Positions | VISTA Projects | Rural Health Service Corps

Julia Mahar

Host Site: STAP (Southern Tier AIDS Program)
Location: Johnson City, NY
AmeriCorps Position: STAP Program Associate

Focus of Service:Julia works in the Broome County syringe exchange program (SEP) to help fight the opioid epidemic. The syringe exchange provides intravenous drug users with clean needles and other supplies to reduce the spread of infections, including HIV and Hep C. The SEP also serves as a place for people to get tested for STIs and be connected to other services they may need.

Quote: “I’m returning to AmeriCorps to serve more deeply within the human services field and to work with STAP, an agency I have admired for awhile.”

Future Plans: Post AmeriCorps, Julia plans to move south.

Amber Colby

Host Site: Schuyler County Coalition on Underage Drinking and Drugs
Location: Schuyler County
AmeriCorps Position: Opioid Coordinating VISTA

Focus of Service: As an Opioid-Coordinating VISTA, Amber is working to build a county-wide task force to address opioid misuse in Schuyler County. She recruits volunteers, coordinates orientation materials, and helps facilitate meetings. Amber also works to implement prevention programs, such as distributing drug disposal resources to those who need them. Currently, Amber is working on implementing a county-wide overdose mapping system for Schuyler.

Quote: “AmeriCorps offered me real-world experience with the problem of opioid misuse in rural communities before I pursue further education, since I firmly believe that intimately knowing the population suffering from a health issue is the only way for effective change to occur.”

Future Plans: Amber was recently accepted into the UNC Gillings School of Public Health where she intends to pursue a Master’s in Public Health Degree.

Deanna Hutchison

Host Site: Rural Health Network of South Central New York / Tioga Oportunities
Location: Binghamton, NY and Owego, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Rural Tioga Poverty Educator

Focus of Service: During her term with Rural Health Network, Deanna’s primary focus is to implement Tioga Tells, which is a quality of life assessment in Tioga County. As a participatory project that works to identify the factors impacting residents’ quality of life, a series of community discussions and surveys will be used to complement preexisting data and suppose a deeper story of life experiences in Tioga County. By the end of her term, Deanna will have been responsible for facilitating a total of 17 group discussions with nearly 160 Tioga County service providers, residents with developmental disabilities, farmers and farm workers, independent and assisted living seniors, residents with low-income, job-seeker residents, veteran residents, 18-25-year-old residents, and residents from any background. During the final stages of her term, Deanna will detail the project results in a final report, present the results to organizations and community members, and contribute to the capacity building, program development, and strategic plans of partner agencies.

Quote: “AmeriCorps allows me the opportunity to meaningfully apply my skill sets alongside other like-minded servants by engaging in an network of organizations bent on meeting the critical needs of the community. As a result, I am confident that the work I set out to accomplish at the beginning of my term will be effective and positive work that encourages community members and organizations to continue striving forward in positive and self-sustainable ways.”

Future Plans: After AmeriCorps, Deanna plans to continue similar work by collaborating with organizations to address community needs.

Sophia Valente

Host Site: Promise Zone
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Promise Zone Family Engagement & Evaluation Coordinating VISTA

Focus of Service: As a VISTA member, Sophia served with Broome County Promise Zone at Binghamton University Community Schools (formerly SHARE) to engage hard-to-reach, low-income families and support evaluation of the work. School districts included in this project are: Whitney Point, Binghamton, Johnson City, Harpursville, Windsor, Broome-Tioga BOCES and Elmira City Schools. Through the use of community-based and empowerment strategies, families of students in the Broome County Promise Zone and Binghamton University Community Schools are engaged using a Parent and Community Café model in which low-income families will discuss their own conceptions of needs, barriers to, and priorities associated with their children’s learning and well-being.

Dorothea Primavera

Host Site: Binghamton University Center for Civic Engagement
Location: Vestal, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Promise Zone Volunteer Coordinator VISTA

Focus of Service: The Volunteer Coordinator VISTA is responsible for recruiting, interviewing and placing volunteers and interns in local Community Schools across Broome County. The Binghamton University Community Schools (BUCS) initiative is a county-wide model focused on student success. Each school in the program has a hired coordinator responsible for starting programming based on the school’s specific needs. They then relay those needs to the University where the VISTA can then recruit students to help meet those needs.

Students placed in the schools can volunteer their time or take a course in conjunction with their service to receive credit. The VISTA role is also responsible to tracking intern hours over the course of the semester ensuring their requirements are met.

Quote: “I joined Americorps to continue my work with Community Schools, actually. I was an MSW intern with the Promise Zone and was really excited for the opportunity to further the work!”

Future Plans: After Americorps, Dorothea hopes to have a better idea of the work she’d like to do in the long-term. She’s met a lot of people along the way who have taught her a lot about her strengths and weaknesses and she’s looking forward to the next chapter.

Phylllis Ling

Host Site: Rural Health Network of South Central New York
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Patient Engagement Specialist

Focus of Service: The Patient Engagement Specialists will reduce stigma and assist patients who enter the Lourdes health care system with OUD, an overdose, or related substance issues. Other patient tracks include Medicaid members who have previously disengaged from service via ACBC, and patients identified by STAP’s syringe exchange. Members will provide current, accurate information to patients and their supports as needed.

Shea Magrane

Host Site: Rural Health Network of South Central New York
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Patient Engagement Specialist

Focus of Service: The Patient Engagement Specialists will reduce stigma and assist patients who enter the Lourdes health care system with OUD, an overdose, or related substance issues. Other patient tracks include Medicaid members who have previously disengaged from service via ACBC, and patients identified by STAP’s syringe exchange. Members will provide current, accurate information to patients and their supports as needed.

Brandon Ngo

Host Site: Rural Health Network of South Central New York
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Patient Engagement Specialist

Focus of Service: The Patient Engagement Specialists will reduce stigma and assist patients who enter the Lourdes health care system with OUD, an overdose, or related substance issues. Other patient tracks include Medicaid members who have previously disengaged from service via ACBC, and patients identified by STAP’s syringe exchange. Members will provide current, accurate information to patients and their supports as needed.

Aysha Bhutta

Host Site: Rural Health Network of South Central New York
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Patient Engagement Specialist

Focus of Service: The Patient Engagement Specialists will reduce stigma and assist patients who enter the Lourdes health care system with OUD, an overdose, or related substance issues. Other patient tracks include Medicaid members who have previously disengaged from service via ACBC, and patients identified by STAP’s syringe exchange. Members will provide current, accurate information to patients and their supports as needed.

Jackie Bogart

Host Site: Food Bank of the Southern Tier
Location: Elmira, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Mobile Food Pantry Services Coordinator

Focus of Service: As a VISTA member, Jackie helped the Food Bank of the Southern Tier implement
a real-time, web-based client database called PantryTrak at its 85 Mobile Food Pantry
(MFP) sites and 105 partner food pantries. Over the years, client intake at MFP sites and
partner food pantries has consisted of different paper and electronic records. The Food
Bank initiated the roll-out of PantryTrak to MFPs in May, 2017 as part of its 2016-18
strategic plan to gather more comprehensive service data, including unduplicated counts
of people served and where they reside. Data from PantryTrak, when combined with
demographic data from other sources, enables the Food Bank and its network to
better understand geographic gaps in hunger-relief.

Chris Guy

Host Site: VINES
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: VINES Food Access Associate

Focus of Service: As the Food Access Associate, Chris assisted the Community Garden and Youth Program Manager, Farm Share Manager, and the Binghamton Urban Farm Manager with key program duties and responsibilities related to the Grow Binghamton summer youth employment program, Urban Farm, Farm Share, Community Gardens, and Green Thumb Educational Workshops.

Sameerah Shaik

Host Site: STAP (Southern Tier AIDS Program)
Location: Johnson City, NY
AmeriCorps Position: STAP Program Associate

Focus of Service: As an AmeriCorps member of STAP, Sameerah works with rural populations and aids them in gaining preventative services combating the opioid and heroin epidemic. Sameerah works with the Syringe Exchange Program as well as raises awareness about addiction and provides individuals with Naloxone training kits and harm reduction information.

Quote: “I joined AmeriCorps because I wanted to provide service to the local population and make a direct, positive, impact on the community.”

Future Plans: In the future, Sameerah plans to become a physician and continue serving underrepresented populations all around the world.

Rosalie Hopko

Host Site: Seven Valleys Health Coalition
Location: Cortland, NY
AmeriCorps Position: : Seven Valleys Health Coalition Program Assistant

Focus of Service: As the SVHC/CFP Program Assistant, Rosalie provided support to four core SVHC/CFP program areas: 1) Healthy, Local Food Access and Promotion, 2) Transportation as social determinant of health, 3) Hunger, and 4) Farm to School. She worked with partner organizations to revitalize the Cortland Hunger Coalition, coordinated follow up on the Local Foods, Local Places action plan, researched funding opportunities for projects through the LFLP action plan and the Cortland Food Project, provided support to Farm to School work in the County, assisted with the Supports for Health program, and collaborated on expansion of Population Health Improvement Work in Cortland as related to the new healthy food access goal anticipated in the 2019-2024 NYS Prevention Agenda.

Kevin Brouillard

Host Site: Food and Health Network of South Central New York
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Farm to School Corps Member

Focus of Service: The Farm to School Corps is a part of the Food and Health Network’s (FaHN) regional Farm to School program that works collaboratively with 26 school districts. Farm to School Corps members will work as part of an expanding regional team to develop, implement, grow, and evaluate programs to bring healthy, local food to students. Members will work with staff, students, parents, farms, and community partners to increase capacity for hands-on learning, local procurement, and creating a school-wide culture of health.

Kevin is working with Sidney Central School District on a variety of projects inside and outside the classroom pertaining to their Farm to School (FTS) program. These include integrating locally sourced and healthy ingredients into school meals, managing school gardens, building community involvement and partnerships, and ultimately creating a school-wide culture of health. Kevin is among the first cohort of Farm to School Corps members, and is excited to assist Sidney continue growing its FTS program

Quote: “I joined the Rural Health Service Corps to build a stronger network in my community while supporting local food systems and healthier lifestyles.”

Future Plans: Following his service and graduation, Kevin would like to continue working with communities in the Southern Tier to further more sustainable food systems, economic development, and environmental protection.

Emily Reed

Host Site: Family Counseling Services
Location: Cortland, NY
AmeriCorps Position: AmeriCorps Prevention Specialist

Focus of Service:The AmeriCorps Prevention Specialist works closely with other Prevention Staff and the community to develop, coordinate, and provide evidence-based prevention programming for community youth and their families. Emily worked with Prevention staff and others to raise public awareness about heroin and opiate addiction to help mitigate the multiple barriers to recovery that exist.

Maggie Caroompas

Host Site: Food and Health Network of South Central New York
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Farm to School Corps Member

Focus of Service: The Farm to School Corps is a part of the Food and Health Network’s (FaHN) regional Farm to School program that works collaboratively with 26 school districts. Farm to School Corps members will work as part of an expanding regional team to develop, implement, grow, and evaluate programs to bring healthy, local food to students. Members will work with staff, students, parents, farms, and community partners to increase capacity for hands-on learning, local procurement, and creating a school-wide culture of health.

Maggie will be working with schools in the area to promote healthy, local food in school meals by creating educational programs for students, coordinating taste tests, and helping schools establish and utilize school gardens.

Quote: “I joined AmeriCorps to share my passion of growing food and to support my local food system through youth empowerment.”

Emily Fusco

Host Site: Food and Health Network of South Central New York
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Farm to School Corps Member

Focus of Service: The Farm to School Corps is a part of the Food and Health Network’s (FaHN) regional Farm to School program that works collaboratively with 26 school districts. Farm to School Corps members will work as part of an expanding regional team to develop, implement, grow, and evaluate programs to bring healthy, local food to students. Members will work with staff, students, parents, farms, and community partners to increase capacity for hands-on learning, local procurement, and creating a school-wide culture of health.

Each Farm to School Corps member will serve as the primary contact for 3-5 schools in order to advance the goals of individual schools and the larger regional program. Members will collaborate with one another on projects and events, and participate in training, professional development, and networking opportunities as a team.

Tara Kenyon

Host Site: Broome County Office for Aging
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Program Assistant

Focus of Service: The Broome County Office for Aging (BCOFA) mission is to improve and enrich the quality of life for all older persons residing in Broome County. The Office for Aging exists to promote the dignity and independence of the older person, to ensure that comprehensive and coordinated services are brought to bear on the needs of older persons, and to foster public awareness of the value and contribution of older persons to the community.

As a Program Assistant, Tara worked in the Nutrition & Wellness Unit at the Broome County Office for Aging. This Unit works to provide older adults with increased access to healthy affordable food through the senior centers and home delivered meals program. Additionally, this unit develops and facilitates wellness programs promoting exercise, falls prevention, and healthy eating.

Brianna Johnson

Host Site: Broome County Council of Churches
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Chop & Chat Coordinator

Focus of Service: Faith in Action sponsors a very special program known as Chop & Chat. This program makes fresh fruits and vegetables accessible to senior citizens for free! The program is offered in the Binghamton and Vestal area at various independent living homes and senior recreation centers. The main goals are to reduce food insecurity and promote socialization. The Chop & Chat Coordinator plans recipes for the month and buys the ingredients to bring to the Chop & Chat sessions. Then, in a group setting, participants chop up the ingredients while they chat! At the end of a session, participants bring home a ready-to-cook meal.

Why Brianna Joined RHSC: “I joined Americorps because I wanted to give back to my community. Being a BU student, it is nice to have an outlet outside of school to feel like you’re making a difference.”

Post-AmeriCorps Plans: Brianna will be attending Binghamton University’s BAT program post graduation, May 2019. This is a one year accelerated nursing program to become a registered nurse. Afterwards, she plans to pursue a master’s degree to become a nurse practitioner.

Cristina Quinn

Host Site: Promise Zone
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Promise Zone Volunteer Coordinator VISTA

Focus of Service: Cristina partnered with Binghamton University Community Schools through the Center for Civic Engagement to strengthen a model of utilizing college interns and volunteers to implement a countywide, university-assisted community school initiative in Broome County. This work with Promise Zone aims to create learning environments that address the needs of schoolchildren and enhance student support so youth can take full advantage of all classroom opportunities, irrespective of income or other barriers. She provided support to the Promise Zone team in enhancing orientation materials, monthly training resources, and the data collection and evaluation system for interns and volunteers.

Amelia Martin

Host Site: Rural Health Network of SCNY, Food and Health Network of South Central New York
Location: Whitney Point, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Food & Health Network Program Assistant

Focus of Service: As the FaHN Program Assistant, Amelia provided education and other support to three core FaHN program areas: 1) Farm to School, 2) Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program, and 3) Summer Meals. She worked with partner organizations to support local food and garden education at summer meal programs; assisted with preparing for expansion of the NY Thursday Farm to School program to Binghamton City School District; and assisted with implementation of the Fruit & Vegetable Prescription Program at sites in Binghamton.

Elizabeth Dierenfield

Host Site: Broome County Office for Aging
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Program Assistant

Focus of Service: The Broome County Office for Aging mission is to improve and enrich the quality of life for all older persons residing in Broome County. The Office for Aging exists to promote the dignity and independence of the older person, to ensure that comprehensive and coordinated services are brought to bear on the needs of older persons, and to foster public awareness of the value and contribution of older persons to the community.

As the Program Assistant, Elizabeth worked in the Nutrition & Wellness Unit at the Broome County Office for Aging. This Unit works to provide older adults with increased access to healthy affordable food and to offer reliable, up to date information about ways to help assure good nutritional health

Hope Townsend

Host Site: VINES
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Farm Share Program Assistant

Focus of Service:VINES Farm Share programming helps to increase access to healthy affordable foods in Binghamton and the surrounding area, improve food security, and encourage residents to make healthier decisions for reducing diet-related diseases. As the RHSC Farm Share Program Assistant, Hope focused on the development and expansion of new and existing educational materials and work directly with members to understand how to identify, store, and prepare produce. Further, she assisted the Farm Share Program Coordinator with the implementation of the Farm Share Program. This included coordinating drop-off and pick-up times for shares from local farmers, distribution of shares to residents, and coordination of nutrition and cooking demonstrations at distribution sites.

Annabel Fair

Host Site: Broome County Council of Churches; Faith in Action
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: : FIAV Program Co-ordinator

Focus of Service: As the Faith in Action Volunteers (FIAV) Program Coordinator, Annabel provided support for services and events that involve older adults in Broome County. She was an advocate for older persons, making connections between existing community resources, while creating new contexts for social interaction. She worked directly with volunteers who will assist with programming and events. Mainly active with Chop & Chat and Grocery Day programming, Annabel acted as a liaison between senior housing and senior centers in Binghamton and FIAV in order to provide food resources and programing which encourage healthy eating and socialization.

Anna Grazioso

Host Site: CASA-Trinity
Location: Elmira, NY
AmeriCorps Position: : Youth Specialist

Focus of Service: CASA-Trinity of Chemung County has provided prevention, education, treatment, referral, and recovery services to individuals, families, and communities affected by alcohol, tobacco, and drugs in Chemung County since 2009. Our service area is that of the former ADAC/ADRC (Alcohol Drug Abuse Council of Chemung County/Alcoholism & Drug Rehab Clinic).
We are a private, nonprofit organization, that is licensed by the NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) to provide addiction recovery and prevention services. The Agency is funded through county, state, and federal sources, as well as private grants, third-party reimbursement, and private-pay consumers.

The clubhouse provides a community-based, non-clinical setting for promoting long-term recovery through skill building, recreation, education, wellness, evidence-based prevention programs and other social activities. Services offered at TC Commons will include mentoring, life-skills training, job readiness and musical instruction. Clubhouse participants will also work with and support each other to achieve personal and recovery-specific goals.

Youth clubhouses are part of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s multi-pronged efforts to address substance use disorders in New York State. By the end of this year, there will be 15 clubhouses operating throughout the state.

Chelsea Cleary

Host Site: United Way of Broome County: Lee Barta Community Center
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: : Healthy Lifestyles Coalition Assistant

Focus of Service: United Way’s mission is to drive change that will have positive impact on the critical needs of our community by strategically leveraging the collective resources of community partners. United Way engages our community, mobilizes volunteers, and strengthens local nonprofits to achieve measurable results and change lives. To bring about positive change, we focus on the three building blocks for a stronger community: Education, Income, and Health. Together, we are building a stronger community.
Program Mission and/or Goals: The Healthy Lifestyles Coalition is a community collaboration that empowers neighborhood residents to adopt healthy lifestyles and achieve positive health outcomes. Chelsea focused on coordinating sober and youth development activities using evidence-based curriculum and best practices.

