AmeriCorps Week 2020

AmeriCorps is a network of national service programs designed to encourage civic engagement while addressing community needs. Around 75,000 people participate in AmeriCorps service roles across the US each year, which can last from 3 months to a year. Roles range from mentoring youth and responding to disasters to fighting poverty alongside community leaders.

In honor of AmeriCorps Week this March, we want to recognize two former AmeriCorps VISTA members who have pushed our mission forward here at Connections to Success. VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) is a branch of AmeriCorps in which members serve with organizations that help fight poverty.

Vonnie Germain
Vonnie served with us as a Grant Writer VISTA in 2013. In 2019, we were excited to welcome her back as our grants manager in the St. Louis region, and she has recently moved into a new role as a program director. She shares how her VISTA service has impacted her life:

“AmeriCorps VISTA was a pivotal event in my life. It is what allowed me to go from working for a job to working for a purpose. I always knew I wanted to do something in my life to help people in a meaningful way, but didn’t really know how. AmeriCorps was the start of that long journey of learning, humility, and action to become a more effective and engaged member of my community.”

Emma Morales
Emma served with us in the Kansas City region as a Grant Writer VISTA from Aug 2014- Aug 2015. She now serves as our grants coordinator in KC and has played a key role in securing grant funding for our programs while supporting development campaigns and events.  She shares how VISTA challenged her to build new skills and connected her with a supportive community:

“I was able to take advantage of this amazing opportunity and learn how to write grants for this organization. I had wonderful teachers, including the VISTAs before me, Rebecca Maddox, Meghan Henry, and Vonnie Germain. Our wonderful leaders, Brandi and Marci, and especially Brad, provided oversight and really taught me how to fine tune a grant for specific requests. I learned all about boiler-plate language and how important it is to be concise and precise. I learned about budgets–not my favorite, but very necessary. I had learned to meet deadlines–some by the skin of my teeth! But most important of all, I learned how grant writing is a team project and none of us ever had to tackle it alone. At the end of my service year I had helped write several grants and some of them were even awarded to us. However, I felt like I had gained way more than I had given and I would have loved to stay on as part of the staff. That was not possible at that time, but a year later, I was called back, and have been here ever since. In summary, I would say that serving as a VISTA is absolutely what one makes of it and if the opportunity is used wisely, it will open doors.”

We’re thankful for Emma, Vonnie and all the AmeriCorps members who have given their time and skills to work alongside us! Happy AmeriCorps Week!

Learn more at https://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps