Liz is a SERVE Philadelphia VISTA Leader who works with the Mayor’s Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity to guide the current SERVE Philadelphia VISTA Corps through their service year by lending an ear and ensuring they have access to the resources the City has to offer. She’s had experience building relationships and conducting trainings and workshops at the School District of Philadelphia and at nonprofits around the city. When not at work, you can find her picnicking in a park, biking slowly, and petting any dog that passes her.

About VISTA leaders: The Serve Philadelphia VISTA Corps is the key to the City’s ability to develop, implement and evaluate solutions to the City’s greatest challenges in alleviating poverty. Serve VISTA Leaders are integral to the success of Corps members and, therefore, moving the needle on poverty in Philadelphia. Serve Philadelphia VISTA Leaders work closely with Serve VISTA program staff to expand the impact and reach of our program. Serve Philadelphia VISTA Leaders will co-create and support the implementation of sustainable strategies to: increase the presence and awareness of the program within the city, enhance VISTA Corps Member recruitment, onboarding, and retention efforts, assess the impact of Serve Philadelphia VISTA projects, and provide consistent support to VISTA members.

Since attending college in Philadelphia, Olivia has focused her diverse professional background making systems more responsive, resources more reachable, and work more sustainable. In her role as VISTA Leader she is excited by collaborating broadly with colleagues, alumni, and members to help build tools and relationships that last. Outside service she enjoys watching the latest TV.

About VISTA leaders: The Serve Philadelphia VISTA Corps is the key to the City’s ability to develop, implement and evaluate solutions to the City’s greatest challenges in alleviating poverty. Serve VISTA Leaders are integral to the success of Corps members and, therefore, moving the needle on poverty in Philadelphia. Serve Philadelphia VISTA Leaders work closely with Serve VISTA program staff to expand the impact and reach of our program. Serve Philadelphia VISTA Leaders will co-create and support the implementation of sustainable strategies to: increase the presence and awareness of the program within the city, enhance VISTA Corps Member recruitment, onboarding, and retention efforts, assess the impact of Serve Philadelphia VISTA projects, and provide consistent support to VISTA members.

Olly Skeet Browning grew up in central Vermont and moved to Philadelphia after graduating from Vassar College. While there he earned his B.A. in International Studies with a concentration in Geography and Urban Studies. Previously, he served as an Assistant Teacher at an after-school program, as well as the Operations Manager at a local IT firm. He is passionate about the intersection of technology and education and looks forward to applying this passion during his VISTA service.

About the VISTA position: The goal of Language Access Philly’s VISTA project is to expand access to Language Access resources for public agencies and over 125,000 Philadelphia residents who need language services to access public services, programs and information. The VISTA Member will help increase capacity of Language Access Philly by building and stocking a public Language Access Toolbox that will be a hub for language service resources that will help City government and local organizations implement best practices in multilingual outreach.

Tristan Cripps was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas. He attended the University of Arkansas where he received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. After a decade working in the wine industry, Tristan pivoted into the world of municipal government, where he took great pride in promoting his hometown with the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau. As longtime fans of the “City of Brotherly Love”, he and his wife, Lauren, jumped at the opportunity to become Philadelphia residents in early 2025. In continuing his path as a career public servant, Tristan is excited for his opportunity to become an Americorps VISTA and to serve the new city that he calls home.

About the VISTA position: The VISTA supports a mission to transform miles of brownfields into river trails and parks, volunteerism;“green” job skill training; and land restoration projects. The position will connect a diverse community tononprofit volunteer management and environmental stewardship jobs, inspiring a change in a workforce that remains overwhelmingly white. The VISTA will support gateway experiences in “green” jobs throughcommunity volunteer workdays such as tree plantings and clean-ups. It will facilitate job skill trainees, whooften work beside community volunteers and who are required to log service learning hours. The VISTA willimplement and evaluate a volunteer cultivation plan and find workforce development opportunities andpathways.

Michael is a senior at Temple University and has lived in North Philadelphia for the past four years. Originally from Chicago, he is passionate about urban planning and community development, with a strong desire to create a lasting impact in his neighborhood and across the city. Michael brings a creative spirit to his work, with a deep appreciation for art, music, and cycling, all of which allow him to be better connected to his community.