Elizana-Marie Joseph

Host Site: Tioga County Public Health Department
Location: Owego, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Tioga County Public Health Assistant

Focus of Service: The Public Health Department is responsible for health promotion, disease prevention and community needs assessment. The Public Health Department supports the citizens of the County through Environmental Health, Dental Health, Disease Control, Nursing Services, Emergency Preparedness and Health Education programs. Tioga County Public Health is dedicated to preventing substance use and fighting substance abuse disorders in Tioga County.

Tioga County Public Health currently has initiatives in place to help in the fight against the heroin and opioid epidemic. Members of the community who are interested in becoming a Non-Medical Opioid Overdose First Responder can get a free Naloxone kit at the Health Department. A brief training will be given to help individuals learn about opioid addiction, heroin use, signs of an opioid overdose, and how to properly reverse an opioid overdose with Naloxone. This program is free and available for anyone living in Tioga County.

Tioga County Public Health is an active member of the Tioga County Allies in Substance Abuse Prevention and serves on the Tobacco Free Broome Tioga Coalition. Educational material is available on tobacco use, alcohol abuse, and other substance abuse disorders at the Health Department

Erica Doyle

Host Site: STAP (Southern Tier AIDS Program)
Location: Johnson City, NY
AmeriCorps Position: : STAP Prevention Assistant

Focus of Service: STAP’s mission is to compassionately and competently meet the evolving needs of our communities by serving people affected by chronic illness and to improve public health through disease prevention, care coordination and advocacy.” Prevention services include: Syringe Exchange Program (SEP), Opioid Overdose Prevention Program (OOPP), Women’s Services Program, Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) Communities of Color (CoC), Substance Use Information & Referral, Identity, Criminal Justice Initiative. As the STAP Prevention Assistant, Erica supported community prevention efforts through education and naloxone training.

Helen Frazer

Host Site: STAP (Southern Tier AIDS Program)
Location: Johnson City, NY
AmeriCorps Position: : STAP Prevention Assistant

Focus of Service: STAP’s mission is to compassionately and competently meet the evolving needs of our communities by serving people affected by chronic illness and to improve public health through disease prevention, care coordination and advocacy.” Prevention services include: Syringe Exchange Program (SEP), Opioid Overdose Prevention Program (OOPP), Women’s Services Program, Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) Communities of Color (CoC), Substance Use Information & Referral, Identity, Criminal Justice Initiative. As the STAP Prevention Assistant, Helen supported community prevention efforts through education and naloxone training.

Emily Thompson

Host Site: Family Counseling Services
Location: Cortland, NY
AmeriCorps Position: : AmeriCorps Prevention Specialist

Focus of Service: The mission of FCS is to provide affordable and accessible outpatient behavioral health care and prevention services for children, teens, and adults. As the AmeriCorps Prevention Specialist, Emily worked closely with other Prevention Staff and the community to develop, coordinate and provide evidence-based prevention programming for community youth and their families. She also focused on raising public awareness about heroin and opiate addiction to help mitigate the multiple barriers to recovery that exist.

Carol Youngs

Host Site: Cortland Area Communities That Care Coalition (CACTC)
Location: Cortland, NY
AmeriCorps Position: : Prevention Outreach Coordinator

Focus of Service: Cortland Area Communities that Care uses an evidence based approach to identify and address the risk and protective factors related to youth in our community. Carol’s main goals at CACTC were to raise public awareness about heroin and opiate addiction to help mitigate the multiple barriers to recovery (lack of awareness, stigma, misinformation, etc.) that exist, and promote regional coalitions and partnerships that will help communities come together and respond to the heroin and opiate addiction crisis in a coordinated, more effective way.

Cindy McGinley

Host Site: BRiDGES Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse
Location: Oneida, NY
AmeriCorps Position: : Central Region Addictions Resource Center Assistant

Focus of Service: The mission of BRiDGES is to improve the quality of life by providing advocacy and services to our community, the workplace, families and individuals affected by addiction and the abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other substances. Cindy focused on raising public awareness about heroin and opiate addiction to help mitigate the multiple barriers to recovery (lack of awareness, stigma, misinformation, etc.) that exist. She also promoted regional coalitions and partnerships that will help communities come together and respond to the heroin and opiate addiction crisis in a coordinated, more effective way.

Laura Livengood

Host Site: Broome County Council of Churches – CHOW
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: CHOW Program Assistant

Focus of Service: The Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse (CHOW) is a program of the Broome County Council of Churches. Laura’s role within CHOW is to help food insecure individuals by providing them with the information and resources necessary to lead a well nourished life. Through the use of food pantries, community dinners and a mobile food market, CHOW has been helping to feed the people of Broome County for almost 40 years. Laura has been leading a project called the CHOWbus which is a mobile food market providing fresh, healthy and affordable foods to people in rural and urban areas that are considered “food deserts.” The CHOWbus aims to enhance the well-being of community members while using the proceeds to combat childhood hunger. Laura also works within various CHOW supported emergency food assistance programs to gain a better understanding of the needs of various communities and to provide people with information to any resources that may be available to them. With the summer of 2015 approacing the list goes on as CHOW is starting up several new projects such as elementary school gardens, hosting a pantry, and expanding its CHOWfarm.

Educational Background: A.A.S. in Individualized Studies from Jamestown Community College of New York, B.S. in Human Development with a minor in Education from SUNY Binghamton
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Laura plans to spend the summer of 2015 doing service learning work abroad on organic farms with hopes of returning with a greater understanding of permaculture and sustainable living. She then hopes to find a job in the non-profit sector for an organization that focuses on food security, sustainability and health.

“I joined the AmeriCorps because I have always felt fulfilled when doing service work. It has provided me with the opportunity to expand my knowledge base of human services and more specifically food security. As a community, I believe we are responsible to take care of one another and I have enjoyed being able to do this through my position with the AmeriCorps.”

Sohaib Fasih-Ahmad

Host Site: Rural Health Network SCNY
Location: Whitney Point, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Healthcare Access Associate

Focus of Service: Sohaib helps people in rural areas access many different healthcare related programs and services that may be available to them. He does client intakes at the Rural Health Network in Whitney Point and makes referrals to the appropriate person and/or program. He makes referrals to health insurance navigators, patient financial assistance programs, prescription assistance programs, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, transportation services, Medicare/Medicaid among various other referrals.

Future Plans: Sohaib is currently pursuing his B.S. in Biochemistry and Economics at Binghamton University. After graduating, he plans to attend medical school.

“Healthcare plays a major role in the quality of people’s lives. Thus helping people get access to healthcare and witnessing the resulting improvements in their quality of life is highly rewarding.”

Emily Vanscoy

Host Site: Tioga Tourism
Location: Owego, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Tioga Active Living Coordinator

Focus of Service: At Tioga Tourism, we are committed to bringing visitors and tourism revenue into Tioga County through healthy, community-based initiatives such as Bike Tioga (25 to 104 mile rides through the county), Strawberry Festival 5k, and Sundaes at the Farm (a ice cream sundae-based event with locally produced toppings).

Stella Reske, Director of Tioga Tourism adds, “Emily has exhibited a rare combination of speed and accuracy that has enabled her to produce a very high volume of work while maintaining very high standards for quality. Our staff often has said “I can’t believe that Emily is done with that job already!” Emily has been able to follow directions in a thorough and detailed manner and has also worked very independently without close supervision when it was appropriate. Rarely does staff need to explain a process or procedure to Emily more than once, and she is particularly adept at computer applications. Emily works on multilayered tasks and balances multiple projects concurrently.

Emily’s upbeat demeanor and can-do attitude has brightened the office and made her very low maintenance. Her strong human relations skills have enabled her to interface very effectively with many different residents and visitors that come into the Visitor’s Center. Emily’s strong verbal and written communications skills have allowed her to relay information in a clear and coherent manner. She creatively has written many press releases to the media, and has managed our Bike Tioga program from start to finish.

It has been our pleasure and blessing to have Emily with us this summer.”

Educational Background: High School Degree, 2012, Choate Rosemary Hall. Pursuing Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology at Boston University (class of 2016).
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Continuing my pursuit of a BA in Biology at Boston University and eventually applying to and (hopefully) attending medical school.

” I joined RHNSCNY in order to give back to the community that raised me. I have spent several years away from my home in Candor, NY, and I felt as if this was the right time in my life to return and do something good with my time and energy. The Tioga Tourism office supports many local businesses and events that I grew up with, and it has been eye-opening to see how much effort goes into making these things run smoothly. I hope to use this experience as a basis for continued community support throughout my life and hopeful career in medicine.”

Pam Wheaton

Host Site: Rural Health Network SCNY
Location: Whitney Point
Position: Renew Health Specialist
Focus of Service: Chronic health conditions and the uninsured

Leslie Kannus, Director of Community Health at the Rural Health Network says “Pam is so enthusiastic about AmeriCorps and the Rural Health Network! She is full of ideas and energy, and is fun to have around the office. She is an extremely caring person, which is evident not only in her interactions with clients, but in her relationship with co-workers, as well. I think her desire to help people is part of her DNA!”

Educational background: BS in Elementary education, minor in Speech and Theater from SUNY Oneonta; MS in Educational Counseling from Oneonta and Syracuse University, Just completed internship at Syracuse University for License in Mental Health Counseling.

Post AmeriCorps Plans: Not sure but we‘ll see. Whatever I do it will be fun, meaningful and allows me the time to do what I do best, professionally and personally

“When I started on this journey, I wasn’t really sure what I was hoping to accomplish, Not sure I really was thinking about accomplishing anything, but just enjoy the time and see what develops. I felt like I would be surrounded by like-minded individuals , and good things can happen when people are open, care about others and have a great sense of humor. And that is exactly what I have found here in little Whitney Point.”

Ethan Warren

Host Site: Mobility Management of South Central New York
Location: United Way of Broome County, Vestal
AmeriCorps Position: Mobility and Transportation Advocate

Focus of Service: Ethan runs the GetThere call center to help individuals secure rides for any sort of need. He also helps in planning and studying ways to improve transportation and by extension the overall health of our communities. This ranges from promoting the carpooling service Broome-Tioga Greenride to attending public hearings on transportation to engaging involved parties in discussion and coordination of services, grants and plans.

GetThere Brochure

“With quiet purpose, Ethan has made a significant contribution to MMSCNY and the GetThere Call Center. Over the past year, we’ve brought about some major and very necessary changes to our data collection system, online media presence, and reporting processes; without Ethan’s input and assistance, this would have been a much more difficult task, to say the least. I’ve been continually impressed with his willingness to work extra hours, travel wherever he’s needed, and do what he needs to in service of MMSCNY. He has a strong service ethic fitting of an AmeriCorps member and I’m grateful for his involvement with our project.” ~ Nick Cecconi, Coordinator, Mobility Management of South Central New York.

Educational Background: B.S., Sociology, Binghamton University, May 2012
Post AmeriCorps Plans: I would like to continue to work on community development and planning in Binghamton if possible. If not, I will pursue either a degree in Urban Planning or work in a national park.

” I joined because I wanted to have a more hands-on experience with community issues. I have definitely gotten what I came for.”

Spencer Waldman

Host Site: Cornell Cooperative Extension-Tioga
Location: 56 Main Street, Owego, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Healthy Lifestyle Associate

Focus of Service: Spencer’s project includes working to improve awareness and encourage the use of SNAP benefits at farmers markets in the county, as well as giving people a chance to try new foods and recipes that they might not have considered beforehand. She is also working with adults and children to develop healthy lifestyles and behaviors that will help them be successful in the future.

Educational Background: M.S BioMedical Anthropology, SUNY- Binghamton 2013, B.S Anthropology (Biological concentration), SUNY-Binghamton 2012.
Post AmeriCorps Plans: After my AmeriCorps position I will be looking for a job in public health, hopefully working to design and run health programs, focusing on chronic disease awareness and prevention.

“I have always loved giving back to communities and working with people. Health and nutrition has always been something I have loved but never had the chance until now to put that passion into a public health program. Serving with RHSC is a great way to gain experience in health education and the challenges to opening people’s minds to healthy eating when that is not how they were raised. I hope that throughout my service, I will help more fruits and vegetables get on to the plates of Tioga county residents.”

Chris Swartz

Host Site: Lourdes in Richford (Northern Tioga Center for Family Health)
Location: Richford, New York
AmeriCorps Position: Rural Health Associate

Focus of Service: The focus of this position is to help give back to a rural community which might have limited resources and be in need of helping hands. Chris gives back to the community through both my time and service, and gets to appreciate the finer points and intricacies of rural life.

Chris serves in rural Tioga County, at the Lourdes Hospital satellite office in Richford, NY. It is great to get a feel for the inner workings of a doctor’s office with hands on experience. Chris’ position works with an organization call Northern Tioga Neighbors Network (NTNN). The organization provides rides for individuals with rides to doctor appointments, trips to get food and medications and helps with simple home maintenance tasks around the house. It is his job to take the calls from the clients and send out emails to NTNN members and organize rides for the clients. He also will provide rides in situations where no other volunteers are available.

“Our clients and patients really appreciate the one to one personal service they receive from the AmeriCorps volunteers. It provides the clients with an expanded social network and the volunteers learn about the challenges and rewards of rural health care.” – Lynn Verduin, FNP-C, Northern Tioga Center Family Health

Educational Background: I went to high school locally at Maine-Endwell and then went on to do my undergraduate studies at Penn State University. There I graduated with a double major in Biology (Vertebrate Science option) and Nutritional Sciences.
Post AmeriCorps Plans: After my service with AmeriCorps, I plan on going to medical school. I have been accepted to a few schools and am currently 99% sure I will be attending Midwestern University in Chicago for the coming fall semester.

“When I got into this I initially was looking for a resume booster during my year off between college and medical school. However, after spending the last 6 months or so in Richford, I have learned a lot about life in a rural community. I’ve come to appreciate the community and the fact that you feel tied in more than you do in offices in more urban environments. My time in Richford has been extremely rewarding and has provided another exciting and new opportunity to experience something completely different than what I am used to. I wouldn’t trade my experience at Richford for anything.”

Rachael Smith

Host Site: Farm Catskills
Location: Delaware County, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Community Food Security Associate

Focus of Service: Rachael has recently started her second term of service with Farm Catskills. Farm Catskills is a non-profit organization that strives to protect the working landscape that in turn supports our rural economy. Farm Catskills assists area farmers by helping them get the resources they need to succeed, all the while promoting a healthy local food system. Rachael works closely with area schools and food banks to add local and nutritious food items to the menu.

Educational Background: Rachael graduated from SUNY College at Oneonta in May 2012 with a B.S. in Environmental Science. Rachael enjoyed being involved in the campus community through participation in clubs and committees, eventually co-founding the Student Sustainability Committee at SUNY Oneonta.
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Rachael plans to attend graduate school, focusing on Environmental Sociology and Cultural Ecology.

“Since joining RHSC, I have had the opportunity to learn and expand with Farm Catskills, while utilizing my passion for sustainability and community togetherness. Being able to provide local and nutritious meal options to community members of all ages ensures me that I am making a positive change in our rural environment.”

Laura Serao

Host Site: American Cancer Society
Location: Johnson City, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Patient & Family Services Associate

Focus of Service: Laura assists the Patient and Family Services department in the delivery of survivor related programming throughout a 10 county area of the Southern Tier of New York. She helps to coordinate rides for the “Road to Recovery” program; a program where volunteers drive patients to and from their cancer treatment. She also helps to coordinate the “Look Good…Feel Better” program which is a two-hour workshop, run by trained volunteer cosmetologists, that teaches women who are undergoing treatment how to deal with the appearance-altering effects of cancer treatment. She also assists in the Wig Program by helping patients navigate the Wig Room; a space where patients can come to and receive free wigs, scarves, turbans, and cancer-related information.

Laura also visits the Broome Oncology Centers, located at Lourdes Hospital and UHS Wilson Square, three or four times a week. There she helps patients navigate their way to the helpful resources and programs that American Cancer Society has to offer. She also assists the staff in volunteer trainings, as well as volunteer recruitment for ACS volunteer opportunities.

“Laura is already an important member of our Patient & Family services team, helping patients and their families through cancer diagnosis and treatment.” ~Margaret Blackman, Director Patient & Family Services (Laura’s supervisor)

Educational Background: Wheelock College, Boston MA — Bachelor of Social Work
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Laura plans to return to school and get her Masters in Social Work with a focus in Health and Animal-Assisted Social Work. Laura is also considering doing another year of service in Denver, CO with AmeriCorps NCCC.

“I love working with communities. I have never had a chance to work with a rural community and thought this would be a great opportunity to learn more about rural communities on a personal level, while also helping to improve the lives of those people living in it. Being a part of a large organization such as American Cancer Society I got a real perspective at how a big organization can have an even bigger impact on a rural area with relatively equal benefits to service in a more populated area. I want to go into the Health field when I finish my Masters program and working for American Cancer Society through the Rural Health Service Corps, going into the local hospitals and interacting directly with patients, has given me the insight and beginning experience I needed to solidify that career path.”

Randi Quackenbush

Host Site: Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chemung County
Location: Elmira, NY
AmeriCorps VISTA Position: VISTA, Community Poverty Educator

Focus of Service: Randi is the lead project coordinator for the Chemung County Poverty Reduction Coalition, which is a growing consortium of organizations and individuals who are working together to address the greater issue of poverty in the City of Elmira and the whole of Chemung County. As the problem of poverty is multi-faceted, so too must be the solutions, and Randi’s coalition brings together groups that target the various symptoms of poverty but are now working towards addressing the greater structural inequities that arise in our current economic and political climate. Her project is in conjunction with a Cornell faculty member and other Cooperative Extension offices , who share resources and information which will then lead to policy recommendations for local and state leaders. She is also working on public education campaigns to be delivered in a variety of forums to raise awareness about the realities and prevalence of economic hardship, the lack of affordable housing in the county, as well as the benefits for low-income families to use SNAP funds at local farmers’ markets.

Randi’s supervisor, Ethel Stroman, Human Resource Manger at CCE-Chemung, says, “Randi came to the Chemung County Cooperative Extension Association ready for the task of producing a County Poverty Reduction Plan. It’s quite obvious that her previous experiences serve her well as she is eager to meet new faces and welcome them to participate with the Poverty Coalition. She demonstrates enthusiasm in learning about the overall community. For us here at Extension with the numerous topics we address, she is a good fit.”

