ISSUE 4: June 10, 2008
Paving
the Way for VISTA in Guam
People
can’t help but smile when talking with Deanna Komiyama, a VISTA
at the Center for Civic Engagement at Guam Community College. Her
enthusiasm about people and service is contagious.
Deanna Komiyama (right) may be the sole VISTA in Guam,
but she isn't alone in promoting service learning in her community..
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As
the first VISTA to serve in Guam, Deanna is setting a high standard
for future VISTAs. Her project is to encourage instructors to incorporate
service learning into their curriculum and to create awareness of
service learning programs in the community.
"I
take pride in where I come from as well as the educational institute
I graduated from," she said. "It feels good to be here at
the Guam Community College and giving back to a place I treasure."
Deanna
had always wanted to serve in AmeriCorps, but never got around to
it until she received a call asking if she was interested in VISTA
last summer. She applied and accepted the position only an hour after
her interview.
"I
hope to promote and create awareness about service-learning,"
she said. "As a VISTA, I hope to let people know that there are
ways to prevent poverty or get out of it. I believe education is the
key. No one can take knowledge away from you."
After
she finishes her VISTA service this summer, Deanna hopes to pursue
her dream of becoming a social worker and serve adolescents.
"To
be the first one from and in Guam--that is an honor and an opportunity
for me to pave the way for future VISTAs," she said.
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What
Would Your Caption Say?
VISTA
has been serving our communities for over 40 years. During that time,
many great photographs have been taken of VISTAs in service.
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Here’s the
caption that was found on the back of the photo:
“Early
in November 1967, 38 recently graduated lawyers became VISTA volunteers
and took up residence in the low-income neighborhoods of Chicago and
Detroit. Among them was Eric Richardson, 25, a graduate of St.
John’s Law School. Their assignments: to provide community organizations
with the professional guidance and operative skills to obtain the
full protection and guarantees of the law.”
The history of VISTA
is ever-growing. Be sure to take photos, keep a blog, or make a video
during your VISTA service as all of our stories should be told. And
if you are doing any of these activities already, let us know and we’ll
see if we can use or link to them in an upcoming Viewfinder.
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Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: What is the Viewfinder?
A: VISTA means view-looking out on a broad expanse. The viewfinder, a toy that all generations of VISTAs recognize, was a kind of binocular that focused on points of interest, highlights, and snapshots in living color. The VISTA Viewfinder surveys in the landscape and zeroes in on service.
Q. Why the Viewfinder?
A. Here’s your direct link to connecting with other VISTAs, learning what they are doing, and helping to spread the message of VISTA and national service!
Q. How can I contribute?
A.
Have a story to tell? Submission ideas? Contact vistaoutreach@cns.gov.
Use the Viewfinder to highlight your VISTA service and share your
experiences with others across the country!
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