High Expectations

“To the best AmeriCorps VISTA the Ann Arbor CIL has ever had.” That was the expectation-filled salutation pinned to a large bouquet of flowers set on the desk that would be mine as I began my term of service almost two years ago at the Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living (AACIL). I read those words with an equal helping of hope and dread. On one hand, I had hope that I would make a difference; on the other hand, the dread that I would not live up to the aforementioned best VISTA ever. With one bouquet of flowers, I found myself stuck between the two extremes that I would ping-pong between during my time as a VISTA.

My personal game of psychological table tennis had little to do with the fact that I have a disability. I was born with a rare genetic illness called Friedreich’s Ataxia (and it seems it’s not enough to have a life-threatening illness – it also takes a dozen years to learn to spell!). The disease remained hidden, slowly peeking out as I grew, searching out ways to trip me up, slow me down and make me different. My older brother, Chris, had been diagnosed with FA (so much simpler, right?!) when he was 12. I was only five at the time, and didn’t make the fatal connection between my growing limitations and the same ones that had led him to a wheelchair at 16. Long story short, I’ve used a wheelchair full-time now for 11 years. But, after so much time, I was about to learn how “normal” I could be, and that the ups and downs, goods and bads, or pings and pongs of working in non-profit were applied equally, disability or no.

Beginning my service at the Ann Arbor CIL was an exercise in extreme humility. My encounters with others with visible disabilities (because – make no mistake – disabilities are everywhere, but there are many one can hide) was limited. Several of my coworkers are in chairs for a variety of different reasons. I was no longer “special” in my abnormality. At the CIL, disability was the norm and expectations of me and my abilities were not automatically assumed to be less (commence the first serve: Ping, Pong, Ping…). My coworkers—I think it’s safe to say, “My friends”— have ushered me into a whole new world of adaptive sports, advocacy, and understanding. Not only has my job resume exploded in the Skills and Accomplishments sections (I’m on to two pages!) because of the CIL, but the wisdom and knowledge of resources that I could add to my “life” resume could fill a book. There was one, now infamous, occurrence with a male coworker who said he’d “help me in the shower.” When coworkers surrounding our exchange heard this and some jaws dropped, he quickly reddened into a virtual turnip and loudly declared, “I meant with advice on adaptive devices!”

My first term as a VISTA brought me into the world of volunteer coordination. While this sounded like I’d be helping people to help people, I misjudged, as happens very often in my life. Upon starting at the CIL in November 2009, the volunteers had not been “coordinated” for several years in anything resembling a streamlined structure. With the help of supervisors and colleagues who had worked a lot with the volunteers in the past, I tried to develop and implement programs that would structure the current volunteers, while adding room to bring fresh ones into the fray. Several of the programs took flight and continue to be operational today, which has been exciting for me to see.

My second term of service brought with it new responsibilities that have both challenged me and elevated my spirit with each peel of laughter, cooking project gone wrong, and silly picture taken. I was appointed to assist in the Youth Department, which incorporated fun and imagination into the 9 to 5 service structure. This youth program stood proudly apart from the rest. Serving those age 14-26, the focus was on kids in special education programs in the county, who could stay in the educational system until the age of 26, at which point they would need to transition into the community. The program’s aim--while always remaining inclusive--was to prepare these youth for that time when the daily structure and support of special education was gone, so they might have the social and independent living skills to enter into community in a way that would foster continual growth.

And so, I teamed up with Youth Services Coordinator (and VISTA Alum!), Anna Dubiber-Gossage, and embarked on creating ever-stronger programs and bonds with each of our youth that has added a new vibrancy to the fabric of my life. The Girl Talk six-week course was my first experience with teaching independent living skills. Anna gave me a lot of creative freedom in letting me design classes titled Dress for Success, Homemaking Magic, and Love and Disabilities.

The buzzer will sound on my time at the Ann Arbor CIL on November, 21, 2011. I hope I have made an impact. Scratch that. I know I have made an impact. The moment a youth participant, not much younger than me in physical age, gave me a shy smile and announced, “I sure will miss you, Robin,” I knew. And as for my game of ping-pong? Well, the CIL has reminded me that in life’s game, it is a win to even come out in a tie of hits and misses, as long as you gave it your all. And, Mom & Dad, thanks for the flowers.

AmeriCorps: A Life-Changing Experience!

Greetings! My name is Alex Gossage and I am an AmeriCorps*VISTA Program Manager for the Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living (CIL) and a VISTA alum. I have been a part of AmeriCorps*VISTA in some capacity over the last seven years, and during that time I witnessed life changing moments and even had a few of my own.

My service began at the Ann Arbor CIL in November of 2004. I was a recent college graduate with a notion and a need that I just couldn’t shake. I was at a point in my life where I was ready to become more comfortable with my own disability and I thought that the best way to do that was to work in the disability community. Life, being what it is, gave me the opportunity to discover Centers for Independent Living and Ann Arbor’s own Ann Arbor CIL. After volunteering there for a brief time, I was presented with the idea of becoming an AmeriCorps*VISTA member. I applied and was accepted shortly thereafter.

During my two years of service, I assisted with program research and development. I gained skills in proposal writing, research, and program evaluation. I learned how to work in groups effectively and how to pace my own work and complete projects within short timeframes. As my service progressed I took on more responsibilities, coordinating the work of other service members, attending community meetings as a CIL representative, and presenting in front of both small and large audiences.

