Why Serve as a VISTA?

While there are many reasons to serve as an AmeriCorps CSU STEM VISTA member, below are some of the reasons reported by recent VISTA members who have served at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

 

NAME	POSITION	YEAR(S)	WHY I CHOSE TO SERVE...
Zulema Aleman	12-month VISTA Supporting Undocumented Students	2017-18	My decision to serve came from personal experience and was developed further through my educational background at Cal Poly. As a daughter of two immigrants, I directly saw the lack of support and resources for undocumented immigrants through the struggles my parents had to overcome as well as the additional challenges that came from being part of other marginalized identities. I also saw them do grassroots organizing in their communities and it inspired me to use my knowledge to do the same as a way to serve back to a community that gave so much to my family. This led me to pursue a degree in Psychology and Women's and Gender Studies, where I could study the behavior and mind of humans through a lens that analyzed the way humans enable discrimination within other marginalized communities.
Casey McCullough	12-month VISTA Supporting Undocumented Students	2016-18	I chose to serve because my education as a Sociology and Gender and Women's Studies at Northland College taught me the importance of understanding how power and privilege operate to support or oppress individuals and groups from varying social identities. I was educated through a very social justice oriented lens, and love that I get to do this work every day. I also believe in the role that privileged individuals have in working towards social justice and the liberation of all people of all identities, which is how I came to work to increase support for undocumented students.
Monica Singer	12-month VISTA Supporting Diversity Initiatives in the College of Engineering	2017-18	I became interested in the intersectionality of race, class, gender, sexuality and ability identities in STEM students after pursuing a minor in gender, race, culture, science and technology. Through my Psychology education at Cal Poly, I was able to participate in research centered around students of color and women's experiences of bias in STEM disciplines. Hearing student's personal experiences of the exclusionary culture within STEM as well as studying the institutional barriers put in place against students of color and women in these fields motivated me to serve. With this position I am hoping to support underrepresented students in pursuing a STEM education as well as shift the conversation around STEM equity in order to engage students from dominant groups (White, male and/or middle class) to examine their own privileges and role in maintaining an exclusionary culture.
Nicki Holm	12-month VISTA Supporting Undergraduate Research Experiences	2016-18	As a biology student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, I had the opportunity to both participate in research related to Public Health in SLO County and work for Cal Poly's Student Community Services to engage students with the surrounding community through volunteer work and social justice efforts. However, while cultivating a passion for social justice, it remained separate from my passion for STEM. Through this STEM Equity focused position, I am able to merge my two passions, and promote institutional change that enables all students to engage with and thrive through research.
Kay Lam	K-12 Outreach Summer Associate	Summer 2017	I chose to serve because the CSU STEM VISTA program gives me an opportunity to combine both of my majors (Computer Science and Ethnic Studies) in a way that allows me to explore issues of diversity in STEM in more detail as well as interact with students who may become engineers and scientists in the future.
Daniel Garcia	K-12 Outreach Summer Associate	Summer 2017	When growing up I was exposed to engineering activities and role models that made me want to pursue a STEM career. I chose to serve so I could be this same role model for the younger generation in hopes that they will want to pursue a career in STEM as well.
Allison Newlee	K-12 Outreach Summer Associate	Summer 2017	I want kids from underrepresented groups to have the same opportunities to get involved in STEM that other kids do. It is important to show kids that they have access to this opportunity early on, foster this throughout their lives, and create an environment that retains these kids in STEM fields into adulthood.
Matt Klepfer	K-12 Outreach Summer Associate	Summer 2017	I joined the CSU STEM VISTA AmeriCorps program to work on a team committed to make a better Cal Poly and world. This work provides an opportunity to think critically about STEM K-12 outreach and education so that efforts to diversify STEM both increase the participation of underrepresented groups in STEM majors AND challenge dominate systems of power to create more just and equitable societies.
Liz Mendoza	Summer Associate Supporting Undocumented Students	Summer 2017	To have a better understanding of the resources available to help undocumented students succeed.
Elizabeth Cruz Trujillo	Summer Associate Supporting Undocumented Students	Summer 2017	I wanted to serve as an AmeriCorps VISTA in order to help to support the undocumented students on our campus and help provide the much needed resources to ensure every student can succeed as a scholar at Cal Poly.
Christopher Basurto	CENG Diversity Initiatives Summer Associate	Summer 2017	I have faced and overcame many challenges and obstacles throughout my academic career at Cal Poly as result of being different. I chose to serve because I want to help and educate the next generation of students to tackle the need for diversity and inclusion throughout Cal Poly from the lessons I learned.
Louise Ibuna	CENG Diversity Initiatives Summer Associate	Summer 2017	As an underrepresented student myself, I want to explore opportunities CSU STEM VISTA has to showcase my experience to the community and create a diverse environment.