VISTA & CHPT
In 2007, CHPT partnered with the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) program, to bring more resources to CHPT partner communities and continue our mission of improving child, family and community health in the greater Sacramento region.
According to the CNCS website, "AmeriCorps VISTA is the national service program designed specifically to fight poverty. Founded as Volunteers in Service to America in 1965 and incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of programs in 1993, VISTA has been on the front lines in the fight against poverty in America for more than 40 years."
Here in Sacramento, VISTAs work specifically with one of CHPT's partner communities to engage local community members in discussions around health, health access and broader health issues; and train them to serve as liaisons and teachers of the resident physicians that come through their community. CHPT VISTAs serve as advocates for the CHPT program and the communities it serves by teaching neighbors to advocate for the health of themselves, their families and their communities, all through the CHPT-adopted lens of Asset-Based Community Development.
The CHPT VISTA is charged with getting out into the community and connecting with individuals and organizations who are not already at the table, building bridges, forming relationships and increasing knowledge and support of their community's opportunities. CHPT VISTAs must be willing to do both office work - such as grantwriting, fundraising, emailing, phone calling and organizing; in addition to leaving the office to participate in local groups, organizations and activities, represent the community and CHPT at events and programs, attend meetings and mixers, put together opportunities for individuals to connect, and more.
Individuals interested in VISTA service with CHPT must be motivated, resourceful, honest and hard-working. Other qualities that we look for in potential VISTA candidates include:
- Experience and enjoyment working with diverse groups
- Excellent work ethic
- Ability and comfort working both individually and in teams
- Self-starter, lots of initiative and creativity
- Passion for people and ability to approach and engage new people
- Interest in health, and belief that health is all-encompassing, not just limited to the physical
Serving as a VISTA with CHPT is an excellent experience for individuals looking to apply to medical school or graduate programs, as VISTA is a prestigious program that looks great on resumes and CV's. The opportunity to work both intensely with a community and in partnership with an Academic Health Center like UC Davis, will provide enriching experience, and, for the truly dedicated VISTA who goes above-and-beyond, some great letters of rec! For additional details on the CHPT VISTA Position, please click here.
Kiera Coulter
I am a recent graduate of Macalester College in St. Paul, Minneosta, majoring in International Studies and minoring in Hispanic Studies and Political Science. Through my course of study I became very interested in community development, especially as it pertains to immigrant communities. The inherent diversity of Rancho Cordova provides a wonderful opportunity to pursue this interest.
My future goal is to get into a dual degree program for Public Health and Latin American Studies, and I know that my experiences with CHPT will equip me with a better fundamental knowledge of health in underserved populations. I'm excited to work with the incredible resident physicians of UC Davis, and to create relationships within the Rancho Cordova community!
Jamie Ports
I am from San Diego, California and graduated from San Diego State University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology.
My passions often revolve around assisting others. My ultimate goal is to obtain a Dual-Masters in Public Health and Physician Assistant in order to combat health issues on a public and global front. I am in the process of applying to graduate school.
I have just recently returned from Malawi, Africa where I was serving as a Peace Corps Health Volunteer. During my two year employment with Peace Corps, I was stationed at a health clinic in a rural village and worked with the community to improve health and living conditions, and create greater awareness of cultural and social barriers to health.
I am hoping that my VISTA service will enhance my understanding on how community health is affected in an underserved population. I am thankful to be invited into Marysville to work for a year and know that the community will help me to grow and learn. I also look forward to exploring what the Sacramento region has to offer and plan on pursuing some of my favorite hobbies such as hiking, biking, and camping in the next year.
Sarah Kensky
Having been born and raised in Sacramento, I recently returned home from San Luis Obispo where I completed my undergraduate education at Cal Poly. Because I grew up not too far from my site, I am very motivated to learn more about and hopefully give back to a city that has supported me for many years.
My undergraduate degree is in Social Sciences. My experience with community service in high school and college sparked my interest and desire to continue service after school. I chose AmeriCorps*VISTA with the hope that I could aid in building capacity in an underserved community, in addition to gaining personal skills and life experiences. Working along with CHPT, I look forward to being exposed to many different people and projects that will help me in not only discovering myself, but a career in healthcare as well.
