AmeriCorps VISTAs serve nationally to strengthen local organizations that serve low income communities. At Turning the Page, they’re fundamental to bolstering partnerships with parents and school staff and forging long-lasting relationships with local nonprofits, museums, and universities. In fact, VISTAs are a part of almost all aspects of TTP programs, and are the faces behind outreach strategy, child mentoring activities, field trips, social media, program evaluation, and research.
Here on the TTP blog, VISTAs share a little bit about themselves and their work in their own words!
Name: Jenn Parisi
Hometown: Cranston, RI
Fun Fact About Me: During my time at the University of Rhode Island I spent time living in China and learning to speak Mandarin Chinese!
Some of the hats I wear at TTP: I support Community Night and Parent Leadership efforts at Garfield Elementary School and King Elementary School, coordinate and train volunteers and mentors for all TTP programs, create Child Mentoring lesson plans and activities, and this summer I planned the family Summer Learning Trips!
Why I chose a year with AmeriCorps VISTA: I chose a year with AmeriCorps VISTA because I knew that I could gain both valuable work and personal experience, and meet really cool people along the way. I knew that I wanted to work on a family and community level, and had a good experience completing two part-time AmeriCorps terms during college, so when I found Turning the Page I knew that this was the place for me. A model based around teamwork and partnership, Turning the Page brings staff, educators, families, community members and students together with one common goal: supporting their child’s education.
A story from my year of service: One of the parent leadership efforts at Garfield Elementary School this year was the creation of a school garden. I had the pleasure of working with the Garfield parent leaders, Garfield staff and other community partners to support the parents in the process. After many months of planning, the day finally arrived when the plants that families had started from seeds would be planted in the beds. The excitement and energy that everyone brought—especially Ms. Toviterescart Bedminster, the parent leader who spearheaded the project—really made the whole project come together. I’m looking forward to watching the garden continue to grow this year!