The AmeriCorps VISTA, People First Self-Advocacy Project addresses the prevalence of poverty for people with disabilities. Much of the employment and independent living advancements for people with disabilities in our country has been due to the efforts of self-advocates. VISTA members in this project work to organize People First self-advocacy chapters throughout Nevada, sustain a statewide People First organization, represent the view of people with developmental disabilities on city, county and regional boards/committees, educate other people with disabilities about self-advocacy and bring information about community resources to people with disabilities. This is the fifth year of our project and we currently have twelve VISTA members.
Our VISTA members have helped establish eight People First chapters throughout Nevada (Las Vegas, Fallon, Fernley, Winnemucca, Elko, Carson City, Minden and Reno). After establishing these chapters, they joined together to organize a statewide People First organization with officers and representatives from each of the five People First chapters. Our statewide organization has joined SABE (Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered), the umbrella organization of all of the People First groups nationwide.
The VISTA members:
- Bring information and resources to people with developmental disabilities about services, employment, housing, and transportation
- Represent the views of the disability community to local/regional committees and boards
- Develop resources for income generation
- Educate people with developmental disabilities and community members about the issues facing people with disabilities
- Educate the disability community about the opportunities for national and community service
In addition, VISTA members are currently working to produce Nevada’s fourth People First Self-Advocacy statewide conference in March 2011.
With the above activities, we expect to provide resources to people with developmental disabilities that will enable them to more fully realize the American Dream through better employment, housing and the supports they need to be successful.
President
Santa Perez - Las Vegas
Santa Perez, B.A., earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at California State University, North ridge. She has worked as an Americorp Vista for five years. During her Americorp volunteer’s experience, she became a founding member of People First of Nevada, an advocacy support group for people with disabilities. Santa has testified before the Nevada State Legislation and was instrumental in getting the Signature Stamp Law and the People First Respectful Language passed. She has written several articles on disability issues and has given many presentations around the country. She currently is the Statewide President for People First of Nevada and sits on many boards and committees throughout the state and country.
People First VISTA Members
Carly Walkup - Fallon
Carly is currently working as a Vista volunteer for the People First chapters of Fallon and Fernley. She manages these two chapters with support, advocates issues and cares for her members both with and without disabilities. She is part of the Fallon Chamber of Commerce and as well as the Fallon Industries Board. She has two boys, (Noah and Seth) and of course, her newest addition, a little dog named Nickki. One of her most recent accomplishments was the purchase of her own home.
Scott Carter - Elko
Scott Carter is the Director of the Winnemucca and Elko People First office as an AmeriCorps Vista. He is an at- large- member from Elko County for the state PF Board and serves on the Governor's DD Council. He plans to do this for another year. He is going to attend college and take music and computer classes. He took classes at Minot State U in the past. Scott has lived in 3 Western states.
Danielle Childress - Carson City
Hi my name is Danielle. I am a vista and I have been enjoying the two
Months, two weeks and five days that I have been work here. I hope that this vista year brings new ideals and new things to learn. This has shown me that there are lot’s of people that care. I work in Carson and Minden with people first and I enjoy work that involves helping other. I hope that I can help people see that there is more out there than what they may think.
Travis Mills - Reno/Sparks
Travis Joined Americorps VISTA (volunteer in service to America) on January 5, 2009. He is also working with the Youth Transition Project. He is a member of the People First in Reno NV Chapter. he does presentations at local High Schools to teach the students about self determination. Travis likes being involved with People First because I like helping people follow their dreams. His plan in the future is to advocate developmental disabilities and to capture their stories.
Youth Transition VISTA Members
Judy Johnson - Las Vegas
I became a VISTA on 9/28/2009. I am a graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio with a degree in English, plus certification to teach. I taught high school English for a year in Indiana, five years in North Dakota, and 30 years in Las Vegas. After being retired for almost five years and enjoying that time immensely, I began to feel guilty because I was not giving back. Being a VISTA allows me to follow a road not taken: as I neared graduation from MU, I had applied to the Peace Corps, but did not hear back from them for so long that I signed my first teaching contract. Two weeks later I received my Peace Corps assignment, but was unable to accept because of my teaching contract. Working in the Youth Transition Project and making presentations to students about transitioning from school to work/post-secondary education gives me the opportunity to work on a worthwhile project which helps students become better self-advocates.
