A YEAR OF SERVICE
AmeriCorps VISTAs serve nationally to build capacity at local organizations that serve low income communities. At Turning the Page (TTP) they are fundamental to strengthening relationships with families and school staff and by developing long-lasting partnerships with local organizations, museums, and universities. VISTAs play a unique role in most aspects of TTP programs including volunteer outreach, development, communications, student curriculum development, and supporting Carpe Librum bookstores. Our latest VISTA Spotlight shines on Family Engagement and Partnerships VISTA, Rebecca Weinberg.
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Favorite hobby: Right now I’m really enjoying making elaborate dinners with my roommates!
Favorite childhood book: I loved the Junie B. Jones series!
Hats I wear at TTP: As a Family Engagement and Partnerships Associate, I do a little bit of everything! I create resources for our digital platforms, help with organization of TTP programming, meet with partners to establish relationships and coordinate ways we can collaborate, connect with parents over Mobile Meetings, and provide support to the families in my Spotlight Classroom!
Why I chose to serve with AmeriCorps VISTA: I graduated college in Spring 2020, which needless to say was a challenging time to be entering the professional world! I came across AmeriCorps VISTA and TTP and figured it would be a great way to gain experience and skills working in a nonprofit organization while providing valuable resources and partnering with the community during a difficult year. I think that AmeriCorps VISTA’s mission of alleviating poverty through community partnerships is more important than ever this year!
Most interesting aspect of my service with TTP: So far, one of the most interesting aspects of my service with TTP has been working with other community serving organizations, nonprofits, museums, and other partners! I get to learn so much about diverse fields, meet interesting, dedicated people, and figure out how we can work together. It has also been so interesting to learn how other organizations have responded to the pandemic and living in a virtual world. It’s really inspiring to see how people are getting creative with reaching the public and serving communities amidst the challenges of Covid-19!
What I’ve learned about myself through service: I have been involved in childcare, teaching, and tutoring but the parent engagement side is new to me, so I’ve been learning a lot about that at TTP as I connect with parents! Particularly during this time where everything is virtual, I’m learning that flexibility is key. Listening to parents and the community about what they want and need right now and adapting is the best anyone can do right now!
What I hope to gain from my time with TTP: I hope to have developed and strengthened partnerships in the community to push for a more equitable DC! I hope that my VISTA term can increase the sustainability of TTP’s programs. I also hope to develop meaningful relationships with parents and to be able to support them this year however I can! I know that I will take all of my experiences working with so many different folks at TTP with me into future jobs advocating for equity.