VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery
Our VISTAs
Team Leaders
AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA)Leaders are a select group of former AmeriCorps members who help recruit, mentor, and coordinate teams of VISTA members serving with large projects or within a given region, according to americorps.gov.
VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery has three assigned Team Leaders: Sarah Cook, Ashley Hawkins and Jimmy Kelly.
Sarah Cook
23
Hometown/State Lonetree, Iowa
VISTA job: Leader; she'll be a volunteer and large-group coordinator.
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
She spent 15 months as an AmeriCorps state member at Habitat for Humanity. She grew up in Cedar Rapids and wanted to help rebuild the town.
Ashley Hawkins
22
Hometown/State: Wisconsin
VISTA job: Leader; she'll be taking over the office management of the VRC.
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
She spent the last three years on the coast helping with Hurricane Katrina recovery. She was involved with National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) right after Hurricane Katrina and then helped in Mississippi. She wanted to be involved "somewhat in my own backyard."
James "Jimmy" Kelly
25
Hometown/State: Iowa City, Iowa
VISTA job: Mucking
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
Unsure about graduate school, he decided to take a break and get a job. He happened upon the AmeriCorps website.
"I just figured getting involved with this is the best way to use the skills I developed over the past two years and help my home state."
AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA)Leaders are a select group of former AmeriCorps members who help recruit, mentor, and coordinate teams of VISTA members serving with large projects or within a given region, according to americorps.gov.
VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery has three assigned Team Leaders: Sarah Cook, Ashley Hawkins and Jimmy Kelly.
Sarah Cook
23
Hometown/State Lonetree, Iowa
VISTA job: Leader; she'll be a volunteer and large-group coordinator.
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
She spent 15 months as an AmeriCorps state member at Habitat for Humanity. She grew up in Cedar Rapids and wanted to help rebuild the town.
Ashley Hawkins
22
Hometown/State: Wisconsin
VISTA job: Leader; she'll be taking over the office management of the VRC.
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
She spent the last three years on the coast helping with Hurricane Katrina recovery. She was involved with National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) right after Hurricane Katrina and then helped in Mississippi. She wanted to be involved "somewhat in my own backyard."
James "Jimmy" Kelly
25
Hometown/State: Iowa City, Iowa
VISTA job: Mucking
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
Unsure about graduate school, he decided to take a break and get a job. He happened upon the AmeriCorps website.
"I just figured getting involved with this is the best way to use the skills I developed over the past two years and help my home state."
Summer Associates
About 60 adults signed on for seven- to 10-week terms with VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery in Cedar Rapids.
They came from as far away as Bedford, New Hampshire and New York City, to Washington State and San Diego, California.
Many are Iowans:
Of the 60 summer associates, 36 were ages 18 to 24. Nine others were still in their 20s, but of those comfortable with disclosing their age, at least one summer associate in her 60s.
Many VISTAs worked at the East Central Iowa Volunteer Reception Center or on cleanup "mucking" crews. Others were placed at area agencies and organizations to assist with flood recovery efforts, help coordinate volunteer efforts and continue poverty-fighting initiatives.
Some became VISTA members as early as June 4, others not until July 22. All terms of service will be completed by Sept. 12, 2008.
About 60 adults signed on for seven- to 10-week terms with VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery in Cedar Rapids.
They came from as far away as Bedford, New Hampshire and New York City, to Washington State and San Diego, California.
Many are Iowans:
- 22 - Cedar Rapids
- 5 - other Linn County
- 11 - other counties
Of the 60 summer associates, 36 were ages 18 to 24. Nine others were still in their 20s, but of those comfortable with disclosing their age, at least one summer associate in her 60s.
Many VISTAs worked at the East Central Iowa Volunteer Reception Center or on cleanup "mucking" crews. Others were placed at area agencies and organizations to assist with flood recovery efforts, help coordinate volunteer efforts and continue poverty-fighting initiatives.
Some became VISTA members as early as June 4, others not until July 22. All terms of service will be completed by Sept. 12, 2008.
Yearlong members
To continue flood recovery efforts in the Corridor, several yearlong members have been recruited. Some have begun their year of service while others will arrive onsite soon.
They include:
Dan Abel, Ang Boomer, Blake Christenson, Phillip Cooke, Ann Davidson, Curtis DeVetter, Rhonda Farmer, Katie Ferguson, Karlie Murphy, Diego Sepulveda and Bonnie Sorenson.
Dan Abel
56
Hometown/State: Toddville, Iowa
VISTA job: East Central Iowa Volunteer Reception Center "jack of all trades"
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
"It's an opportunity to take all of my experience and background and put it to good use."