About the VISTA position: The goal of the Office of Innovation and Technology (OIT)’s VISTA project is to empower low-income Philadelphia households by increasing access to home internet, digital devices, and digital skills classes. The VISTA Members will help increase the capacity and awareness of the City Digital Navigator program by creating and managing partnerships between Digital Navigators and other organizations, designing procedures and resources, and improving events. The program will focus on three key elements of digital equity: connectivity, devices, and skills. By addressing these three factors, the City Digital Navigator program will elevate those households who are most in need of digital services, predominantly low-income households.

Diana Discher is a Philly native with a passion for digital media and design. She worked as a custom framer while studying Fine Art at the University of Pennsylvania, and recently completed a comprehensive course in full stack coding. Diana hopes to have a positive impact through her Vista service, by working to increase digital access throughout the city.

About the VISTA position: The goal of the Office of Innovation and Technology (OIT)’s VISTA project is to empower low-income Philadelphia households by increasing access to home internet, digital devices, and digital skills classes. The VISTA Members will help increase the capacity and awareness of the City Digital Navigator program by creating and managing partnerships between Digital Navigators and other organizations, designing procedures and resources, and improving events. The program will focus on three key elements of digital equity: connectivity, devices, and skills. By addressing these three factors, the City Digital Navigator program will elevate those households who are most in need of digital services, predominantly low-income households.

Reagan is from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and is a recent graduate from the University of Pittsburgh with a B.A. in Anthropology, minoring in Africana Studies. As an undergraduate, she interned with an economic development non-profit focused on promoting inclusive growth principles. This experience guided her approach to public service and community development, and she hopes to continue to address socioeconomic disparities in her work. Reagan looks forward to serving Philadelphia and becoming part of a new community in her home state.

About the VISTA position: The goal of the Mayor’s Office Data and Performance Management VISTA project is to evaluate city departments’ strategic plans by measuring how well their objectives translate into meaningful, measurable outcomes for residents. The VISTA member will help increase capacity of the office by collecting and analyzing demographic data to understand the impact of city policies, programs, and services. The role includes assessing whether these initiatives effectively address the needs of all communities, particularly those facing economic challenges and collaborating with staff to develop targeted, evidence-based strategies to enhance opportunity, improve service delivery, and positively impact the quality of life for all Philadelphians.

Gina Freshcoln is a Temple University graduate where they received a B.A. in Environmental Studies. Gina recently served in the AmeriCorps New Jersey Watershed Ambassadors program as an environmental educator, scientist, and land steward dedicated to improving watershed health. Her interests include urban ecology, environmental justice and social sustainability. They are also very passionate about sustainable fashion and spend their free time sewing and repairing clothing.

About the VISTA position: The goal of Managing Director’s Office-Health and Human Services VISTA project is to increase access to stable and secure housing for the adult and juvenile Philadelphians who are indigent and experiencing water insecurity or involved with the criminal justice system. The VISTA Member will help increase capacity of the Managing Director’s Office-Health and Human Services by assessing the current status and future plans of two specific programs by documenting the status of the two focus programs, progress made by each program, synthesizing feedback from collaborators, and building a sustainability plan for each of these programs, as well as serve on the programs to help them meet their current goals.

Amina Hafairi is a current undergraduate at Temple University, majoring in Communications and minoring in Human Development and Community Engagement. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Amina is dedicated to supporting her community. Her studies and hands-on experiences with nonprofits and city government have allowed her to advocate for a handful of underrepresented communities and she aims to further her commitment with this new and exciting opportunity.

About the VISTA position: The Office of Domestic Violence Strategies (ODVS) provides leadership for an interagency collaboration called Shared Safety, which aims to improve Health and Human Services systems’ responses to relational violence (domestic violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking). Relational violence disproportionately impacts low-income people of color. The VISTA will build capacity to strategically address systemic gaps and improve outcomes for people experiencing relational violence by working with staff to establish, implement, and evaluate a Shared Safety strategic plan.

