Engaged Magazine Spring 2017

ENGAGED Office of Civic Engagement | Allegheny Gateway Volume 5, Issue 1 • February 2017

SERVICE SATURDAY

SUCCESS See story, page 12

Table of Contents 3

Distinguished Volunteers— Fall 2016

4

Allegheny Grads Serve as VISTAs

5

Faculty Innovation: Dr. Lauren Paulson’s Community Service Learning Initiative

6

Making the Braid

8

The Word on Trauma Informed Care

9

Allegheny Students Shine at GLAA Conference

12 Service Saturday

Editor’s Letter President Obama said in his farewell address, “If something needs fixing, then lace up your shoes and do some organizing.

If you’re disappointed by your elected officials, grab a clipboard, get some signatures and run for office yourself.

Show up. Dive in. Stay at it.”

This sentiment sums up the force that drives students, staff, faculty and community members who are featured in this magazine. Instead of running for office, they are cleaning the playground at a public school, fundraising for a local non-profit or planting a community garden. But they’re all doing it to be the change they want to see in the world.

I believe civic engagement is one solution to the divisiveness of our current times. By serving alongside our neighbors, we will get to know what’s important to them, and thus learn about our shared humanity. So, if you haven’t tried it yet, lace up your shoes, grab a paintbrush and paint the world you want to live in.

14 Student Profile: Andrew Nunn ’18

Show up (sometimes it’s early, I know). Dive in (start slow if you need to). Stay at it (it will be worth it).

16 VISTA Profile: Interview with Brynya Bowden ’15, AmeriCorps VISTA at Women’s Services

—Mariana Silva, AmeriCorps VISTA Project Coordinator

19 Agency Spotlight: United Way

ENGAGED magazine is a publication of Civic Engagement of the Allegheny Gateway in collaboration with College Relations.

Layout design: Crimson Pavlekovsky Cover: Sammie Cooper ’20 sorts archival materials at Tarr Mansion in Meadville during Service Saturday on December 3, 2016.

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Distinguished Volunteers—Fall 2016

By The Numbers

The staff at Civic Engagment would like to recognize the following volunteers for their notable contributions to the community this fall:

746 

Essence Suggs, First Year

Amanda Ress-Liere, Tennis Team, First Year

Emma Weissenfels, Resident Assistant (Ravine), Second Year

Members of the Unión Latinx student organization feel a sense of accomplishment after completing their Make A Difference Day assignment.

Number of students

involved in service

during fall 2016



18,828.25 Total number of

service hours completed by

Allegheny students

during fall 2016 Director of Career Education Jim Fitch, AmeriCorps VISTAs and friends get together early in the morning of October 15, 2016, to volunteer on Make A Difference Day.

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Allegheny Grads Serve as AmeriCorps VISTAs

Seven Allegheny College graduates are serving as AmeriCorps VISTAs (Volunteers In Service To America) during 2016–2017. They are hard at work at their respective organizations, and we are proud of their passion toward the program!  Brynya Bowden ’15: Women’s Services in Meadville Kaitlin Walsh ’16: Erie United Methodist Alliance Andrew Wolfe ’16: Gannon University Goodwill Garden in Erie Corey Razevich ’16: Meadville Area Middle School Donald Seitz ’15: Family Services of NW PA in Meadville Rachel DuChateau ’16: Mercy Center for Women in Erie Paul Cancilla ’16: House of Mercy in Erie (Pictured top to bottom, left to right.)

To learn more about the AmeriCorps VISTA program and to apply to be part of the 2017–2018 cohort, please contact Mariana Silva, the Project Coordinator, at (814) 332-5318 or msilva@allegheny.edu.

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Faculty Innovation: Dr. Lauren Paulson’s Community Service Learning Initiative

By Mariana Silva, AmeriCorps VISTA Project Coordinator Community Service Learning (CSL) is known to bring several benefits to students, such as enhanced ties to the community, improved critical thinking and interpersonal skills, and increased understanding of issues of power, privilege and difference. Furthermore, students who experience CSL benefit the community in which they are serving. This is why Dr. Lauren Paulson (pictured above), Assistant Professor of Psychology at Allegheny College, decided to implement a service learning component in her upper-level undergraduate course.

