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V ISTA BIOS

Meet our dedicated VISTAs who are passionate about serving and making a positive impact in their communities. Learn about their experiences, values, and the diverse skills they bring to their service.

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V ISTA BIOS

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  1. VISTA BIOS 2019-2020

  2. Pronouns: She/her/hers Hometown: Ankeny, IA Education: BA Email: katie.pontious@gmail.com Katie Pontious An Experience that has shaped my decision to serve as a VISTA: Getting to see the effect that my volunteer work has on the population we serve 3 Words that describe me: Bubbly, dependable, passionate One thing I can’t live without: Macaroni and cheese Something I like to do for fun: Paint

  3. Pronouns: She/her/hers Hometown: Apple Valley, MN Education: BA Email:emmagkiley@gmail.com Emma Kiley An Experience that has shaped my decision to serve as a VISTA: About a year ago, I attended a talk on food and agricultural justice. One of the panelist shared this quote by Terry Tempest Williams: “It just may be that the most radical act we can commit is to stay home. What does that mean to finally commit to a place, to a people, to a community?..." I reflected on this quote and decided not to take my resistance elsewhere, leading me to commit to a year of service as a VISTA at Hamline. 3 Words that describe me: Steady, passionate, and introspective One thing I can’t live without: Coffee! Something I like to do for fun: My friends and I love to play board games and have movie nights.

  4. Sergio Nunez-Avila • Pronouns: He/Him/His • Hometown: Brooklyn Park, MN • Education: AA • Email:sergio_nunez16@yahoo.com An Experience that has shaped my decision to serve as a VISTA: Helping others find resources Something I like to do for fun: Write & Read

  5. Kasperian Kittredge Pronouns: He/Him or They/Them Hometown: Cedar Rapids, IA Education: BA Email:kasper@willisdady.org An Experience that has shaped my decision to serve as a VISTA: The prior year as an AmeriCorps VISTA! 3 Words that describe me: Goofy, awkward, philomath (lover of learning, particularly in respect to mathematics) One thing I can’t live without: Water (less literally, Peter Hollens and Jonathan Young, two youtubers who cover songs via acapella or metal/rock remixes) Something I like to do for fun: Origami

  6. Pronouns: She/her/hers Hometown: Cedar Rapids, IA Education: BA Email:lindseyb@cmc-cr.org Lindsey Beck An Experience that has shaped my decision to serve as a VISTA: My sister served as an AmeriCorps member in Maine and inspired me to do it as well. 3 Words that describe me: Funny, optimistic, easygoing One thing I can’t live without: Ice Cream Something I like to do for fun: Hiking

  7. Pronouns: He/Him/His Hometown: Cedar Rapids, IA Education: BA Email:noah@cmc-cr.org Noah Gaber An Experience that has shaped my decision to serve as a VISTA: Hearing the difficulty and uncertainty many experience without having citizenship in their country of residence. 3 Words that describe me: Alert, allusive, alliterative One thing I can’t live without: Water Something I like to do for fun: Read books about really bad people to feel better about myself

  8. Alejandra Maldonado • Pronouns: She/Her/Hers • Hometown: Chicago, IL • Education: BA • Email:vista@central.edu An Experience that has shaped my decision to serve as a VISTA: Coming from a poor community made me want to do something to help out and better communities like mine. 3 Words that describe me: shy, pensive, friendly One thing I can’t live without: Music Something I like to do for fun: Play Catan, draw, read, and travel

  9. Mila Kaut Pronouns: She/Her/Hers Hometown: Des Moines, IA Education: BA Email:mkaut@compact.org An Experience that has shaped my decision to serve as a VISTA: Majoring in Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies has deepened my commitments to anti-poverty and equity work by making me more cognizant of how injustice manifests in my community and more confident in my individual and collective capacity to create create positive change through research and community engagement. 3 Words that describe me: introspective, resolute, and resilient One thing I can’t live without: I can't live without oatmeal and peanut butter. Something I like to do for fun: I love taking long walks while listening to podcasts.

