Rita Smith
I am originally from Connellsville, Pennsylvania. I graduated from Washington and Jefferson College in May of 2006.(Continued)
 

Charlie Blazevich
I am a native of Arlington Heights, Illinois and am a recent graduate of Augustana College (Illinois) with a degree in Geography.
(Continued)

Adam Ferguson
I am from Williamsburg, Virginia and graduated from James Madison University in 2004 with a degree in History.
(Continued)

Nakia Kyler
I am from Ann Arbor, Michigan and graduated from the University of Michigan in 2006 with a heavy concentration in Sociology and Criminal Justice.
(Continued)

AmeriCorps VISTA Service with the Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives

Governor Bob Riley created the Alabama Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives to serve as a bridge between local communities and government. Too often the government has ignored or hindered the efforts of faith-based and community organizations. By combining the faith and community-based office with the existing office on service and volunteerism, we are able to maximize state resources. This combination creates partnerships between government and the compassionate hometown people who know precisely how to address the unique needs of their communities.

It is in this spirit of collaboration and volunteerism, and in light of the recent natural disasters that have affected the region, the Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives has created the Alabama Disaster Response and Recovery Team. The Alabama Disaster Response and Recovery Team is comprised of AmeriCorps*VISTA members working to address the volunteer and donation needs created by Hurricane Katrina and increasing preparedness for future disasters. Members of this team receive extensive disaster response and recovery training including: Community Emergency Response Team training, National Incident Management Systems training, and other specialized training.

In addition to disaster training, the AmeriCorps*VISTAs in the Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives are working to build capacity and programs to address current and future disaster related needs. The programs and issues being worked on by the VISTA team are the Alabama Interfaith Disaster Network , Homelessness and Evacuee Issues, and Volunteer and Donations Coordination Center. As Governor Riley recognizes, faith and community based organizations play a vital role in these important issues. The AmeriCorps*VISTAs serving through the Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives hope to create an environment where the needs of the citizens of Alabama are met by utilizing all of the resources available.

Currently, the VISTAs serving with the Alabama Disaster Response and Recovery Team are Charlie Blazevich from Arlington Heights, IL, Rita Smith from Connellsville, PA, Adam Ferguson from Williamsburg, VA, and Nakia Kyler from Ann Arbor, MI.
 

Making a Difference for the Gulf

From January 13th-17th the first-year VISTAs returned to Pass Christian, Mississippi having already spent a week there over Thanksgiving. This trip was to observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day as “A Day On” as opposed to a day off. They joined the AmeriCorps St. Louis Emergency Response Team (ERT) and were given the opportunity to participate in direct service. This was especially meaningful to the group because VISTAs routinely engage in indirect service and capacity building. By partaking in hands-on direct service, they were reminded of what they were working for back at the office in Montgomery.

Pass Christian is one of the cities that was significantly devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Strewn debris and appliances, collapsed and displaced houses, and trees pulled from their roots line the streets. It was overwhelming to see the destruction and feel the sense of despair as they drove through the ruined city. Once a beautiful Gulf-side city of 7000, it is projected that about 3500—or half—will return. Many families have yet to return since the hurricane to see the remnants of their homes or to salvage any of their belongings.

Upon arrival, the Team observed a noticeable amount of progress that had been made since Thanksgiving. There were several new installments in the makeshift downtown, including a sandwich shop, an ATM machine, and a new corner store. Also, the gas station and convenience store had been reopened. Other apparent differences included a much cleaner look and smell of the city. When they first arrived back in November, the stench of sulfur was overwhelming and the piles of debris on the side of the road looked as if they hadn’t been picked up in months.

A less tangible change was the shift in what the AmeriCorps St. Louis members were focusing on. Initially they were dealing with volunteer recruitment and placement at different sites. Now they were looking past the first phase of clean up and heading in a yet-to-be-determined new direction. It was getting more difficult to find meaningful work for unskilled volunteers because much of the work that remains needs to be done by skilled volunteers (i.e. chain sawing, plowing down houses, rebuilding houses, etc).

On their first visit to “The Pass,” they removed dry wall, cleared debris from yards to the street, and tore down molding, door frames, and windows. During their second visit, their time was consumed with different types of work. The first day, half of the group went to help at an animal shelter that was housing displaced dogs and cats, while the others picked up and bagged garbage on the main street into town. The next day, they went with an AmeriCorps*NCCC team to cut down and clear trees that had fallen in the local graveyard and the adjacent lot. The sanctity of the graveyard made it difficult to bring in heavy machinery to clear the trees and what was left of a cement building because there was not enough room to maneuver without disturbing gravestones and plots. Back at The Village—the name of the tent city—they helped clean out the dumpsters and hand out fire extinguishers to the residents.

They were appreciative that they were given the ongoing opportunity to work with the St. Louis ERT on different aspects of Hurricane Katrina recovery. As VISTAs, their focus was primarily on capacity building; so the immediate results and sense of accomplishment that accompany direct service acted as a welcome reminder of the reason for their service.