by Ruthie Hokans, Learning Center VISTA 2014-2015
What calls someone to do national service? Maybe it is the
desire to make a change in the community, or to impact the
lives of individuals and families. Or maybe it is the opportunity to acquire new job skills and seek out professional development. I became a VISTA to have a positive impact on my
community, but what I have gained from my term as a VISTA
has been much more—not only personally, but professionally.
One of the incredible resources available through the VISTA
Campus Website is VISTA Blend. These 10-week online
courses, offered bi-annually, give VISTAs the opportunity to
earn college credit, network with other VISTAs across the
country, and learn skills and strategies that apply directly to
their service. VISTA Blend currently offers to courses: Volunteer Mobilization, and Resource Development—Fundraising
and Grant Writing.
The Volunteer Mobilization class gave me the tools and
knowledge I needed to take my volunteer recruitment and
management strategies to the next level. I was able immediately to apply the course assignments to my service, which
has been hugely beneficial to our program and our clients. I
will also be able to use these skills in my career after serving
as a VISTA—and did I mention it counts toward college credit? Being a VISTA is a huge commitment and sacrifice, but it
also offers an array of wonderful opportunities for growth and
development, ensuring that when I end my second term of
service I’ll have developed new skills and gained professional
experience that will benefit me in my future endeavors. The
VISTA Blend courses are just one of the many benefits available when serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA at Our House.