Our Team

Front: Lianne Rydell, Laura Prosseda, Ali Kopinto Middle: Brian Coleman, Allison Andrelchik, Jessica Cavas, Kimberly Miller, David Galanty Back: Melissa Cave, Nick Dantzer

It would be a challenge to find a group of people who are equally as kind, gracious, loving and motivated as our VISTAs. Our team is made of people from all over the country. They are different ages, come from different backgrounds, and each have their own perspectives. But they all share the drive to make things better, and get things done. We only invite the brightest, most thoughtful applicants to our project. Saying our team is special is truly an understatement.

Jessica Cavas is one of the teams VISTA Leaders. She is leader in every sense of the word. Jessica is the type of person who given an essay with a word limit of 500 words, will write 600 words and spend an hour paring down. She works hard and has a keen sense of judgment.  She was a VISTA in our project last year and is a great resource for our VISTAs. Jessica finished a year with the Substance Abuse Coalition, a project that will be taken over by Shawn McCullam a new VISTA and part of this November 07-08 team.  

Margaret Garvey is the Project Supervisor. With a background in community organizing, Maggie was one of three VISTAs to start in July of 2006. She witnessed a lot of planning and visioning, and knew when to take things further and create action. Despite the thrill of creating new things and watching them succeed, she balances her enthusiasm with careful planning and skilled facilitation methods. Sustainability is always in the back of her mind. Maggie's sharp awareness of her surroundings and endless energy keeps the Yavapai County VISTA Project healthy, and those around her eager for the next challenge.

Our project is growing. Last year we had 5 VISTAs in Yavapai County. This year in 2006/2007 we have a team of 10 VISTAs, which will increase to 13 by the beginning of July. In the upcoming year 2008 we can expect to see as many as 17 VISTA Projects up and running in Yavapai County.

Project Structure

For more information about individual projects, please visit our projects page.

Good Times

VISTA is a full-time committment to address complex issues. This makes down-time and FUN very important. Our VISTAs inevitably relate to one another and often spend free time hanging out and having fun. 

Members celebrating AmeriCorps Week at the Diamondbacks Game.	Ali and her good friend, Bob.

Youth Count Our Sponsor

Youth Count helps communities across Yavapai County create nontraditional solutions to the unique challenges facing our youth today. Thier primary purpose is to mobilize and energize collective efforts to improve the lives of young people.

Our project is sponsored by Youth Count. They serve as our fiscal agent. What would we do without the support of Youth Counts' Executive Director Lori Deutsch, and the patient staff. Carleen always willing to unjam the the printer and explain the meter machine for the hundredth time and Sandy willing to fight the good fight with our billing cycles. We are so grateful to them for the patience and support.

More about Youth Count »

Our Legacy

Although we are a young project we have truly been gifted with unbelievably talented people, and incredible success. Each and every one of our VISTA members and projects has contributed to a legacy of service and the drive for change in Yavapai County.

Find out more »