

Currently, I’m designing — literally because I’m helping with media and marketing. But, also I’m working to help redesign the program to further grow!”

https://www.garcodesignworks.com/

Traci Gurley-Tomashosky, acting Executive Director for United Way Battlement to the Bells, discusses a new AmeriCorps VISTA project with Andie Scott and volunteer Alex Willard. https://www.kdnk.org/post/united-way-and-americorps-provide-local-volunteers

Traci Gurley-Tomashosky, executive director for United Way Battlement to the Bells, gives tribute to former board president Christopher May and former executive director Amy Barr and discusses the AmeriCorps VISTA project with program manager Andie Scott and leader Amber Burns. https://www.kdnk.org/post/united-way-remembers-christopher-may-and-amy-barr-discusses-americorps-vista