AmeriCorps VISTA

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
Laura Manigrasso
NC Hunger Corps

Laura Manigrasso (She/Her)

Taylor Sligh, VISTA
NC Hunger Corps

Taylor Sligh (She/Her)

Sam Colston, VISTA
NC Hunger Corps

Sam Colston (They/Them)

Sebastian Pruett, VISTA Leader
VISTA Leader

Sebastian Pruett (He/They)

Abijah Gattis, VISTA
NC Hunger Corps

Abijah Gattis (They/He)

NC Afterschool Corps

Steven Talbott (He/Him)

NC Hunger Corps

Marguerite Bauer (She/Her)

Jazzy Lemons
NC Hunger Corps

Jazzy Lemons (He/They)

Julianna Cesarini
NC Hunger Corps

Julianna Cesarini (She/Her)

Kaleigh Steigman
NC Hunger Corps

Kaleigh Steigman (She/Her)

Mina Jang
NC Afterschool Corps

Mina Jang (She/Her)

VictoriaTartivita
NC Afterschool Corps

Victoria Tartivita (She/Her)

Calvin Rausch
NC Hunger Corps

Calvin Rausch (She/Her)

Alexis May
NC Hunger Corps

Alexis May (She/Her)

Elissa Brady
NC Afterschool Corps

Elissa Brady (She/Her)

NC Hunger Corps

Rakeeme Baldwin (He/Him)

NC Hunger Corps

Laura Manigrasso (She/Her)

Service Year Host Site: Alamance Community College
From: Hillsborough, NC
Alma mater: Syracuse University
Before service: Volunteering at a variety of food pantries, and working part time for a caterer specializing in vegan cooking
Hobby: Gardening/creating native pollinator gardens
Fun fact: Her dream vacation would be a biking trip across the British Isles

NC Hunger Corps

Taylor Sligh (She/Her)

Service Year Host Site:  NC State University – Feed the Pack Pantry
From:  Greenville, SC
Alma mater:  Wingate University – B.A. in Communication, Minor in Spanish
Before service:  Was a full-time student at Wingate University; worked on campus in Residence Life, Community Standards, and Student Orientation
Hobby:  Writes poetry and stories (currently has about ten on-going stories that she’s working on)
Fun fact:  She is an ordained minister

NC Hunger Corps

Sam Colston (They/Them)

Service Year Host Site:  Warren Wilson College
From:  Cincinnati, OH
Alma Mater:  Warren Wilson College – B.A. in Environmental Studies
Before service:  Was a full-time student at Warren Wilson and did a lot of volunteering with the school; interned with Bounty & Soul in Black Mountain, NC
Hobby:  Enjoys running and playing the keyboard
Fun fact:  They’ve played steel drums in the Caribbean

VISTA Leader

Sebastian Pruett (He/They)

Service Year Host Site: NC Campus Engagement
From: Born in San Jose, CA; lived in NC, CO, and PA; recently moved to Burlington, NC for VISTA Leader Service
Alma mater: Penn State University, Scranton – B.A. in Corporate Communication
Before service: Served as a VISTA Member in Reading, PA
Hobby: He enjoys playing video games & spending time with his dog, Max
Fun fact: They’re currently part of a Dungeons & Dragons campaign playing as a Dragonborn Barbarian named Var!

NC Hunger Corps

Abijah Gattis (They/He)

Service Year Host Site: Guilford College
From: Durham, NC
Alma mater: Guilford College
Before service: AmeriCorps member with CTNC at Duke Campus Farm 
Hobby: Pottery
Fun fact: I am a Sagittarius 

NC Afterschool Corps

Steven Talbott (He/Him)

Service Year Host Site:  Duke University – ARAC, Office of Durham and Community Affairs
From:  Originally from Jacksonville, FL; moved to Durham, NC last year
Alma Mater:  Florida Atlantic University – B.A. in Criminal Justice
Before service:  Was an intern for the Criminal Justice Resource Center in the city of Durham
Hobby:  He is a huge movie and TV show buff; he also loves to read and play video games
Fun fact:  He used to take up archery and Kendo back home

NC Hunger Corps

Marguerite Bauer (She/Her)

Service Year Host Site:  NC Central University – Campus Pantry
From:  Born in Atlanta, GA; recently relocated to Durham, NC for VISTA service year
Alma mater:  Georgia State University – Associates of Science
Before service:  Served as a field crew member and a field crew leader in Helena, MT
Hobby:  She enjoys diamond painting and reading
Fun fact:  She’s been to EMT school

NC Hunger Corps

Jazzy Lemons (He/They)