Meet Emily T. Hang! Her passions include community empowerment and justice has been the cornerstone of both her academic and professional careers. As a student, Emily studies Criminal Justice, examining the intersections of law, public policy and social inequities to gain insight on how systems serve vulnerable populations. Outside of university, Emily is a human rights activist for indigenous peoples. Emily is of indigenous heritage, specifically Khmer-Krom from the Mekong Delta located in southern Vietnam. She aims to grasp a multilateral understanding of human rights at the global level while maintaining strong connections with her own local communities.

About the VISTA position: The goal of FDR Park’s Economic Opportunity VISTA project is to support the vendor communities of FDR Park (Southeast Asian and Latino American) in their work to organize vibrant cultural and entrepreneur-led marketplaces in FDR Park. The VISTA Member will serve to implement communitydriven leadership, entrepreneurial training, and external partnerships. This will increase the capacity of FDR Park by developing community-specific grant life-cycle resources, a database of stakeholder groups, outreach strategies for external partnerships, and observing and documenting day-to-day operations to develop best practices. This project term provides capacity building that supports the markets path toward a permanent home and formalization.

Ayo Kutisha brings over eight years of experience in the nonprofit sector, beginning with volunteer work at a young age. Dedicated to strengthening communities and creating meaningful change, Ayo has honed strong communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills, while also recognizing the vital role of empathy in both professional and community-based settings. Currently pursuing a B.S. in Computer Science, Ayo has developed technical skills in Python, Java, and process automation with Microsoft Excel. In addition, Ayo is advancing expertise in cybersecurity through the CySA+ certification program at PerScholas. By combining nonprofit experience with technical training, Ayo is committed to helping organizations increase capacity, improve systems, and build sustainable solutions that empower the communities they serve.

About the VISTA position: The Data and Research Integration VISTA will build CEO’s capacity for community engaged research, explore insights from new and unused data sources, and integrate research findings with policy and programming needs. The VISTA’s planning and research can improve programing, reduce poverty, and create economic opportunity for the city’s most vulnerable. Key projects will include highlighting literature that has uplifted voices from low income communities, documenting research methods which tried and failed to do so, and providing written feedback on ongoing research methods, drafting community-facing engagement plans for research findings, and developing staffing and fundraising plans for this work.

Sophia Ortiz is the Small Business Data and Engagement VISTA with the Philadelphia Department of Commerce, where she supports projects to strengthen local businesses through data analysis, outreach, and community collaboration. She brings a background in customer service, small business management, and community outreach, along with a passion for creating accessible and equitable opportunities in her community. Outside of work, Sophia enjoys exploring Philadelphia’s neighborhoods, knitting, and experimenting with new recipes.

About the VISTA position: The goal of Department of Commerce’s VISTA project is to collect and analyze data to make programmatic improvements to our small business resources. The InStore Forgivable Loan and the Business Training and Assistance Program serve low to moderate income small business owners located in high poverty areas of the City. VISTA Member will help increase the capacity of the Department of Commerce by gathering and analyzing data from program participants and loan recipients. The VISTA Member will prepare recommendations based on the data to help improve the program outcomes to improve business operations and generate wealth in communities.

Pavan recently moved to Philadelphia after having spent several years promoting green space accessibility and natural areas stewardship in Southern Indiana. As a science communicator and volunteer gardener, he is passionate about supporting community-run orchards, connecting people to their outdoor spaces, and fostering community leadership within shared spaces. He has a B.S. in Biology from Centre College and a M.S. in Forest and Natural Resource Sciences
from the University of Kentucky. He hopes to contribute to sustainable programs facilitating inclusive workforce development opportunities for FDR Park’s diverse vendor communities.

About the VISTA position: The goal of FDR Park’s Economic Opportunity VISTA project is to support the vendor communities of FDR Park (Southeast Asian and Latino American) in their work to organize vibrant cultural and entrepreneur-led marketplaces in FDR Park. The VISTA Member will serve to implement community-driven leadership, entrepreneurial training, and external partnerships. This will increase the capacity of FDR Park by developing community-specific grant life-cycle resources, a database of stakeholder groups, outreach strategies for external partnerships, and observing and documenting day-to-day operations to develop best practices. This project term provides capacity building that supports the markets path toward a permanent home and formalization.

