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Volunteers In Service to America (VISTA)

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s VISTA project got started with a new year of volunteers working in Milwaukee schools in late August.

VISTAs 2010-2011Milwaukee VISTA volunteers are housed at Parents Plus, and spend the school year working to increase parental engagement by starting Action Teams of parents and staff, and helping schools to get parents involved. The VISTAs have been working with schools around the state since 1997.

This year Bethany Bridges is working at Clarke Street School. Bethany was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi. She graduated from Jackson State University with a B.A. in Political Science. Because she has aspirations to be a social activist, the Americorps VISTA program was a perfect fit.

Bix Firer and Michael Hickey are working with the Metro Region Office of MPS. Bix has an advanced degree from the University of Chicago. Before signing up to volunteer with VISTA, he worked at the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago. Bix would like to continue working in the nonprofit sphere, focusing on urban environmental education and food sovereignty issues. Michael graduated from the University of Wisconsin- Madison in May with an undergraduate degree in Economics. After VISTA, Michael is planning on attending law school.   

Margot Geisthardt is working with Alexander Mitchell Integrated Arts School. Originally from Wauwatosa, Margot finished her undergraduate degree in Fine Arts at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the summer of 2010. She recently graduated from the AmeriCorps NCCC program in Denver, Colorado where she worked on various projects with youth development, trail maintenance and fire management in Missouri, Arkansas and Colorado. Margot loves working with community development and outreach as well as creative projects with youth.

Finally, Maya Mazul is serving at Central Office of MPS. Maya was born in California and raised in Wisconsin. She just graduated from Wellesley College this spring with a BA in Anthropology and Creative Writing and is enthusiastic about her upcoming service with VISTA and Parents Plus.   

Parents Plus is excited for the coming year and lucky to have such a great group of VISTA

 


Updated 09/02/11

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TESTIMONIALS


“I learned the importance of being more involved as kids get older – not less.”
-Partners in Education training participant

“I will be as involved in my children’s education as possible.”
-Training participant

 


“Parents Plus Inc. has been an invaluable partner in helping us to grow our Parents as Teachers program and has provided so many great resources in professional development and technical assistance for our staff.”
-Staci Hansen-Sontoski, Family Support Programs Manager
La Causa FRC


"The National Center for PAT is honored to work with Parents Plus, Inc. Their professionalism & strong commitment to bettering the lives of children & families is commendable, as is the collaborative spirit with which they operate."
-Susan S. Stepleton, President & CEO National Center for PAT

"Parents Plus contributions are valuable insights on what parents need to be successful. PPI clearly understands that children grow up in families & families live in communities & it is imperative that we consider this construct when developing systems of support."
-Therese Ahlers, MS, MPA
Director, WI Alliance for Infant Mental Health

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