AmeriCorps VISTA

AmeriCorps VISTA Topics

Meet Our Current VISTA Members

NC Campus Engagement VISTAs serve in the NC Afterschool Corps and the NC Hunger Corps at host sites across the state. They have the unique opportunity of serving at the intersection of higher education and community engagement and building the capacity of campus and community organization partnerships, while also expanding volunteer opportunities for students and community members.

The NC Hunger Corps are AmeriCorps members who support programs and organizations that address food security and healthy eating among low-income children, families, and individuals. Hunger Corps VISTA members are placed at higher education institutions or community-based organizations and may support on-campus and off-campus food security programs.  

The NC Afterschool Corps are AmeriCorps members placed at higher education institutions and community-based organizations to build the capacity of afterschool programs that serve underserved children, youth, and families. Corps members primarily work to increase volunteer involvement with and funding for the afterschool program. They also strive to raise community awareness of the value of afterschool programs.

AmeriCorps VISTA
NC Afterschool Corps

Sydney Gilbert (She/Her)
NC Afterschool Corps

Jacob Bruce (He/Him)
NC Hunger Corps

Saskia Herron (she/her)
NC Hunger Corps

Khadija Lulu Muhammad (She/Her)
NC Afterschool Corps

Madison Schwenneker (she/her)
NC Hunger Corps

Emma Myer-Medina (she/her)
NC Hunger Corps

Kristina Torain (she/her)
NC Hunger Corps

Nicholas Hart (He/Him)
NC Afterschool Corps

Elijah Linville (he/him)
NC Afterschool Corps

Lauren Calaminici (she/her)
NC Hunger Corps

Kim Deberry (she/her)
VISTA Leader

Alice Chesley-Akhtar (she/her)
Communities Thriving

Domonica Langley (she/her)
Communities Thriving

Jill West (she/her)
NC Afterschool Corps

Sydney Gilbert (She/Her)

Service Year Host Site: Elon University
From: Scottsdale, Arizona
Alma mater: Elon University – B.A. in Public Health with minors in Psychology and Poverty & Social Justice Systems
Before service: Prior to service Sydney worked to improve the health of those living in Alamance County through her roles at Alamance Partnership for Children, Burlington Recreation and Parks Department’s Park and Play & Afterschool Programs, and role as a Learning Strategies tutor for Elon Learning Assistance. 
Hobby: Sydney enjoys baking, hiking and crocheting in her free time.
Fun fact: She is a proud mother to her rabbit, Bernice!

NC Afterschool Corps

Jacob Bruce (He/Him)

Service Year Host Site: Warren Wilson College
From: Originally from Austin, TX but lived in Chapel Hill for 7 years
Alma mater: Trinity University in San Antonio, TX – B.A. in English Literature
Before service: Before beginning service, Jacob worked as a in the Trinity University Writing Center and as a teaching assistant twice 
Hobby: Jacob has recently become an avid rock collector.
Fun fact: Jacob regularly attends Floydfest which is a bluegrass music festival in Floyd, VA

NC Hunger Corps

Saskia Herron (she/her)

Service Year Host Site: Warren Wilson College
From: Greenville, NC
Alma mater: Warren Wilson College – B.A. double major in Environmental & Global Studies
Before service: Saskia found passion for produce and food justice while volunteering and working with Bounty and Soul in the Asheville Community
Hobby: Saskia is happiest while in a hammock, outdoors, listening to the birds chirping.
Fun fact: Saskia is excited to return to Warren Wilson college after completing her undergraduate studies to experience another side of higher education while supporting the community she has loved for the past 4 years!

NC Hunger Corps

Khadija Lulu Muhammad (She/Her)

Service Year Host Site: PORCH – Chapel Hill – Carrboro
From: Born in Baltimore, Maryland but grew up in Kenya
Alma mater: Towson University in Towson, Maryland – B.S. in Healthcare Management, minor in Business Administration
Before service: Before serving Lulu interned at the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center in the Quality and Process Improvement field. 
Hobby: Lulu loves to go on walks and explore new places. She also has a great passion for cooking!
Fun fact: She also studied in Malaysia for a year before returning to the United States!

NC Afterschool Corps

Madison Schwenneker (she/her)

Service Year Host Site: UNC Pembroke
From: Holly Springs, NC
Alma mater: UNC Pembroke – B.S. in Mass Communications, focused in Public Relations
Before service: Before serving, Madison spent the last few years working with adults with disabilities and being an active member of her campus community
Hobby: Madison Enjoys singing and doing her own nails in her free time
Fun fact: She is very excited to continue her time at Pembroke but working in a different capacity!