  10. Pronouns: She/her/hers Hometown: Des Moines, IA Education: BA Email:hmclark@dmgov.org Holly Clark An Experience that has shaped my decision to serve as a VISTA: Hating my previous full-time job and doing a career change 3 Words that describe me: Introverted, Weird, Caring One thing I can’t live without: Dogs! Something I like to do for fun: Travel

  11. Pronouns: He/Him/His Hometown: Dollar Bay, MI Education: BA Email:hrintrfa@cityofdubuque.org Rio Farren An Experience that has shaped my decision to serve as a VISTA: Going to Haiti as part of a college course 3 Words that describe me: Quiet, reserved, dependable One thing I can’t live without: Computers Something I like to do for fun: Reading

  12. Mackenzie Wolfe • Pronouns: She/Her/Hers • Hometown: Edina, MN • Education: BS • Email:kenzie.wolfe@gmail.com An Experience that has shaped my decision to serve as a VISTA: I've always been interested in doing something like AmeriCorps and after spending two summers in Uganda I decided I wanted to give back to a local community. AmeriCorps VISTA will help me bridge the gap between my education in nutrition and passion for service.. 3 Words that describe me: compassionate, friendly, motivated One thing I can’t live without: My family Something I like to do for fun: cooking and baking

  13. Faith James Pronouns: She/Her/Hers Hometown: Greensboro, NC Education: BA Email:fjames3@elon.edu An Experience that has shaped my decision to serve as a VISTA: I volunteered a lot in high school and really valued the experiences and the people I met through that time. I didn't have the same time to offer after beginning college and wanted to spend more time doing the things that matter to me after graduating. 3 Words that describe me: kind, hardworking, loyal One thing I can’t live without: my friends Something I like to do for fun: play guitar

  14. Pronouns: She/her/hers Hometown: Lakeville, MN Education: BS Email:chloegoodman05@gmail.com Chloe Goodman An Experience that has shaped my decision to serve as a VISTA: I have always valued serving others and when I was deciding what college I wanted to go to, DePaul's mission of "what must be done?" which focused on the importance of serving our communities, reaffirmed that it was the right university for me. After choosing DePaul, I was able to carry out this mission through a program called Global Brigades. While working with this organization, fellow DePaul students and I collaborated with communities creating sustainable infrastructures that focused on health and healthcare. After graduating, I wanted to continue to do similar work which led me to AmeriCorps! 3 Words that describe me: Hard working, genuine, loyal One thing I can’t live without: music Something I like to do for fun: Go on bike rides or hikes

  15. Pronouns: She/her/hers Hometown: Lima, Peru Education: BA Email:eyzaguirrem@crlibrary.org MJ Eyzaguirre An Experience that has shaped my decision to serve as a VISTA: Working in a corporate environment where ultimately everything was about maximizing profits was really demoralizing. I love working for a site that actually believes in the mission they promote. 3 Words that describe me: Creative, nerdy, planner One thing I can’t live without: My phone Something I like to do for fun: Play Dungeons and Dragons

  16. Alexandra Hyatt • Pronouns: She/Her/Hers • Hometown: Longview, TX • Education: BA • Email:alexandrayhyatt@gmail.com An Experience that has shaped my decision to serve as a VISTA: I was raised by my grandparents, who have dedicated their lives to service. As they approach their eighties, they're still serving others every day. I want to follow their example and continue their mission. 3 Words that describe me: determined, affectionate, reflective One thing I can’t live without: my morning run/walk with music Something I like to do for fun: read or daydream

  17. Claudette Breaux Pronouns: She/Her/Hers Hometown: Luling, LA Education: BA Email:claudette.breaux@uweci.org An Experience that has shaped my decision to serve as a VISTA: When I was young, the owner of my day care saw that I was genuinely interested in reading, but I didn't have access to many books or opportunities to learn. She chose to take time out of her day to teach me to read, even though I was "too young." I want to provide opportunities to kids like I was given when I was young. 3 Words that describe me: Honest, friendly, and thoughtful One thing I can’t live without: My phone Something I like to do for fun: Knit and listen to podcasts/audio books!

  18. Pronouns: She/her/hers Hometown: Lakeville, MN Education: BS Email:chloegoodman05@gmail.com Chloe Goodman An Experience that has shaped my decision to serve as a VISTA: I have always valued serving others and when I was deciding what college I wanted to go to, DePaul's mission of "what must be done?" which focused on the importance of serving our communities, reaffirmed that it was the right university for me. After choosing DePaul, I was able to carry out this mission through a program called Global Brigades. While working with this organization, fellow DePaul students and I collaborated with communities creating sustainable infrastructures that focused on health and healthcare. After graduating, I wanted to continue to do similar work which led me to AmeriCorps! 3 Words that describe me: Hard working, genuine, loyal One thing I can’t live without: music Something I like to do for fun: Go on bike rides or hikes

  19. Pronouns: He,him,his Hometown: Minneapolis, MN Education: BA Email:kranz115@umn.edu Michael Kranz An Experience that has shaped my decision to serve as a VISTA: experience in college's community engagement program 3 Words that describe me: kind, thoughtful, diligent One thing I can’t live without: music Something I like to do for fun: exercise

  20. Jennifer Cogley • Pronouns: She/Her/Hers • Hometown: Ozark, MO • Education: BA • Email:vista@imaginegrinnell.org An Experience that has shaped my decision to serve as a VISTA: I have been a lifelong volunteer and was looking for more opportunities. 3 Words that describe me: Dedicated, organized, trustworthy One thing I can’t live without: Exercise Something I like to do for fun: Read

  21. Alizé McClure Pronouns: She/Her/Hers Hometown: Phoenix, AZ Education: BA Email:alize@willisdady.org An Experience that has shaped my decision to serve as a VISTA: Growing up so close to the poverty line I've always had a practical understanding of it. I've also witnessed the struggles of poverty and I want to help fix the system that makes cyclical and generational poverty a possibility. 3 Words that describe me: Pensive. Introspective. Versatile. One thing I can’t live without: Music! Something I like to do for fun: Watch Netflix while doing cardio!

  22. Pronouns: He/Him/His Hometown: Pleasantville, IA Education: BS Email:zwheels654@gmail.com Zach Mecham An Experience that has shaped my decision to serve as a VISTA: The opportunities I have had to serve organizations like my church, The Red Cross, and Disability RIghts Iowa 3 Words that describe me: Creative, Passionate, Honest One thing I can’t live without: Coffee Something I like to do for fun: Make movies

  23. Pronouns: She/her/hers Hometown: Saint Paul, MN Education: BA Email:simayaehime297@gmail.com Simaya Ehime An Experience that has shaped my decision to serve as a VISTA: Working with first-generation and multicultural students at Stout has inspired me to create resources as a VISTA to make my community educated and learn how to take care of themselves financially and nutritionally. 3 Words that describe me: Soft-spoken, Dedicated, Resourceful One thing I can’t live without: Tea Something I like to do for fun: Watching YouTube commentaries, taking long walks, talking on the phone, taking naps, and dancing!

  24. Derrick Fritz • Pronouns: he/him/his • Hometown: Stewartville, MN • Education: BA • Email:derrickjf96@gmail.com An Experience that has shaped my decision to serve as a VISTA: After having experiences in Washington D.C. and in Wisconsin, I realized I wanted to further my growth in the public health field while helping individuals in the community I grew up in, making the AmeriCorps VISTA position the perfect opportunity. 3 Words that describe me: Passionate, friendly and thoughtful One thing I can’t live without: Sports Something I like to do for fun: Spending time with family and friends

  25. Thao Doan Pronouns: She/Her/Hers Hometown: Bloomington, MN Education: BA Email:tdoan0501@gmail.com An Experience that has shaped my decision to serve as a VISTA: Helping students success is my happiness. 3 Words that describe me: Thoughtfull, friendly, and willing to help One thing I can’t live without: family Something I like to do for fun: Traveling

  26. Pronouns: She/Her/Hers Hometown: Starbuck, MN Education: BS Email:erickson.courtney@odhc.org Courtney Erickson An Experience that has shaped my decision to serve as a VISTA: While working with minority populations in college both in the US and abroad, I have more thoroughly begun to understand the health disparities that many people are facing, which made the decision to spend a year getting hands on experience in a field that I want to see change even easier 3 Words that describe me: Gregarious, persistent, sincere One thing I can’t live without: Social stimulation Something I like to do for fun: Spending time outdoors and on the lake with family and friends

  27. Pronouns: She/her/hers Hometown: Saxonburg, PA Education: BA Email:robynzewski@gmail.com Robyn Tomaszewski An Experience that has shaped my decision to serve as a VISTA: My brother's substance use recovery 3 Words that describe me: Understanding, kind, funny One thing I can’t live without: Iced animal crackers Something I like to do for fun: Groove

  28. Daina Strub • Pronouns: She/her/hers • Hometown: - • Education: BA • Email:stru5069@stthomas.edu An Experience that has shaped my decision to serve as a VISTA: - 3 Words that describe me: - One thing I can’t live without: - Something I like to do for fun: -

  29. Crystal Yearous Pronouns: She/Her/Hers Hometown: Marshall, MN Education: BA Email:crystal.yearous.2@smsu.edu An Experience that has shaped my decision to serve as a VISTA: After completing my first year VISTA experience I realized the work was not done and continuity of service was critical to program success. I see the vision and now it is time to bring it to life! 3 Words that describe me: Passionate, Creative, Empathetic One thing I can’t live without: Coffee Something I like to do for fun: Ride my bicycle...her name is Beatrice.

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