About Us

VISTA Volunteers

VISTA members commit to serve full-time for a year at a nonprofit organization or local government agency, working to fight illiteracy, improve health services, create businesses, strengthen community groups, and much more. VISTAs create or expand programs designed to bring individuals and communities out of poverty.

As a result of the support provided by VISTAs in the past year:

97 community volunteers provided housing assistance to seniors’ homes
Social activities were coordinated for more than 600 seniors
Sixty-four drivers and two coordinators provided transportation services to 238 senior riders.

As a VISTA serving with SGSM Network, each volunteer is sworn in under AmeriCorps, to serve a one year commitment focusing on four core values: Anti-Poverty, Community Empowerment, Capacity Building, and Sustainable Solutions. In combination with the values of SGSM Network, all VISTA volunteers use these ideals and values to make decisions beneficial to the everyday life of all seniors served throughout the organization.

Meet the VISTA volunteers who serve with SGSM Network! Click on the names/positions below to read what they do and hear about their backgrounds, how they serve, and what they like best about working with our ministry!

Social Engagement VISTA: Greg Payne

Social and civic engagement services have been proven to increase mental and physical health, as well as increasing community awareness of those who might be having difficulty. The Social Engagement VISTA is responsible for planning, developing, and coordinating at least 32 smaller social events per year, 4 spiritual events, and 4 large events per year. He or she also recruits new volunteers, develops new community partnerships, and maintains the lay council for each cluster.

Meet Greg, SGSM's current Social Engagement VISTA! He is serving with the ministry July 2011 through July 2012. Click on the video to learn more about him:

Marketing and Communications VISTA: Kelli Holmstrom

It is imperative that all non-profits, including SGSM, procure funds for their programs and increase the general public's understanding of their innovative, quality programs. The Marketing and Communications VISTA is responsible for promoting SGSM to the general community, maintaining the website, and identifying donors. He or she will also prepare and edit organizational publications, coordinate a newsletter assembly, network, and write grants.

Meet Kelli, SGSM's current Marketing and Communications VISTA! She is serving with the ministry November 2010 through November 2012. Click on the video to learn more about her:

Community Mobilization VISTA: Brion Abel

The Community Mobilization VISTA is instrumental in continually assessing the community and identifying appropriate interventions for neighborhood stabilization. He or she is responsible for identifying neighborhoods to participate in the Lights ON! project, securing funding for the program, recruiting volunteers, evaluating resources, and maintaining the database of the project scope. The Community Mobilization VISTA is also responsible for recruiting new partner churches, maintaining current church liaisons, and increasing volunteer numbers.

Meet Brion, SGSM's current Community Mobilization VISTA! He is serving with the ministry February 2011 through February 2012. Click on the video to learn more about him:

Health and Transportation VISTA: Nicole Edwards

A key factor in preventing poverty is maintaining or increasing health status in later years. The Health and Transportation VISTA is responsible for planning, coordinating, and facilitating at least 6 health promotion activities, recruiting volunteers, and conducting community assessments. Additionally, he or she will coordinate a transportation system for each cluster for medical, non emergency appointments.

Meet Nicole, SGSM's current Health and Transportation VISTA! She is serving with the ministry August 2011 through August 2012. Click on the video to learn more about her:

Housing VISTA--currently not staffed

One of the most powerful ways to prevent poverty is through home safety; home repairs enable older adults to live safely in their own homes longer, reducing time in assisted/skilled nursing facilities. The Housing VISTA is responsible for identifying housing needs, conducting community assessments, recruiting and training volunteers, and organizing yardwork "blitz" groups. Additionally, he or she will coordinate a "Job Squad" home repair request system for each cluster.