Alongside academic work for the course, students are required to volunteer at local social service agencies. According to Dr. Paulson, “students’ roles varied at each site,

“

but included the following: observation and documentation of groups through video conferencing; observation and documentation of intake assessments, individual sessions and psychiatric medication checks; facilitation of psychoeducational groups; and the teaching of specific skills (ballroom dancing, Yoga, sign language, computer literacy).”

The students are required to complete two hours of CSL weekly for 12 weeks. The CSL component is integrated into the course via readings, class discussions and journal entries.

In addition, the instructor keeps in touch with the sites periodically to oversee project progress and provides regular feedback to students.

According to Dr. Paulson’s research, rural communities can be tight-knit and suspicious of outsiders, so she takes great care in outlining clear expectations for the course and ensuring good communication between

sites and students in an effort to preserve relationships. A challenge facing Dr. Paulson as she worked to implement the CSL component into her class was the planning time required of her in advance. Time concerns also are prevalent among students. Despite all these difficulties, Dr. Paulson is pleased with the results of this endeavor and believes college students could benefit from experiencing a service component in other classes in their curriculum.

Many of Dr. Paulson’s students would agree. Below are select quotes from students in her class: “Community engagement = best experience of academic career.”

“It helped solidify my understanding of the world as a whole.”

“I feel I reached higher levels of empathy and became a better listener.” 

Taking on this innovative and time-consuming pedagogy demonstrates dedication to expanding effective teaching. It also demonstrates a commitment to educating students for engaged citizenship.

Dr. Lauren Paulson can be held up for other members of our faculty as an example of excellence and rigor in the use of community-engaged pedagogy. In short, she does everything right.

—Dave Roncolato, Director of Civic Engagement, Allegheny Gateway

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Making the Braid

By Charmaine Wilson, Assistant Director of Civic Engagement & Bonner Program Director In response to the needs and challenges of our students today and to prepare them for tomorrow, the Gateway supports both curricular and co-curricular initiatives. We start by meeting students where they are at and what they are passionate about. Allegheny College students who take advantage of the opportunities of the Gateway discover ways to unlock their unusual combinations. The integration of co-curriculum and curriculum sup-

ports students on their multiyear development path as undergraduates at Allegheny. The collaboration among the different functions within the Gateway, including career education, IDEAS (inclusion, diversity, equity, access and social justice), pre-professional advising, international education, undergraduate research, support for nationally competitive fellowships, political participation and civic engagement, positively affects students’ personal

and professional development. The strands of these Gateway functions braid together in ways that cultivate student competencies in teamwork, problem solving, professionalism, ethical commitment and verbal and written communication. Furthermore, self-knowledge and students’ discovery of their strengths and challenges contribute to their important life choices and career paths. The Gateway is the portal to expand, integrate and apply. 

How does your work braid into the Gateway mission statement?

“I help support the mission of the Allegheny Gateway by providing students with meaningful opportunities to discuss and wrestle with topics of diversity and inclusion.

Moreover, I hope that when students are able to engage and hear each other’s stories, they will in turn be more empathetic and apt to act differently in the world. These skills are very much needed in our present society more than ever.”

—Darnell Epps, Associate Director of the IDEAS Center 6 ENGAGED | Spring 2017

“Professionals must work with a wide variety of people in a wide array of circumstances. By developing skills through service, internships and multi-cultural experiences they become better leaders, more effective communicators and creative problem solvers.”

—Kirsten Peterson, Director of Pre-Professional Studies & Instructor in Global Studies

“Without the work of the rest of the Gateway, my work would be impossible.

Students applying for national awards are in a much more competitive position if they’ve been thinking hard about how the various parts of their college experience— curricular and co-curricular alike—work together to add up to an education.”

—Patrick Jackson, Ph.D., National Fellowships Advisor, Allegheny Gateway

“My work connects students to the Meadville community by inserting them into an agency where they are growing our town, learning our community and gaining personal and professional skills in and around an area of interest. My work bridges the gap so students can use their knowledge for service.”

—Bethany Cocchi, Davies Coordinator

“In Career Education we invite students to gaze inward and to gaze outward, gazing inward to recognize strengths and shortcomings, motivations and values, and gazing outward to identify where their uniqueness connects with the world.

Through exposure to the 100+ employers who visit campus annually and the opportunity to complete internships domestically and abroad, we aim to provide our students with a foundation on which to build an inclusive, global perspective and to clarify who they are in the world.”