Service Year Host Site: UNC Ashville – Key Center
From: Born in Raeford, NC; relocated in August 2022 from Fayetteville, NC to Asheville, NC
Attended: University of North Carolina Ashville – Currently taking classes working toward their Bachelor’s in Anthropology, with a minor in Psychology
Before service: Was a Community Fellow at the UNCA Key Center, still involved in non-profits but more direct service based
Hobby: He paints, plays video games, reads, and spends time with his dog, Biscuit
Fun fact: He goes back to Raeford every year to see a horse-racing event with his friends from home

NC Hunger Corps

Julianna Cesarini (She/Her)

Service Year Host Site: Warren Wilson College
From: Grew up in Mobile, AL and moved to Swannanoa, NC for college and stayed for her VISTA service placement
Alma mater: Warren Wilson College – B.A. in Global Studies, Minor in Political Science and History
Before service: Member of the Bonner Leaders work crew at Warren Wilson College
Hobby: She loves testing new recipes and traveling to see concerts
Fun fact: She studied in Pavia, Italy for a semester at one of the oldest universities in Europe!

NC Hunger Corps

Kaleigh Steigman (She/Her)

Service Year Host Site: NC State University – Pack Essentials Hub
From: Grew up in Charlottesville, VA, and moved to Raleigh, NC for VISTA service
Alma mater: Virginia Tech – B.A. in Public and Urban Affairs, majoring in Environmental Policy and Planning
Before service: Full-time student and intern at the EPA and Virginia Tech Office of Sustainability
Hobby: Cooking, crafting, and spending time with pets
Fun fact: She hopes to visit all 50 states one day!

NC Afterschool Corps

Mina Jang (She/Her)

Service Year Host Site: Duke University – Transportation and Communications
From: Born in South Korea, raised in CA, lived in NC for the past four years
Alma mater: Duke University – B.A. in English with a minor in Korean
Before service: Graduated from Duke in May
Hobby: She enjoys making collages and watching Bob’s Burgers
Fun fact: She wants to join a roller derby team, but first she needs to learn how to roller skate!

NC Afterschool Corps

Victoria Tartivita (She/Her)

Service Year Host Site: Warren Wilson College
From: Lived in NJ, attended college in VA, and recently moved to Swannanoa, NC for VISTA service
Alma mater: James Madison University – B.S. in Biology, minoring in Medical Humanities & Honors Interdisciplinary Studies
Before service: Interned abroad for six weeks in Valencia, Spain
Hobby: Enjoys reading, playing board and card games, exploring cities and local coffee shops, & playing with all animals
Fun fact: She loves to bake – her specialties are scones and brownies 🙂

NC Hunger Corps

Calvin Rausch (She/Her)

Service Year Host Site: Duke University
From: Marietta, GA
Alma mater: University of Georgia (UGA) – B.A. in International Affairs and B.A. in Political Science, minoring in Public Policy & Administration
Before service: Served with student government at UGA and started the campus’s first fresh produce food pantry!
Hobby: Calvin loves hiking, traveling, and hosting dinner parties for her friends
Fun fact: Calvin gave a Ted Talk this year on staying informed in service and cultivating a respectful culture of volunteerism!

NC Hunger Corps

Alexis May (She/Her)

Service Year Host SiteAlamance Community College
From: Danville, CA; moved to Burlington, NC for VISTA service
Alma mater: Clemson University – B.S. in Criminal Justice, minoring in Sustainability and Geology
Before service: Was a Senior Analyst on a crisis response team at a retail based GSOC (Global Security Operations Center)
Hobby: Hiking, camping, and being outdoors
Fun fact: Loves Yerba Mate (a South American herbal drink) and is a Brand Ambacebador for Guayaki

NC Afterschool Corps

Elissa Brady (She/Her)

Service Year Host Site: Duke University – Jumpstart
From: North Walpole, NH
Alma mater: Union College, Schenectady, NY – B.S. in Neuroscience, with a cognitive focus
Before service: Full-time student
Hobby: She enjoys hiking, reading, and spending time with friends
Fun fact: Her Dad’s name is Tom Brady!

NC Hunger Corps

Rakeeme Baldwin (He/Him)

Service Year Host Site:  NC Central University – Campus Pantry
From: Fairmont, NC; relocated to Durham, NC for VISTA service
Alma mater: NC Central University – Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.)
Before service: Worked for Courageous Conversations Global Foundation, which promotes and teaches racial healing across the world
Hobby: He loves watching TV, playing video games, learning, swimming, and helping others
Fun fact: He is a very passionate writer!