My First Week as a VISTA

One week into my year as a VISTA and I am starting to feel like I have some stable ground underneath me. For those who don't know what I am doing I am working as a VISTA in an Indianapolis non-profit called Girls Inc.

VISTA is a specific type of Americorps member who serves for one year doing capacity building within an organization. The goal of a VISTA is to create the ground work so that later when the organization does not have a VISTA they will be able to function without that position. VISTA's also work specifically to combat poverty throughout America, therefore all VISTA project sites work towards that goal in one way or another.

Girls Inc. is an organization that works to inspire all Girls to be Strong, Smart and Bold through educational programming at various partners throughout the area.

Specifically I am a fund development specialist, working to develop donor programs for young donors as well as build a functioning speakers bureau.

So far I have discovered that Indiana has ice unlike anything I've ever seen before, to the point where you have to punch you window to break up the ice enough to scrape it off, no joke. I love the architecture around town, and how it varies dependent on the area you are in. The buildings here are mostly older, big brick Victorians with porches on the front.

Primarily I have been doing a lot of research, learning about the organization, the demographic I am aiming at, and the projects I will be working on. I visited with the Indiana office of national and community service and got to chat with other VISTA's about their projects make some contact that I will be able to use throughout my service.

Its bitter cold here, mostly because of the humidity and wind chill and I am slowly adapting. I will be moving in with my new roommate next week, a medical intern so I'm hoping I get to hear all the juicy hospital stories, just like on grey's anatomy… jk. I miss the mountains but I can't wait till I get my life a little more settled so I can explore the town. Indianapolis has a lot going on, museums, theatres, and festivals and I am looking forward to checking it all out when I have the time.