Alumni Story: Christine, Lauren, & Scott, 2017-2018

Christine Charron
2017-2018 Access Alaska 

VISTA Accomplishments: ​​The best part of my VISTA service was getting to work with fellow VISTAs and VISTA alums on various projects. This includes working with my supervisor (a former VISTA) to build a successful employment program for youth with disabilities; working with Lauren Eck to re-imagine and organize the Halloween Trick or Treat Town event; and working with Scott Wiser to establish fun outreach ideas for FHHC. The collaborative spirit of the Fairbanks VISTA program is my overarching favorite memory!

Life After VISTA Service: I am wrapping up a second VISTA term working in Colorado with the Community Opioid Response Program. I will soon begin work as the Syringe Access Program Coordinator with my host site, Southern Colorado Health Network, to continue expanding public health resources related to injection drug use, overdose prevention, and sexual health education in communities in southeastern Colorado. VISTA prepared me for this position by giving me the confidence, tools, and experience to wear many hats in my job and to say yes to projects that are entirely new to me.

Advice for VISTAs:​ My advice to any VISTA is to get as involved in the community as you can. I always say that being a VISTA gives you the opportunity to be in rooms you may not otherwise be in. By virtue of being a VISTA member, you are often able to gain access to people and opportunities that would take much more experience to reach so run with as many ideas as you can and get as connected as possible!

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Lauren Eck
​ 2017-2018 Fairbanks North Star Borough
​Parks and Recreation Department 

VISTA Accomplishments: My VISTA role was as a Recreation Programmer and I was tasked with bringing programs and events to youth, families, and underserved populations in Fairbanks. Few programs and events were being offered to the community when I took on my role so just being able to get a couple youth programs and family-centered free events off the ground was an accomplishment to me. However, there is one event that I consider the biggest accomplishment of my VISTA year. I worked closely with a Park Manager and Christine Charron, Access Alaska's VISTA at the time, to put on a Halloween event for 6,500+ people. In 2017, the event raised $17,000 for inclusive services and playgrounds in Fairbanks. I love that I got to take the initiative to create such a big event for the Fairbanks community, raise money for local non-profits AND work with another VISTA! ​

Life After VISTA Service: When my VISTA service ended in early 2018, I took a job as a Recreation Program Coordinator with the same entity I completed my service with. I was fortunate enough that my supervisor pushed to create a new position for me in the borough. VISTA allowed me to gain applicable job experience in my field and create community connections that to this day still help me succeed at my job. In addition, my work as a VISTA helped me hone my skills and realize the field I want a career in.

Advice for VISTAs: If I were to give one piece of advice to a potential VISTA, it would be: stick with it and keep an open mind. VISTA service is challenging with many trying times, but if you keep a good spirit and remember the positive impact your service has, the many times of triumph make it worth it. It all pays off in the end, both for you and the community you are serving in, even if you do not see it right away.

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Scott Wiser
2017-2018 Fairbanks Housing and Homeless Coalition 

2012-2014 Anchorage Catholic Social Services VISTA 

VISTA Accomplishments: My time with VISTA was very rewarding and really helped to build my confidence.  Co-coordinating the first Fairbanks Symposium on Homelessness with Michael Sanders was probably the biggest accomplishment. I headed up a subcommittee to research content and together, Mike and I ensured funding, promoted, and hosted the event. The event was very well received and helped to create coordinated, collaborative projects between organizations serving individuals who experience homelessness. It was a day where the Fairbanks community really came together and I was happy to be a part of it. 

Life After VISTA Service: Currently, I am just starting a position on a contact tracing team in Anchorage. However, immediately after my last VISTA year, I worked for two years as a speech-language pathologist assistant in Fairbanks. This was my field of undergraduate study and I’m in the process of applying to graduate schools to be a speech-language pathologist. When I was working for the speech pathology clinic, I helped them receive an Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority grant to retrofit the office to complete tele-therapy. I wouldn't have been able to do that without the knowledge of community and the skillsets gained from my VISTA service years. VISTA gave me a whole other career and provided me important insights into my own career interests. I hadn't realized that I would love working on community projects as much as I do. I found a real passion for collaborative community projects and it informed my career path for the future. 

Advice for VISTAs: Fairbanks is a really special place with a lot of unique opportunities. It is such a small community where people naturally help each other out and are very welcoming, especially if you show a real interest to be there. There is a comfortable blend between social and professional circles, because you end up engaging with so many people in so many different ways. One of my favorites places in town is the Fairbanks Shakespeare Theatre. Every year, they run an event called the Bardathon where members of the community gather to read the collective works of William Shakespeare. It is a really fascinating community project. You meet a lot of old-timers to Fairbanks at the Bardathon (and at curling), which is always a fun way to learn about a community. Fairbanks does get very cold, but if you dress appropriately, you’ll be surprised at how comfortable you feel and how quickly you acclimate. Cross country skiing is an especially fun winter activity allowing you to ski through beautiful trails. Regarding VISTA service, it can be hard for a lot of reasons and there are many ups and downs throughout the year. Don't lose heart and rely on your fellow VISTAs for support. Don’t be afraid to take time and really research your organization. You never know how it will inform your project, and sometimes, those offshoot research moments can lead to unexpected but very valued partnerships. Being a VISTA also offers a unique opportunity to see what an organization looks like at an admin level and also how effective they are with their staff. It is a great chance to see what you are most drawn to for your own professional interests.

​Thank you Christine, Lauren, and Scott for your service and willingness to share! If you are a Fairbanks VISTA alum and would like to share your own story, please reach out to vistaleader@fairbanks.us.