As the 2025-2026 AmeriCorps VISTA year of service comes to a close, members gathered to reflect on the projects they built and the impact they made on their host sites and communities. One of the most valuable parts of serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA is the opportunity to learn from one another. For our end-of-year presentation, Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTAs from across the nation participate in Project Showcase, where they create an impact statement and a video describing how they built capacity at their host site and what they’ve learned during their year of service. VISTAs spend several months crafting their Project Showcase before presenting their accomplishments to their cohort and host site supervisors.
During their Project Showcase presentations, Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTAs asked one another thoughtful questions that sparked conversations about growth and lessons learned. One recurring topic throughout the presentations was what it takes to build new initiatives that can continue long after a VISTA’s service term ends. Ariana Sanchez, VISTA at the University of California, San Diego in La Jolla, CA, was asked, “What lessons did you learn in launching new programs?”
Ariana emphasized the importance of giving yourself grace during the process:
“It takes patience, and it doesn’t have to look perfect right away! It is trial and error, and seeing what works and what doesn’t, but sticking to an overall initiative and having a solid template or framework is essential! Also, listening to the advice from either your team or beneficiaries and seeing how to integrate that feedback!”
When Emily J. Rademacher, VISTA at Pennsylvania State University–Restorative Justice Institute in University Park, PA, asked Ariana what the previous VISTA did or provided that helped prepare her for service, she reflected on the importance of building upon the work of those who came before her, emphasizing how strong systems can help future VISTAs succeed.
“Yayyy, love talking about Eddie [Tapio-Pappa]! He set up the resource hubs (yes, multiple!!) that literally track almost EVERYTHING from the current College Corps program year and are the main way we distribute data to the Fellows, our partners, and the campus (SO COOL). He created the program training for the hub. Having that curriculum timeline and solidifying campus partners’ relationships helped with obtaining guest speakers this year!”
While VISTAs reflected on their own experiences, host site supervisors shared how their members strengthened their organizations throughout the year. Linda Vera, VISTA at Stanford University/Rise South City in Stanford, CA, received this reflection from her host site supervisor, Francesca Pedraza:
“I just want to say that we are so proud of Linda. She has been instrumental in developing our Communities United Team (CCCT) and in building connections with Rise South City’s community. She is an amazing soul and has a unique way of connecting with individuals with empathy and care, which is very important in our line of work.”
Similar praise was shared by supervisors across the country, who highlighted the lasting contributions their VISTAs made to their organizations and communities. Amara Zavala, VISTA at the University of Mary Washington–Phoenix Center in Fredericksburg, VA, received this reflection from her host site supervisor, Amy Filiatreau:
“Amara has been wonderful for UMW, expanding our capacity and partnerships more than ever, and making both practical and deliberate strategic changes for our community. And she’s never gotten cowed, even through several real setbacks – she just keeps going. I am thrilled that she is continuing, and I know it’s just going to get better from here! We also got two grants totaling about $11,000! Don’t sleep on that, Amara! Thank you SO MUCH, Amara!”
The conversations continued as fellow VISTAs asked one another about the accomplishments, challenges, and lessons that defined their service year. When Michelle Dong, VISTA at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in North Dartmouth, MA, asked Amara what she was most proud of accomplishing this year, she reflected:
“I wasn’t as familiar with the admin/data recording side of food donations and food bank partnerships when I started. Now, I’m much more familiar and confident! I’m super proud of the number of new students who were using the pantry. It meant that the outreach methods are working. Having more students who know of and use it helps to lessen stigma around the campus food pantry!”
For members serving a second AmeriCorps VISTA term, the Showcase also provided an opportunity to compare how their understanding of capacity building had evolved over time. Returning members offered a unique perspective, demonstrating how a second year of service can deepen leadership skills while expanding the impact of capacity-building efforts.
Noah Alagao, VISTA at Tufts University/Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS) in Medford/Somerville, MA, was asked by Michelle Dong, VISTA at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in North Dartmouth, MA, how his second year differed from his first.
“I would say that the difference that I noticed is the split of time between the university and the nonprofit. Working at Tufts, I got to know the university better through student volunteers and staff/faculty. I think that my first year prepared me to understand the role of a capacity builder! I loved supervising and getting closer to volunteers. In addition, the work with education systems versus urban forestry from last year was different!”
Several VISTAs also reflected on the lasting relationships they helped build, such as partnerships they hope will continue serving communities long after their service year ends.
Faith Fernandez, VISTA at Stanford University/Nuestra Casa in Stanford, CA, was asked by Zane Jones, VISTA at the Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, TX,
“Which aspect of your work do you think will make the most long-term impact?” “This past year, many of our projects have run alongside the City of East Palo Alto with the goal of building mutual trust between the city and community-based organizations. We want to show how CBOs can serve as effective bridges between residents and local government, creating stronger partnerships that will help address community needs well beyond any single project.”
Together, these reflections demonstrated that AmeriCorps VISTA service is about far more than completing projects. Through sharing their experiences with one another, members highlighted the power of building relationships, creating sustainable systems, and strengthening communities in ways that continue long after a service term ends.