Educational Background: BA in French and Foreign Languages from SUNY Plattsburgh, Graduate Diploma in Policy Studies and MA in International Development Studies, both from Murdoch University, Perth Australia
Post AmeriCorps Plans: I hope to continue to work on poverty reduction and advocacy in the non-profit sector, either domestically or internationally, as well as increasing awareness on issues which would then translate into policy changes.

“My position with AmeriCorps allows me to pursue a subject that I am very passionate about, where all of my skills and interests converge. I am gaining skills in many facets of non-profit administration, and have the opportunity to raise awareness of issues that I find very important. I feel it is essential for those of us who have had positive influences and opportunities in life to pay that kindness and motivation forward.”

Alysa Pomer

Host Site: Mothers and Babies Perinatal Network
Location: Binghamton NY
AmeriCorps Position: Life Skills Educator

Focus of Service: As Life Skills Educator at MBPN, Alysa’s role is to bring educational modules to local middle school and high school students. These modules focus on practical skills that teens need as they become independent, such as creating and following a budget, finding nutritious foods, and maintaining healthy relationships.

Educational Background:
American University, Washington DC: BA Anthropology (May 2008)
Binghamton University, Binghamton NY: MS Biomedical Anthropology (May 2011)

Post AmeriCorps Plans: Complete my PhD in Medical Anthropology! Continue to work in public health fields, specifically with rural or developing populations.

” I joined RHSC because, as an Americorps alum, I am familiar with the benefits that come with service–most of which are experiential, rather than provided. I felt RHSC would be a good fit for me because I was looking for real-world experience in the public health world to supplement my academic understanding.”

Katie Olszowy

Host Site: Cancer Services Program, Broome County Health Department
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Cancer Services Program Associate

Focus of Service: The Cancer Services Program provides free breast, cervical, and colorectal screenings to un- and underinsured women and men in Broome, Chenango, and Tioga counties. As a service corps member at the Cancer Services Program, Katie assists with client recruitment and screening, as well as day to day office tasks including data collection and entry. Katie is also working on a project collecting stories from clients who have been diagnosed with cancer through the program, and who have received treatment through the Medicaid Cancer Treatment Program. These stories will be used to demonstrate the importance of the program to the community, as well as in outreach efforts throughout Broome, Chenango, and Tioga counties.

Educational Background:
BA Anthropology, Colorado State University
MA Anthropology, University of Colorado
MS Biomedical Anthropology, Binghamton University
PhD Anthropology in progress, Binghamton University

Post AmeriCorps Plans: I plan to pursue a career in academic research and teaching, while also using applied anthropology to understanding and combating health disparities in my community.

“I’ve been a student for all of my adult life, and have felt disconnected from my community, even as I’ve developed a strong interest in issues such as social justice and the social determinants of health. Through the Rural Health Service Corps, I am able to apply my training in the social sciences to helping people in my area, while also learning more about the specific health disparities the impact Binghamton and surrounding areas.”

Kelly Oliver

Host Site: SUNY Upstate Medical University – Binghamton Clinical Campus
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps VISTA Position: VISTA Member, Program Coordinator

Focus of Service: Kelly’s service includes two different projects. Her main project focuses on efforts to increase access to prescription medications for uninsured and underinsured residents in South Central New York. This includes developing prescription assistance toolkits (i.e. educational brochures, pamphlets, etc.) which contain descriptions and other information about resources within the community that can help residents obtain free, low-cost or discounted medications. These efforts also include developing an educational training for health and human service providers and community based organizations on how to access and utilize the prescription assistance toolkits for their clients as well as developing and implementing a train-the-trainer curriculum for three primary prescription assistance programs in South Central New York (Hope Dispensary of the Southern Tier, Dr. Garabed A. Fatal Community Free Clinic and Rural Health Network of SCNY).

Her other project focuses on accessing the current housing situation in Broome County. For this project, she is researching and developing a comprehensive list of existing local, county, regional, faith based and municipal housing programs and services. She is also researching and developing a list of any public health, environmental health and other health and human service programs that have a working relationship with housing programs and services (i.e. weatherization programs, lead abatement programs, etc). She is hoping that at some point before the end of her service that she will be able to establish a Health Housing Work Group which will consist of health and human service, community based and governmental service organizations that have effective working relationships with the housing sector.

Educational Background: University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG), Bachelor of Science in Public Health: Community Health Studies
Kaplan University, Master of Public Health
Post AmeriCorps Plans: After AmeriCorps, I am moving back to North Carolina. I plan to start my career in Public Health or serve another term with AmeriCorps VISTA. Within the next 4 years I plan to attend graduate school again to pursue a DrPH (Doctorate in Public Health) degree and maybe move to Atlanta, Georgia.

“Being able to make a difference as well as make an impact on a community, whether directly or indirectly is what being a health educator is all about. My goal is to help as many people as possible and leave a lasting impression on the communities that I serve. Building a career in Public Health is my calling! Joining AmeriCorps is the first big step towards building my career and I am so blessed to have this opportunity.”

Read more about Kelly’s Story

Alicia Marhefka

Host Site: SUNY Upstate Medical Clinical Campus
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Patient Assistance Program Associate

Focus of Service: Alicia works alongside the volunteer staff at the Dr. Garabed A. Fattal Community Free Clinic in Binghamton to help the uninsured of my community get the health care they need. Specifically, her focus is on access to prescription medications by facilitating enrollment in Patient Assistance Programs.

Educational Background: BA in Psychology, Houghton College
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Medical School; to someday return to the free clinic as a physician

“I anticipated a gap year between when I completed undergrad and when I hoped to begin medical school. I knew I wanted to spend that time doing something meaningful and relevant to my interests. I joined AmeriCorps because the position offered great experience and an opportunity to serve my community. My experience so far with RHSC and the free clinic has exceeded my expectations. I feel very fortunate to work alongside people who are committed to serving others. Both the staff and the patients at the free clinic are wonderful to be around. “

Connor Mack

Host Site: CHOW (Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse)
Location: Broome County Council of Churches
AmeriCorps Position: CHOW Program Associate

Focus of Service: Connor will serve to help stop hunger in the community. Through CHOW he will assist community based soup kitchens and pantries to get food to those in need. He will also be implementing the Grow Box Program and helping with the development of the CHOW Farm Business Plan. These will help clients receive fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy diet.

CHOW Director Mike Leahey, Connor’s supervisor says, “Connor has shown himself to be an asset to the CHOW program in his short time here and will play a significant role in helping us meet the needs of those who struggle with food insecurity in our community.”

Educational Background: B.A. Psychology University at Buffalo, currently enrolled at Binghamton University in Integrated Neuroscience
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Research in Neuroscience, or possibly a career in healthcare.

“I want to better my community by providing food to those in need, especially children”

Natalie Hughes

Host Site: VINES (Volunteers Improving Neighborhood Environments)
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps position: Local Foods and Gardening Associate

Focus of service: Natalie’s primary focus of service is centered around a Summer Youth Employment Program on an urban farm in downtown Binghamton. During the program, high school youth not only receive a paycheck, but also learn valuable job skills both specific to agriculture and general for all types of employment. They also participate in several workshops with local organizations such as nutrition education, composting, and workforce training. Some of the food grown by the youth is sold for an affordable price at the urban farm in an effort to increase food security for the surrounding low-income neighborhoods. Another portion of the harvest is reserved for the Binghamton Farm Share Around the Corner pilot project, a new program that distributes weekly vegetable boxes in areas with low access to fresh foods. Natalie balances her term of service between working with the youth, planning activities and schedules for the program, and maintaining the urban agriculture and community garden sites.

Lauren Tonti, RHSC Alum and Natalie’s supervisor at VINES, says, “Natalie brings great energy to the Urban Farm and never ceases to show enthusiasm about digging in the soil, working with youth, and engaging the community. Natalie demonstrates a sincere desire to grow food and engage residents who wish to access fresh vegetables. We have seen Natalie quickly develop from a college intern to a leader within our organization and are proud of her hard work. We are very lucky to work with Natalie and look forward to a fruitful growing season.”

Education Background: B.A. Environmental Science and Geology and Spanish Minor, Binghamton University
Future Plans: Seek employment in the field of Agriculture and/or Environmental Science. Continue volunteering with VINES.

“I began working with VINES last summer as intern and cannot express my happiness to be continuing working for this organization through RHSC. At the end of the day, I go home with the satisfaction of knowing that my service is contributing to improving the health of members in my community. I get warm fuzzies when a local resident uses their SNAP benefits to try kale for the first time. My service is strengthening many aspects of the local food system, from employment to production to consumer knowledge.”

Jennifer Lavelle

Host Site: Tioga County Health Department
Location: Owego
AmeriCorps Position: Public Health Associate

Focus of Service: Jen spends most of her time at the Tioga County Health Department with the Division of Children with Special Health Care Needs working with the Early Intervention, 3-5 Preschool Special Education and Child Find programs. These statewide programs help provide services to eligible children with special health care needs, developmental delays or disabilities. In this role, she assists service coordinators with their caseloads through home visits and phone contact.

She works with parents and the transportation company to organize transportation for the 3-5 Preschool Program. Occasionally, she attends Committee for Preschool Special Education meetings as the county representative; these meetings are attended by the CPSE chairs and administrators, parents, special education teachers, and specialists in order to determine a child’s eligibility for special education services.

She also manages the Child Find program, which helps families monitor their child’s growth and development through periodic screenings. Some of her time is also spent with the Primary & Prevent Division. In this department, she contacts families with newborns in Tioga County to assess their needs and inform them of community resources.

Educational Background:
M.S. in Biomedical Anthropology, Binghamton University
B.A. in Anthropology (Spanish minor), Montclair State University
Post AmeriCorps Plans: I am starting an accelerated BSN program this summer! I ultimately hope to become a nurse practitioner and have an active role in community health or health care research.

“I joined the Rural Health Service Corps because I wanted to learn more about health disparities in rural areas and have a meaningful impact in the local community. I feel very fortunate to have gained experience serving with my colleagues at the TCHD, who are very passionate about improving community health and services in this region. This has also been a great way to spend a year off from school.”

Alistair Krempel

Host Site: United Way
Location: Vestal, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Volunteer Engagement Specialist

Focus of Service: Alistair works with the Southern Tier Regional Volunteer Center at the United Way to increase and support volunteerism in our area. A major focus of the project is the Southern Tier Volunteers website (http://www.southerntiervolunteers.org/), which connects potential volunteers with opportunities at local nonprofit agencies and events.

Alistair can provide training to both individuals and local organizations.

Educational Background: Web Development at Broome Community College, English at Binghamton University
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Alistair hopes to study Health Communication and continue working at the intersection of public health and new media technology.

“My work with Southern Tier Volunteers puts me right in the middle of the ways new media communications and internet technologies are changing public health, community building, and civic action; it’s exciting to work on a project with such potential to strengthen my community.”

Chelsea Reome

Host Site: United Way of Broome County
Location: Lee Barta Community Center, Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Healthy Lifestyles Assistant

Focus of Service: Chelsea works with the Healthy Lifestyles Coalition using a multi-faced, interdisciplinary focus to improve health outcomes on the North Side of Binghamton. This is accomplished through engaging residents, nonprofits and businesses on the North Side of Binghamton to work with the Healthy Lifestyles Coalition in addressing impediments to healthy living such as food access, nutrition, physical activity and other supportive services.

Educational Background: B.S. Human Development, B.A. Psychology- Binghamton University
Post AmeriCorps Plans: I plan on pursuing my Master’s degree in Public Administration. I hope to continue working to improve the health of individuals and communities, building on the knowledge I gained from this experience.

“I was interested in the Rural Health Service Corps because of its emphasis on a holistic approach to health, and the social and economic barriers that can impact it. I wanted to gain meaningful, first-hand experience in this area before graduate school. So far, this has proven to be a very wise decision! Since joining the Healthy Lifestyles Coalition, I’ve found myself in an extraordinarily advantageous position; I’ve gotten the chance to both sharpen my professional skills and work hands-on with the community and residents of Binghamton’s North Side.

I hope that the Healthy Lifestyles Coalition continues to be active and thrive in this community after my service has ended. I hope to lay the groundwork for positive changes during my time in this AmeriCorps position. My dream is to see all that I am doing being taken on by some inspired and ambitious residents, so that healthy living can become a way of life in this community, rather than a goal.”

Jessica Spellane

Host Site: Broome County Office for Aging
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Health Promotion Specialist

Focus of Service: Jessica works with the Nutrition and Wellness Unit at the Office for Aging (OFA) to promote healthy aging throughout Broome County. A major focus of her work with OFA has been developing nutrition education classes to present at the nine senior centers in the county. During January and February, Jessica taught a class titled “Spice Up Your Life, Without Salt!” to educate older adults about ways they can reduce the amount of sodium in their diets, and in May she taught a class called “Feasting Frugally,” which provided seniors with tips for stretching their food budget.

Throughout her service, Jessica has also helped with Binghamton Meals on Wheels. On a monthly basis, she writes and edits the Meals on Wheels Gazette, which is a wellness newsletter for homebound older adults. Additionally, Jessica teaches a weekly Chair Dance exercise class at two senior centers.

Educational Background: Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, Niagara University
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Jessica plans to attend graduate school to pursue a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy.

“I joined the Rural Health Service Corps because I am passionate about serving others, and I wanted to give back to the community I grew up in. As an AmeriCorps member at the Office for Aging, I hope to provide older adults with information and programs that promote healthy aging. Throughout my AmeriCorps service, I have had the opportunity to interact with many different groups of people in the community, and I have gained skills that I know will be beneficial in my future endeavors.”

Charles Stern

Host Site: Farm Catskills
Location: Hamden, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Community Food Security Associate

Focus of Service: Farm Catskills is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Delaware County’s working landscape and promoting a sustainable food system. In 2014, AmeriCorps Service Member Charles Stern will focus on advancing Farm Catskills’ food security programming through community garden and harvest preservation efforts. Charles will be providing organizational support to the Walton Community Garden, coordinating the installation of a new community garden in Delhi, and managing a quarter-acre food pantry donation garden at Delaware Opportunities in Hamden. In addition, he will be playing a central role in Harvest Days, a program that leverages volunteer labor to process local farm and garden produce for donation to regional food pantries.

Educational Background: Bowdoin College, BA, 2009, Asian Studies and Religion
Post AmeriCorps Plans: “Following completion of my AmeriCorps service, I hope to continue my involvement in New York State agriculture and food security through employment or graduate study in a related field.”

“I joined AmeriCorps to deepen my experience in food systems and food security in New York State. I also love gardening and it’s wonderful to be able to help others become involved in gardening through our community garden projects! It is an honor to be able to serve Farm Catskills.”

Erin Summerlee

Host Site: Food and Health Network of South Central NY
Location: Whitney Point, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Education Coordinator

Focus of Service: As Education Coordinator of the Food and Health Network, Erin facilitates educational events and outreach activities that explore the complexities of our regional food system, and how it can be improved. Much of her education work is guided by the regional food system assessment, and focuses on four key areas: Healthy Environments, Healthy People, Economic Vitality, and Farm to Consumer Connections. Erin aims to advance the Food and Health Network’s role as a collaborative initiative strengthening the regional food system by supporting and adding value to member and partner projects and initiatives. Some of her work includes coordinating monthly education and networking meetings, conducting a Community Garden and Urban Ag. Inventory, National Food Day, and more!

“Erin is passionate about building a healthier community through the development of local and regional food systems. After experiencing first hand how a large CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm works as an employee, Erin is now in a position to educate others on the value of CSA’s, community gardens, sustainable agriculture and the many benefits of vital regional food systems. Erin continues the tradition of hard work, creativity and commitment that characterizes RHSC Members working with food systems and food security. We are deeply appreciative of her service and thrilled to have Erin serving another term with the Food & Health Network of S.C.N.Y.’ ~ Jack Salo, Executive Director, Rural Health Network SCNY.

Educational Background: B.A., International Studies, Loyola University Chicago
Post AmeriCorps Plans: After her term of service with the Food and Health Network, Erin hopes to continue working in the regional food system.

“Moving back to Broome County to serve with RHSC, I am continually impressed by the quality of work being done to build a stronger regional food system. The Food and Health Network includes a diverse range of stakeholders, and working with them is a continual learning and skill building opportunity that has also made me aware of a number of career paths. My RHSC service has been the perfect next step to combine the knowledge, skills, and social justice perspective cultivated in college with my agricultural experience.”

Joe Garrant

Host Site: Broome County Council of Churches
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Ramp It Up Associate

Focus of Service: Joe assists in the construction of wheelchair ramps with the Broome County Council of Church’s Ramp It Up program. Ramp It Up teams with youth groups in the area to plan and build wheelchair ramps for elderly and disabled residents of Broome County.

Joe coordinates the builds with youth group leaders and helps design, prepare, and execute the construction of the ramps. After spending the summer working with Ramp It Up, Joe looks forward to future collaborations with the Broome County Council of Churches as he continues pursuing a degree in Financial Economics and Binghamton University.

The summer of 2013 is Joe’s second term serving as a Rural Health Service Corps member.

Rev. Ron Wenzinger, Joe’s supervisor at BCCC comments, “Joe Garrant brings a warm public face to our Ramp It Up program. He works well with clients and volunteers and has a wonderful grasp of all of the tasks of our work. He is able to draw plans and apply for building permits and keep teams occupied while they are on a worksite. His contributions have helped us to complete and/or plan to complete between thirteen and fourteen ramps this building season.”

Educational Background: Binghamton University, Financial Economics. Exp. Graduation 2014
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Post AmeriCorps Plans: I hope to continue learning about economic development and one day become a city manager! Working with AmeriCorps has reinforced my passion for public service, and that is something that I feel I am destined for in the future.

“The lessons and skills I learned while at the Council are invaluable to both my professional and personal development. From learning how to interact in an office space to mastering basic carpentry techniques, I was presented with many unique experiences while working as an AmeriCorps member. I had so much fun this summer and I can’t think of any better way to have spent my summer weekends than building wheelchair ramps with Ramp It Up.”

Rebecca Heller-Steinberg

Host Site: Cornell Cooperative Extension, Tioga County
Location: Owego, NY AmeriCorps Position: Gardening and Local Foods Associate

Focus of Service: Rebecca’s position focuses on raising awareness about local agriculture and local foods. She coordinates Tioga Agricultural Literacy Week, when volunteer readers visit 1st through 3rd grade classrooms throughout the county to read students a book about agriculture, and help students understand where their food comes from. Another major focus of her service is the Digging Into Health project (part of the Tioga County Healthy Communities Partnership) which will bring additional education on edible gardening and nutrition to several 2nd grade classrooms in the county. Other programs and projects Rebecca assists with include the Master Gardener Program, community and school gardens, adult gardening classes, local farmers markets, and Taste of Tioga.

