VISTA Alumni Spotlight Lindsay Stewart Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia Years of Service: 2017-18 & 2018-19 Sites: Sunflower County Freedom Project in Sunflower, Mississippi; Horizons Atlanta What is something that you learned as a VISTA? During my VISTA term, I learned the value of indirect community service and how to build longterm sustainability for an organization that works toward alleviating the cycle of poverty through education. Saying I added to my toolbox during my term of service would be an understatement.
What was the most rewarding part of your year of service? The most rewarding part of my VISTA term was actually living in the community I served and working daily to uplift an organization that is enabling young Mississippi scholars to reach their full potential. I experienced moving to a part of Mississippi where I knew no one, to 12 months later knowing my students’ parents, local business owners and members of the Sunflower community that have lived there for generations. Working at my site felt rewarding every day because I got to serve ambitious future leaders and play a role in their lives.
VISTA Leader Spotlight Virginia Dorris Hometown: Crystal Springs, Mississippi Year of Service: 2017-18 & 2018-19 Sites: North Mississippi VISTA Project at the McLean Institute, Horizons at the McLean Institute What is something that you learned as a VISTA? Serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA has shaped my perspective of my community, Mississippi, the world and, most importantly, how I engage with others. In this role, I have learned the importance of building trust when working with communities. In order to strengthen our efforts and create meaningful change, we must first work to build trust within the communities we serve, and our actions must reflect this. Our impact is so much greater when we come together collectively to address and create actionable solutions to salient issues.
What was the most rewarding part of your year of service? For me, the most meaningful and rewarding aspect of my service year has been the connections I’ve made in Oxford and throughout north Mississippi with fellow VISTAs, UM faculty and staff, and community members. It has been a privilege to be part of a network of individuals and organizations dedicated to alleviating poverty and improving quality of life for Mississippians.
What is next for you? As far as next steps for me, I will be pursuing a master’s of education in community development and action at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College. I hope this opportunity will allow me to build off my previous experiences as an AmeriCorps VISTA as I work to create new pathways for social change.
Summer 2019
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