Through my work, I saw how our organization helped people every day. Whether it was navigating through a maze of public benefit applications, helping an individual with a disability start their own business, or giving a child with a disability the chance to swing a tennis racket for the first time, the Ann Arbor CIL was there to help. And the great thing about my VISTA position was that I got to see all of these things happen because I was involved with the development and improvement of these programs.

After two years of hard work (service!), the skills I learned and the relationships I made helped me find a place at the Ann Arbor CIL as a staff member. I was hired to continue my work in program development and assist with the overall coordination of our VISTA program. Without AmeriCorps*VISTA, I would not be the employee I am today; I would have missed out on a great opportunity to improve myself professionally; and I would not have had the opportunity to see other people with disabilities grow as members themselves. This alone gives me a sense of indebtedness to the AmeriCorps*VISTA program, but in my eyes it is not the greatest way in which I have benefited.

As an AmeriCorps*VISTA member I developed a meaningful connection with the Ann Arbor CIL and, in turn, the disability community. More than anything, socializing with other individuals with disabilities, participating in recreation activities with individuals with disabilities, and developing pride in being an individual with a disability helped me become comfortable with who I am and not focus so much on what I am not. Finally, my VISTA service set the stage for me to have a family of my own… During my service I got the chance to get to know one of my co-workers better. She became the love of my life and she eventually agreed to be my wife.

Acquiring Skills and Experience

Hi, my name is Miranda Grunwell and I served as an AmeriCorps member at Disability Network Southwest Michigan in 2008.

I originally decided to do a year of AmeriCorps as a way to gain additional work experience. At the time, I was a year out of college and could not find a job. Every interview I went on told me they were looking for more work experience. Since I loved to volunteer and had done so since I was a teenager, AmeriCorps seemed to be a good fit for me. It allowed me to stay involved in my community, as well as earn some income to help pay the bills.

I also thought doing a year as an AmeriCorps member would be a safe place to try something new without the long-term commitment. I have a Learning Disability and was unsure of how that would affect my ability to work in an office setting. Participating in AmeriCorps gave me the opportunity not only to experience what it was like to be in a typical work-place environment, but it was also a great way to test my skills and expand my abilities.

During my year of service I worked with the Brain Injury Support Group (pictured) along with other support groups. My task was to increase the attendance of our groups and come up with topic ideas for group meetings. Throughout the course of my service, I had an opportunity to network with several community professionals and to speak with them about our groups. As a result, some professionals made recommendations to people to join our group, some volunteered their time to speak at group meetings, and some even made donations.

After my year of service I was hired on as a full-time staff member at Disability Network Southwest Michigan as an Independent Living Assistant. I am now celebrating my third year there! My time as an AmeriCorps member helped me, as well as the staff at Disability Network, to see that my disability didn’t affect my ability to do good work and be a strong asset to my office. While I may not be editing a grant anytime soon, I can plan and organize our events and not miss any details!

I believe AmeriCorps is a great way to learn about who you are and what you enjoy doing. And for me, it turned out to be a pathway to a great place of employment!

Connecting With Youth

I’m Missy Olgine and I’m a second year AmeriCorps Member serving with the Mentor Michigan College Coaching Corps. For the past two years I have had the privilege of coordinating a mentoring program for foster youth through the Department of Human Services (DHS) in Midland and Isabella counties.

My kids are the best! They’re zany, energetic, thoughtful, and giving. They love deeply, laugh loudly, and are passionate about achieving success. My mentors are just as amazing. They generously give of their time week after week and pour into their young people. They truly care and will do whatever they can to help their young people reach their dreams!

Like most Michiganders, I was facing an extremely grim job market 2009. A recent college grad filled with youthful idealism and big ideas on how to change the world, the lack of job offers from employers—never mind those with “world changing” positions-had worn me down. Thus, when I stumbled upon the posting for this AmeriCorps position it was with a fluttering of new hope that I applied and was accepted.

My service on an average day is never the same. Some days I am meeting with community organizations recruiting mentors to work with my teens; some days I do a lot of paper work, reference checking, interviewing prospective mentors, and running background checks to ensure they’re a good fit for our program; other days, I take groups of mentors and youth rock climbing, snowshoeing, or to the local pottery studio to play with clay. But mostly, my time is devoted to talking to mentors, youth, caseworkers, and foster parents, ensuring that everybody is on the same page for helping our young people achieve success.

Often the best days are when I get to meet face-to-face with a single mentor and mentee and just “share life” with them. Sometimes this is done over coffee or ice cream, other times it’s in a cozy living room surrounded by baby toys with a toddler happily drooling on my knee while a mentor and mentee comfortably chat about their great time together the week before. But the best memories are always attached to that moment when I see the deep connection between a young person and their mentor.

AmeriCorps has shaped me professionally. I have had countless professional development opportunities. I’ve connected with countless movers and shakers in the non-profit, higher education, and human services worlds, as well as with leading policy makers in our great state. I’ve developed in skills, inner strength, and confidence.

For those that are considering a year of service—whether it be through working with a disaster relief organization, a poverty reduction crew, or a group of people passionate about changing their communities for the better through mentoring—I have one piece of advice: do it! There is nothing more rewarding than this and there’s no time like this moment to take that step and find just how much you can accomplish. And how one person really can change their world!