—Jim Fitch, Director of Career Education

“Working with the Gateway has given me the ability to bring in concepts from the classroom and apply them to real-world scenarios.”

—Charles Ross ’20

“As a freshman, I haven’t been able to tie my classroom work together yet, but because of my visits to the library, I see how nice and considerate the administrators are. My friends say the Gateway is a “one-stop shop”—everything you need to be successful is right there; you just need to reach out. I’m looking forward to collaborating with all of the different programs in the near future.”

—Alexus Wright ’20

“In the fall of 2016, Allegheny College launched the Program in Law & Policy. Law & Policy is a program that blends students’ academic goals and preparation in international and domestic law and policy with ongoing opportunities in career education, internships, study away, civic learning and community programming. The Program in Law & Policy provides opportunities for students to explore law and policy from theory to practice. Through integrated courses and collaborative learning experiences including campus and community workshops, lectures and internship opportunities, students engage public policy and learn how policies emerge and are implemented, evaluated and changed. So far, 50 students have enrolled and have begun to develop reflective portfolios, documenting their progress toward declaring a concentration in Law & Policy.”

—Brian Harward, Robert G. Seddig Chair in Law & Policy, and Director for Center for Political Participation

The Gateway Mission Statement Our mission is to graduate students equipped to be global citizens of a diverse, complex and interconnected world.

The Allegheny Gateway braids together curricular and cocurricular education in U.S. diversity, global learning and civic engagement.

Through liberal learning, all students have opportunities to gain knowledge, develop competencies and employ practical skills to live lives of impact and meaning.

By participating in multiple, significant Gateway offerings, Allegheny students refine their career aspirations and clarify their vocations. They develop a clear vision of who they are in the world, an inclusive and global perspective and the commitment to be citizenleaders addressing the complexities of the modern world. They graduate as professionals who will be much more than their professions.

“The Gateway has provided me with positive experiences and aid to assist in perfecting my schoolwork and building myself professionally in the workforce and world outside of the classroom.”

—Paige Brigham ’19

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By Gabby Bradshaw, AmeriCorps VISTA and Certified Trainer in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES)

The Word on Trauma Informed Care

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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Toxic Stress, Adverse Childhood Experiences, Complex Trauma.

If you work (or volunteer) with kids, then the terms listed above might be something you’re familiar with. Within the past year, the Crawford County Systems of Care organization has worked tirelessly to inform its region on the importance of understanding trauma and the complex effects it has on communities.

Through “Peace4Crawford,” an initiative dedicated to preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences, healing trauma and promoting resilience, Meadville now offers trainings in Mental Health First Aid, Youth Mental Health First Aid, Question Persuade Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention, and Crisis Prevention.

So what is trauma? And why is it so important to be trauma informed?

Trauma isn’t identical to everyday stress/stressors. When stress is repeatedly toxic, or life threatening to an individual, it can be detrimental to a person’s overall health and well-being.

This is the definitive line between feeling stress and experiencing trauma.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), individual trauma results from “an event, series of events or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life threatening, and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and mental, physical, emotional or spiritual well-being” (SAMHSA, “Key Definitions”). Emotional abuse/neglect, physical abuse/neglect and sexual abuse are all common examples of individual trauma. But growing up in a toxic environment can be just as detrimental to a person’s overall well-being. Examples of environmental

trauma can include growing up in a household with an alcoholic or drug-dependent parent, living with a household member that is mentally ill or having a loved one that’s incarcerated.

Regardless of its name, the most important thing to remember about trauma is that it affects a person’s mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. Research has shown that when stress is adverse and repeated like in the aforementioned examples, it can lead to both behavioral health and chronic physical health conditions, especially when trauma is experienced in early childhood. Negative coping mechanisms (such as substance abuse and drug use), mental health problems (such as anxiety and depression) and other risk behaviors (such as self-injury) are all linked to traumatic experiences and all present challenges in the development of personal relationships, successful careers and positive coping abilities.

Despite its complexities, trauma can be prevented. Through education, health screenings and becoming more aware, healing can be achieved. We, as a community, can promote resilience in others and compassionately guide them to rehabilitation by participating in the many trainings the Crawford County Systems of Care has to offer. We all have the ability to overcome barriers — sometimes you just have to look past the symptoms to treat the root of the cause. 

