Hey VISTA team,
Do you have any tips or tricks for eating well on the VISTA stipend? Have you started cooking with your friends more? Do you have a go to meal you cook when you're waiting for your next stipend check to come in?
Share what you've learned -- whether its what to buy, where to shop, or a recipe -- in the comments section!
I'm curious to hear what you've been doing and eager to hopefully add a little variety to my recipe collection during the last couple months of my service.
---Laura; Durham, NC
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
Successful summer service-learning sessions!
Just so that this blog doesn't end up being Laura's blog (as Tommy says), I'll post some recent info about my summer computer lab workshops facilitated by my Rockhurst service-learning Education grad students:
Computer lab workshop outcomes where Rockhurst service-learning students led one-on-one sessions:
-30 service hours provided by 8 Rockhurst students
-19 program participants (residents and their guests) attended 9 workshops in 2 buildings - mostly resume/job search and a few computer basics
-14 unique people were served
-10 job applications submitted online
-7 Beehive accounts created
-9 resumes created
-4 email accounts created
Note that this was all accomplished in just 3 weeks in June! I'm waiting to hear reflections from my volunteers but the direct feedback I've received so far has been really positive. One student was recently laid off during the workshops -- she was so enthused about working with my residents, that she offered to continue volunteer past her service learning requirements since she had "more free time now"!
Another little vignette that will stick with me during this semeseter was working with a resident to create a resume on the Beehive. When we got to the work history part, I asked her what her last job was, she was quiet and then started crying. I was surprised and felt bad that I might have said something that triggered a sad or bad memory. When I returned with a tissue, I asked if that was the case but she said no -- she was just overwhelmed with emotion that she was able to take this positive step in her life. It was a really poignant moment, and summed up my year of service really well.
--
Tina from KCMO
Computer lab workshop outcomes where Rockhurst service-learning students led one-on-one sessions:
-30 service hours provided by 8 Rockhurst students
-19 program participants (residents and their guests) attended 9 workshops in 2 buildings - mostly resume/job search and a few computer basics
-14 unique people were served
-10 job applications submitted online
-7 Beehive accounts created
-9 resumes created
-4 email accounts created
Note that this was all accomplished in just 3 weeks in June! I'm waiting to hear reflections from my volunteers but the direct feedback I've received so far has been really positive. One student was recently laid off during the workshops -- she was so enthused about working with my residents, that she offered to continue volunteer past her service learning requirements since she had "more free time now"!
Another little vignette that will stick with me during this semeseter was working with a resident to create a resume on the Beehive. When we got to the work history part, I asked her what her last job was, she was quiet and then started crying. I was surprised and felt bad that I might have said something that triggered a sad or bad memory. When I returned with a tissue, I asked if that was the case but she said no -- she was just overwhelmed with emotion that she was able to take this positive step in her life. It was a really poignant moment, and summed up my year of service really well.
--
Tina from KCMO
Milestone in Atlanta: Community Technology Center
After 11 months of service I finally opened the Community Technology Center (a.k.a computer lab) at Seven Courts Apartments.
The first attempt, the apartment assigned was broken into.
Second attempt, new management was hired and the apartment assigned for the CTC was rented out.
And finally my last attempt with the help of April Penn, the AmeriCorps Summer Associate for Seven Courts, we finally open the doors on June 18, 2010.
April was influential in advocating to the new property management the importance of having a Community Technology Center in her community. We are now conducting training on The Beehive and GCFLearnFree (Word 2007 & Excel 2007). In addition, I am also using the curriculum that Ruqiyyah developed in subjects such as, Internet Basic's, Homework Help and Safety Online, etc.
-andy j. santamaria
Atlanta AmeriCoprs*VISTA
The first attempt, the apartment assigned was broken into.
Second attempt, new management was hired and the apartment assigned for the CTC was rented out.
And finally my last attempt with the help of April Penn, the AmeriCorps Summer Associate for Seven Courts, we finally open the doors on June 18, 2010.
April was influential in advocating to the new property management the importance of having a Community Technology Center in her community. We are now conducting training on The Beehive and GCFLearnFree (Word 2007 & Excel 2007). In addition, I am also using the curriculum that Ruqiyyah developed in subjects such as, Internet Basic's, Homework Help and Safety Online, etc.
-andy j. santamaria
Atlanta AmeriCoprs*VISTA
Motivational Mondays!
Good morning team!
Can you believe its almost July?! Time flies... Here's the quote for the week:
Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out. Robert Collier
---Laura; Durham, NC
Can you believe its almost July?! Time flies... Here's the quote for the week:
Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out. Robert Collier
---Laura; Durham, NC
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Motivational Tuesday
Hi Team!