Rooha Razzaq is a graphic designer and former AmeriCorps member passionate about community empowerment and equitable access to public services. During her previous service year, she supported underserved communities by improving communication tools and outreach strategies. With a background in visual design and a deep commitment to service, Rooha brings creativity and compassion to every project she takes on.

About the VISTA position: The goal of the City of Philadelphia Office of Innovation and Technology’s VISTA project is to increase digital skills training for low-income Philadelphian households across multiple public-facing City departments; specifically at high-priority Parks and Recreation, the Free Library, and Adult Education locations. The VISTA member will help increase capacity for the Office of Innovation and Technology to launch this program by identifying and aligning tools, collecting data, developing marketing materials, and creating workflow processes across departments that enable volunteers to sign up, get training and orientation, and be matched at a local site to provide digital skills programs to youth and adults in need.

Grace Savage is a public policy and communications professional with a diverse background in public relations, community engagement, and mission-driven project management. Grace earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies at Temple University and is currently pursuing her Master of Public Policy at Temple. With experience leading high-impact press campaigns at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and evaluating pressing policy challenges through an equity-focused lens, she brings a unique blend of analytical insight and community-centered thinking. Grace is deeply committed to finding innovative, inclusive solutions to Philadelphia’s most pressing challenges through environmental stewardship, equitable service delivery, and collaborative civic initiatives.

About the VISTA position: The goal of the City of Philadelphia Office of Innovation and Technology’s VISTA project is to increase digital skills training for low-income Philadelphian households across multiple public-facing City departments; specifically at high-priority Parks and Recreation, the Free Library, and Adult Education locations. The VISTA member will help increase capacity for the Office of Innovation and Technology to launch this program by identifying and aligning tools, collecting data, developing marketing materials, and creating workflow processes across departments that enable volunteers to sign up, get training and orientation, and be matched at a local site to provide digital skills programs to youth and adults in need

Emalyn is a recent graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Political Science and International Studies. She grew up in the area and is excited to come back and serve her community. She developed her love for service as a Girl Scout and continued on that path throughout her college career. She has experience advocating for international diasporas through her internship in Washington D.C. and cannot wait to continue the work as a VISTA.

About the VISTA position: The fastest growing group of foreign-born Philadelphians between 2000–2016 came from Africa. The city-wide African immigrant population is close to 25,000 and the majority live in underserved neighborhoods with an average rate of living below the Federal Poverty Line. The VISTA will work with the Commerce Department and community partners to engage with African and diaspora communities and neighborhoods, to identify their needs with regards to entrepreneurship development and connections to economic opportunities, and to ultimately create the foundation for the city to better design programs to support diaspora immigrant owned businesses.

Emily Tieu (she/her) is a recent graduate of Vassar College, with a B.A. in International Studies. Born and raised in San José, CA to Japanese and Taiwanese immigrant parents, she is passionate about building systems that foster belonging and uplift underrepresented communities. Emily is excited to support immigrant inclusion and cross-sector collaboration in Philadelphia through the Welcoming Network VISTA role. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, visiting museums, and experimenting in the kitchen.

About the VISTA position: The goal of the Office of Immigrant Affairs VISTA project is to address inequality among Philadelphia’s immigrant communities through the Welcoming Network to support them with equitable integration into the city. The network of providers working to welcome immigrants is siloed and fragmented and needs to be improved. This impacts the black and brown newcomers the most because, unlike other newcomer groups, they do not have the depth of established well-funded networks (financial institutions, professional organizations, community groups) that can make up for the gap in services provided by providers. The VISTA will increase the capacity of our office & our network of partners to more equitably serve historical and emerging immigrants.

Nia Todd is from South Jersey and is a 2025 Swarthmore College graduate with a BA in political sociology and a Black studies minor. Some of her primary areas of study were the prison-industrial complex and the abolition of prison and police, so she is excited to support the Office of Reentry Partnerships in this position! In her free time, she enjoys reading, playing tennis, and pottery.

About the VISTA position: The goal of the Office of Reentry Partnership’s Philadelphia Reentry Coalition Data & Research VISTA is to improve access to comprehensive reentry supports and a robust network of services for the 25,000 Philadelphians returning annually from incarceration To create stronger reentry services, the Philadelphia Reentry Coalition (PRC) facilitates collaboration, leverages resources, and builds capacity among stakeholders. The VISTA will build capacity for collaboration among stakeholders and service providers and leveraging of shared resources by crafting a strong communications strategy to be implemented by the coalition and codeveloping an online Member Portal.