Susaannah Reese, Rebecca’s supervisor at CCE, adds, “Rebecca brings new ideas, knowledge and experience to our local food efforts. Her professional experience and personal interests in gardening and local farms will be highly valued in our agriculture and gardening programs and will help us in our efforts at Cornell Cooperative Extension to support healthy lifestyle choices and help people improve the quality of life in their communities.”

Educational Background: Educational Background: B.A. in Sociology
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Continue working to grow our local food system and support local agriculture through my work with VINES and the Binghamton Urban Farm, as well as my business, Extended Harvest.

“I got involved with local food work because I love to eat good food, and I love the community created around sharing good food. I also believe strong local agriculture is an essential piece of our regional economy. I am proud to be working with an organization committed to creating and sustaining connections with our food, our land, and our farmers and gardeners.”

Nalini Kalanadhabhatta

Host Site: United Health Services, Stay Healthy Center
Location: Johnson City, NY AmeriCorps Position: Stay Healthy Kids Associate

Focus of Service: Nalini’s position entails combating childhood obesity, helping families with children in the 95th percentile and above for their BMI, and educating children in the community about living a healthy lifestyle.
She helps run a Stay Healthy Kids Club, where children in the 95th percentile and above are referred to the program by their primary care physician. In this 12-week program, kids are taught about nutrition, reducing their screen time, and how to stay active. She sends flyers and recipe cards to those who have already completed the program. These flyers have advice or tips on how to continue with the changes the families have already begun to make.

She is in charge of Mason on the Move with Mason Mastrioni, who draws for BC Comics. Through this program, she goes into schools to educate children on healthy living, focusing mostly on proper nutrition, reduced screen time, and increased activity.

Additionally, Nalini is involved with setting up activities in the community for National Turn-off Week. This week is about getting children out of their houses and exploring activities available in the community. She talks to local businesses and activity centers to set up discounts for the week and send out flyers. She works on a number of grants that come through the office, for instance, the CATCH grant, which features CATCH curriculum and equipment that focuses on increased physical activity and proper nutrition. She also works to enhance existing after-school programs with CATCH material, which involves training on-site staff and getting material to the sites so that staff members can utilize it.

As a Stay Health Kids Associate, Nalini attends a variety of community initiative meetings, forming connections with those in the community who try to help one another working towards the same goals.

Nalini is serving her second fulltime term of service with RHSC as the Stay Healthy Kids Associate.

Educational Background: State University of New York at Albany (SUNY Albany) – B.S. in Biology, B.A. in Psychology
Post AmeriCorps Plans: In the next couple of years I plan on going to medical school and possibly doing another term of service. In the distant future, I plan on implementing a medical home model, which involves serving the whole person rather than focusing merely on the person’s health. This means having a team of healthcare and social workers to identify and help individuals with poorer qualities of life and “hotspots”. Medical hotspots are areas where many individuals tend to go to the hospital multiple times a year. I want to implement models similar to those I have seen or heard about both abroad and within the United States. This position is helping me understand what that means and the role hospital systems and local physicians have to play in the community.

“I am hoping to get families in the community talking about what it means to be healthy and how to combat preventable diseases.”

I hope to take away the skills I need to serve these kinds of communities in the future. This position is helping me understand how all aspects of a child’s life are involved in disease prevention, not just nutrition and physical activity. I am hoping to use these lessons and skills in the future to aid people in these communities receive quality healthcare but also to improve their quality of life overall because a person’s health is only one piece.

I joined Rural Health Service Corps to learn about rural areas in New York and the local demographics because I plan on practicing medicine in some capacity in rural New York. I also wanted to take a break between undergraduate education and medical school, but wanted to make an impact on others and introduce people to other lifestyles that would keep them in good health. I wanted to work with community health because that’s how we can start combating preventable diseases. I also wanted to start correcting the personal health discrepancy that exists in many of these areas.

Ella Kondrat

Host Site: Broome County United Way
Location: Vestal, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Mobility Management Associate

Focus of Service: Ella is helping to bring transportation providers together with human service agencies and riders. Her mission is to increase coordination, maximize budget potential, and ultimately, to improve service for residents of Broome and Tioga counties, especially for the elderly and disabled. She currently helps to run a call center, to answer questions about transportation and to provide travel planning. She will also provide travel training to seniors and other groups. In addition, she is working to update a search-able transportation directory and website, and to promote the free online ride-share matching service, Broome-Tioga Greenride.

Educational Background: BA, Phiosophy, State University of New York at New Paltz
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Ella would like to continue working for sustainable transportation systems and livable spaces. She plans to pursue a master’s degree in Speech Therapy.

“I am helping people to find transportation options to fit their needs. I am helping organizations to coordinate their services, in order to meet the mobility needs of local people, save money, and increase sustainability.”

Kaitlyn Pittman

Host Site: American Cancer Society
Location: Johnson City, NY AmeriCorps Position: Patient & Family Services Associate

Focus of Service: Kaitlyn assists the Patient and Family Services department in the delivery of survivor related programming throughout a 10 county area of the Southern Tier of New York. She helps to coordinate rides for the “Road to Recovery” program; a program where volunteers drive patients to their cancer treatment, and home again. She also helps to coordinate the “Look Good…Feel Better” program. This program is a two-hour workshop that teaches women who are undergoing treatment how to deal with the appearance-altering effects of cancer treatment. She also assists in other programs, such as the Wig Program and Man to Man.

Kaitlyn also visits the Broome Oncology Centers once or twice a week. She helps to direct patients who are receiving treatment to the helpful resources and programs that American Cancer Society has to offer. She assists the staff in the regional office with the Wig Room; a space where patients can come to and receive free wigs, scarves, turbans, and cancer-related information. She also assists the staff in volunteer trainings, as well as recruitment for ACS volunteer opportunities.

Educational Background: Binghamton University, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Kaitlyn is planning on back to school to receive either a Masters in Social Work, or continue her education in Clinical Psychology. She hopes to have a career where she can assist those who are struggling with both physical and mental ailments.

“My experience so far with RHSC and the American Cancer Society has been wonderful. I am so fortunate to have been given the opportunity to work in an environment that is focused on helping members of our community. After college, I knew that I wanted to do something that was meaningful and enjoyable, and it is exactly what I am doing now. I know that everything that I am learning now will be useful in my future career.”

Hayley Rein

Host Site: Rural Health Network, SCNY
Location: Whitney Point, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Rural Health Associate (Health Promotion)

Focus of Service: Hayley assists Joy Stalker with all aspects of the Health Promotion department at RHNSCNY. She assists with the coordination of the Tioga County Healthy Communities Partnership; in this role, she serves on the Social Marketing and Worksite Wellness committees, assists with evaluation of the partnership’s mini-grant program, and provides partners with a bi-monthly newsletter focused on upcoming partnership news and meetings. Hayley will also be assisting with the Healthy Communities – Northern Broome Partnership, a similar community task force focused on Northern Broome County, beginning in early 2012. As a Health Promotion Associate, she attends a variety of other community meetings in order to help build collaboration between organizations with similar goals.

Hayley writes and edits the quarterly Simply Health newsletter, a healthy lifestyle periodical distributed to partners, board members, and past participants in the Simply Health program. She will be helping to coordinate a series of Simply Health classes, teaching community members about basic nutrition and physical activity changes that can prevent chronic disease such as diabetes and heart disease. Additionally, Hayley has also been working on improving the Rural Health Network of SCNY website as well as moderating social media applications for RHNSCNY and several community partnerships.

Educational Background: Hamilton College, Bachelor of Music Binghamton University, Master of Public Administration
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Hayley is planning on continuing her career in the nonprofit sector. She hopes to use her skills by writing and working in a communications department.

“I feel very fortunate to have the chance to improve the region where I grew up. I am learning a great deal about the rural areas of our community, and I hope that my work with RHSC will help create change, allowing residents to be healthier and happier.”

Glynis Rumsey

Host Site: United Way of Broome County
Location: Vestal, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Volunteer Engagement Specialist

Focus of Service: Glynis is working on a state-wide initiative to increase volunteerism in New York. The Regional Volunteer Center of the Southern Tier is a web-based platform that provides a centralized listing of volunteer opportunities with local non-profit agencies.

Glynis meets with non-profit organizations in an effort to create strong volunteer programs specific to their needs. She is also assisting in the recruitment of volunteers and implementing a new reading program at one of United Way of Broome County’s lending libraries “Let’s Read!”, located within the Oakdale mall.

Educational Background: Focus on Sociology at University of MN-Duluth
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Glynis plans to return to New Orleans to pursue a life long passion for animal welfare and continue to search for her niche in community activism.

“In recent years I’ve realized the great importance of community. Where ever one finds it, feeling a sense of belonging and responsibility feeds our core human needs, encouraging individual and collective growth. AmeriCorps gives me the opportunity to study the environment that surrounds me, the people who populate it, and discover how I can contribute.”

Jerry Shriver

Host Site: Upstate Medical Clinical Campus
Location: Binghamton, NY AmeriCorps Position: PAP Associate

Focus of Service: Jerry works alongside the volunteer staff at the Garabed Fattal Community Free Clinic in Binghamton to help the uninsured of his community get the health care they need. Specifically, Jerry helps patients receive costly medications directly from pharmaceutical companies. This insures consistent treatment for patients with chronic illnesses.

Jerry believes that the strongest community is the one which meets the needs of its least privileged members. Through his AmeriCorps service, he seeks justice by attempting to meet a portion of those needs.

Educational Background: BA in Medieval Studies, Binghamton University; Clarendon Scholar, MSt in Medieval Studies, University of Oxford.
Post AmeriCorps Plans: PhD in History; continue to seek justice.

Lauren Tonti

Host Site: Food and Health Network, SCNY
Location: Whitney Point, NY AmeriCorps Position: Food and Health Network Education Coordinator

Focus of Service: Lauren recently began her second AmeriCorps term of service with the Rural Health Service Corps, this time serving with the Food and Health Network. Lauren’s first term of service was spent assisting VINES with the development of summer youth program, management of urban farm and coordination of community gardens.

From Lauren’s first term of service with VINES:

Amelia LoDolce, Sustainable Development Planner for the City of Binghamton, supervises Lauren. “Lauren is helping VINES to make a greater impact on our community by involving more volunteers in our projects and by leading youth programming at our Urban Farm. She brings great energy to all of her work which is inspiring to all of the youth and community members who work with us. We’re incredibly fortunate to have Lauren on our team as a Rural Health Service Corps member.”

“I have been involved with VINES for 3 plus years and became involved more when we were planning the start of the urban farm. I hope to accomplish an abundant growing season for the urban farm, sucessfully complete our youth program and develop our volunteer base.”

Educational Background: BA in Environmental Studies/Natural Resources
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Continue to work with VINES

“I decided to do a second Americorps term this time with the Food and Health Network. The desire to continue my work with food and to be involved in the efforts to build a stronger regional food system really pulled me in to serve with Americorps again. It has been very enriching to learn about all the different initiatives that are happening in our eight county region. Being part of a holistic systems oriented network such as FaHN gives me a perspective on food systems that I have not had and will use in my future food work.”

Donna Wickham

Host Site: Rural Health Network, SCNY
Location: Whitney Point, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Rural Health Associate (Health Care Access)

Focus of Service: Donna serves as a Rural Health Associate with a focus on health care access. Her supervisor, Leslie Kannus, Director of Community Health shares, “Donna’s service has been invaluable. She works very hard at helping people in our rural community to access financial assistance for various healthcare needs, such as prescription medications and vision services. She is someone who always goes the extra mile. She frequently spends hours researching how to help a consumer with a particularly difficult problem. And she almost always comes up with a good answer for them! (Oh, and she really likes ice cream, too!)”

“Serving as an AmeriCorps member has been a wonderful experience. I have gained a better sense of who I am and what I am doing with the rest of my life. The people I have been working with for the last year are amazing and do so much for the rural communities.”

Rosemarie Yesalusky

Host Site: Berkshire EMS
Location: Berkshire, NY AmeriCorps Position: SEMS Corps Member

Focus of Service: I am Rosemarie Yesalusky, a SEMS Corps member (Rural Health Network/AmeriCorps) with the Berkshire Emergency Squad in Newark Valley. I am a local through and through, born in Binghamton and raised in Port Crane, possessing experience with six fire/rescue agencies in the area. I love working rural EMS — it is a part of who I am.

I am the middle child of three girls. Right out of high school (Chenango Valley) I joined the army and went through boot camp in Fort Jackson, South Carolina. However, I was discharged and returned home after boot camp for medical reasons.

I started my career in 1995 with the fire department at Nanticoke. From there, I went to the Glen Aubrey Fire Department, where I was also a member of the medical team. Before long I was introduced to Maine’s Emergency Squad– when and where I realized what I was supposed to be doing with my life. I left the fire departments and focused on the EMS path as a volunteer at Maine. I started working on my state certification for CFR (Certified First Responder) before becoming an EMT-D in 2007. At that point, I worked paid per diem at Maine and continued to volunteer. Before long I took a position at Broome Volunteer Emergency Squad as a paid provider. It seems that a commitment to emergency response was in my blood!

In addition to the above, I became chief of Maine Emergency Squad and served on the board of directors. Then in June of 2010, I left Broome ambulance and pursued part-time employment at Union Volunteer Emergency Squad. I was recently accepted into my SEMS Corps position with the Berkshire Emergency Squad in Newark Valley, where I started in mid-October (2010). I love going to work every day where I know I make a difference.

My husband, Chuck, and I have 4 children. We own a home and three acres of land in the country, in the town of Nanticoke.

Educational Background: Chenango Valley High School, U.S. Army
Post AmeriCorps Plans: My future plans include continuing my EMS career and furthering in my education to become a paramedic. I know this is what I was meant to do.

“I am committed to maintaining the health of rural emergency response agencies. I love going to work every day where I know I make a difference. I love working rural EMS — it is a part of who I am.”

Read the SEMS Corps publication that Rose is featured in.

Cara Zampi

Host Site: Cornell Cooperative Extension, Tioga
Location: Owego, NY AmeriCorps Position: Healthy Lifestyle Mentor

Focus of Service: Cara just began her second term of service with RHSC!

Cara’s First Term (2011): Cara served in Health Promotion in Whitney Point. She was the Health Promotion Associate at the Rural Health Network in SCNYH, with her main objective to educate rural communities about ways to improve health. She helped Joy Stalker with the Simply Health Program which is a 9 week wellness class funded by the Heart Truth Grant. This class educates people on ways they can prevent heart disease.
Cara joined Rural Health Service Corps because she wanted to gain more work experience and take a break from school to think about what to pursue her Masters Degree in.

Joy Stalker, Director of Health Promotion for Rural Health Network SCNY, “Cara is a joy to work with. She is bright, competent and charming. She puts her personal touch on everything she does and has brought a fresh new look to the Simply Health Newsletter. Cara’s commitment to excellence is gratifying. She has a strong work ethic that will take her far in life. I am very happy to have this opportunity to work with her.”

Educational Background: Syracuse University, Advertising
Post AmeriCorps Plans: My dream is to open my own Advertising Agency that works with Non-Profits and Local Businesses. I hope to pursue my Masters Degree in Public Administration to be able to learn how to write grants. I love playing my piano and singing, so if none of the above works I will write jingles for a radio station.

“I am learning a great deal about how a non-profit works and the pros and cons to working in a rural community like Whitney Point. I am a very creative thinker and I hope to improve the design aspect of any projects that I will be given.”

Rose Zonetti

Host Site: Food and Health Network SCNY
Location: Whitney Point, NY AmeriCorps Position: Food and Health Network Coordinator
Focus of Service: Rose joined RHSC with a desire to cultivate food secure communities in South Central New York. Hailing from Ithaca, she currently lives in a community rife with local food pride and community-food-strengthening efforts. She hopes to advance such endeavors throughout the broader South Central New York region during her term of service with RHSC.

As coordinator of the Food and Health Network, Rose facilitates communication and collaboration among the partner organizations of the network. In addition to her daily responsibilities as a coordinator, she is involved with the development of a regional food system assessment and is supporting the implementation of agriculture-friendly zoning in the City of Binghamton. She will also help plan regional events for Farm to You Fest and the first annual National Food Day.
Rose is serving a second term of service as the Food and Health Network Coordinator.

Background: B.A. Writing, Ithaca College
Post AmeriCorps Plans: After her term of service with the Food and Health Network, Rose plans to pursue another term of Americorps service involving community food system work.

“I’ve been genuinely impressed and inspired by the level of dedication that participants in the network have to improving our regional food system. The value of this work is exemplified by all of those who allow time outside of their primary jobs or sacrifice free time to attend meetings and participate in Food and Health Network projects. With so many avenues of food system work, it’s eye-opening to be part of a group that represents so many different sectors of the food system, including production, distribution, nutrition, food security, and food policy. It’s a reminder of both how complex food systems are and how critical service in this area is.”

Carly Ambrose

Host Site: Rural Health Network
Location: Whitney Point, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Health Promotions Associate

Focus of Service: Carly will be working with members of the Lisle Community Garden and Whitney Point Preschool to organize and conduct an edible-gardening and wellness education program. She hopes to increase positive attitudes toward eating fruits and vegetables and allow youth to be involved in all aspects of the growing process. At the end of the program the children will then prepare and eat a meal from the food grown.

Educational Background: University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, B.A. in Psychology
Post AmeriCorps Plans: I would love to continue exploring nutrition and gardening education and also possibly serve another AmeriCorps term!

“I have been interested in AmeriCorps for a while now. I am fortunate to have met some wonderful people so far and look forward to the rest of the experience!”

Stephanie Buglione

Host Site: Broome County Council of Churches – CHOW
Location: 3 Otseningo St. Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps position: CHOW Farm assistant

Focus of Service: As an AmeriCorps service member this summer, Stephanie will be working on the CHOW Farm, connecting with local farms and gardens, and planning for the future sustainability of the perishable goods side of CHOW. Each of these components will ultimately assist in increasing the amount of healthy food available to those in need within Broome County.

Education Background: B.A Environmental Studies from American University
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Stephanie is attending Louisiana State University in the fall to pursue her Masters in Landscape Architecture

“My work at CHOW is incredibly rewarding. What could be better than working for an organization that is growing healthy produce, recovering leftover food, and serving it free of charge to those in need?”