For more information on trauma or upcoming trainings and events, please visit Peace4Crawford or the Crawford County Systems of Care on Facebook.

Allegheny Students Shine at GLAA Conference

By Dave Roncolato ’79, Director of Civic Engagement Caitlin Brown ’17 and Jonah Raether ’18 presented on their work as Allegheny Community Engagement Student (ACES) Fellows at the Global Liberal Arts Alliance (GLAA) Institute in Kalamazoo, Michigan, October 2325, 2016. Associate Professor Eleanor Weisman, ACES faculty advisor, introduced Brown and Raether, who were part of an international panel on “Students as Colleagues” that included students from Forman Christian College University in Pakistan and American University of Nigeria.

Brown and Raether’s presentation met with a glowing response from conference participants. Dr. Dawn Michele Whitehead, senior director for global learning and curricular change at the Association of

American Colleges and Universities, praised the students for not only a fine presentation but their facility in using higher education’s language around global education and civic engagement.

Raether also contributed to a workshop on “Short-term International Community Engagement: The Challenges and Opportunities” with Dave Roncolato ’79, Director of Civic Engagement in the Allegheny Gateway. Raether and Roncolato collaborated with colleagues from DePauw University, Professor Douglas Harms and student Joshua Clark. Terry Bensel, Associate Provost and Director of the Allegheny Gateway, served on the planning committee for the institute.  Spring 2017 | ENGAGED 9

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Make A Difference Day 2016 Members of Phi Delta Theta working on a painting project for the Redevelopment Authority during Make A Difference Day 2016

Spring 2017 | ENGAGED 11

Service Saturday

Allegheny’s 2016-2017 swim team

By Gabby Bradshaw, AmeriCorps VISTA at Allegheny College

“

Civic Engagement hosted five successful Service Saturday events throughout the fall 2016 semester.

There was an overwhelmingly positive response from group members [regarding their project]. Many said they hoped to participate in a future Service Saturday.

”

—Megan Feeney ’17, Swim team member and group project leader at Mystic Mountain Training Center

12 ENGAGED | Spring 2017

Service Saturdays are short-term commitments offered each month during the school year for students interested in serving the Meadville community. Projects usually last about two to three hours. Thanks to the help of staff members, student volunteers, community partners and area youth, 155 service projects were completed from September to December.

The service season kicked off on Saturday, September 3, when 103 Allegheny student volunteers completed 11 community projects resulting in 309 hours of service. Highlighted projects from this event included volunteering at Mystic Mountain Training Center in Cambridge Springs and gardening at Creating Landscapes in Meadville. Members of Allegheny’s swim team contributed greatly to the success of this event thanks to their outstanding leadership and support from their coach, Kirk Kumbier.

On September 24, Civic Engagement warmed up for Make a Difference Day by hosting a “staggered start” service event. At 8:30 a.m., 22 fraternity members set off to complete seven skilled supervisor projects around Meadville thanks to the coordination of Andrew Nunn ’18 (Bonner scholar at the United Way of Western Crawford County), Dave Roncolato ’79 (director of civic engagement) and community partners.

Service reflection wall at Campus Center

Allegheny fraternity members with skilled supervisors on September 24

At 9 a.m., 71 remaining student volunteers set off to complete 11 general projects in the community, including set designing for Meadville Community Theatre’s first haunted house and gardening work at Juniper Village.

“It was humbling and fun to get messy!”

—Cate Hovey ’18, Bonner leader and group project leader at Juniper Village On October 15, Service Saturday turned into Meadville’s 23rd annual community-wide service event, Make A Difference Day. On this date, 100 projects were completed around Meadville and the surrounding community thanks to the participation of more than 320 Allegheny students. Allegheny College partnered with the United Way of Western Crawford County to coordinate and host this service initiative. Participants received a free lunch at Allegheny’s Henderson Campus Center following the event, where they had the opportunity to add their written experiences to a reflection wall sponsored by Civic Engagement.

On November 12, 90 student volunteers (including 18 players and coaches from the Allegheny men’s basketball team) participated in the second-to-last Service Saturday of the semester. In addition to

Allegheny students and area youth pose together outside CHAPS.

college volunteers, five students from Meadville Area High School contributed to the completion of 16 community projects. Projects for this event focused primarily on larger jobs left unfinished from Make a Difference Day. While Allegheny student volunteers traveled to various community residences to rake leaves, stack wood and help with manual labor, area youth completed a hefty project at the Carr Hall Garden thanks to the support of Kerstin Martin, garden manager, and Amanda Ress-Liere, group project leader.