Rose is a recent graduate from Drexel university. They earned a Criminology and Justice Studies Major with a minor in Entertainment and Arts Management. They also have a strong background in music directing and recently began composing film scores. Rose is excited to use their project management and research experience to support communities across Philadelphia!

About the VISTA position: The goal of the City College for Municipal Employment’s (CCME) VISTA project is to support pathways into City Government jobs for special populations of high need in Philadelphia, including the adult education, reentry, and youth populations. The VISTA Member will help increase the capacity of CCME to add special population activities to its portfolio of programs by researching the populations, identifying any existing activities in this space in other cities, helping identify potential job roles for this population, and making recommendations as to proposed models, identification of funding, and a proposed implementation plan.

Nikita is a recent graduate in Biology and Nutrition Science from the University of Pennsylvania. During her time in Philadelphia, she has engaged in basic science research focused on gastrointestinal immunology and urban research centered around equitable transit options in the city. Outside of school and research, through her community work, she has led initiatives to improve nutritional literacy and access, as well as educational equity. She is excited to continue expanding the latter as a VISTA.

About the VISTA position: The Career Pathways VISTA within the Mayor’s Office of Education will collaborate with education leaders to build accessible career pathways for Philadelphia’s residents. The VISTA project will build lasting infrastructure that will align the education and workforce systems resulting in more Philadelphians obtaining critical postsecondary credentials necessary to secure good paying jobs.

Peyton Carr (she/her) graduated from Temple University in 2023, where she received a BA in Economics. While studying at Temple, Peyton’s research interests included Universal Early Childhood Education and a variety of topics related to Socioeconomic Determinants of Health. She has since been working in Philadelphia as a Market Research Analyst. In her free time, she enjoys writing and playing music, tennis, cooking, and cheering on the Phillies and Eagles. During her year as a VISTA member, Peyton is excited to bring her knowledge of health and early childhood education policy to the DBHIDS’s Early Intervention program.

About the VISTA position: The goal of the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services’ Infant and Toddler Homelessness Resource VISTA project is to improve collaboration and communication and streamline referral processes between service providers who support families with young children. The VISTA will build capacity by connecting with providers, developing and evaluating effective procedures that promote referrals of families in Emergency and Transitional Housing, and for families that are diverted from these housing options or are in other temporary housing options.

Jess is a graduate of Temple University with a B.A. in Anthropology, where she studied culture, migration, and global inequalities. She has a 12+ hour TESOL certification, which she acquired through the City of Philadelphia’s Mayor’s Office of Education – Adult Education. Jess creates a welcoming, student-centered learning environment as a volunteer teacher of English for speakers of other languages, and is dedicated to empowering individuals through language and connection. Jess is committed to making learning and literacy accessible to all. and is thrilled to bring her knowledge and skills to the Read by 4th Family Engagement VISTA role with The Free Library of Philadelphia.

About the VISTA position: The goal of the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation’s Read by 4th Family Engagement VISTA project is to identify what the key needs are to improve family engagement – an essential strategy for youth literacy, particularly for multilingual families and those who are fighting generational illiteracy. The VISTA member will increase capacity for Read by 4th’s family engagement strategies by developing a parent council, by which community members closest to the problem are engaged in campaign strategy and action, supporting the work of Reading Captains, who are our network of grassroots volunteers who support literacy in their community, and researching and implementing improvements to the family workshops to be more engaging and scalable.

Originally from Seattle Washington, Lucas recently moved to Philadelphia after graduating from the University of Washington with a Bachelor’s in Food Systems Nutrition and Health, and a Minor in Public Policy. She is excited to learn more about this beautiful city and the people who make it what it is!

About the VISTA position: The goal of the FDR park’s Youth Education VISTA project is to break the cycle of poverty by increasing access to nature-based education at FDR Park among the BIPOC, immigrant, and diaspora communities surrounding the park, in cooperation with local schools, Rec centers and teen centers. The VISTA member will help increase the capacity of FDR Park by developing curricula for Field Trips and other nature based-educational activities at FDR Park, for K-12 students, building strong partnerships with local schools, Rec Centers, teen centers, and recruiting high school volunteers for youth workforce development programs.