Tasha Casagni

Host Site: Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Hospital
Location: Binghamton
AmeriCorps VISTA Position: Environmental Education Specialist

Focus of Service: Tasha’s VISTA program revolves around the education of members in the Binghamton community who are below the poverty line. The goal is to teach them how to live sustainably; in doing this they can reduce their impact on the earth, experience self-empowerment and make positive changes in their lives.

Her educational program modules focus on: reducing the cost of living by creating homeade household products
reducing garbage bills by participating in recycling and composting finding creative and cost effective ways to reduce household utility costs Tasha says, “I strongly believe that education is power and when you educate someone, no matter the subject, it will greatly improve their quality of life. Skills and confidence in your ability to succeed against all odds are desirable traits that everyone should have.”

Educational Background: Bachelors of Science in Bioengineering from Binghamton University with a minor in Environmental Studies
Post AmeriCorps Plans: After AmeriCorps I plan on pursing my career in engineering. I hope to work with renewable resources such as wind and solar power or become involved with bio-medical research and development. I have a deep love for understanding and improving the world of healthcare as well as protecting and preserving the environment. I am full of innovative ideas for devices that will improve the quality of life for many individuals and I cannot wait to implement them.

“I joined AmeriCorps to make a positive difference in the community in which I went to college. I loved the experience I gained while serving as a VISTA and I’m glad I was allowed such a great opportunity to help so many people.”

Victoria Delaney

Host Site: United Way of Broome County – Broome Tioga Mobility Management Project
Location: Vestal, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Mobility and Transportation Advocate

Focus of Service: Victoria answers calls from individuals needing assistance with transportation. This involves trip planning, as well as travel training. Mobility and Transportation Advocates also give presentations to groups informing the audience and participants of their service. The call center has been in operation a little over a year and the importance of it has proved to be invaluable to the community. It is the intention of the Mobility Management of South Central New York program to serve those with disabilities, senior citizens, those needing to get to work and to reduce the carbon footprint on our environment with Broome-Tioga Greenride a carpooling internet connection. They assist those not accustomed to public transportation by providing travel training. Victoria will ride the buses with those insecure and nervous about the sometimes complex transportation system. They will not abandon their travelers until they are completely confident in their travels.

Nick Cecconi, Coordinator, Mobility Management of South Central New York adds, “In her role as a Mobility and Transportation Advocate, Victoria is absolutely committed to helping those in need. She understands the importance of the work and strives tirelessly to obtain a positive result for the people she’s helping, no matter how many calls she has to make or who she has to prod, poke, coax, or cajole. She is great interacting with people, on the phone, and in her role as a travel instructor. She demonstrates impressive patience, understanding, and empathy for people and their situations, which speaks to what is probably her greatest attribute; she puts people first.”

Educational Background: I have a BA and an MA in art history. I am currently a PhD candidate at Binghamton University in the Philosophy, Interpretation and Culture Graduate Program. I work on the notion of the stranger and all that that entails created by the philosophy of colonialism

“I joined Americorps because it was the right time for me to do so. I have lived all over the world while growing up since my father was an engineer for Army Corp of Engineers. Travel and service has been an ongoing theme of my life. I am a cosmopolitan, that is, a person with a sort of world as home mentality. I have had a desire to work in government service since my discovery of first the Peace Corps, then VISTA, and Americorp have lived in the community for ten years. I have not only gone to school here but I have also worked here. I really think Binghamton and the surrounding counties benefit from mobility management, and the Rural Health Service Corps. It is my intention to work in community service no matter what else I am doing and Mobility Management has given me this opportunity. I sense the desperation of those needing health services, transportation to work, or simply to get out of isolation. I enjoy the service I do every day.”

Shannon Feal

Host Site: Maine Emergency Squad, Inc.
Location: Maine, NY
AmeriCorps Position: SEMS Corps Member (EMT)

As of November 2012, Shannon has been serving as a SEMS Corps member (Rural Health Network/AmeriCorps) with Maine Emergency Squad, Inc., (MESI for short). She lives in Endwell, a quick twenty minute drive from the station. In mid-December 2012, she graduated from SUNY Binghamton with a BA degree in English, and a concentration in Rhetoric. “Funny enough, my major will have almost no effect on my future…though as I think about it I must admit it was the MESI members’rhetoric that convinced me to volunteer with their squad in 2010. The rest of the story is still unfolding.”

She plans to apply to medical school in a little over a year. In the meantime, her service with MESI will focus largely on call coverage, community outreach and capacity building.

Shannon started her EMS career at a pretty young age (16), volunteering with the Union Volunteer Emergency Squad, mainly as an aide. She didn’t mind being the crew member’s ‘lackey’ and was happy being able to provide an extra set of hands to help juggle everything that was happening on a call.

Taking the EMT-Basic course in the summer of 2010 offered Shannon the opportunity to meet some people from MESI, who promptly convinced her to begin volunteering with their squad as well. She feels lucky that they were so convincing, because she finds them to be nothing but caring, supportive, and a joy to work with.

Educational Background: SUNY Binghamton with a BA degree in English, and a concentration in Rhetoric
Post AmeriCorps Plans: I plan to apply to medical school

“Working in rural EMS is truly a unique experience. It is a joy to come in to work knowing that I have the opportunity to take part in something so special and possibly make a difference in someone’s life”.

Aaisha Fatima

Host Site: Broome County Office for Aging
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Health Promotion Specialist

Focus of Service: Nutrition Education

Generally: Working alongside Nutrition and Wellness Unit at Broome County Office for Aging (OFA) to promote healthy aging across Broome County

Specifically: Began service by examining previous nutrition education programs implemented by OFA in order to develop a more effective and engaging means of health promotion, thus creating Living Life 360: a 4-week nutrition series with the broad goals of encouraging clients to stay active, eat healthy and be happy. After completion of this program, will be putting together Living Life 360 Healthy Recipe Book: a compilation of recipes submitted by clients of the program; will be printed and sent to all participants of the program. Additionally write and edit Meals on Wheels Gazette, a monthly healthy living newsletter for the homebound clients of Meals on Wheels.

” Aaisha has been a wonderful addition to the Office for Aging. I have found Aaisha to be very creative and self motivated. Under the guidance of our Registered Dietitian, Aaisha has developed a new wellness program called Living Life 360. Aaisha researched the curriculum, designed the class content, and is the lead presenter. This program is being presented at each of our 10 senior centers throughout this year. We will likely use the curriculum for future nutrition education programs in the coming years. Besides Living Life 360, Aaisha has helped the agency promote better health and wellness in many ways. She recruited volunteers to help pack emergency meals for Meals on Wheels clients, has worked at some of our centers facilitating other programs, and has written several articles for our monthly newsletters. I can truly say, in just a few months working at the Office for Aging, that Aaisha has made lasting and significant contributions to the wellness of the senior population in this community.” – Donna Bates, Nutrition Services Coordinator, Broome County Office for Aging

Educational Background: Binghamton University (SUNY)- B.S. in Integrative Neuroscience, B.A. in Linguistics
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Possibly another term of service

“Teaching seniors in the community about nutrition and wellness (while competing with Dr. Oz as a source of nutrition information) has been fun and extremely enriching. I hope to use this experience to learn more about the challenges underprivileged individuals face in staying healthy, addressing these challenges and focus on creating models for preventing and managing chronic disease.”

Marie Gresham

Host Site: SHARE / Whitney Point School District
Location: Whitney Point, NY
AmeriCorps/VISTA Position: Family Engagement Coordinator

Focus of Service: Marie serves as one of our VISTA members. Marie’s focus is to develop and implement a recruitment strategy to involve and engage low-income families with their children’s education and with their rural school district; to build an effective partnership between family and school. The strategy includes continued contact to build trust, define barriers through focus groups and assessment and track and record family information and engagement communications. I then work with recruited families to promote sustainability; guide the development of programs and education to recruit and help other families.

Educational Background: In May of 2012, I received my Masters of Social Work from Binghamton University. Prior to this I worked as a software engineer for many years after receiving a Masters in Computer Science.
Post AmeriCorps Plans: My hopes are to continue family engagement work within Broome County Schools with the SHARE project.

“I absolutely love the community, the outreach and working with the families. It’s the first time in my life where I can relate to the idea of: “Choose a job you love, and you willnever have to work a day in your life.”

Liz Herman

Host Site: Cornell Cooperative Extension, Tioga County
Location: Owego, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Gardening and Local Foods Associate

Focus of Service: Liz helps promote local food and agriculture through a variety of educational workshops and programs designed to increase nutritional knowledge and gardening skills. In addition, she works to promote local food through assistance with farmer’s markets, and working with others to put on agriculturally themed community events. In March, Liz coordinates Agricultural Literacy Week in Tioga, which pairs volunteers with local second grade classrooms to read agriculture-themed books. Other projects and events with which Liz is involved include Sundaes at the Farm, Taste of Tioga, Day of Caring, and Food Day. Through the “Digging into Health” grant, Liz assists in delivering classroom presentations that foster healthy eating. She will be helping out with “Kitchen Kids,” a summer camp that focuses on gardening and nutrition.

“Liz brings a wealth of professional and personal experience to the gardening and local foods position. She’s taken on leadership roles in multiple projects and demonstrates she’s not only competent but caring. She understands the value in our work to promote healthy lifestyles through vegetable gardening and supporting local agriculture. Liz is a wonderful partner for Cooperative Extension to further our mission of improving communities through education and empowering individuals to make healthy lifestyle choices.” ~ Susannah Krysko Reese, MS (Liz’s Supervisor at Cornell Cooperative Extension, Tioga)

Educational Background: B.A. in Sociology/Anthropology, Hampshire College
Post-AmeriCorps Plans: Along with continuing to expand her massage therapy business, Liz plans to stay involved with local food issues – whether though volunteering at VINES or other community programs, or through formal employment.

“Through this position, I hope to help educate community members about the many benefits of locally grown, sustainably farmed produce. I also hope to share the joy and excitement I have for gardening with others, and give them the tools they need to begin or expand their gardening activities. ”

Vishesha Patel

Host Site: Tioga County Health Department
Location: Owego, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Public Health Associate

Focus of Service: As the only AmeriCorps member at the health department, Vishesha is responsible to complete various tasks by multiple departments. She mainly works for the Early Intervention Department and is responsible for monitoring a New York State program called Child Find. When needed, she attends meetings for children with special health care needs as a Tioga County Representative. Additionally, she actively works with the Health Educators in the community by doing outreach at various schools and events, informing the public about the various opportunities and resources available through the health department. Furthermore, she calls every newborn family and inquires about the mother and newborn’s health, while also informing about the resources available to them.

Educational Background: International Studies: Global Health and Environment from University of Michigan
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Traveling and attending a graduate program in the health care field in the fall.

“As someone who is interested in working in the health field, my position was the perfect fit. Working at a health department allowed me to see the things that happen behind the scenes on a macro level rather than experiencing direct patient care. I now understand the duties of a health department and how professionals work together to improve the health and wellness of a community as a whole.”

Ben Pate

Host Site: Rural Health Network of South Central New York, Inc.
Location: Whitney Point, NY
AmeriCorps VISTA Position: Resource Development and Promotion Associate for Rural Health Network SCNY/Tioga County Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Focus of Service: Ben is responsible for leading the resource development and sustainability efforts for the Tioga County Neighbors Helping Neighbors project, and supporting sustainability efforts for the Broome-Tioga Mobility Management Project, Health Care Access programs and other initiatives serving low-income rural residents, including military families and veterans at the Rural Health Network of South Central New York.

“Ben brings a high level of commitment and diverse skills to his VISTA service. I have been genuinely impressed (and appreciative) of his ability to facilitate the planning process for Neighbors Helping Neighbors resource development, including his work on specific projects. Ben has demonstrated a strong service and work ethic and is willing to do whatever needs to be done to see a project or task through, including working outside of regular work hours to meet deadlines. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Ben and appreciate the important contributions he is making to improve rural health through his service.”
– Jack Salo, Executive Director, Rural Health Network of South Central New York

“Ben’s enthusiasm is contagious. He combines that enthusiasm with the ability to create plans, follow through and demonstrate concrete results. He has been able to effectively support and work with the different Neighbors Helping Neighbors partners, eliciting their participation in the development and implementation of the sustainability plan. He is very productive and he is able to work effectively navigating the potential challenges of working under the directions of two supervisors, one of whom is off-site. We at Rural Health Network and Tioga County Neighbors Helping Neighbors are very fortunate to have Ben work amongst us and he has definitely made a difference for the people he has served and worked alongside. He is certainly having an impact on a more positive outlook for the sustainable future of my project.” – Heather Kirkland, Coordinator, Tioga County Neighbors Helping Neighbors (Rural Health Network of South Central New York)

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience working on sustainable development for community development and health initiatives in rural Broome and Tioga counties. I have the privilege of working with a dedicated, supportive, knowledgeable staff and volunteers, all working together to improve the health of rural communities.”

Maggie McGoff

Host Site: Mothers & Babies Perinatal Network
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Youth Services Program Assistant

Focus of Service: Mothers and Babies Perinatal Network offers educational services for those throughout Broome and Tioga Counties.
The Youth Services Program Assistant is responsible for the following (and other) tasks:

Observing/co-facilitating/implementing programs (Life-skills and grant funded programs)
Data entry (results of the pre and post surveys)
Research (updated information on life-skills)
Preparing materials (Power Points for the updated life-skills)

Educational Background: Associate in Science from SUNY Broome, Bachelor of Science in Education: Health from SUNY Cortland
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Maggie plans to attend graduate school.

“I joined AmeriCorps to gain experience as a health educator.”

Julia Mahar

Host Site: Broome County Council of Churches – Faith In Action
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Healthy Lifestyle Mentor Coordinator

Focus of Service: Julia’s service focuses on:
Helping the chronically ill and elderly to live a healthier lifestyle by pairing by pairing them one-on-one with mentors in their homes.

Sharing information with seniors about living a healthy life that incorporates healthy local foods, gentle exercise and good mental and social health by leading classes and workshops at senior living facilities.
Collaborating with other organizations with similar goals.

Educational Background: B. A. in Psychology from Binghamton University. A. A. S. in Chemical Dependency Counseling from Broome Community College
Post AmeriCorps plans: I plan to pursue a Masters in Social Work.

“I want to empower people to make their own choices and to stand up for their health.”

Kyle Hagenbuch

Host Site: Lourdes Northern Tioga Center for Family Health and Northern Tioga Neighbors Network
Location: Richford, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Rural Health Associate

Focus of Service: Kyle’s service area is broken into two main focus areas that often blur between the lines. He works at the primary care office in Richford and assists with the administrative work at the health clinic. He also serves as a member of the Northern Tioga Neighbors Network (NTNN), which assists clients with accessing health services. NTNN initially began out of a church in Richford to find rides for homebound individuals, but has slowly morphed to fill a variety of needs in the community. Kyle provides services by connecting NTNN’s dedicated volunteers to client needs. He also assists with teaching nutrition and exercise classes for older adults in the area. Finally, Kyle has assisted clients navigating their needs for prescription assistance, food assistance, and health insurance. Many patients of the Lourdes clinic become clients at NTNN, thus Kyle helps build the bridge between these two important services in the community.

Educational Background: High School Diploma from Campbell-Savona Central School, Bachelor of Science in Biology from Bates College
Post AmeriCorps Plans: “I will either be attending medical school at The University of New England or SUNY Upstate in the fall.”

“My ultimate goal is to become a rural physician. This AmeriCorps position has given me the foundation of social and economic difficulties rural Americans face to accessing health services. I have also seen the strength many of our patients and residents gain from living in such a close-knit community. I will hopefully be able to use these lessons to better address the needs of my future patients.”

Zachary Elkind

Host Site: Rural Health Network of South Central New York
Location: Whitney Point, NY
AmeriCorps Position: VISTA Health Care Access Associate

Focus of Service: Since September 2013, Zach has been serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA member at the Rural Health Network of South Central New York (RHN). His work has focused on New York State of Health, the Marketplace established by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Zach has built relationships with local navigator organizations to ensure that rural residents have the resources they need to take advantage of new health insurance options made available due to the ACA.

In addition to this work, Zach is part of the RHN development team where he aids the organization in securing grant funding for its many programs and initiatives.

Educational Background: Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics, and Law (PPL) and History from Binghamton University
Post AmeriCorps Plans: “I plan on working in the political field, hopefully in D.C., working for an advocacy group or as a congressional staffer.”

“I joined AmeriCorps because I wanted to use the skills I had to help those in need in the community. I also knew that it would allow me to gain valuable work experience right out of college.”

Thomas Donnelly

Host Site: United Way of Broome County
Location: Vestal, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Disaster Preparedness Specialist

Focus of Service: Tom works as a Disaster Preparedness Specialist serving Broome County. He works to bring together and collaborate with organizations and volunteer agencies looking to better prepare for and respond to disasters – both natural and man-made. He is responsible for supporting disaster preparedness activities through the Southern Tier Volunteer Center (STVC) and Broome County Community Organizations active in Disaster (BCCOAD). Through his work with BCCOAD and STVC, Tom strives to increase the number of individuals who are prepared for disaster.

Educational Background: A.A. in Liberal Arts from Suffolk Community College, B.A. in Political Science from Binghamton University
Post AmeriCorps Plans: “I would like to go on and get my Master’s in Public Administration and eventually move to New York City.”

“Being a recent graduate from Binghamton University, it felt only right that I give back to a community that has been so generous to me throughout my time studying here.”

Haley Desilet

Host Site: SUNY Upstate Free Clinic
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Patient Assistance Program Associate

Focus of Service: Haley serves the uninsured members of upstate New York, working at the Dr. Garabed A. Fattal Community Free Clinic. The clinic is run by a variety of health professionals: physicians, residents, medical students, nurses, pharmacists, administrative volunteers and staff, etc., but Haley’s position, in particular, involves enrolling patients in Patient Assistance Programs, helping these patients get medications that may not typically be available at the clinic.

“Last year I served as a VISTA in Washington State and, finding the experience extremely rewarding, decided to sign on for another year, but with a program that would allow me to serve with AmeriCorps, while also getting some experience in rural medicine. I have learned a great deal in a short time from the clinic’s staff and volunteers (a dedicated and knowledgeable group of people) and have found satisfaction in serving a community in such need.”