Judy Johnston
Kathy Rodriguez - Reno / Sparks
Kathy Rodriguez is a new VISTA for the Reno/Sparks Youth Transition Project. She recently graduated from the University of Nevada Reno with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and a minor in Spanish. She previously did a marketing internship for the Nevada SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and fell in love with the non-profit world. “I like knowing that I am making a difference in the community and that my work is being appreciated,” Kathy said. Kathy will be teaching self-determination and self-advocacy skills in high schools in the Reno/Sparks area. She is currently working with Sparks, Reno, Wooster, Hug and North Valley’s High schools.
Cindy Cummins- Elko
Hello! My name is Cindy! I am
the new Youth Transition VISTA in Elko. I am new to
Elko, I just moved here in September. I am really
looking forward to getting into the classrooms and
helping the students believe that anything is
possible, with enough hard work. I am thrilled to be
doing something as meaningful as this. I look forward
to working with all of you! Deven King- Carson City
Hi, my name is Deven King I am from HamLake Minnesota and I am ninteen years old. I have finished my first two years at the four year college St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. I am going for a degree in social studies with a emphasis on history, I want to be a history teacher and later in life I want to work in a museum. As for now, I am taking a year off of school and working in a youth transtion project as a youth visita through americorps.
Linda Taylor- Mesquite
My name is Linda Taylor and I am an
AmeriCorps VISTA in Mesquite, NV. I am a retired
police officer, after serving for 25 years. I
loved that job because it was a very service oriented
position. I have found that I can use those same
skills as a People First and Youth Transition
member. Both jobs entail talking and really
listening to people. I look forward to getting a
group of people to join hands and work together for
all the goals that have been given to me and also the
ones I have set for myself to reach. I have made
contacts with numerous people in Mesquite, and
everyone agrees that we need a strong group of
committed people disabled and undisabled to lead us in
helping to educate and include as many as possible in
the People First guidelines. Treat
everyone as a person first. I believe I have
lived this way most of my life. All of us our people,
some of us do have disabilities and some have
limitations either mental or physical but, that should
not matter. It does not to me. I want to serve
in a manner that will positively help my community and
its members.VISTA Leader
Lavell Tyler - Las Vegas
VISTA Leader Lavell Tyler is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with degrees in Graphics and Design, Lavell did freelance design, taught art, and coordinated programming for various non-profits and educational institutions around the country with stints in Chicago, Seattle, and New Milford CT. In 2008, Lavell relocated to Tucson, Arizona to serve as an AmeriCorps VISTA with Arts for All, Inc., a non-profit that provides arts programs and training for people with disabilities. Lavell worked as the Out of School Time Coordinator and was instrumental in getting Arts for All’s OST program nationally accredited. He later went on to serve as the VISTA Leader for the Volunteer Center of Southern Arizona where he helped plan and facilitate Arizona’s statewide VISTA In-Service. Completing his last term of service as a VISTA Leader with NCED, Lavell hopes to make a big difference in Las Vegas.
VISTA/Down Syndrome Network of Northern Nevada
Brittani Keefe - Reno / Sparks
Brittani Keefe came to Reno, Nevada to attend the University of Nevada, Reno after growing up in Wasilla, Alaska. While at UNR she studied public relations and advertising at the Reynolds School of Journalism, earning her B.A. in Journalism and her minor in Speech Communications. During her internship at a Reno marketing firm, Brittani discovered her enthusiasm for working with non-profits. After a year of interning she beamed when the firm appointed her to work with the Salvation Army. She went on to volunteer with a nonprofit organization that focused on science education among Reno youth. Currently, Brittani is enjoying her time as a VISTA for the Down Syndrome Network of Northern Nevada, developing marketing, writing grants and helping with event planning for the advocacy organization.