NC Hunger Corps

Emma Myer-Medina (she/her)

Service Year Host Site: NC State University – Pack Essentials Hub
From: Carrollton, Illinois
Alma mater: NC State University – B.S. in Polymer and Color Chemistry with a concentration in Medical Sciences, minoring in Textile Technology, Environmental Toxicology, and Biological Sciences
Before Service: Prior to service, Emma was a full-time student, participated in Undergraduate Research, and served as the Volunteer Coordinator at NC State University’s Feed the Pack Food Pantry.
Hobby: Reading, baking, and spending time with her cat
Fun fact: She loves to make cake pops and fresh chocolate chip cookies.

NC Hunger Corps

Kristina Torain (she/her)

Service Year Host Site: Alamance Community College
From: Burlington, NC
Alma mater: UNC Greensboro, Greensboro, NC – B.A. in Media Studies with a minor in Sustainability
Before service: Before beginning service, Kristina worked as an office coordinator at a mental health center. 
Hobby: Kristina loves to be active and creative by talking self-portraits, hitting the gym and exploring the local beauty of North Carolina.
Fun fact: Kristina maintains a running list of ideas and initiatives she would implement if she ever became president!

NC Hunger Corps

Nicholas Hart (He/Him)

Service Year Host Site: Duke University
From: Chicago, IL
Alma mater: University of Illinois Chicago – BA in Economics with a minor in Civic Analytics
Before service: While completing his undergrad degree, before starting service Nick worked with his university’s student engagement office. 
Hobby: Nick enjoys cooking and baking and exploring new places!
Fun fact: When he was in high school Nick was voted “Most Likely to be President”!

NC Afterschool Corps

Elijah Linville (he/him)

Service Year Host Site: Duke University
From: Rocky River, OH 
Alma mater: Kenyon College – BS in Political Science
Before service: While in college  Elijah was an active member of the swim team and then worked after graduating before starting service.  
Hobby: Elijah loves to read fiction, A Manual for Cleaning Women by Lucia Berlin has been on of his recent favorites. He has also recently taken up cycling.
Fun fact: This will be Elijah’s third time moving to Durham!

NC Afterschool Corps

Lauren Calaminici (she/her)

Service Year Host Site: NC State University – Juntos
From: Louisburg, NC
Alma mater: UNC Wilmington, Wilmington, NC – B.S. in Psychology
Before service: Before serving with the NC Afterschool Corps at NC State, Lauren worked in Wilmington while completing her degree. 
Hobby: Lauren loves going on hikes and exploring the outdoors with her dog, Peter.
Fun fact: This summer Lauren traveled to Lisbon, Portugal to see Taylor Swift!

NC Hunger Corps

Kim Deberry (she/her)

Service Year Host Site: North Carolina Central University
From: Durham, NC
Alma mater: NC Central University – Bachelor’s in Social Work
Before service: Before beginning her year of service Kim was a Social Work Intern with the NCCU Campus Pantry. 
Hobby: In her free time, Kim enjoys baking and spending time with her family.
Fun fact: Kim is excited about continuing her work with the NCCU Campus Pantry but serving her community in a different capacity.

VISTA Leader

Alice Chesley-Akhtar (she/her)

Service Year Host Site: North Carolina Campus Engagement
From: Brunswick, Maine
Alma mater: University of Maine in Orono with a B.S. in Biology
Before service: After graduating in 2020, Alice moved to Colorado and served a term as an AmeriCorps VISTA with CSU Extension 4-H.  Alice moved back east in 2022 and began working as a biochemistry research assistant and project coordinator lab at NCSU, spending her free time volunteering at the North Carolina Museum of Science. 
Hobby: Alice is an avid reader of all genres, with thrillers, fantasy, and autobiographies being some of her favorites.
Fun fact: Alice has three cats, all of whom she adopted in the last three years.

Communities Thriving

Domonica Langley (she/her)

Service Year Host Site: Piedmont Community College
From: Durham, NC
Alma mater: North Carolina A&T State University — B.S. in Graphics Communications & Technology
Before service: Before starting service, Domonica focused her time and efforts on completing coursework towards a second bachelor’s degree, working, and volunteering.
Hobby: Domonica enjoys taking long walks with her dog, Lua, reading books, and spending time with friends and family.
Fun fact: She loves music overall but has a particular interest in guitars and still hopes to learn how to play the one she owns.

Communities Thriving

Jill West (she/her)

Service Year Host Site: Randolph Community College
From: Philadelphia, PA
Alma mater: Randolph Community College – AAS in Human Services/Appalachian State University – BSW
Before service: Jill was raising kids and fostering children through her local DSS!
Hobby: Volunteering in the community, learning new things and video games.
Fun fact: Jill is married to a Marine Veteran and has raised three Army soldiers (so far).