Tai is from Virginia Beach, VA. She moved to Philly two years ago after receiving her degree in Art & Archaeology from Princeton University. As an avid reader, Tai is passionate about using her skills to help address the literacy crisis in Philadelphia. She is eager to make a meaningful impact and become more deeply involved in her community.

About the VISTA position: The goal of the Philly Reading Coaches (PRC) VISTA project is to increase 3rd-grade reading proficiency rates among K-3rd grade students in North and West Philadelphia high-need schools. The VISTA Member will help increase capacity of the Philly Reading Coaches program by developing volunteer recruitment plans for North and West Philadelphia neighborhoods, fostering community partnerships, crafting volunteer training materials, and collaborating with staff to build an action plan to scale the program in additional schools.

Luca Johnson is a graduate of Oberlin College, where he majored in Sociology with a concentration in Journalism. At Oberlin, he studied transportation and urban mobility. Luca is looking forward to bringing his skills in research and passion for safe, equitable mobility to the Safe Routes program.

About the VISTA position: The goal of the Office of Multimodal Planning’s Safe Routes VISTA project is to ensure Philadelphia school children can safely access active transportation methods that increase school attendance, academic performance, & health outcomes, the Safe Routes Philly VISTA project will build the capacity of Safe Routes to Schools by developing sustainable recruitment, training, evaluation, and external partnership systems for the walking school bus program.

Mike Knittel (he/him) is a 24 year old recent college graduate who will be working with the mayor’s office of education as a community schools VISTA. Mike graduated from Penn State University in 2024 with a degree in Political Science, and previously worked with Playworks Pennsylvania as a program coordinator. He is originally from Mechanicsburg, PA, and in the future he hopes to work in government doing environmental protection and policy. Outside of work, Mike is a massive sports fan, and loves to watch football, soccer, and F1. He also collects vinyl records and loves spending time at the gym. Mike hopes that his time as a community schools VISTA will be spent helping and improving others experiences in schools across the city, and he hopes that he will be able to serve the city and make a positive difference in local communities.

About the VISTA position: The goal of Community School’s Operations VISTA project is to better serve the students and families in our twenty Community Schools across the city by aligning our work to national standards. The VISTA Member will help increase capacity of Community Schools and the Mayor’s Office of Education by implementing the strategic plan developed during the first year of the VISTA project. The strategic plan outlines projects to help align Philadelphia’s Community Schools strategy to the national standards set by the Institute for Educational Leadership. Projects will involve building systems and tools capable of being utilized across or tailored to multiple school-level contexts.

Laney is originally from Cincinnati, OH and has lived in Philly since 2020. She graduated from Bryn Mawr College with a BA in History and has worked as a communications coordinator at Penn for the past 4 years. She is motivated by social justice, storytelling, and hearing new perspectives, and is excited to be helping Philly families thrive. In her free time, she likes to read books, watch the Phillies, and go birding.

About the VISTA position: The goal of Community School’s Operations VISTA project is to better serve the students and families in our twenty Community Schools across the city by aligning our work to national standards. The VISTA Member will help increase capacity of Community Schools and the Mayor’s Office of Education by implementing the strategic plan developed during the first year of the VISTA project. The strategic plan outlines projects to help align Philadelphia’s Community Schools strategy to the national standards set by the Institute for Educational Leadership. Projects will involve building systems and tools capable of being utilized across or tailored to multiple school-level contexts.

Keisha Armorer is from Florida originally but has lived in Philly most of her life. She enjoys being out in nature, the more scenic and uninhabited the better. She loves kayaking, long drives through the hills, listening to the sound of beach waves and hiking trails. Keisha joined AmeriCorps primarily for the opportunity to intern at FDR Park to learn how to become a land steward who cares for public natural spaces and to join volunteer efforts to encourage more Philadelphians to grow their connection to nature via local parks.