Ang Boomer
21
Hometown/State: Waverly-Shell Rock, Iowa
VISTA job: Volunteer coordinator and work with kids.
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
Originally, she wanted to work with social service programs in Central Cedar Rapids Weed & Seed.
"Now, it's dear to my heart that the community get put back together."
Blake Christenson
23
Hometown/State: Oshkosh, Wisconsin
VISTA job: Tech support; database entry tracking hours; possibly mapping flood-affected area.
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
It was a better use of his time than other jobs available.
Ann Davidson
A summer associate who signed up for an additional full year.
35
Hometown/State: Bolingbrook, Illinois
VISTA job: East Central Iowa Volunteer Reception Center helping to coordinate small groups of volunteers coming from all over the country and also locally.
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
Family members in Missouri were affected by flooding in 1993, but she was unable to help. "Now I can so I'm giving back."
Curtis DeVetter
22
Hometown/State: La Crescent, Minnesota
VISTA job: Mucker team lead
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
He's excited to be on the ground working with people in a community with needs.
His future plans include the Peace Corps.
NA
Rhonda Farmer
32
Hometown/State: New Jersey
VISTA job: Mucking and helping flood victims with the financial aspects, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA).
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
Everybody needs help at one time or another. She came across the program while searching for other opportunities, such as Peace Corps.
"This seemed like more of an immediate need."
To continue flood recovery efforts in the Corridor, several yearlong members have been recruited. Some have begun their year of service while others will arrive onsite soon.
They include:
Dan Abel, Ang Boomer, Blake Christenson, Phillip Cooke, Ann Davidson, Curtis DeVetter, Rhonda Farmer, Katie Ferguson, Karlie Murphy, Diego Sepulveda and Bonnie Sorenson.
Dan Abel
56
Hometown/State: Toddville, Iowa
VISTA job: East Central Iowa Volunteer Reception Center "jack of all trades"
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
"It's an opportunity to take all of my experience and background and put it to good use."
Ang Boomer
21
Hometown/State: Waverly-Shell Rock, Iowa
VISTA job: Volunteer coordinator and work with kids.
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
Originally, she wanted to work with social service programs in Central Cedar Rapids Weed & Seed.
"Now, it's dear to my heart that the community get put back together."
Blake Christenson
23
Hometown/State: Oshkosh, Wisconsin
VISTA job: Tech support; database entry tracking hours; possibly mapping flood-affected area.
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
It was a better use of his time than other jobs available.
Ann Davidson
A summer associate who signed up for an additional full year.
35
Hometown/State: Bolingbrook, Illinois
VISTA job: East Central Iowa Volunteer Reception Center helping to coordinate small groups of volunteers coming from all over the country and also locally.
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
Family members in Missouri were affected by flooding in 1993, but she was unable to help. "Now I can so I'm giving back."
Curtis DeVetter
22
Hometown/State: La Crescent, Minnesota
VISTA job: Mucker team lead
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
He's excited to be on the ground working with people in a community with needs.
His future plans include the Peace Corps.
NA
Rhonda Farmer
32
Hometown/State: New Jersey
VISTA job: Mucking and helping flood victims with the financial aspects, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA).
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
Everybody needs help at one time or another. She came across the program while searching for other opportunities, such as Peace Corps.
"This seemed like more of an immediate need."
Katharine "Katie" Ferguson
25
Hometown/State: Florida
VISTA job: East Central Iowa Volunteer Reception Center assessment and mucking
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
It's a worthwhile use of her time.
Karlie Murphy
25
Hometown/State: Moline, Illinois
VISTA job: East Central Iowa Volunteer Reception Center data entry
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
“Because I wanted to help people and had wanted to be a VISTA since I was 18. This was the right time to do it.”
Cherie Oehler-Terman
A summer associate who signed up for an additional full year.
Hometown/State: Cedar Rapids
VISTA job: Assessing: visual assessments of homes in flood-affected areas to determine if owners have been cleaning up properties or not, and finding out if they still need assistance.
"I walk around and peep in people's windows."
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
When natural disasters happened elsewhere, she was unable to travel to help.
"When disaster came home, I could do something about it."
Deigo Sepulveda
A summer associate who signed up for an additional full year.
26
Hometown/State: Lawrenceville, Illinois
VISTA job: Mucking
Why did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
To gain experience. He had been working and wanted a change.
Bonnie Sorensen
22
Hometown/State: Vincennes, Indiana
VISTA job: Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and coordinating volunteers at the East Central Iowa Volunteer Reception CenterWhy did you sign up for VISTA Corridor Flood Recovery?
She wanted to do something worthwhile and get assistance with student loans.
"I wanted to have an impact somewhere."
