VISTA Portfolio

I served two full-time, year-long terms of national service as an AmeriCorps VISTA member. VISTA started as a sort of "domestic Peace Corps" in 1965, during the Johnson administration and was brought under the AmeriCorps service umbrella during the 1990s.

My service was unique in that, to my knowledge, VISTAs had not served in libraries before we started. I was part of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction's VISTA Project, which up until I started in 2009 had been entirely focused on schools. In the wake of the economic crisis in '08/'09, funds were made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to establish new VISTA positions focused on economic recovery. Libraries across the state and the country were already adjusting to meet the changing needs of their patrons and DPI already had a strong connection to public libraries through the Division for Libraries, Technology and Community Learning. So, it was a natural fit to begin placing VISTAs in public libraries and I was among the first.

I spent two great years setting up job help programs in the form of open lab time, classes and one-on-one assistance. I learned to write grants, recruit and manage volunteers, create and promote library programs, and build partnerships. I attended nearly every opportunity for professional development that was offered and felt rewarded for my service in experience, professional connections, friends, leadership skills, confidence and knowing that I helped people through a difficult time.

The videos and clippings below serve as a partial portfolio of my terms as a VISTA.

Video:

End-of-Year Presentation Videos - These provide a great overview of VISTA, DPI's VISTA Project, and my specific work at Fond du Lac. A good starting point.

Photos:

Art-in-Action Day by Day Shots - This was a partnership project with other VISTAs and community organizations during which middle schoolers designed and painted a bookmobile.