Maura Reilly (Service Completed July 31, 2011)
I was born in Bremerhaven, Germany and grew up in several exotic locales including Alabama and California's Central Valley. I have a BA in Psychology and Sociology from UC Davis and a Master of Public Health from San Diego State University.
Prior to starting my VISTA service, I spent three years in public health research. My research focused on obesity, physical activity and health outcomes in the Latino population in the border communities of San Diego. I became a VISTA for the opportunity to work with communities to address health inequalities. I am excited to have the chance to develop new partnerships, gain additional skills and professional experience.
As a VISTA, I will work under the guidance of the Cordova Community Collaborative to assist UC Davis Pediatric and Family & Community Medicine residents to implement projects that promote health, well-being, and improved quality of life for residents of Rancho Cordova.
After my year of service I plan to continue working in public health, either for a research institution or non-profit group. My ideal job would combine research with health advocacy efforts. I am also considering a future return to school for a PhD in public health policy.
Eric Murakami (Service Completed December 15, 2010)
I grew up in the Salt Lake City, Utah area and enjoyed all kinds of outdoor activities, including biking, skiing, hiking, and camping. One of my greatest passions is gardening and cooking with the fresh ingredients! I also enjoy a full range of sports and I am always looking for a game of pickup basketball.
I attended the University of Utah and graduated with a Bachelor degree in Biology. I have worked for the past three years as a research tech looking at tropical plant defense chemistry. It was fantastic! However, I joined AC*VISTA because I know I have lived a privileged life and wanted to give back to an underserved community. I know working as a VISTA will provide me with community building skills, life experiences, and knowledge that I could not replicate. CHPT is the perfect program for me as a VISTA because I aspire to become a physician and I will be able to view both the resident life and the importance of community building.
Aaronica Jackson (Service Completed April 16, 2010)
Hello! My name is Aaronica Jackson.
I was born in Wurzberg, Germany, however I have grown up in Minnesota. I have a certificate in Community Health, which I hope to turn into a bachelors degree in the next couple of years.
I got my first taste of service when I was 18 and I started working with the National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC), in their Youth Development department. I worked as a group leader with NYLC's summer program teaching high school students how to build their communities through service-learning for four years. From there I volunteered as a Youth Advisory Council mentor, working with high school students doing service-learning in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.
My first experience with AmeriCorps was in San Jose, Claifornia, where I committed myself to a year of service with City Year. It was my first time working with elementary-aged children in a school setting (so it had the potential for disaster!) but my year there was amazingly awesome.
Currently I am an AmeriCorps*VISTA with the Communities & Health Professionals Together partnership, working in the Tahoe/Colonial community in south Sacramento, California. I am really excited to work for an organization that puts family and community first, and am super pumped about meeting and getting to know everyone.
Stacey Droll (Service Completed November 30, 2009)
Hi! I am Stacey Droll, an Americorps*VISTA (Volunteer In Service To America) working with the Communities & Health Professionals Together Project in Rancho Cordova. I began her year of service in December 2008. I graduated in May 2008 from Benedictine University at Springfield College in Illinois with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and a minor in Criminal Justice, and now work under the supervision of the Director of Family Support Services for Folsom Cordova Unified School District, and is attached to the Cordova Community Collaborative.
I chose to become a VISTA to satisfy my undying passion to help people and my strong desire to make a difference in the world, whether with one person or across an entire community. I am also excited about the opportunity to develop new skills and deepen my professional experience across a broad spectrum of tasks.
During my term of service, I will be working with physicians from the UC Davis Medical School’s Pediatric and Family Practice Residency Programs. Under the guidance of the Cordova Community Collaborative, I will assist the doctors to identify and implement projects that promote better health and well-being, and an enhanced quality of life for the residents of Rancho Cordova and the region.
Following my year of domestic service as a VISTA, I am planning to join the Peace Corps for an international service experience. Ultimately, I plan to pursue a Master’s degree in Social Work.
