As an AmeriCorps VISTA for the City of Santa Rosa’s Community Programs and Engagement office and Sonoma State’s Center for Community Engagement office, I work on projects that bridge the connection between Santa Rosa residents and the City and take on the role as a liaison between SSU students and community partners. The Community Programs and Engagement office provides resources and support to community members, as well as other City departments for community empowerment and the opportunity for residents to be more involved in their local government and the decision – making processes.
Once a week, I am at SSU where I recruit students who are interested in volunteer opportunities, check-in and build relationships with them throughout the semester. The current partnerships we have are The Boys and Girls Club of Sonoma - Marin, Chop's Teen Club, Recreation and Parks (Neighborhood Services and Sports programs) and recent partners, Redwood Empire Food Bank, and Social Advocates for Youth. Whether working with youth or assisting with providing a necessity for families, these organizations embody what our community strives for, which is to provide high-quality services to cultivate a vibrant and resilient city and work toward anti-poverty efforts.
For the rest of the week, I am at our city office where I am attending meetings, coordinating and attending neighborhood events, and assisting with the second year of our Neighborfest events. Neighborfest is an organized gathering or block party that allows neighbors to build connections and cohesiveness, as well as learn about disaster and emergency preparedness. There will be seven Neighborfests in each of the city Council Districts in Santa Rosa in 2020, from June to October. Our office, along with other City departments, attend every Neighborfest, where we provide more information about the work we do and what residents can be thinking about or doing to prepare for any emergency or disaster.
As a student, service-learning courses are a great way to get started in making an impact in the community, but they are not required for getting involved. These courses allow students to see what issues are prevalent in the community, as well as learn how to apply the knowledge and tools they have gained in the classroom to the service they engage in. An important thing to remember is service-learning and volunteerism should be a collaborative effort, where there is a reciprocated relationship, and everyone involved can gain something from the service. If you have an interest in any of our partnerships or Neighborfest program, please contact me at aa10@srcity.org or (707)-543-4624.