AmeriCorps VISTA
Each year, with the help of host sites statewide, MAVA hosts VISTA members who work to build capacity for volunteerism.
Apply to be a VISTA member!
Meet the current VISTAs!
Michelle Barcelona
AmeriCorps VISTA, Volunteer Program Associate, Emergency Food Shelf Network
Michelle is an AmeriCorps VISTA serving as the Volunteer Program Associate at Emergency Foodshelf Network, a full service food bank that provides quality and nutritious food and support to over 200 hunger relief partners and programs statewide. Her role includes working with EFN’s Volunteer Program to build capacity through new community partnerships, developing a volunteer committee framework to engage individuals, and compiling best practices from other nonprofit organizations on volunteer programming. Michelle is a recent graduate from University of Minnesota where she studied advertising and is very excited to work in the nonprofit sector and become familiar with how they function. She is hoping that her work towards improving the Volunteer Program at EFN and partner organizations will benefit hunger relief in Minnesota. In her free time she enjoys baking, traveling, and relaxing on a boat on a nice day.
Contact Michelle: mbarcelona@emergencyfoodshelf.org, 763-450-3890
Roshandra Brown
AmeriCorps VISTA, Volunteer Program Developer, Second Harvest Heartland
Roshandra is an AmeriCorps Vista serving as the Agency Capacity Volunteer Coordinator at Second Harvest Heartland where she will work with partner agencies to build sustainable Volunteer Services Programs. Roshandra graduated from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities with a B.S. in Family Social Science. Roshandra is very passionate about serving her community and plans to obtain her Masters in Nonprofit Management. In her spare time she enjoys, spending time with family, volunteering, and reading.
Contact Roshandra: rbrown@2harvest.org, 651-209-7925
Veronica Kneeland
AmeriCorps VISTA, Member Outreach Specialist, MAVA
Veronica is an AmeriCorps VISTA serving as the Member Outreach Specialist at MAVA where she will work to improve MAVA's collection of helpful resources. Veronica graduated the University of Minnesota Morris with a degree in Public Health Studies. This is Veronica's second AmeriCorps term where she previously served at Partners for Active Living in Spartanburg, SC. In her spare time she loves to read, run, and bike.
Contact Veronica: vkneeland@mavanetwork.com, 651-255-0056
Jordan Lange
AmeriCorps VISTA, Volunteer Services, Park Nicollet Health Services
Jordan is an AmeriCorps VISTA serving at the Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital in Saint Louis Park. He will work with their Volunteer Services office to improve capacity by strengthening their infrastructure. He will update and create position descriptions templates, mandatory education packets, volunteer competency checklists, and be an administrator of the volunteer database. Jordan served in a state-level, Wisconsin-based AmeriCorps program last year at the Boys and Girls Club of Jackson County. He decided to join the VISTA program to continue improving communities within the United States.
Contact Jordan: jordan.lange@parknicollet.com, 652-993-5820
Jody Schaefer
AmeriCorps VISTA, Skills Based Developer, RSVP-VOA
Jody Schaefer is an AmeriCorps VISTA, sharing her time between MAVA and RSVP, an organization that places volunteers age 55 and over in meaningful volunteer roles that fit their lifestyles. She is working on a project to provide skill based volunteer opportunities to job-seekers age 55+. Jody is a lawyer with a desire to learn new things. She says in the brief time she has been with MAVA she has developed a profound respect for those involved in volunteer leadership. Jody's favorite things to do outside of MAVA/RSVP work are sailing, hiking and biking.
Contact Jody:jschaefer@voamn.org, 952-945-4159
Steve Watanaskul
AmeriCorps VISTA, Volunteer Outreach Coordinator, Willmar Community Senior Network
Steve Watanaskul is an AmeriCorps VISTA serving as the Volunteer Outreach Coordinator at Willmar Community Senior Network, LAHN. His role is to recruit new volunteers to serve senior citizens who are 65 and over as well as set up infrastructure for volunteers to serve different types of senior needs. Steve recently graduated from Saint John's University with a bachelor's degree in Sociology and a minor in History. In his free time, Steve enjoys reading, eating, playing video games, and hanging out with his friends.
Contact Steve: steve@willmarseniornetwork.com, 320-309-78590
