By Shelby Rutzick, Communications and Development Specialist, Frogtown Farm

Many people say that college is the time in people’s lives that shapes who they are. Over those four or so years, you immerse yourself in new experiences, typically live on your own for the first time and you grow, develop, mature and learn more about yourself and the world than you could anticipate. Although I encountered these experiences and acknowledge that time as a period of growth in my life, my first year out of college has integrally shaped my perspectives in a way I could not have imagined.

By Sharon Rebar, Administrative Systems Analyst, Lao Assistance Center of Minnesota

During the past eight years, I’ve been accepted by the Peace Corps three times! Each time fate intervened and I was unable to fulfill the 27-month commitment. I kept copies of 150 pages of information required by Peace Corps staff prior to departing for the Philippines two years ago July 1st.  It is solid reminder that I needed to give up my life-long dream of serving in the Peace Corps and move on with life.

By Kat McCaffery, Development Specialist, American Indian Family Center

On August 13, 2017, I moved to Saint Paul. I had never been to the Twin Cities and didn’t know a single person there. All I knew was that one of the women who worked at my service site offered a room in the house she was renting with her husband and daughter. It was an adorable house in a nice neighborhood where I could actually afford the rent. I got lucky.

By David Kraft, Marketing and Communications, MIGIZI

1.)   To Help Communities of Color! 

Times are difficult for immigrant, refugee, and communities of color in the USA. Since the cities were first founded, the Twin Cities have been a major destination for immigrants. They also are home to strong-willed and organized, but marginalized urban American Indian communities.

I joined AmeriCorps, and applied to work at the American Indian Family Center, because I wanted to have an intercultural experience. I studied history in college—I was excited to work for a community where history is very relevant. In both high school and college, I studied abroad three times and I wanted to have a similar experience of being immersed in another culture because being forced outside my comfort zone was challenging and empowering. When abroad, I was able to understand what it meant to be American through the eyes of non-Americans. But in this context, interacting with the Native community has given me a window into what it means to be American from the inside, but in a very different reality than my own. This experience has really given me more insight into who I am in the context of American history.

By Monica Pagani, Program Specialist, Ka Joog

When I sat down to write this blog post, I begin by reflecting on the past eight months. What have I accomplished? What do I still hope to do? Have I been a successful VISTA or will any of this even matter in a year’s time?

By Jocelyn Leung, Community Engagement Program Associate, Nexus Community Partners

Mental illnesses are generally unspoken but remain pervasive. Just going off what is reported, around 1 in every 5 adult Americans will experience mental illness(es) in a given year (“Mental Health By,”2015). The probability of living with mental illness(es) increases when additional environmental factors are layered on top of the common stresses and disappointments associated with regular life.

By Maddie Hyde, Evaluation and Communication Specalist, Dream of Wild Health

A bit over a month ago, it was the beginning of November and I picked a full bouquet of marigolds from my front yard. Just a few weeks ago, crisp green kale was flourishing in my backyard. During this week of below freezing temperatures, I’m dreaming of such an experience!

When I started my VISTA year in August, we were in the heat of the summer, and I was thrown right into what the wonderful experience of our youth program and the farm, acclimating myself to the Dream of Wild Health “ecosystem,” an orientation for my tasks to come.

Our work at Dream of Wild Health is highly seasonal with summers filled with youth programs, farm maintenance, transporting produce to market, all on top of typical nonprofit work of fundraising, grantwriting, evaluating, and crafting educational programs to serve the community.

By Rebekah Jacobson, Community Engagement Coordinator, Karen Organization of Minneosta

Last year when I began my AmeriCorps VISTA year at the Karen Organization of Minnesota I was thrown into the fire. My supervisor assigned me with the daunting task of planning our organization’s largest fundraiser – the Annual Gala. And I only had two months to do it.

Thankfully, and surprisingly, the event turned out to be very successful. A few months later, I committed to a second year of AmeriCorps VISTA at the same site because I felt a deep connection to the community we serve – Karen and other refugees from Burma in Minnesota. Upon this decision, I knew I would have a chance to plan the Annual Gala once more.

By Edita Sabovic, Inclusion and Engagement Specialist, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits

I attended the Inclusion and Equity Forum at Hamline University in September where I was able to hear different perspectives on I & E from individuals who work in the nonprofit and government sector. The event had a panel of distinguished community and professional leaders from the Twin Cities that gave their perspectives on the importance of I & E in order to build a more inclusive community.  The panel had attendees form into groups and talk about implicit bias and what changes we could make in our communities and organizations. It was a great event to attend because it provided resources on I & E and how to tackle obstacles that arise in the workplace. Back in the office, MCN provided an HR network lunch and invited nonprofit professionals to talk about I & E and how to create a more welcoming environment at conferences and in the office.  As part of the internal I & E committee at MCN I hope to use the resources I’ve learned at different workshops and events to generate more ideas for MCN and changes it can implement for its internal staff.

By Marissa Kurtz, Volunteer Program Specialist, Casa de Esperanza

I spend most of my working hours analyzing and developing Casa de Esperanza’s volunteer and intern program. This perspective gave me the opportunity to deepen my respect and appreciation for those who offer up their free time and services to causes they believe in.

Every volunteer I have met and worked with is extremely proud of the work Casa does for the Latin@ community. They are happy to support Casa in the organization’s mission to “mobilize Latinas and Latin@ communities to end domestic violence.”

This level of volunteer dedication became even more apparent to me as I began assisting in the planning process of our event, Honoring Latina Leadership.

On Friday, September 9 the VISTA Cohort 2016-2017 along with MCN VISTA's program coordinator and program manager participated in a service day at the Dream of Wild Health Farm (one of MCN VISTA's host site) where Maddie Hyde is serving. When our group arrived at the Farm, we immediately got welcomed in and given a tour of the Farm. 

Throughout the day VISTAs were busy helping the farmers while learning about farming and hearing stories from the elders and those in the community. 

By Catherine Dahlberg, MCN VISTA 2015-2016 Alumna

The one-year work experience at MCN's AmeriCorps VISTA program is very rewarding for me. I took free training with senior consultants such as Leah Moses and Andre Koen, and got to meet a number of nonprofit leaders face to face at VISTA retreats. Looking back at this experience, I find three things very important during my VISTA work.

by Catherine Dahlberg

I am a minority member of the society. Having lived in both California and Minnesota, I have encountered racism in both states.

Identity – Foreigner in their own Land

Once someone that I do not know much asked me this question: “You have an English name, but you don’t have an American face. Where did you get this name?” 

I do not perceive a conflict between my name and my face. Aren’t they both a small part of the sum of me? But this person does. A few repeated incidents later, I come to the conclusion that being questioned about my name will just be a life experience for the rest of my life. It is time for me to plan on how to live with this reality.