After five inspiring and challenging years, we have concluded our Americorps Maker VISTA program. Each of our VISTA members, working at various partner sites nationwide, came to this program with different perspectives, and focused on different projects—yet they all remain connected by a steadfast commitment to service and community. In the last two years, Maker VISTA members have radically evolved the environments of educational spaces across five states, thirteen schools, an entire school district, a university STEM department and six nonprofit organizations impacting over 8,800 students. We are proud of their accomplishments, and can’t wait to see what’s next! Read more…

Jesse Hunt, who recently completed his Americorps Maker VISTA year of service at a public library in Salmon, Idaho, reflects on the unique achievements and challenges of teaching making in a rural community. “Over the course of my VISTA year, what I have found in making is an antidote to helplessness, and a way to teach self-efficacy and self-sufficiency to the next generation.” Read more…

After five inspiring and challenging years, we will be concluding the Maker VISTA program in Fall 2018. To celebrate the impact of this work, we’ve asked our amazing Maker VISTA members to reflect on their experiences and accomplishments this past school year. Each of our VISTA members, working at various partner sites nationwide, came to this […]

After five inspiring and challenging years, we will be concluding the Maker VISTA program in Fall 2018. To celebrate the impact of this work, we’ve asked our amazing Maker VISTA members to reflect on their experiences and accomplishments this school year. Each of our VISTA members, working at various partner sites nationwide, came to this program […]

After five inspiring and challenging years, we will be concluding the Maker VISTA program in Fall 2018. To celebrate the impact of this work, we’ve asked our amazing Maker VISTA members to reflect on their experiences and accomplishments this school year. In this post, Trina Lafata, a VISTA member who recently completed her year serving at ReCreate, shares more about how she, and the youth and educators she served, have been affected by maker-centered learning and capacity building. Read more…

Maker VISTAs Anna Milada Grossi and Claire Tiffany-Appleton found it difficult to put their year as VISTAs into words, not because of a lack of projects, events, or tasks, but from the challenge of categorizing the relationships they’ve established and the future outcomes of all their work at Lighthouse and Lodestar. Read more…

After five inspiring and challenging years, we will be concluding the Maker VISTA program in Fall 2018. To celebrate the impact of this work, we’ve asked our amazing Maker VISTA members to reflect on their experiences and accomplishments this school year. In this post, Carey Habiger, a VISTA member who recently completed her year serving at San Fernando Middle School, shares more about how she and the youth and educators she served, have been affected by maker-centered learning and capacity building. Read more…