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: Ciarah Cox
Hometown: New Haven, CT
Hats I wear at TTP: Support programming at Turner Elementary school in addition to developing curriculum for TTP’s mentoring program that operates during community nights and developing communic
ations materials for Turning the Page programming.
Why I chose a year with AmeriCorps VISTA: “Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth” (Shirley Chisholm, African American politician and activist). I truly believe that even the smallest acts of service are what keep the spirit of love and unity thriving in our communities. It shows that even in the toughest of times, we are still willing to build up and strengthen one another. Serving a year with AmeriCorps was the best way for me to incorporate my love for service into my everyday life.
A story from
my year of service: TTP loves birthdays! Our office birthday parties are pretty legendary and are always specific to the individual whose birthday it is. This year, for my birthday, the programming team decorated the entire office in purple (my favorite color)! It was great, and I loved how much work everyone put into making sure I had a great party. I am definitely looking forward to many more strange and spectacular birthday parties.