Our current VISTA Cohort is nearing the end of their service term, which finishes at the end of August this year. June was a month of projects coming to fruition that have been in planning stages up to this point, with plans coming up to continue those project implementations, evaluate, and lay some groundwork to make the ongoing work sustainable. This month’s main training topics covered decision making & decision making structures with our friends Ned Wik Moore & Malik Holt-Shabazz from University of MN Center for Urban and Regional Affairs.
HOME Line VISTA Program June Highlights
- Austin: My June highlight was beginning MHP’s narrative change LTE (Letters to the Editor) writing cohort. It was very rewarding to see months of work and preparation come to fruition, and the conversations with these tenant leaders have been transformative. I can’t wait to see the things this group will accomplish!
- Isa: June has been lively, and I’m loving it. At my host site, we pulled off three different events in one week: a film showing in the garden of documentary “The Green Revolution Will Not Be Televised”, a Homecoming party in the new garden, where the Urban Farm Academy students get to plant, & a farewell surprise party for our Executive Director, Carmen Means-Lewis. Also in that same week, my cohort member and dear friend, Hannah, also held a Tenant Rights Meeting that I got to support. It has been so invigorating to see others doing their thing successfully. All this community time I’ve got has filled me up – overall, I’m so grateful.
- Lucid: My June highlight was having a good one-to-one with a tenant from the Carleton Artist Lofts
- Colton: This month I got to graduate from Neighborhoods Now! After going to all the think tanks and building relationships with the organizers I thought it was a really good way to end the program. There was good food, we all received our NN diplomas and had a chance to speak. I liked it a lot.
- Hannah: My highlight for June was setting up PWNO’s (Phillips West Neighborhood Organization) quarterly community meeting; had a wonderful time eating delicious food and talking with neighbors about tenant rights!
- Ramia: In June, I navigated a series of personal encounters with tenants, facing various difficulties along the way. These challenges may have tested my patience and problem-solving skills, but my perseverance and dedication shone through. The departure of our program Director brought a mixture of sorrow and enthusiasm. While bidding farewell to a respected leader is never easy, the anticipation of my supervisor assuming the position brought a sense of hope and excitement for the future of the organization. Amidst these emotional ups and downs, I found happiness in my professional achievements. Successfully utilizing and implementing the forms I created showcased my skills and dedication to my work. This sense of accomplishment highlighted my ability to overcome obstacles and achieve my goals. As I reflect on the events of June, remember that every challenge is an opportunity for growth, and every success is a testament to my hard work and perseverance. Keep pushing forward with determination and positivity, knowing that I have the strength to overcome any difficulties that come my way.
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