Jan Wells (Service Completed October 31, 2009)
Greetings! I am Jan Wells, a VISTA volunteer at the Tahoe/Colonial Collaborative.
My family moved from Oregon to Yreka, CA when I was a pre-teen; it was a wonderful place to grow up, especially because of the natural resources and outdoor recreation. Living in a small rural community taught me the importance of community early on. At age 11, my mother volunteered me to help with a recreation program with handicapped children and a community volunteer was born. I have worked as a secretary/administrative assistant in the fields of veterinary and human medicine and as a legal secretary. A good deal of my education has focused on these areas. Through high school, higher education and on into professional life, the ability to use my training, skills and education to help people has been a continuing focus.
As a VISTA volunteer, my first term was served at 2 Community Resource Centers in the Yreka, CA area, where I helped in the planning and development of infrastructure for community events and programs and assisted with grant-writing.
In serving my second term with Tahoe/Colonial Collaborative and Communities & Health Professionals Together, I look forward to meeting new folks and putting my energies into enhancing the programs and services offered in this area and exploring new ways to serve the community. I believe that offering programs that encourage participation strengthen communities and it will be a pleasure to work to make that happen!
Johnny Chew (Service Completed August 31, 2008)
My name is Johnny Chew, although I have been nicknamed Juanito by this communtiy. I grew up in Oakland, California. My parents immigrated here about twenty five years ago. I spent a lot of my time as a kid roaming my little, but mysterous, backyard. Every piece of wood or brick I lifted up would have many insects racing away from the sunlight (and my cup). I guess that was how I became interested in science. I majored in biology at UC Davis. I loved that major because it allowed me to see a spectrum of all the majors topics in biology. I enjoy going whale watching in Monterey Bay, California. I also like to play tennis. After I graduated, I became an Americorps VISTA Volunteer.
As a VISTA Volunteer, I have been trying to estalish a Health Care Consumer Advisory Council to project the voices of the underserved in our community and to guide pediatric resident physicians with their community health projects so that they're tailored to a specific need. With the pediatric residents and communtiy working together, our efforts will help children in our community grow up safe and healthy. I've attended many community events to build relationships with community members. It isn't easy though, but there are always tons of community building, leadership training, and advocacy workshops to attend. Here, you can even become connected with local leaders. I've had a great time in the Tahoe/Colonial community and hope the next VISTA Volunteer will see the unique aspects of this community.
Rachel Enge (Service Completed May 22, 2008)
I was raised in Anoka, Minnesota about 20 minutes west of St. Paul. I graduated from a liberal arts college in the middle of Minnesota in May with a major in sociology and a minor in biology. I decided to join VISTA because I was looking for an adventure. VISTA gave me a chance to move away from Minnesota for a year and get some experience in the health field. At the end of my year I will return to Minnesota to begin a Physician Assistant program in Minneapolis.
As a VISTA I am working to help create a health council in the midtown area. For the first year of this project that mainly means I work on creating relationships with other members in the community. This involves going to as many community meetings and community events as possible. I also work with the residents from CHPT. That includes walking around the neighborhood with them, helping them plan projects and helping them execute their projects. I also work on grants and have learned a lot about community work and working with others.
Janelle Jones (Service Completed August 15, 2008)
I was raised in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio along Lake Erie. I graduated from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia with a major in mathematics and a minor in economics in 2006. Shortly after, I decided to obtain a graduate degree in economics. I decided to join VISTA before graduate school to take a break from the world of physical sciences while doing something that helps me grow professionally and personally. At the end of my year, I will be attending Illinois State University as a participant in the Masert's International program. The program includes a Master's degree in Applied Economics combined with a term of service in the Peace Corps.
As a VISTA of the Cordova Community Collaborative (CCC), I am working to create a health-focused group in Rancho Cordova and enhance the health related programs and services of the Folsom Cordova Community Partnership. The health group will be a workgroup of the CCC and incorporate its current members and other healthcare consumers. The second main function of my job is to make CHPT known in the community and build relationships. A third main responsibility is resource development around health, which can include grants and donations, among other things.
