Mid-Year Reflections and Successes

By Chelsea Lienhard, CCNYPA*VISTA Leader

Can you believe it? We are at the halfway mark of the 2019-2020 service year! Time flies by when you’re having fun and making a difference, right? To the CCNYPA*VISTAs-- you all deserve a huge pat on the back for making it halfway through your year of service because it surely is a feat.
 
As we trek along through the month of January and the start of a new semester at our host sites, I request that you take the time to truly reflect on the past six months. Think about the highs and lows, the insights after introducing a new idea or making a change, and most importantly, remind yourself of all the successes you’ve had thus far. It may seem like you are not doing much or making an impact some days, but just know that you are, and it does not go unnoticed! Here are some highlights and successes from fellow CCNYPA*VISTA members:
 

• Rachel at CCAC was recently able to secure two data loggers that will record the refrigerator temperatures at the partnering food pantries and send an alert text when the temperatures get too high. This will allow pantry staff to know of a change in temperature, and therefore be able to get there and save the food! Nothing is worse than having frozen meat, fresh produce, and dairy go bad after paying and working hard for those donations. Rachel was able to get these loggers (valued at $250 each) for free just by simply writing a case study for the company’s website!

 

• Matt developed a food resource brochure and was able to connect with State Representative Kurt Masser’s office to produce posters based off of the brochure. He was also able to organize and lead two successful Coal Township/Shamokin Food Resource Collaboration meetings with multiple food resource organizations.

 

• Jenna started the idea of bringing students from her community partner middle school to her host site for a campus visit. She worked with her department, met with the admissions team, and stakeholders in the school district and was able to set a date in March. Everyone loved the idea so much that it is now an objective in the Year 3 VAD.

 

• Katie helped to create an America Reads webpage in the Career Services section in the online CCAC student portal. It was created to centralize and digitize America Reads recruitment and training documents which will increase the accessibility of these documents to the students. This is a huge accomplishment when thinking about sustainability!

 

• Jordan and a counselor from the counseling department at NCC worked together to create a very comprehensive mental health provider, hospital, and social service agency directory. The previous directory was very outdated. She also developed a mental health speaker program that is targeted at introductory psychology classes. Its aim is to reduce the mental health stigma among NCC college students, specifically the type of stigma that prevents help-seeking behaviors among those experiencing symptoms on mental illness.

 

• Ayo had a proud moment with a high school student that was part of the GEAR UP program last year. This student is now attending Drexel University (a community partner that is a part of the GEAR UP program). When Ayo was recruiting GEAR UP volunteers at Drexel this past fall, this student came to the table not only to say hi but also to help advertise the GEAR UP program to the freshmen. She told students, “this is a great program. I was actually a part of it in high school and they are part of the reason I’m here at Drexel.”

 
Overall, many of you have strengthened your career desires and passions due to the work you are accomplishing with your projects these past 6 months. You’ve gained confidence and motivation boosts, whether that was because you are a returning member and are feeling more sure of yourself or because of the successes and experiences you’ve had so far. Always keep those accomplishments in mind and don’t forget the little things!