Reflections from an AmeriCorps Communications VISTA

Over the last year, I served as an AmeriCorps Communications VISTA at the Alaska Afterschool Network, a program of the Alaska Children’s Trust. As a former Camp Fire Alaska participant, I had the meaningful opportunity to give back to the same community where I was raised, which signifies a commitment to youth development and community engagement. Serving at the Network has deepened my understanding of out-of-school time (OST) programs and highlighted their positive impact on the Alaskan community. During this AmeriCorps service term, I built networking skills and community-building skills and gained professional experience in communications by expanding storytelling and uplifting youth voices. 

When I began this role, I thought communications would focus primarily on newsletters, social media posts, and website updates. While those tasks were certainly part of the job, my most impactful task was creating purpose-driven storytelling. I deeply appreciate learning about students and the many afterschool programs that were a part of the Alaska Afterschool Network. This gave me a chance to meet passionate, school-aged kids throughout southcentral Alaska, where I interviewed, photographed, and created videos showing the positive impacts of afterschool programs, thus amplifying their voices through storytelling.  

One of the projects I worked on was the “I Love Afterschool” campaign, a statewide initiative celebrating and advocating for the positive impact of out-of-school programs. The campaign invites students, families, and community members to share messages and creative expressions about why these programs matter. 

I also created a dynamic promotional video for the 2025 annual Alaska Out-of-School Time Conference hosted by the Alaska Afterschool Network and the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development. This video-based campaign was informative and captivated the spirit of our audience. The video was shared on social media platforms and in the Alaska Afterschool Network newsletter.

Both video campaigns gave me hands-on experience in creating social media content that builds human connections and reinforces the need for afterschool programs. 

In addition to my growth in the communications field, as a participant in the Child and Youth Care Credential course, I gained a deeper understanding of youth development practices and explored various youth-focused professions, including afterschool programs, early childhood education, and mental health services. The course also strengthened my ability to communicate effectively with youth.

I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Alaska Afterschool Network, Alaska Children’s Trust, and the Afterschool Alliance AmeriCorps VISTA Program for this incredible opportunity. I am especially thankful for their kindness, unwavering support, and patience throughout the year. I would also like to sincerely thank AmeriCorps for its service and dedication to strengthening communities. Your encouragement and commitment have helped me grow both personally and professionally, and I truly appreciate the time and effort invested in me. This experience has strengthened my commitment to giving back to my community and continuing my path as I pursue a career in digital media and communications.