After completing my undergraduate degree in Food Systems from the University of Washington (Go Dawgs!), I was in an exciting yet intimidating transition period of my life. I had the opportunity to do anything and try everything, full authority to build my own life and shape my own experiences. Through the recommendation of professors and peers I stumbled upon AmeriCorps. Service, public health, and building community wellbeing were fundamental interests of mine that AmeriCorps fulfilled. I loved the wide variety of meaningful mission-driven opportunities that I could engage with, such as United General District 304’s Farm to School program. I also was drawn to AmeriCorps’ unique and unconventional nature as a career building pathway.

AmeriCorps attracts hardworking and knowledgeable people who strongly believe in service and my role, as a VISTA literally stands for Volunteers In Service to America. National service through AmeriCorps connects these passionate people with organizations in communities that could benefit from capacity building and coordinated efforts to reduce poverty. What I love about AmeriCorps is the ability for anyone to find a program that fully utilizes their skills and inspires them the most. This creates an amazing opportunity for both parties to accomplish significant, worthwhile goals!

As a young person, my AmeriCorps program is especially important to me as I figure out my personal and professional intentions. Above all else, going into this experience with an open mind has helped me make sense of my career goals, ambitions, and passions. In my role specifically, I am learning relevant skills that will continue to be useful throughout my life, such as:

Maitea at MLK Garden Work Day
A day on, not a day off

In my year of service, I am eager to dive deep into work that I am passionate about alongside coworkers who feel the same way. I can’t wait to support my local food system, increase accessibility to nurturing foods, give children access to food education, and help them build healthy relationships with food and eating. I’m really excited about my active role in these endeavors. Not only that, but I’m also looking forward to the personal and professional development that this experience will give me. I always enjoy being challenged by new experiences and learning along the way; AmeriCorps, and United General District 304, have given me that opportunity!

I hope that other passionate people will join me as VISTAs in Skagit County. You can learn more about the Help Me Grow Skagit VISTA position and the Grief Support Development Coordinator VISTA position.  Check out the flyer with more information. 

If you have questions about AmeriCorps or my role as a VISTA, let’s connect! Reach me at Maitea.Cox@UnitedGeneral.org