Allison Basco

Host Site: UHS Stay Healthy Center
Location: Johnson City, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Stay Healthy Associate

Focus of Service: The UHS Stay Healthy Center works to improve the community’s health and address its pressing healthcare needs. Allison assists the Stay Healthy Center with meeting this goal. Perhaps the most important part of Allison’s service is the Stay Healthy Kids Club, a program designed to reduce childhood obesity, which Allison assists with coordinating and teaching. Since the Southern Tier has the highest adult diabetes rate in upstate New York, and obesity is a significant risk factor for developing diabetes, intervention programs like this are especially important. Each Kids Club is a 12 week program where overweight and obese children ages 8-13 learn about healthy lifestyle choices, nutrition, and exercise through instruction and activity.

Aside from the Stay Healthy Kids Club, Allison facilitates with other health-related community outreach through events such as health fairs.

Educational Background: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Allison plans on pursuing a career in the non-profit field focusing on social justice, policy research, and/or international human rights, and continuing her education in graduate school.

“I joined AmeriCorps to gain professional experience and insight about careers in community outreach and service.”

Amanda Barker

Host Site: Maine EMS
Location: Maine, NY
AmeriCorps Position: EMT Associate

Focus of Service: Amanda is an Emergency Medical Technician with Maine Emergency Squad in Maine, NY. She provides emergency medical care to the residents of Maine, Glen Aubrey, and Nanticoke as well as the surrounding communities. Her position is focused on increasing call coverage, recruiting new members, and fundraising through grants and other means to help make her volunteer organization successful and sustainable.

Educational Background: NYS EMT Certified
Post AmeriCorps Plans: “I am hoping to further my education and become a paramedic, and maybe even one day a flight paramedic.”

“In EMS, we are called to help on someone’s worst day of their life. Volunteer EMTs make the difference in so many ways, and I am proud to be a part of that.”

Olivia Consol

Host Site: Rural Health Network of SCNY
Location: Whitney Point, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Health and Well-Being Associate

Focus of Service: Olivia primarily works with children and families at the Whitney Point Preschool and Daycare teaching them about nutrition, gardening, and physical activity. She helps children ages two to five develop healthy habits through taste tests, literacy activities, and exploration in the Preschool’s vegetable garden. She also plans cooking demonstrations and community dinners to help parents find ways to feed their families healthfully on a budget.

Educational Background: B.S. in Integrated Marketing Communications from Ithaca College
Post AmeriCorps Plans: “I hope to work in nonprofit communications and potentially get a Masters in Public Administration.”

“I hope that the children I work with will develop a love of fresh, local, healthy foods that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives, and I hope that parents feel more empowered to make healthy choices for their families.”

Estefania Trujillo

Host Site: Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chemung County
Location: Elmira, NY
AmeriCorps Position: VISTA Poverty Reduction Coordinator

Member Bio: Hi everyone, my name is Estefania Trujillo. I am from Cali, Colombia. I am a recent graduate of SUNY Geneseo where I studied International Relations. I am excited to be the new VISTA Poverty Reduction Coordinator for the 2014-2015 service year! I will be working in partnership with Cornell University and Cooperative Extension in the Poverty Reduction Coalition plan that brings various community leaders together so that we can work together to reduce poverty in Chemung County. We want to create community leaders within Chemung County so that they can be empowered to be leaders of change. I have a strong belief in the role that communities play in working together to make change. It is when we work together as a whole that we can move forward and make a difference in our communities.

Educational Background: International Studies, SUNY Geneseo

“I have a strong belief in the role that communities play in working together to make change. It is when we work together as a whole that we can move forward and make a difference in our communities.”

Will Trithart

Host Site: United Way of Broome County – Healthy Lifestyles Coalition
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Healthy Lifestyles Associate

Focus of Service: Will works in the North Side of Binghamton and focuses his efforts on cooking education, community outreach, and gardening. With a background in culinary arts and environmental studies he is putting his studies to use to help benefit north side residents.

Educational Background: Associates Degree in Culinary Arts – Culinary Institute of America; Bachelors Degree in Environmental Studies – Binghamton University
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Will is planning on opening a business focused around a commercial kitchen. Details still fermenting….

“For is there any practice less selfish, any labor less alienated, any time less wasted, than preparing something delicious and nourishing for people you love?” -Michael Pollan

Michelle Tomei

Host Site: The Place
Location: Norwich, NY
AmeriCorps Position: VISTA Member at The Place

Focus of Service: This year I am helping built capacity and sustainability efforts for The Place through organizational development. Some of my duties include grant writing to secure funds and developing and maintaining a donor database and an internship program. From my VISTA experience, I am hoping to gain professional experience and skills, as well as knowledge about the non-profit world in general.

Educational Background: Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations, Bachelor of Arts in French, Minor in International Business from State University of New York at Oswego

“From my VISTA experience, I am hoping to gain professional experience and skills, as well as knowledge about the non-profit world in general.”

Keaghlan Morrissey

Host Site: Broome County Office for Aging – Nutrition & Wellness
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Health Promotion Specialist

Focus of Service: Keaghlan is serving at the Broome County Office for Aging in the Nutrition and Wellness unit. Her service work includes traveling to the nine senior centers in Broome County to meet the needs of seniors within her community in hopes of preventing social isolation. Her main service activities include teaching nutrition education classes, facilitating a six week balance program, delivering meals on wheels, and organizing a Seniors Running and Walking Festival to be held in August. Each of these activities will help bring seniors together in hopes of gaining a better sense of well-being as well as community engagement.

Educational Background: B.A. Communications & Rhetoric with minor in Digital Imaging and Graphic Design – Nazareth College
Post AmeriCorps Plans: “I hope to relocate to North Carolina and work at a photography studio or for a graphic design company.”

“While the AmeriCorps is extremely rewarding, I honestly joined because I was frustrated with job hunting immediately after graduating. I was disappointed with the plethora of rejection letters from different interviews. I quickly realized I needed to focus on something else, something different, something completely opposite of what I studied for 4 years in college. Through my service thus far, I have met some amazing individuals who have really helped me understand the importance of community involvement. I hope to provide the seniors residing in Broome County a feeling of community and an overall sense of well-being.”

Ann Moring

Host Site: Broome County Promise Zone
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Family Engagement Coordinator

Tyler Moore

Host Site: Windsor Emergency Services, Inc.
Location: Windsor, NY
AmeriCorps Position: EMT Associate

Jennifer McDermott

Host Site: United Way of Broome County
Location: Vestal, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Volunteer Engagement Specialist

Focus of Service: As the Volunteer Engagement Specialist, Jennifer works with individuals and groups in the local community to match them with appropriate volunteer opportunities. Her goal is to increase the number of volunteers and volunteer hours served throughout Broome County, as well as to increase the visibility of United Way and its partner agencies in the local community. She does this through education and outreach initiatives, in addition to participating in the planning and coordination of service events such as Day of Caring, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and I Love My Park Day. Working with the Binghamton University chapter of Student United Way, Jennifer educates and encourages students to volunteer throughout the local community in order to increase their awareness about agencies and services available to local residents.

Educational Background: Binghamton University, Masters of Public Administration, Spring 2016; Wells College, Bachelor of Arts in Psycholoty, Minor in Art History
Post AmeriCorps Plans: “After my service term is complete, I plan to finish graduate school and start putting my education to use! I hope to continue working in the human service field, particularly in the nonprofit sector.”

“I joined AmeriCorps because I wanted to devote my time to serving the community I’ve grown up in. In my time with United Way, I’ve learned more about what great work local nonprofits do in Binghamton and throughout Broome County than I have living here most of my life.”

Melina Martin

Host Site: CHOW
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Broome Bounty Assistant

Focus of Service: This summer, Melina has been connecting CHOW’s many programs through the 2015 Youth Employment Program. Melina has taken on the responsibility of managing 9 at-risk youth ages 16-20 and planning their time on the CHOWbus (a low cost / no cost mobile food market) and CHOW Farm (a volunteer-run farm that grows healthy food for the community) for the 6 week program. In addition, she has involved them in many learning opportunities, including yoga sessions, financial literacy classes, a tour of a working farm, and a behind-the-scenes look at local wetlands!

Future Plans: Melina will graduate from Binghamton University in 2016 with a B.S. in Biology and B.A. in English. In order to combine her love of medicine and non-profits, Melina plans to get an M.P.A. at SUNY Binghamton and work as a Physician Assistant in needy areas.

“I am passionate about connecting people, organizations, and resources to improve lives in my community!”

Paul Malinowski

Host Site: Broome County Promise Zone
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: VISTA Promise Zone Volunteer Coordinator

Member Bio: Hello, my name is Paul Malinowski and I am serving with the Broome County Promise Zone for Binghamton University. The Promise Zone helps students and families in different local school districts to find success in academics and in life. I specifically work with the Community School Assistants program where we take undergraduate BU students and place them in the different schools to act as mentors. I help prepare the undergraduate students to be mentors, along with helping them develop skills from the program that they can apply to their future careers. As a graduate student myself in the Student Affairs Administration program at BU, I hope to continue working with college students to help them meet their fullest potential.

Educational Background: Bachelor of Arts in History from Binghamton University, and currently pursuing a Masters of Science in Student Affairs Administration from Binghamton University

“I hope to continue working with college students to help them meet their fullest potential.”

Jeffrey Lord

Host Site: Hope Dispensary of the Southern Tier
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Eligibility Counselor

Andrea Lane

Host Site: Broome County Council of Churches – Faith in Action
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Elder Services Liaison

Focus of Service: The focus of this liaison position is to further connect Faith in Action with another program at the Broome County Council of Churches, the Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse or CHOW. The position serves to bridge both programs in order to bring more fresh, healthy and affordable produce to seniors who may otherwise not have access to these essentials due to obstacles pertaining to mobility, health, money and more.

Andrea serves as the Elder Services Liaison for Faith in Action. She runs programs that offer services to senior citizens especially pertaining to nutrition in old age, transportation help and the socialization barriers that many elderly face. Among the projects Andrea works on is “Grocery Day” – a program that offers seniors a chance to socialize and meet new people over coffee while doing their routine grocery shopping. Utilizing this program, older individuals have the opportunity to get out and satisfy any lonely feelings they may have while getting a ride to the store to get what they need. Teaming up with CHOW, Andrea also runs a weekly “Senior Sprint” indoor farmer’s market that brings low-cost fresh produce right to senior living centers and apartment complexes. Since beginning this collaboration through her liaison role, there has been a lot of positive feedback from seniors who truly appreciate the services that allow for easier access to nutritious foods, as well as a chance to socialize with new people at the markets.

With such great success so far, Andrea plans to use the senior produce markets as a catalyst to inform more seniors of the services they can utilize through Faith in Action. She will introduce cooking demonstrations, exercise classes and invite special guests to hold events catering to senior needs and wants to further spread the word of the organizations she works with throughout the community.

Educational Background: B.S. in Biology with a Minor in Business Studies – SUNY Geneseo
Post AmeriCorps Plans: “After my AmeriCorps term of service, I plan to attend graduate school for my Master’s of Public Health.”

“I joined AmeriCorps because it is incredibly rewarding seeing and responding first hand to the kinds of services this community needs to be a healthier and happier place. In my position, I am always looking for different kinds of experiences to offer to seniors to help in any way possible. There is no better solution to help combat the issues that seniors must deal with than to connect them with as many people, services, and organizations as possible. Day to day, the best reward is seeing the countless positive responses from the individuals I am lucky enough to reach through these projects.”

Kristen Lambe

Host Site: Mothers & Babies Perinatal Network
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Health Access Specialist

Focus of Service: Kristen does outreach in the community to get the word out about all of the health services available to residents of Broome, Chemung, Delaware, Otsego, and Tioga counties. She works with community members one-on-one and in groups to raise health literacy, share information about enrolling in the New York State of Health Marketplace insurance plans, and connect individuals to services like transportation and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Additionally, she presents informational health insurance presentations to high schools and other groups.

Educational Background: Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Vermont
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Kristen hopes to teach middle school or high school Spanish and attend graduate school.

“In this year of service, I hope to connect community members to health services they need to live healthier lives. It’s a great opportunity to give back and serve the community in which I was raised.”

Shea Kelly

Host Site: Broome County Promise Zone
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: VISTA Family Engagement Coordinator

Focus of Service: Shea is working to develop a formal model for the family engagement work that the Promise Zone is doing. Shea assists the Promise Zone at all of their sites around Broome County in implementing more parent and family engagement programs. Lack of family engagement is a risk factor for poor academic performance and high risk behaviors. The Promise Zone helps to engage families by hosting Parent Cafes, Parent Mentoring, making calls and home visits, listening to their obstacles and trying to help them overcome them.

Educational Background: B.S. in Health and Wellness from SUNY Buffalo State
Future Plans: After my service I hope to attend Graduate school to get my Masters in Public Health. Ultimately I would like to work in childhood obesity prevention.

“I joined VISTA because I felt what I was doing prior to the start of my service wasn’t rewarding enough. I wanted to be doing something that was more challenging and meaningful.”

Daniel Kerila

Host Site: Windsor Emergency Services, Inc.
Location: Windsor, NY
AmeriCorps Position: EMS Associate

Focus of Service: I started my EMS career at a young age. I got my CPR certification through a criminal justice class at Broome-Tioga BOCES at age 16. I then joined my local hometown squad: Union Volunteer Emergency Squad (UVES). I began riding there in January of 2011, and became a member in March of that year. After taking my EMT-Basic course in the fall of 2012, I became certified as an EMT-Basic crew chief with my fire department’s (Union Center Fire) medical team, and shortly thereafter I became a crew chief at UVES. A crew chief is the member of the crew that is in charge of the call and the patient care. Since then I have also joined Chenango Ambulance in March 2013.

I am now a certified Emergency Medical Technician-Basic. I works as a SEMS Corps EMT with Windsor Ambulance. With Windsor I run emergency 911 calls with all volunteers on the ambulance. Also I am responsible for recruiting and retention, grant writing, and data collection and reporting.

Educational Background: Maine-Endwell High School – Regents Diploma
Post AmeriCorps Plans: “I began an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician Critical Care medic class through Broome County which ends in May and hopefully will be working on my Advanced Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic certification within the next four years.”

“By dedicating my time and giving all my effort, I can make a difference in people’s lives.”

Brianna Kaminski

Host Site: Mothers & Babies Perinatal Network
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Health Access Specialist

Focus of Service: Brianna is involved with the outreach aspect in the community to get the word out about all of the social services available to residents of Broome, Chemung, Delaware, Otsego, and Tioga counties. The focus of her service is raising health literacy, sharing information about enrolling in the New York State of Health Marketplace insurance plans, and brokering individuals to services that are appropriate for their needs to live healthy lives. This is made possible through outreach events such as focus group activities, tabling, educational sessions and programs, and just being hands on in the community discovering different services provided and connecting with them. Mothers and Babies strives to make positive change in health outcomes for women, infants, and families.

Educational Background: Kutztown University Bachelors Degree in Social Work
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Brianna plans to obtain a traveling social work type job to help people from a vast array of communities. Eventually she would like to obtain a masters in Social Work and open her own practice.

“My hope for my year of service is that I will become more educated about the community that I have grown up around for years and truly empower people to take control of their health care and ultimately live healthier lives. In my eyes, life’s reward is being able to dedicate my time and effort to make a change in people’s lives and connect to peers that feel the same way that I do!”

Aimee Heavey

Host Site: CHOW
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: CHOW Program Assistant

Focus of Service: The Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse (CHOW) feeds food insecure community members in Broome County. Aimee is working with CHOW to forward their goal of providing one third of their 1.3 million distributed meals as healthy, fresh food within five years.

Aimee is leading the design and construction of a hoop house to grow more produce on site. She orchestrated and mobilized the planting of a community garden, currently lush with green, fresh food. Her work has helped the lead volunteer at the CHOW farm grow and harvest more produce than ever before. In addition, she is designing a new permaculture garden for the CHOW farm, and introducing new concepts of sustainability and food production to the CHOW team.

Educational Background: B.S. Biology, Chemistry; Plattsburgh State University
Graduate and Post-Graduate Studies: Geography, Sustainability; El Rancho Mastatal, Cortland State University
Future Plans: Aimee’s time is spent educating communities on sustainable living and developing sustainable local food systems. Planting and harvesting in her forest garden are favorite ways to pass the time.

“With so many global issues converging on us now, there has truly never been a better time to promote local food initiatives. Working for AmeriCorps at CHOW is a great way to give back to the community, help those in need, provide fresh healthy foods, and simultaneously address larger global issues. My experience here has been wonderful. CHOW’s success can be attributed to very dedicated and inspirational people.”

Evan Heaney

Host Site: Mothers & Babies Perinatal Network
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Health Access Specialist

Focus of Service: The focus of Evan’s service is to help in facilitating and holding focus groups in each county covered to understand the current awareness and knowledge of NY State of Health Insurance Marketplace. Evan’s service will involve researching local groups and individuals in these counties, and contacting and referring people to any services they may be in need of. This member will host educational sessions informing people of NYS Marketplaces, services provided by Mothers and Babies Perinatal Network, stipulations of the Affordable Healthcare Act, and squaring up particular health plans with individual needs on a case by case basis.

Educational Background: Bachelor of Philosophy
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Graduate School and entry into a MBA Program

Will Gowen

Host Site: Cornell Cooperative Extension-Tompkins County
Location: Ithaca, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Low Income Food Access Coordinator (Community Gardens Focus)

Focus of Service: The focus of Will’s service is providing support and resources to various gardening projects that seek to increase low income food access and help people grow their own food. Will leads container garden workshops at Food Pantries and Low-Income Housing Complexes, provides garden education for low-income youth, and supports a new community garden in Ithaca nearby low income housing projects (and new gardeners). He is also spending time supporting the development of Permaculture Park in Ithaca, which is a public park that is slowly being transformed into a public edible food forest demonstration site and helping to lead a job-training program at the Ithaca Children’s Garden called the Teen Urban Farmer Program.

Educational Background: Hamilton College; B.A. in Anthropology with Minor in Africana Studies
University of Vermont – Farmer Training Program; Certificate of Sustainable Agriculture – 2012
Future Plans: Will plans to continue to organize around issues of food justice and food sovereignty after completing his AmeriCorps term.

“The lesson I have thoroughly learnt, and wish to pass on to others, is to know the enduring happiness that the love of a garden gives.” Gertrude Jekyll

Lexi Edmundson

Host Site: Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Food Access Educator

Focus of Service: As a Food Access Educator, Lexi focuses both on nutrition programs as well as gardening and horticulture programs. She reaches out to people through nutrition and cooking classes in the community and through outreach at farmer’s markets, elementary schools, and farm share pick-ups. Lexi is currently working on creating a program for elementary school kids to teach them the health benefits of fruits and vegetables, as well as the importance of purchasing local produce.