I hope everyone's week started off strong. Here's something to help you make the push to Friday:
Desire is the key to motivation, but it's the determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal--a commitment to excellence--that will enable you to attain the success you seek." Mario Andretti
--Laura; Durham, NC
I hope everyone's week started off strong. Here's something to help you make the push to Friday:
Desire is the key to motivation, but it's the determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal--a commitment to excellence--that will enable you to attain the success you seek." Mario Andretti
--Laura; Durham, NC
Friday, June 18, 2010
Meet the Summer Associates!
Team,
As mentioned on the last VISTA conference call, we have been joined by 11 Summer Associates serving in North Carolina and Georgia. We're excited to have them aboard to share their time and talents with the communities they're working with.
Kimberly McIntee joins us from Columbia, SC. She will be working in the Winston-Salem One Economy office on the Corporate Volunteer Project.
Marche' Davis will also be serving out of the One Economy Winston Salem, NC office on the Stimulus project. Marche' is originally from Asheville, NC.
Leslie Raymond is the third summer associate serving out of the One Economy Winston Salem office. She joins us from Hollywood, FL and will be working on the Stimulus project.
Tanya Tuttle, originally from Winston Salem, NC, will be serving with the Forsyth County Computer Training Bridge. She will be working with the training bridge program to help educate, train, and expose people of all ages to the use of computers.
Geniece Bey will be working in the Walltown Neighborhood of Durham, NC, her hometown, on Computer training and Community Outreach projects.
Alyssa Wright, from Atlanta, GA, will be working in Clarkston, GA (a suburb of Atlanta) this summer. She will be working with refugee organizations in Clarkston to establish sustainable programs which train immigrant residents to teach their community how to manage their finances and find jobs through using the Beehive resources.
Ashley Anderson is serving out of the OE Atlanta office.
April Penn is serving at PRI, a partner organization in Atlanta, with Andy Santamaria.
In addition, Patricia Cooper will be serving out of Bertie County, helping with the Bertie Middle School. Teneisha Small and Darrius Wessell will also be serving out of Bertie County.
As mentioned on the last VISTA conference call, we have been joined by 11 Summer Associates serving in North Carolina and Georgia. We're excited to have them aboard to share their time and talents with the communities they're working with.
Kimberly McIntee joins us from Columbia, SC. She will be working in the Winston-Salem One Economy office on the Corporate Volunteer Project.
Marche' Davis will also be serving out of the One Economy Winston Salem, NC office on the Stimulus project. Marche' is originally from Asheville, NC.
Leslie Raymond is the third summer associate serving out of the One Economy Winston Salem office. She joins us from Hollywood, FL and will be working on the Stimulus project.
Tanya Tuttle, originally from Winston Salem, NC, will be serving with the Forsyth County Computer Training Bridge. She will be working with the training bridge program to help educate, train, and expose people of all ages to the use of computers.
Geniece Bey will be working in the Walltown Neighborhood of Durham, NC, her hometown, on Computer training and Community Outreach projects.
Alyssa Wright, from Atlanta, GA, will be working in Clarkston, GA (a suburb of Atlanta) this summer. She will be working with refugee organizations in Clarkston to establish sustainable programs which train immigrant residents to teach their community how to manage their finances and find jobs through using the Beehive resources.
Ashley Anderson is serving out of the OE Atlanta office.
April Penn is serving at PRI, a partner organization in Atlanta, with Andy Santamaria.
In addition, Patricia Cooper will be serving out of Bertie County, helping with the Bertie Middle School. Teneisha Small and Darrius Wessell will also be serving out of Bertie County.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Motivational Mondays
Good morning team!
I hope you all had great weekends. Enjoy the weekly quote:
Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced. ― James Arthur Baldwin
---Laura; Durham, NC
I hope you all had great weekends. Enjoy the weekly quote:
Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced. ― James Arthur Baldwin
---Laura; Durham, NC
Monday, June 7, 2010
Motivational Mondays
Good morning team!
Can you all believe its the first Monday in June?! Time has flown by this year. Here's the weekly quote for you:
It's not too late at all. You just don't yet know what you are capable of. Mahatma Gandhi
Have a great week.
---Laura; Durham, NC
Can you all believe its the first Monday in June?! Time has flown by this year. Here's the weekly quote for you:
It's not too late at all. You just don't yet know what you are capable of. Mahatma Gandhi
Have a great week.
---Laura; Durham, NC
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Motivational Tuesday
Good afternoon team,
I hope you all had a great long weekend! Here's your quote for the week:
The art of happiness is to serve all.
---Laura; Durham, NC
I hope you all had a great long weekend! Here's your quote for the week:
The art of happiness is to serve all.
---Laura; Durham, NC
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