“We worked efficiently [as a group] and learned so much from Margaret. She made as much a difference in our life as we did in hers.”

—Emma Weissenfels ’19, Group project leader at Margaret Jindra’s house “Today, we [youth and college students] worked well in pairs to get many little jobs done. The kids worked well together and seemed to enjoy it.”

—Amanda Ress-Liere ’20, Tennis team member and group project leader at the Carr Hall Garden

Area youth working at Carr Hall Garden

December 3. Joining them were 20 students from Meadville Area Middle School and Meadville Area High School. With additional staff, a total of 81 participants accomplished 11 projects. Highlighted projects included holiday decorating at local senior residence homes such as Juniper Village and community organizations such as the Crawford County Mental Health Awareness Program (CHAPS).

“We accomplished a lot and had a great time. We really fostered great relationships between middle schoolers and the Allegheny students.”

—Alex Hasapis ’19, Member of the Allegheny football team and group project leader at CHAPS “This was a good location because we didn’t need to drive and it enforced the point that the Meadville community overlaps with the Allegheny community and we need to make these bonds stronger.”

—Laura Cooper ’17, Women’s track and field team member and group project leader at the Meadville Community Theatre 

Even with finals looming, 55 Allegheny students came out for the final Service Saturday of the semester on Spring 2017 | ENGAGED 13

Student Profile: Andrew Nunn ’18

By Ellen Bach, Bonner Program Coordinator Andrew Nunn ’18 has been a Bonner Scholar in the Allegheny Bonner Program since his first year here on campus. Over this time I have been fortunate to have worked closely with him and to have witnessed his growth and ability to make decisions and lead while setting a great example for his peers. Through the Bonner Program, Andrew commits to eight or more hours a week at the United Way of Western Crawford County. Since taking this new Bonner position as the Skilled Projects Student Coordinator at the start of the fall 2017 semester, Andrew has worked successfully with the staff at the United Way as well as community volunteers, skilled supervisors and Allegheny College partners to create opportunities for volunteers to help with critical home repair and improvement projects across Crawford County.

Andrew’s first major project involved his support of this year’s Make A Difference Day. Andrew was key to this year’s success as he was responsible for working with the Civic Engagement, the United Way and all of the skilled site supervisors to make sure there were enough volunteers and resources to complete the multiple home repair projects on this year’s Make a Difference Day, October 15. After October he has continued to help support the efforts of the Community Improvement Center (CIC) and the South Main Street Enhancement Project, supporting and participating in many new repair and home-enhancement needs.

Andrew’s community work does not end with his United Way work; he is also using his experience and talent for his work with local youth through his education internship. After having committed to a year of service in Washington, D.C., through City Year, Andrew has returned to Meadville with new skills and a passion for education and working with local youth to help them thrive. In his work, Andrew displays what it means to truly take on responsibility, to be dependable and committed, and to care for the individual while serving alongside of them.  14 ENGAGED | Spring 2017

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Andrew was an education intern at Maplewood Junior/Senior High School with a seventh-grade math class during the fall 2016 semester. Andrew brought his experiences from his City Year service to effectively work with and impact the seventh-grade math students. He critically thought about developing a growth mindset in the youth to encourage them to think creatively and work beyond their comfort zones. He was conscientious of diverse backgrounds and provided space for each youth’s uniqueness.

—Erin O’Day-Frye, Instructor for Education Internship and Seminar Course

“

”

From securing community volunteers, to organizing local contracting bids, to event planning, Andrew handles all of his tasks for the United Way Community Improvement Center effortlessly.

He never leaves a job unfinished, including the night before Make A Difference Day when delivering ladders to sites in the darkness of night with less-than-stellar help from the GPS. All the ladders were delivered and ready for the volunteers to start on their projects first thing in the morning. Andrew’s thoughtfulness, flexibility and dedication to critical home repair applicants and the United Way is such an asset to our work throughout the community.