About the VISTA position: The of FDR Park’s VISTA project is to break the cycle of poverty by engaging African-American, Latino and Southeast Asian communities in park stewardship. The VISTA Member will help increase the capacity of FDR Park to expand and diversify the stewardship community, by evaluating the needs and barriers to access, recruiting volunteers, and establishing a volunteer training program in order to train volunteers in more advanced skills.

Emma is a recent graduate of Bryn Mawr College with a B.A. in Growth and Structure of Cities and Education Studies. She is passionate about disability justice and eager to learn more about how the City of Philadelphia serves its disabled populations.

About the VISTA position: The goal of the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS)’s Business Intelligence VISTA project is to strengthen the capacity of the Intellectual disAbility Services (IDS) division to effectively manage and utilize data in support of individuals served, particularly those impacted by behavioral health and developmental disabilities (BHDD). The VISTA member will build capacity by enhancing business intelligence processes and bridging communication between business units and the data management enterprise. Through this work, the VISTA will address poverty by driving data-driven improvements to services and outcomes for vulnerable populations.

Jason Bandjough is the VISTA member for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health’s We Walk program. He is a proud alumnus of Temple University’s class of 2023, where he studied Geography and Urban Design. He is currently pursuing higher education at Temple University during his service term, where he hopes to combine a lifetime passion for public health and social justice into the We Walk project, engaging with his fellow Philadelphians in pursuit of a more walkable and healthier city.

About the VISTA position: The goal of the Health Department’s Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention VISTA project is to build capacity, raise awareness, and strengthen access to resources in the citywide partnership program of We Walk PHL. The VISTA will help increase the capacity of the We Walk PHL team by conducting outreach and research to ensure a sustainable recruitment plan that prioritizes representation of people from all different backgrounds, races, and cultures for the existing 29 park and recreation locations throughout the city and potential expansion beyond that.

Leah is a dedicated psychology major currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Penn State. Passionate about community service, they volunteer with an organization that delivers food to those facing food insecurity in Philadelphia, where they’ve lived for six years. Leah enjoys traveling and has visited 12 countries outside the U.S. In their downtime, they enjoy live music, movies, and spending time with animals.

About the VISTA position: According to USDA 2022 data, Philadelphia has over 250,000 individuals who lack access to nutritious foods. 16 out of 100 households in Philadelphia are food insecure. The Office of Homeless Services procures and distributes food to 31 emergency shelters and 28 emergency meal sites in Philadelphia. The VISTA will be responsible for data collection and reporting to ensure culturally responsive, accessible food is available at the emergency shelters and meal sites across the city.

Originally from Denver, Colorado, Nava Klopper recently graduated from Emory University with a Bachelor of Arts in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Comparative Literature. She developed her passion for public service while working for various community based non-profits across Denver, Atlanta, and Philadelphia in education and healthcare access. Nava is very excited to apply her skills and knowledge in service of Philadelphia families this upcoming year.

About the VISTA position: The Office of Children and Families’ (OCF) VISTA project aims to increase the capacity of the food security initiatives at our 20 Community Schools. Community Schools are a partnership between OCF and the School District of Philadelphia to remove barriers to learning and support the success of all students. Ensuring students’ and families’ access to nutritious, healthy foods is foundational to students’ ability to show up to school ready to learn. A VISTA will conduct impact assessments that include resident leadership and use the analysis to identify areas for improving Community Schools food security projects. They will create sustainable systems for engaging high school students and volunteers as leaders in OCF food security projects.

Adrien grew to love Philadelphia, its people, and its history while attending Temple University, which they graduated from with highest honors in Political Science and History. They hope to blend their background in community organizing with a strong understanding of research principles to best serve all Philadelphians. Adrien is excited to continue exploring every part of the Philadelphia area they can reach by public transportation while developing methods to ensure that all of those areas have the services they need to thrive.

About the VISTA position: The goal of the Managing Director Office’s – Health and Human Services’ (MDO-HHS) HHS Healthcare Access VISTA is to support two initiatives. The first will expand reentry supports, housing resources, and food and nutrition services for Medicaid populations and the second is a collaboration to reduce emergency calls for opiate use disorder. The VISTA will increase capacity to partner with stakeholders by researching best practices, convening workgroups, and creating outreach materials. The VISTA will increase capacity by developing and assessing a distribution plan and creating a guide for future updates.