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 five VISTA members.
Our VISTA members have helped establish five People First chapters throughout Nevada (Las Vegas, Reno, Carson City, Elko, Fallon). 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 second People First Self-Advocacy statewide conference in April 2008.
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.
VISTA Members
Carly Walkup - Fallon
My name is Carly Walkup I work for Americorps Vista I oversee People First groups in Fernley and Fallon. My primary goal is to be an advocate for people with special needs and to teach people in the community that we are just "people".
Jamie Ravnikar - Elko
I live in Elko. I am married and have 3 children. I enjoy helping people and working in the community. I worked as a "job coach" at a sheltered workshop for several years. I felt that the individuals working their did not have much of a choice as to what they did as their job or whether it was teaching them true job skills to work out in the community. The Youth Transition VISTA Project, brings awareness to the problem of poverty issues people with disabilities face transitioning out of high school. The Youth Transition project gives individuals a choice and teaches self advocacy and self determination. To see a person with a disability succeed at achieving their goals is very rewarding personally.
Scott Carter - Elko
Hello my name is Kelly Scott Carter I am a People’s First Vista in Elko Nevada. So far I have been able to accomplish a few goals . One being having a job in Elko where I live transportation is an issue . I also have been going into schools and CTC centers to share with others about Peoples First. I like all the nice people that I have met. I like to tell people about independence. I am working on gaining some more independence of my own . As a Vista I get to tell people to Advocate for themselves. I set up guest speakers for our meetings . On my own time I like to ride my bike , watch movies , listen to music . I write my own rap.
Jen - Carson City
Once a theatre major, I now consider myself a stage manager/beachbum-turned-advocate. I still crave the sounds of bongo drums and acoustic guitars around bonfires next to rolling waves, but every Goals & Transitions Seminar I facilitate and every meeting I have with a person who wants to try customized employment shows me how volunteering with the Youth Transition Project just might have a longer, more substantial legacy than pointing a camera at my friends as they learn to skimboard ("What a concept," my 8th grade math teacher would laugh if she read this. Here's to you, Ms. Carusona!) I facilitate a class about pinpointing and striving for one's own goals, setting goals in attainable ways, and making the move from high school student to college student or workforce employee. Beyond the class, I help people with disabilities who are between ages 16 and 22 to use the customized employment approach to find a job they'll enjoy and at which they'll excel. Grant-writing for inclusive international exchange is fairly likely to become my pet project in the coming months.
Tiffany Hunter- Carson City
I am the secretary for the Carson City chapter of People First of Nevada and an AmeriCorps VISTA member. I am currently serving in my second year. I like going to the People First meetings to meet new people and because you just never know what’ll happen there. I feel that VISTA is a worthwhile cause and enjoy working with all my People First coworkers. I am serving my second term as a board member on the Nevada Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities. I sit on the Nevada Governor’s Advisory Committee on Personal Assistance for Persons with Severe Functional Disabilities. I attended the Partners in Policy Making class and graduated in 2007. I currently volunteer at the Lyon County Animal Shelter in Silver Springs and create and distribute animal adoption posters throughout the county and as well as update their website. I received my service dog, Tristan, from Canine Companions for Independence in Santa Rosa. Tristan and I have given several presentations about service animals to the Lions Clubs, Girl Scouts and elementary schools.
Santa Perez - Las Vegas (President)
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I came to Nevada from Southern California where I was very active in the self-advocacy field. I earned her BA degree in Psychology at Cal State Northridge. I have lived in Las Vegas for ten years. I own my own home and have a young son.
Before I became a VISTA member, I worked in various workshops as a computer instructor, then as a client advocate. I liked helping people to learn about their rights and to be better Nevada citizens. I did not like working in the workshops.
When I came to Nevada, I realize that there were not many opportunities for persons with severe disabilities. Even with a college degree, it was very hard to find a job. When my friend Mary started at working at the UCED, she told about the AmeriCorps *VISTA People First project and that she wanted me to become a member.
This was my golden opportunity to fulfill one goal I had. I notice that persons with significant disabilities did not have a voice in their lives. Coming from a very progressive state, I wanted to help and make things better for Nevada citizens with disabilities. I had first attempted to start a People First of Nevada on my own, but failed. People First of Nevada is now a reality! And I am a part of it.
I was a VISTA member for three years and then was hired by the NCED to be the VISTA supervisor for one year (until the state budget cuts). I am no longer a VISTA member but I am the President of the statewide People First of Nevada organization. I love performing my president’s duties. I have many responsibilities in being the president of People First of Nevada, both for the statewide organization and for the Las Vegas chapter.
Being a VISTA member gave me the vital tools to become a community leader. I will always treasurer my service as an AmeriCorps *VISTA member.
NCEDD has ask me to do a fourth year of Americorp Vista. I will be the facilitator for the Las Vegas chapter. I am honor to serve People First of Nevada and my country.
Judy Johnson - Las VegasI 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
Eleanor Clark - Reno Nevada
VISTA Leader/ Youth Transition Project Reno, NV
I joined forces on the Family Ties/NCED Youth Transition Project in August of 2008. I am a graduate of UNR, with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies. My 1st career was in nursing. I worked in a geriatric office for nearly 9 years as a medical assistant. Being a VISTA is helping me reinvent myself. I’m constantly meeting new people and taking on whatever challenging but exciting opportunities come my way. Travis Mills - Reno/Sparks
I’ve Join Americorps VISTA (volunteer in service to America) on January 5, 2009. I’m also working with the Youth Transition Project. I’m a member of the People First in Reno NV Chapter. I do 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. My plan in the future is to go to college to become a professional Video Editor.
