In our VISTA Spotlight, our OneStar AmeriCorps VISTA members share in their own words about the transformative experience of serving with nonprofits and agencies in Texas working to eliminate poverty.
Sandy Porter, Community Outreach Coordinator VISTA, Consumer Energy Education Foundation (CEEF). My journey to VISTA starts with my children. I have always been an advocate for them and always found STEM programs for them that allowed them to see other paths in life. Even though our community was not designed at the time to have those opportunities for them I was fortunate to find nonprofit organizations that furthered their love of STEM. I joined VISTA because I saw an opportunity that I can serve youth who may not have that opportunity to learn about STEM and its advantages. I was able to learn a lot about outreach, grant writing, blogs, volunteering, and how STEM has a huge impact on the city of Houston. In my role in VISTA, it has led me to my future plans. I will be going into a master’s program for Non- Profit Leadership. I didn’t know what I wanted to do in my collegiate future until I was able to have a chance to be a part of VISTA. VISTA has shown me what the meaning of serve means and I would like to continue learning and serve the community.