—Marisa Lines, Executive Director of United Way of Western Crawford County

”

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“

Since August 2015, Brynya has been the AmeriCorps VISTA for Women’s Services. During her first year, she focused her organizational skills on our previously disorganized volunteer program, taking it to a new level. She created a database that houses all of our volunteer information, making it easier for us to access that information. During her second year, Brynya took the initiative to have a more active role in organizing the various food security/community gardening efforts in town. Her meticulous nature was instrumental in bringing cohesion and structure to these multiple efforts. She consistently maintains a professional and mature demeanor even when confronted with others who do not reciprocate those behaviors. She exemplifies our core values in all that she does and is an absolute delight to work with. She is a kind and empathetic person on top of being an amazing AmeriCorps VISTA. We are doing everything we can at Women’s Services to find funding that will allow us to employ her when her service year is up this summer.

—Supervisor Julie Hunter on Brynya’s VISTA experience at Women’s Services

16 ENGAGED | Spring 2017

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Interview with Brynya Bowden ’15, AmeriCorps VISTA at Women’s Services

By Gabby Bradshaw, AmeriCorps VISTA at Allegheny College

1

What motivated you to become an AmeriCorps VISTA?

With many individuals living at or under the poverty level, there is great need in the world and in the United States. Growing up in a small, rural town in Northwest Pennsylvania, I have witnessed this need even in my community, as one-fourth of the population lives under the poverty level. Being raised with strong faith-based values and continuing to develop and grow deeper in them, I respect the dignity, uniqueness and intrinsic worth of every person. Moreover, I regard all individuals as created and loved equally by God and believe He wishes to see everyone prosper.

I have always felt called to serve people in greatest need, to help relieve their suffering and to improve their quality of life, all the while respecting that they are people from whom I can learn and grow from as well. My involvement in community outreach projects has been a testimony to this reciprocal relationship, in that, not only have the lives of the people I have served been impacted, but my life has been tremendously influenced by serving. I have been fortunate to be raised in a family that has encouraged me to

pursue my passions by partaking in opportunities throughout my life.

Consequently, it can become easy to live in this small, isolated bubble and forget that many individuals across America have not been as privileged. By serving those in need, I have been given the chance to see life more through their eyes, which has helped me to become more humble and strive to show compassion and loving-kindness toward all people. Furthermore, these community outreach opportunities inspired me to dedicate two years to become deeply engaged and immersed in serving those in need because I believe that we should all have the right to an equal chance for opportunities that yield personal growth, self-discovery and self-empowerment, regardless of socioeconomic status. Working for AmeriCorps has been my chance to serve others that have not had such opportunities and give a part of myself back to the community that has served me all of these years.

In addition, during my time as an undergraduate at Allegheny College, I became increasingly passionate about food studies. Eating is a personal act, but unfortunately, because of a “veil” placed between us and our food, many individuals have become unaware of what they

are consuming. The industry’s focus on making food “cheap” leads to a loss of nutritional choices for many people. However, access to fresh, healthy and nutritious whole food should be a right for all individuals and not just a privilege for those with financial resources. Thus, my work with Women’s Services has afforded me the opportunity to advocate for those in need by increasing awareness among and encouraging the local community to engage in food security initiatives. This position has also been a way for me to be actively involved in a movement that is working toward providing individuals with access to wholesome produce while showing me that there is hope in an otherwise destructive food system.

2

Why Women’s Services?

Quite simply, near the end of my first year of service, I did not feel like my time at Women’s Services, Inc. was finished. There were projects that I wanted to see to completion, more lives that I wanted to impact and more time that I wanted to give to my organization and community.

Spring 2017 | ENGAGED 17

3

What are some of the greatest challenges you’ve faced during your time as an AmeriCorps VISTA? I am fortunate in that I have not encountered many challenges during my time as an AmeriCorps VISTA. I attribute this largely to having such a supportive, encouraging supervisor. However, the greatest challenge that I have encountered thus far would be experiencing some pushback from co-workers who were not in agreement with necessary changes as I have been working to improve the volunteer program.

With more discussion as to why such changes are vital for the functioning and sustainability of the program, we have been able to resolve the hesitancy and proceed with plans.

4

What are some projects/ accomplishments you’ve completed during AmeriCorps VISTA? During my first year of service, it became clear through community surveying that many individuals did not have access to nutritious, wholesome food. One of the primary reasons – in addition to cost – is lack of personal transportation and unpredictable public transit, leaving many with whatever food is available within walking distance. Thus, it did not come as a surprise when this survey, which targeted lower-income individuals, indicated overwhelming need for a mobile market.

