After deciding I wanted to do a year with AmeriCorps, I found Mi Casa when browsing through positions on their website. I was drawn to Mi Casa because it was one of the few organizations in the city that was Latino-led and I wanted to be able to work somewhere where I can learn more about other Hispanic communities in the DC area. After my parents got married they moved to Houston where they lived in a 600 square foot cottage behind my great grandmother’s house. Whether it was my fathers pride or lack of knowledge, my family never sought any assistance from the city or state and my father worked entirely on his own to make ends meet while my mother stayed home to look after us. Over the years our living conditions would improve and we continued to build on our house as our family grew.
Overcoming many obstacles in our family has helped us stay on a path to persevere through challenges big or small. As a child of a Mexican immigrant, I learned about the many stories that helped get my family to this country including the one where my grandmother would hold the position of a self declared “coyote” by helping others cross the border for a number of years. My great grandmother was similar in that she provided immigrants with warm meals and temporary housing after arriving in the United States. These stories rooted a love in me for working in diverse filled environments that challenged me to explore new outlets and think beyond my comfort zone. I was excited at the prospect of building capacity in our nation’s capital and I learned more than I thought possible. The professional experience I have gained is only partial to the level of character I have developed over the past year. The greatest aspect of my position is working with a diverse group of people with different work styles, and backgrounds and learning how to navigate that while working together.
“I was excited at the prospect of building capacity in our nation’s capital and I learned more than I thought possible. The professional experience I have gained is only partial to the level of character I have developed over the past year.”
Mi Casa has partnered with AmeriCorps for over four years by inviting a VISTA volunteer to work in a department within their interests and specialization. Several VISTA’s have worked on projects ranging from fundraising to tenant outreach where volunteers ultimately work towards building capacity in their local community. Mi Casa has undoubtedly benefited from the various projects VISTA’s have worked on while volunteers have left with experiences instrumental for their futures after their term. Those experiences have also led to long-term friendships between individuals who have a passion for service. For me, a year as a VISTA at Mi Casa has deepened my commitment to working with immigrant communities, and my determination to follow my dream to attend law school, and create a deeper change in the world.
