Service that Inspires
“I love being able to connect with community members and seeing firsthand how nonprofit efforts are making a difference. On a personal level, it makes me feel just a little more hopeful and optimistic about the state of our world today.”
As the AmeriCorps VISTA member at The Garden for All, Emma Clark is developing and leading a community engagement plan in Licking County to promote her site’s growth into this area. Ultimately, she hopes to recruit additional volunteers in support of the farm’s expansion and increase overall awareness of the organization.
Having the opportunity to lead a project of this scope has allowed Emma to cultivate new professional skills and gain greater confidence in her ability to collaborate with others. As a result of her work, The Garden for All has even formed a new partnership with OSU Newark’s Campus Corner Pantry! This project, like many others in service, has proved deeply rewarding for her.
In her role, Emma has also been tasked with formalizing organizational procedures to provide better support to both staff and volunteers. To this end, she has conducted feedback surveys and recently led a staff meeting to brainstorm operational improvements.
“Facilitating a large group meeting was a bit out of my comfort zone,” she says, “but it was a major step forward in the development of my project, and I am eager to continue improving my communication skills in settings like this for the future!”
As a result of service, Emma feels as if her eyes have been opened to new career possibilities. Prior to serving at Garden for All, she had always planned on going into environmental policy or law, a field focused on implementing change from the top down. However, serving at a grassroots level has proved inspiring to her.
“I feel that my values are reflected in the nonprofit sector, like integrity and compassion, which makes me feel much more satisfied with my work,” she says. “I also love being able to connect with community members and seeing firsthand how nonprofit efforts are making a difference. On a personal level, it makes me feel just a little more hopeful and optimistic about the state of our world today.”
Reflecting on her service, Emma has been grateful not only to make a positive impact on her community, but also to grow professionally and expand her network each day. Although she was originally unsure what to do post-graduation, serving in AmeriCorps has offered invaluable career insight.
“I have learned so much about community engagement and social issues that I will take with me throughout my career,” says Emma. “And, I can’t stress this enough, the work is SO rewarding!”
Thanks for your service, Emma!