What was surprising, however, was the incredible support for such a market. As a result of what this survey uncovered, the majority of my

18 ENGAGED | Spring 2017

second year of service will be spent focusing on establishing a mobile market for the Meadville community. From securing a bus, figuring out how and where to get it retrofitted, planning the route and neighborhoods it will target and determining how to effectively advertise and spread the word, this is no small undertaking. It entails much thought to ensure a successful, sustainable and hopefully permanent fixture for this community. As a lifelong resident of Meadville (as well as someone who has a particular interest in food justice), this is an exciting project in which to be involved. I am encouraged that the community I call home is seeking to serve some of the most basic yet life-essential needs of its residents. I am eager to see the many places this project could take my community.

A significant portion of my first year was dedicated to revamping the volunteer program at my host organization, but not everything could be accomplished in one year’s time.

Consequently, when not working on the mobile market project, the remainder of my second service term will be spent continuing to strengthen the volunteer program.

Women’s Services is fortunate to have a large cohort of volunteers who are dedicated to its mission and vision. However, volunteer management shows the importance of routine evaluation to ensure retention of these volunteers. From an evaluation that I completed with co-workers last year, we identified the following areas to focus on: determining new ways to engage volunteers in the organization, creating a monthly volunteer newsletter, becoming more active on social media platforms and thinking about how to best recruit volunteers from outlets we are not tapping into yet.

5

Overall, what has AmeriCorps VISTA taught you about yourself, society, the world?

The past year and a half has afforded me the opportunity for tremendous personal and professional growth and learning. It is because of AmeriCorps VISTA that I now have a clear idea of the career path that I wish to pursue.

Further, as someone who identifies as an introvert, I often struggle to speak up in situations that would require I do so. However, my work experiences have equipped me with the skills to assertively speak up when the circumstances deem necessary.

What’s more, I have attended many conferences and meetings that have given me the chance to develop and refine my networking abilities. Thus, not only have I gained insights about myself personally and professionally, but I have also had the opportunity to learn in depth about and experience firsthand the world of nonprofits. To sum up, I have learned that working at a nonprofit is “home” for me.

6

What advice do you have for potential AmeriCorps VISTA members?

The biggest piece of advice I could provide is to stay open-minded.

Throughout my AmeriCorps VISTA experience, I have tried things I never thought I would enjoy. By remaining open-minded, I have discovered that what I thought I would hate, I actually love. So long as you can keep an open mind and a positive attitude, AmeriCorps VISTA has the potential to be an incredible personal and professional growth experience. 

Agency Spotlight:

By Alex Zelazny ’19 The United Way of Western Crawford County is an incredible place that works so hard to make Meadville a home to everyone. I have had the amazing opportunity to be a part of the work they do for the past year and a half. This semester especially has given me the chance to feel like a part of the community.

I had a big part in the organization and the behind-the-scenes action of Make A Difference Day. Every year, the United Way hosts this amazing day, where people come

out and volunteer on different projects throughout the community. Before the actual day, though, someone has to go to the sites and meet with the people who are asking for help. I was lucky enough to be that person for the unskilled projects. I got to talk to and meet so many incredible people while also getting to see more of the place so many people call home. Every project I have had the opportunity to work on has allowed me to gain more appreciation for the commu-

nity. Make A Difference Day isn’t where the United Way’s work stops, though. The United Way is always trying to do work that is going to make the community better.

Currently, I am working on trying to establish a tool library in Meadville.

This would give all residents the opportunity to check out tools they might not be able to afford on their own. Overall, working at the United Way has allowed me to gain a better understanding of what community and civic engagement truly is.  Make A Difference Day, 2016

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Civic Engagement Staff (pictured clockwise from top left)

Director of Civic Engagement, Dave Roncolato ’79 • Davies Program Coordinator, Bethany Cocchi ’13 • AmeriCorps VISTA Project Coordinator, Mariana Silva • AmeriCorps VISTA Project Director, Erin O’Day-Frye • Gateway Office Manager, Jennifer Kessner • Bonner Program Coordinator, Ellen Bach • AmeriCorps VISTA, Gabby Bradshaw • Assistant Director of Civic Engagement and Bonner Program Director, Charmaine Wilson

ENGAGED Magazine Office of Civic Engagement 520 N. Main Street Meadville, PA 16335 (814) 332-5318