Educational Background: B.S. in Human Biology, Health, and Society, Cornell University
Future Plans: Lexi plans to gain more work experience and then pursue a Master’s of Public Health.

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill

Rebecca Chandler

Host Site: Rural Health Network of South Central New York
Location: Whitney Point, NY
AmeriCorps Position: VISTA Health Care Access Associate

Member Bio: I am a Health Care Access Associate working for the Rural Health Network of South Central New York. During my service term, I will be leading efforts to ensure that uninsured rural residents can successfully navigate the New York State of Health Marketplace and other opportunities for improved access to health care services resulting from the Affordable Care Act. I will also be working on a needs-assets assessment project called Rural Broome Counts for which I will be gathering and analyzing data to identify strengths and weaknesses of Broome County’s 11 rural municipalities. The final product will ensure more equitable resource and service allocation to rural Broome County. My hope for my year of service is that I will learn more about the rural community and empower people to take control of their health care.

Educational Background: Bachelor of Science in Integrative Neuroscience from Binghamton University

“My hope for my year of service is that I will learn more about the rural community and empower people to take control of their health care.”

Leslie Cody

Host Site: Broome County Council of Churches – CHOW
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: CHOW Program Assistant

Focus of Service: Leslie’s service at the Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse (CHOW) involves providing food and resources to food insecure individuals throughout Broome County. Along with a warehouse, in which the food is processed and packaged, CHOW has 32 food pantries and 30 meal sites, all of which provide food free of cost to individuals. Leslie continues to work on numerous projects, many of which are new and exciting, with three other AmeriCorps service members at CHOW. Throughout her term, Leslie has served on the CHOWbus, a mobile food market which transports and sells fresh produce to individuals in food desert areas. The proceeds from the sales go toward providing lunches to children during the summer and winter breaks, as well as meals to their family members. Leslie also plans and assists in planning various events, the main one being the 32nd Annual Hunger Walk, which took place on October 19th, 2014. Currently, Leslie is visiting CHOW meal sites to acquaint herself with the individuals who use those services and eventually identify their needs and provide them with the resources and knowledge to seek assistance elsewhere if needed.

“I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.” -Rabindranath Tagore

Victor Bushlyar

Host Site: SUNY Upstate Medical University Dr. Garabed A. Fattal Community Free Clinic
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Patient Assistance Program Assistant

Focus of Service: Victor’s service role primarily concerns assisting eligible free clinic patients with enrolling in pharmaceutical companies’ patience assistance programs for free medications. This endeavor allows for the clinic to sustain operations through significant savings on the cost of particular medications; additionally, it enables access for patients to a few medications that are too costly for the clinic to purchase on its own. With recent changes in health insurance, the Medicaid eligibility expansion in New York State, and enhanced requirements for patient assistance program eligibility, Victor will also become involved in screening patients for Medicaid eligibility. The Dr. Garabed A. Fattal Free Clinic is sponsored by SUNY Upstate Medical University and hosted by Broome County Health Department.

Educational Background: Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Binghamton University
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Victor is planning to attend medical school after his term of service is finished.

“This coming AmeriCorps year is actually my second year in service with AmeriCorps; it’s also my second year in service with Rural Health Service Corps! When I originally joined AmeriCorps more than a year ago in September of 2013, I had two simple goals in mind. One was to get a better experiential understanding of the needs of the local community, particularly that of healthcare in rural areas. The other was to make a difference in that community. I can confidently say that my service has provided me countless personal experiences from which I can now inform my comprehension of those needs. Indeed, a significant portion of the individuals I have assisted in the past year were rural residents. I have also achieved my second goal and have done so in some very pleasantly surprising ways! That being said, I am eager and excited to continue to serve my community in the coming year. My reasons for serving a second year are similar to my original ones for signing up with AmeriCorps, but there are a few differences. Namely, as I am currently applying to medical school, I am hopeful that my current service position will provide me some experience in a clinical setting. To that end, I have so far been very pleased and am enjoying my service!”

Isaiah Barker

Host Site: VINES
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Gardening and Local Foods Associate

Focus of Service:
Hey there! I’m Isaiah, the Gardening and Local Foods Associate for Volunteers Improving Neighborhood Environments, Inc.

I originally started my academic path as an English major; dissatisfaction with employment prospects soon led me to environmental science, which I’ve found to be a much better fit. A true naturalist at heart, I’m a self-proclaimed bug nerd and very much into botany.

Recently, when faced with the inefficiencies of the food system as it stands, I found myself wanting to join the movement towards more sustainable and responsibly sourced food. After taking a course called Environmental Agriculture with BU Professor/farmer Mike Kane, I knew that farming would be the task I’d devote my life to. I actually love gardening and working with my hands, so it seems like a no-brainer that I’d come to work with VINES. Hilariously enough, I only found out about the position due to my girlfriend’s prompting.

Working with VINES has been quite challenging–it’s a position that asks for a lot of you both physically and mentally. But the rewards have been considerable. Over the summer I got to work with twelve City of Binghamton youth in the Summer Youth Employment Program. It’s been a great opportunity to be both a role model and teacher to a group that I personally feel were some of the best this town has to offer. I also staffed our farm stand at the Downtown Binghamton Farmer’s Market and worked to increase our presence and familiarity in the eyes of downtown residents. It’s been a blast, and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the year brings!

Dzifa Alifo

Host Site: Mothers & Babies Perinatal Network
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Health Access Specialist

Focus of Service: As a Health Access Specialist, Dzifa’s primary goals are to help rural communities access healthcare by connecting them with health insurance and to also increase health literacy in these communities. She does this by having one-on-one conversations with community members and by making connections with community leaders to determine ways in which they can find and connect with the uninsured.

Educational Background: Cornell University, B.S. in Biology and Society
Post AmeriCorps Plans: After her service, Dzifa intends to attend medical school and also obtain a Master’s in Public Health

Pauline Berkowitz

Host Site: CHOW
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: CHOW Program Assistant

Focus of Service: Pauline’s position at CHOW involves a wide range of service activities, all of which contribute to increasing food security and overall wellness of individuals in various Broome County communities. Along with fellow AmeriCorps service members, she is responsible for serving on the CHOWbus, where produce is sold at cost or given for free to families, as well as the elderly. In addition to working on the bus Pauline looks forward to organizing projects and workshops at CHOW’s new wellness center, which will be equipped to have a food pantry, test kitchen, and space for meditation and yoga.

Educational Background: BA Environmental Studies, Binghamton University

Meggan Bush

Host Site: Mobility Management of South Central New York
Location: Vestal, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Mobility and Transportation Advocate

Focus of Service: Meggan helps with and provides information regarding transportation, and connects clients to reliable transportation. Mobility management is a person centered system where the management looks at the person as a whole and places them in the services in which they may need and makes the services work for the person rather than the person work for the services.

Educational Background: State University of New York at Binghamton, Master of Social Work; State University of New York at Binghamton, Bachelor of Science, Human Development; State University of New York at Broome, Associate in Applied Science, Early Childhood, Associate in Science, Liberal Arts-General Studies
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Meggan would like to find a job in which she could connect those within the community with resources, and to build up communities.

Chelsea Cleary

Host Site: Mothers & Babies Perinatal Network
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Health Access Specialist

Focus of Service: As a Health Access Specialist, it is Chelsea’s job to work as a team with her fellow AmeriCorps Access Specialists to devise strategic and specialized plans for helping the uninsured residents of the surrounding rural communities gain access to affordable and/or subsidized healthcare. Chelsea is out in the Otsego, Delaware, Chemung, Tioga, and Rural Broome areas working directly with uninsured residents to give them information and help schedule appointments with Mothers and Babies Health Navigators. A major aspect of the work that Chelsea is doing is health education and literacy distribution. Chelsea meets not only with rural residents but also attends town hall meetings, and school and community events to educate attendants on the most current healthcare information.

Educational Background: BA Psychology and BA Philosophy from SUNY Oneonta
Post AmeriCorps Plans: After her year of service, Chelsea has plans to continue working in the healthcare field and advocating for sustainable healthcare policies. Chelsea plans on returning to school to pursue a Master’s in Public Administration within the upcoming year.

Brooke Ann Coco

Host Site: Rural Health Network of South Central New York
Location: Whitney Point, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Health Care Access Associate

Focus of Service: Brooke Ann’s position within the Rural Health Network is directed towards improving access to health care services within rural Broome County. Her duties include leading efforts to assist uninsured rural residents by informing changes within the New York State of Health and making necessary enrollment resources readily available. Brooke Ann also manages the second year of the Rural Broome Counts project, a needs-asset assessment that focuses on the 11 rural townships of Broome County. For its second year, the Rural Broome Counts project will focus research efforts specifically on issues surrounding rural poverty.

Educational Background: Kutztown University; B.A. Anthropology, B.A. Music
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Pursue a graduate degree in Medical Anthropology.

Olivia Consol

Host Site: Food & Health Network of South Central New York
Location: Whitney Point , NY
AmeriCorps Position: Education & Outreach Coordinator

Focus of Service: As the Education & Outreach Coordinator for the Food & Health Network (FaHN), Olivia coordinates educational opportunities for FaHN partner organizations and the public, focusing on topics relating to food systems and food access. She also works with preschool and school-age children, teaching them about healthy eating, gardening and wellness. In addition, she helps manage FaHN’s blog and social media accounts.

Educational Background: B.S. in Integrated Marketing Communications, Ithaca College
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Work in nonprofit communications and possibly get an MPA.

Katharine Constas

Host Site: Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County
Location: Ithaca, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Program Assistant

Focus of Service: Katharine provides program support at a quickly-growing and exciting non-profit that brings together local farms and income-limited families to build a vibrant food system that meets the needs of everyone in the community of Tompkins County. She works to provide low-income families with access to fresh produce via subsidized CSA shares and educational resources.

On a day-to-day basis, you may find Katharine coordinating volunteer recruitment and retention; organizing tabling and outreach activities, and assisting in event planning and marketing. She also maintains the website and manages records and databases.

Educational Background: Cornell University; Bachelor’s of Science in Plant Science
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Undetermined

Kaya Donaj-Keys

Host Site: Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County
Location: Ithaca, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Marketing Events Coordinator

Focus of Service: Kaya works on Healthy Food For All’s print, digital, and social media marketing campaigns for farm-to-table harvest dinners. These events support low-income families living in Tompkins County with subsidized CSA shares and educational activities and resources.

Educational Background: BAFA from Alfred University
Post AmeriCorps Plans: To continue engaging positively with the my surrounding community

Tyler Eaton

Host Site: Cortland County Community Action Program (CAPCO)
Location: Cortland, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Cortland Hunger Coalition AmeriCorps Associate

Focus of Service: As the Cortland Hunger Coalition AmeriCorps Associate, Tyler focuses on education and raising awareness in the community and to low-income individuals in the community regarding accessing healthy, affordable foods. Tyler works with the Coalition to collect and analyze data to determine levels of hunger/food insecurity, identify resources available to address, and how to expand, coordinate and connect these resources with families in the community. Tyler also works with CAPCO staff to identify funding and support to expand the snackpack program throughout elementary schools in Cortland County.

Educational Background: Bachelors in Dietetics at SUNY Oneonta
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Tyler’s goals are to pursue an internship to become a Registered Dietitian as well as pursuing personal training certification to help further educate individuals on nutrition and fitness.

Nicole Holmes

Host Site: United Way of Broome County
Location: Vestal, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Volunteer Engagement Specialist

Focus of Service: As the Volunteer Engagement Specialist at United Way, Nicole helps community members interested in volunteering find a suitable site to compete their service. Her main objective is to boost the amount of volunteer work performed in Broome County, and to strengthen the awareness of opportunities to serve the community we live in. United Way of Broome County partners with numerous local organizations, many that would not be able to operate without the help of volunteers. Part of this objective is met by coordinating and organizing service events of all sizes with businesses and groups in the community. She also works with the student chapter of United Way at Binghamton University, helping to teach and inspire students to become more involved with the community they live in.

Educational Background: SUNY College at Brockport, Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Minor in Sociology, Minor in Business Administration.
Post AmeriCorps Plans: After serving as an AmeriCorps member Nicole would like to continue her education by earning her Masters in Public Administration, and eventually go on to work for a non-profit.

Joey Kaplan

Host Site: Broome County Promise Zone
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Broome County Promise Zone Volunteer Coordinator

Focus of Service: Joey Kaplan is responsible for coordinating the undergraduate and graduate interns for a County-Wide, University-Assisted Community School Network (Broome County Promise Zone). Joey recruits interns and volunteers and helps connect students to various school districts through out Broome County. Broome County Promise Zone focuses on improving the lives of Broome County residents by connecting them with various resources to overcome poverty.

Educational Background: Binghamton University: Bachelor of Science in Human Development; Minor in Urban Planning and Healther & Wellness Studies
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Pursuing a Master’s In Public Administration

Sofia Mitchell

Host Site: Lourdes Hope Dispensary
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Financial Counselor

Focus of Service: The Hope Dispensary works with individuals who are uninsured or in the coverage gap who need financial assistance with their medications. They intake patients and look through their information that they provide such as proof of income to see if they qualify for the program. Those who qualify can get their medication dispensed to them for free if it is a medication that the Hope Dispensary carries. For those who are over income to qualify for the Hope Dispensary or the medication is not available, applications through the drug companies can be done for such medications or they will be redirected to a pharmacy that offers them at the cheapest price to the patient.

Educational Background: SUNY Old Westbury- Bachelor in Public Health; SUNY Broome- Associate in Business Administration, Associate in Liberal Arts
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Sofia’s goals are to receive a masters degree in Public Health and become a Health Educator, working with teens and young adults with hopes of better educating them on health, sex education, etc.

Daniel Morales

Host Site: VINES (Volunteers Improving Neighborhood Environments)
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Gardening and Local Foods Associate

Focus of Service: The Gardening and Local Foods Associate position involves supporting all the VINES programs. This includes growing food at the Binghamton Urban Farm, distributing weekly CSA shares through Binghamton Farm Share, coordinating the monthly Green Thumb Workshop Series, supporting the VINES community gardens & their members, and helping supervise the summer youth program, Grow Binghamton, at the Binghamton Urban Farm. The work is as varied as collecting and inputting Binghamton Farm Share customer data, to harvesting, washing, and packing produce for the Binghamton Urban Farm’s CSA shares.

Educational Background: Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Daniel would like to continue to learn about farming

Jesse Morgan

Host Site: ACHIEVE
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Greenhouse and Market Coordinator

Focus of Service: Jesse’s role at ACHIEVE is to oversee the production of produce and plants in the garden and greenhouse and to sell them at the Vestal farmers market every Wednesday. Jesse also works with the day-habilitation residents at ACHIEVE in the garden to develop skills such as seeding, transplanting, composting, pest and disease I.D, and harvesting.

Educational Background: Working towards an associates degree in sustainable crop production and a Bachelors in Plant Science at SUNY Cobleskill
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Finish school, find work in the Agriculture industry, and eventually have his own farm.

Spencer Musselman

Host Site: United Way of Broome County
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Healthy Lifestyles Assistant

Focus of Service: The role of the Healthy Lifestyles Coalition is to combat obesity on the north side of Binghamton. The Healthy Lifestyles Assistant helps coordinate, program, and teach classes about food, nutrition, and cooking. The position also manages a school garden and provides portable dirtbag gardens to school kids so they can garden during the summer months. The program assists VINES with the Farmshare program, a pay as you go CSA share of vegetables program.

Educational Background: Texas Tech University, Marketing; St Louis Community College, Culinary Arts

Post AmeriCorps Plans: I want to continue to grow my catering business. I would like to find a position in the future continuing educating and making people more passionate about real food.

Nellie Poinvil

Host Site: Mothers & Babies Perinatal Network
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Health Access Specialist

Focus of Service: Nellie helps rural communities connect to affordable health insurance and to various other health services. She promotes health literacy to those with limited access to health services through outreach within these areas. This outreach involves hosting educational sessions informing people of NYS Marketplaces, services provided by Mothers and Babies Perinatal Network, and stipulations of the Affordable Healthcare Act.

Educational Background: Metropolitan of NY: Human Services, SUNY Broome: Event Management
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Nellie plans to go back to my country to get involved in helping improve and create opportunity for rural communities.

Julia Rivera

Host Site: Broome County Promise Zone
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Family Engagment Coordinator

Focus of Service: It has been proven that children in school perform better when their families are involved in their academics. The Promise Zone strives to get parents more engaged with their children’s education. As a Family Engagement Coordinator, Julia’s main focus is to increase positive family-school partnerships, specifically within Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School. Julia hosts Parent Cafés to better bridge the gap between parents and their school. By hosting these Parent Cafés, Julia hopes to implement a more positive family-school relationship at Roosevelt Elementary.

Educational Background: B.A. in Psychology from Binghamton University
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Graduate School, and then hopefully work in a hospital as a Child/Adolescent Psychologist

Maggie Reeger

Host Site: Food & Health Network of South Central New York
Location: Whitney Point, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Food & Health Network AmeriCorps VISTA

Focus of Service: As the VISTA with the Food & Health Network, Maggie works to promote food security and healthy lifestyle choices. She encourages collaboration and partnerships between existing FaHN members while also recruiting new members and sponsors. Maggie works on a number of FaHN projects, including the Regional Food System Assessment, a Community Garden Inventory, and the Summer Food Service Program Assessment. All of these projects are part of FaHN’s greater vision to strengthen the regional food system.

Educational Background: B.A., Global Studies, Bridgewater College
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Graduate school to earn a Master’s in Public Health

Joe VerValin

Host Site: Cornell Cooperative Extension Chemung
Location: Elmira, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Poverty Reduction Coordinator

Focus of Service: As Poverty Reduction Coordinator, Joe’s job is to support the efforts of the Chemung County Poverty Reduction Coalition by tapping into community resources to help implement the Chemung County Poverty Reduction Plan. This includes meeting with the Coalition, updating information, sharing the knowledge, and assisting with activity implementation.

Joe will also deliver public education about poverty in the county, as well as continue efforts to enhance community engagement of low income individuals and work with the Coalition to create a sustainable plan to reduce poverty in Chemung County.

Educational Background: BA: University of South Florida-Tampa; Washington Center: Politics and Public Policy Center.
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Joe would like to continue working in nonprofits or in government service on community development and economic development issues. Eventually, he would like to return to school to earn a masters in Public Administration so he can enhance his skills in these areas.

Olivia Weng

Host Site: Broome County Council of Churches – CHOW
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: CHOW Program Assistant

Focus of Service: As an AmeriCorps service member, Olivia works in Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse (CHOW) by running the regular CHOWbus farmer market to food deserts, such as several public facilities (Broome County Public library, YMCA) and senior resident halls, to provide low cost/no cost fresh produces. She also conducts nutrition classes and cooking demonstrations in the new Community Wellness Center to help low-income families eat healthier in a budget. In addition, with her connection to other local nonprofit organizations, Olivia has participated in several community events to increase healthy lifestyle awareness within the community, such as Annual Hunger Walk and Poverty Simulation.

Educational Background: Bachelor of Science in Integrative Neuroscience (Binghamton University)
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Attend a Nutrition master program and become a Registered Dietitian

Rachel Yull

Host Site: Tioga County Health Department
Location: Owego, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Public Health Associate

Focus of Service: As the Public Health Associate, Rachel assists with many of the programs offered at the Tioga County Health Department. She disseminates information about lead poisoning prevention, immunizations, and child passenger safety at various events. She also serves as a member of the county wellness committee and helps to plan and coordinate activities to promote workplace wellness in Tioga County. Rachel provides assistance to the early intervention program which connects children with developmental delays and disabilities to services to improve their development. Additionally Rachel helps connect school children in Tioga county to dental care through her work with the Tioga Mobile Dental Van.

Educational Background: B.A. in Biological Sciences Cornell University
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Attend George Washington University for her Masters in Public Health and then eventually attend medical school.

Emily Wilson

Host Site: CHOW
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: CHOW Program Assistant

Focus of Service: As a Program Assistant with CHOW, Emily is able to work towards ameliorating food insecurity in Broome County. She provides direct support by staffing CHOW’s mobile markets, which offer affordable produce to primarily low-income and elderly individuals. In addition to selling food, she also tends to the CHOW farm and garden, whose crops are distributed at zero cost to the community. Eventually, Emily hopes to facilitate workshops in the CHOW wellness center on subjects including food production, preparation, and preservation.

Educational Background: BA in Theatre from Ithaca College, with minors in Environmental Studies and Communication Management & Design
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Continued education, through both community action and the pursuit of a masters degree in Environmental Studies

Giavanna Townsend

Host Site: VINES
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Food Access Coordinator

Focus of Service: Giavanna will be serving her Americorps term by supporting VINES to help increase access to healthy fresh food and lifestyles for the residents of Binghamton. Giavanna’s goals for her service term are to combat food insecurity in a just and sustainable way. She will be working to educate the community by coordinating the 2017 Green Thumb workshops series. Green Thumb is a series devoted to educating the community of Binghamton on food production, preservation, and preparation. She will also be an educating the Grow Binghamton youth program on food production, proper nutrition, healthy cooking, and job readiness skills. She will also help to increase food production by working with the Binghamton Urban Farm, CHOW farm, and in Community gardens. Giavanna will strive to become a resourceful and involved educator for the residents of Binghamton.

Educational Background: Binghamton High School- Regents Diploma- Class of 2013
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Giavanna enthusiastically plans to continue working in the agricultural field.

Amanda Steinbacher

Host Site: Delaware Opportunities
Location: Hamden, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Community Nutrition Coordinator

Focus of Service: As the Community Nutrition Coordinator, Amanda is responsible for the garden, food distributions, and food demonstrations. Amanda spends most of her day working and managing a large garden with a variety of vegetables. Once the vegetables are grown and ready to harvest, she then distributes those crops to local food pantries around Delaware County. Amanda is also responsible for educating the public through food demonstrations about healthy recipes made from items located in their local food pantry.

Educational Background: SUNY Delhi Liberal Arts and Science with a focus in Early Childhood Education
Post AmeriCorps Plans: After AmeriCorps Amanda plans to go back to college to finish her degree in Special Education.

Kristen Stanton

Host Site: Healthy Lifestyles Coalition (United Way of Broome County)
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Healthy Lifestyles Assistant

Focus of Service: A goal of the Healthy Lifestyles Coalition is to reduce obesity on the North Side of Binghamton. The Healthy Lifestyles Assistant works to encourage healthy nutrition habits for the students of Roosevelt Elementary school, and for the people that come to the Lee Barta Community Center. This is accomplished through helping to maintain a garden at the elementary school, in addition to growing portable dirtbag gardens. The Healthy Lifestyles Assistant teaches healthy cooking classes once a week, in addition to occasionally assisting other local organizations with their programs.

Educational Background: BA in Communication and Social Interaction (SUNY Oswego)
Post AmeriCorps Plans: I hope to work at more Not-For-Profit organizations, in the health/human services field

Isaac Smith

Host Site: Rural Health Network / SUNY Upstate Clinical Campus
Location: Whitney Point, NY / Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Healthcare Access and Patient Assistance Program Assosciate

Focus of Service: The Healthcare Access Associate collects demographic and financial data from individuals seeking varying healthcare necessities. Once he determines their eligibility, he connects and refers the client to the organization that best suits his/her needs.

The Patient Assistance Program (PAP) Associate facilitates the admission of a patient into a qualifying PAP. Each program sponsors the distribution of a necessary medication to the insurance-lacking patient. The PAP Associate deals with pharmaceutical stock refills, expired medications, and database management.

Educational Background: BS in Biochemistry (State University of New York at Binghamton)
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Medical School

Caroline Russo

Host Site: Rural Health Network of South Central New York
Location: Whitney Point, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Rural Poverty Educator

Focus of Service: Caroline’s position at the Rural Health Network works towards educating community members on the reality of living in rural poverty. She will manage the third year of the Rural Broome Counts (RBC) needs and assets assessment, conducting outreach to the community and promoting project sustainability. Caroline will also support RHN Resource Development efforts for programs that assist rural residents struggling with poverty through grant writing and communications.

Educational Background: B.S. Biology (SUNY Geneseo)
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Graduate School to pursue a Master’s in Public Health

Kyley Romanofski

Host Site: CHOW
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: CHOW Program Assistant

Focus of Service: Kyley, as a CHOW Program Assistant, works alongside her fellow AmeriCorps members to improve food availability throughout Broome County. She assists with the CHOW bus and mobile markets that provide low to no cost produce to food deserts. Kyley hopes to help run the wellness center at CHOW that will provide fun programs to encourage a healthy lifestyle. She also looks forward to helping at the CHOW farm, which grows food that can be given away for free at the mobile markets.

Educational Background: -LAAS from Broome Community College
-B.S. in Biology (with a concentration in Ecology and Wildlife Biology) from SUNY Oneonta
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Kyley wants pursue a career in wildlife/conservation. She hopes to find a job where the outdoors is her office.

Ana Reznikovskaya

Host Site: United Way of Broome County
Location: Vestal, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Volunteer Engagement Specialist

Focus of Service: Ana helps people find fulfilling volunteering experiences with non-profits in Broome County. She also organizes days of service in the community. She assists with the coordination of events such as the National MLK Jr. Day of Service, National Volunteer Week Conference, and Day of Caring.

Educational Background: Elmira College: BA in Mathematics and Psychology with a Minor in Women’s Studies
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Ana is planning on attending graduate school for Data Analytics

Tom Lewis

Host Site: Food & Health Network of South Central New York
Location: Whitney Point, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Food & Health Network VISTA

Focus of Service: As a VISTA with the Food & Health Network, Tom works to strengthen regional food systems by promoting food security and healthy lifestyle choices in an eight county region in the Southern Tier of New York. One of his main jobs is to provide collaborative resource development efforts with partner organizations. Additionally Tom works on many other FaHN projects which include, the Summer Food Service Program, Farm to School, community gardens and many others.

Educational Background: BA in Political Science and Economics (Binghamton University)
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Attend graduate school in Food Systems, Sustainability, or a similar field.

Jenna Layton

Host Site: Broome County Council of Churches – Faith in Action
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Faith in Action Program Associate

Focus of Service: The focus of a Faith in Action Program Associate is to reach out to seniors by coordinating social connections and events that empower them to become actively engaged and involved within their community. The main focus is to encourage seniors to remain independent by providing transportation services and connections to food. This position also serves as a bridge between another program, the Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse (CHOW), which is also offered by the Broome County Council of Churches. This collaboration provides the opportunity for the elder population to access healthier, fresher and low-cost produce that may be difficult to retrieve these necessities due to barriers concerning their mobility, well-being, financial situations and other similar obstacles.

Jenna serves as the Faith in Action Program Associate. She coordinates social events for Faith in Action that often includes healthy food resources, nutrition classes and transportation services to senior citizens. One of the many programs Jenna coordinates is “Grocery Day,” which gives seniors the opportunity to build social connections with new people while enjoying a cup of coffee and getting their regular grocery shopping done. This program provides seniors with a chance to get out of their house and complete their errands independently; however it also gives them a sense of self-worth by providing them with a ride and someone to connect with. In collaborating with CHOW, Jenna also participates in a weekly “Senior Sprint” that is an indoors farmer’s market, which provides senior living centers and apartment complexes with affordable fresh produce.

Educational Background: Bachelor of Science in Human Development (Binghamton University)
Post AmeriCorps Plans: After serving as an AmeriCorps member, Jenna would like to continue her education by earning a Masters in Public Administration, and go on to work for a non-profit organization.

Kaley Kuntz

Host Site: Mothers & Babies Perinatal Network
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Health Access Specialist

Focus of Service: As a Health Access Specialist, Kaley’s main goals are to improve healthcare and health literacy in rural areas by informing uninsured residents about the different types of insurance plans, helping them obtain insurance, and connecting them with other services that they may need. Kaley and the other members of the team plan outreach trips and attend community events in Otsego, Delaware, Tioga, Chemung, and Broome county where they table, give out information, and help people schedule appointments with the navigators at Mothers and Babies Perinatal Network.

Educational Background: Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry (Allegheny College)
Post AmeriCorps Plans: After her year of service, Kaley plans on attending medical school.

Kayla Jack

Host Site: Mobility Management of South Central New York
Location: Vestal, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Mobility Management Advocate

Focus of Service: Kayla servers as a liaison for people in the rural area needing transportation.

Educational Background:
Binghamton University 17′
BS in Political Science and Sociology
Rockalnd Community College 14′
Associates in Business Administration
Associates in Liberal Arts Sciences Humanities.

Post AmeriCorps Plans: Complete BS in Political Science & Sociology

Caitlin Goldwater

Host Site: Mothers & Babies Perinatal Network
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Health Access Specialist

Focus of Service: As a Health Access Specialist, Caitlin works with her fellow AmeriCorps Access Specialists to create plans to help uninsured residents in the surrounding rural area get health insurance. She goes out into several counties to work directly with the uninsured and their communities to give them information and schedule appointments with Mothers and Babies Perinatal Network Navigators. A large part of Caitlin’s work is creating better materials on health education and literacy and disturbing these to the public.

Educational Background: B.A. in Health and Society; Minor in Religious Studies (Beloit College)
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Attend graduate school to earn a Masters in Public Health

Margaret Geertz

Host Site: VINES
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Farm Share Program Assistant

Focus of Service: As a VINES Farm Share Program Assistant, Margaret’s job is to work with both volunteers and members of Farm Share in the area of nutritional education. She strives to promote health and wellness by providing samples, recipes, and guides for the seasonal items given out in the shares. Her position also includes member outreach and cultivating an accessible and friendly environment surrounding Farm Share activities.

Educational Background: BA in Molecular Biology (SUNY Binghamton)
Post AmeriCorps Plans: After Margaret’s term ends, she plans on completing an M.S. degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology from Binghamton University before attending Medical School.

Tiana Ellis

Host Site: CHOW
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Program Assistant

Focus of Service: As a CHOW Service Member, Tiana works with food insecure populations, and aids them in gaining access to healthy, fresh food. CHOW receives donations from local businesses and distributors. This helps to eliminate food waste, a significant problem in all communities across the nation. Tiana works to collect, transport and distribute donated food to those who need it. Tiana works to ensure that people who come to CHOW farmer markets feel more food secure, and to ensure a basic need is met for her community.

Educational Background:
SUNY Broome CC — Associate’s in Liberal Arts
University of Hawai’i at Hilo — Linguistics(one semester)
SUNY Binghamton — BA in Linguistics

Post AmeriCorps Plans: Tiana’s post AmeriCorps plans are graduate school or traveling. She would very much like to attend university in England or perhaps apply to the JET program in order to get more experience outside of the academic setting.

Christine Ector

Host Site: Food Bank of the Southern Tier
Location: Elmira, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Hunger Education Coordinator VISTA

Focus of Service: As a VISTA with the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, Christine works within the community to increase awareness about the root causes of hunger and to educate and inspire communities to take action against hunger. She works to increase the reach of the Food Bank’s Hunger Education program throughout a six county region. Through her work, Christine implements educational materials and workshops, and works with Food Bank stakeholders interested in learning about hunger and poverty. She is also working to organize family volunteer events and to engage clients in new ways.

Educational Background: B.A. in International Studies and B.A. in Italian from Nazareth College ’15. Served in AmeriCorps NCCC Southwest Region Class 22 ending in July 2016.
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Complete another service year or pursue further education.

Marsha Dixon

Host Site: CHOW
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: CHOW Program Assistant

Focus of Service: As a Chow Program Assistant Marsha’s job is to work with other AmeriCorps members to implement and instill different programs that provide fresh produce to areas that have no access. This includes serving on the CHOW bus, which creates small but efficient markets that sell produce at low to no cost to the individuals in need, such as the young and elderly. Marsha also works on the CHOW farm, which generates produce that can be given away for free. Marsha looks forward to creating other programs with her AmeriCorp members for the new CHOW wellness center that will encourage and change health behaviors.

Educational Background: BA in Psychology with minor in Public Health (SUNY Albany)
Post AmeriCorps Plans: After Marsha’s term ends, she hopes to study environmental health science, focusing on behavioral health in graduate school. She would also like to travel to other countries.

Caleb Craig

Host Site: Mothers & Babies Perinatal Network
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Health Access Specialist

Focus of Service: As a Health Access Specialist, Caleb is working on increasing health literacy in various rural New York counties as well as helping the individuals in these counties gain access to healthcare by connecting them to beneficial services.

Educational Background: BA in Music Industry (SUNY Oneonta)
Post AmeriCorps Plans: After his service, Caleb intends to attend graduate school.

Aleta Coggin

Host Site: Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins – Healthy Food for All
Location: Ithaca, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Program Coordinator

Focus of Service: The mission of Healthy Food for All is to make local produce accessible to food insecure households in and around Tompkins County through subsidized CSA shares.

As Program Coordinator, Aleta is working with HFFA to end hunger, support local, family-owned farms and increase the region’s capacity to grow good food for the whole community.

Educational Background: B.S. Marketing Communications, May 2000, SUNY F.I.T.
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Following her commitment with AmeriCorps, Aleta hopes
to continue working with HFFA to further grow and expand the program in order to serve all families interested in participating.

Dawn Chenier

Host Site: Broome County Office for Aging
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Program Assistant

Focus of Service: The Broome County Office for Aging carries out a number of services and programs to help seniors live at home as long as possible. The nutrition unit is just one sector of the Office, focusing on overall health and nutrition for those over 60. The Office for Aging runs the food programs at senior housing, senior centers, and Meals On Wheels. It offers nutrition programs in conjunction with The Food Bank of the Southern Tier. In January and February the Office will offer Healthy Beverages:Rethink your Drink. This program focuses on the amount of sugar in beverages and also on how to stay hydrated.

Educational Background: Bachelor of Science (SUNY Buffalo) ; MSEd (Elmira College)
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Fully retire

Ruslyn Case-Compton

Host Site: CHOW
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: CHOW Program Assistant

Focus of Service: CHOW (Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse) strives to relieve hunger in Broome County through a variety of initiatives designed to increase residents’ access to healthy foods. Among other things, CHOW distributes over 1 million pounds of food through collaborations with more than 60 agencies, increases access to fresh produce through 20 mobile markets, and grows vegetables which are distributed to households in need.

AmeriCorps service members run the mobile markets and farm, targeting neighborhoods which lack easy access to grocery stores and fresh fruits and vegetables. With a mixture of items for sale and for free, CHOW mobile markets allow people to spend what they can afford on produce, respecting their dignity as consumers.

Educational Background: B.A. Communications Arts, Xavier University
M.S. Sociology, Morehead State University
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Employment in the non-profit sector

Eric Bull

Host Site: Chemung County Habitat for Humanity
Location: Elmira, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Family Services Coordinator

Focus of Service: Chemung County Habitat for Humanity seeks to provide low-income residents of Chemung County with a decent, affordable place to live through their Home Ownership and Home Repair Programs. The affiliate selects families for Home Ownership that are in need of affordable housing, can afford a mortgage, and are willing to volunteer on construction of their home. Eric’s position as Family Services Coordinator is to partner with the families selected for Home Ownership to prepare them for the rigors of home ownership by providing resources for financial literacy and home maintenance.

Eric also coordinates with clients in need of external repairs on their home and refers clients that don’t fit the parameters of the Home Repair Program to other local agencies. The projects are done with volunteer labor and assist elderly, home-bound, and low-income homeowners with repairs/projects that help them remain in their home or make their home more accessible.

Educational Background: Bachelor’s of Science in Biology from Pennsylvania State University
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Eric plans to hike the Appalachian trail from end to end before attending medical school.

Amber Brown

Host Site: Broome County Promise Zone
Location: Binghamton, NY
AmeriCorps Position: Family Engagement Specialist

Focus of Service: The Family Engagement Specialist works within a community school model, to assist Community School coordinators (who are in five different school districts) with their “parent cafes” and other community engagement events. These programs give parents a chance to engage with school districts, sharing their experiences and ideas for change

Educational Background: Recreation Management, BS (Ithaca College)
Post AmeriCorps Plans: Amber is deciding between a few different career paths

Open VISTA Positions

VISTA Positions

Details

2024 Positions

(Listed By County)

Broome County

Rural Health Network of South Central New York

VISTA Leader (Binghamton, NY)

Program Development VISTA (Binghamton, NY)

Church In the Wild

Eco Program Architect (Binghamton, NY)

Broome County Council of Churches

Food Security Advocate (Binghamton, NY)

Development Coordinator (Binghamton, NY)

Chemung County

Food Bank of the Southern Tier

Food Bank Increasing Food Access VISTA (Elmira, NY)

Health & Nutrition Programs VISTA (Elmira, NY)

Madison County

New York State Association for Rural Health

Communication and Development Specialist (Canastota, NY)

Schuyler County

Schuyler County Public Health Department

Harm Reduction VISTA

Tompkins County

REACH Medical

REACH Medical Capacity Building VISTA (Ithaca, NY)

Application