Our Current VISTAs
Leora, VISTA Supervisor and EJW Staff Member
Leora is the VISTA Supervisor for Equal Justice Wyoming and looks over our VISTAs. Leora grew up in Cheyenne, majored in English at a tiny college in Nebraska, and received her law degree from the University of Wyoming. She enjoys reading, hiking, and critiquing the Broncos’ play-calling. Leora says, “It is an honor to work with Equal Justice Wyoming and the AmeriCorps VISTA program. I get to focus on the essential task of bridging the justice gap in underserved communities. And I get to work every day with our enthusiastic and knowledgeable VISTAs. Their dedication to service is inspiring. Because we have a strong cohort of VISTAs, we are able to provide resources and assistance to folks all across the state. I’m proud of the work our VISTAs do. Their efforts make the future brighter for everyone in Wyoming. If you’re interested in joining our team, please contact me. I’d love to talk with you about available or upcoming service opportunities.”
Anna, Wyoming Department of Health - Aging Division (August 2023 to August 2024)
Location of Service: Cheyenne, WY
Hometown: Richmond, VA
Alma Mater: University of Mary Washington, B.A. in International Affairs
Experience: While majoring in international affairs, I became very interested in the field of international development. My research in this field made me realize that I wanted a career that helped increase peoples’ access to the things they need to live healthy and personally fulfilling lives. Outside of my degree, I was involved with a wide array of extracurriculars through the multicultural center at my school, which furthered my interest in equity and social justice. After college, I did an internship with a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that managed HUD-funded housing and services for low-income older adults, which served as my first exposure to the Aging Network. I then completed a ten-month service term with AmeriCorps NCCC, which is a national service program in which teams of young people travel around the country and work on a variety of projects based on community needs. After completing my NCCC term, I decided to apply for another AmeriCorps position, because I knew that doing so would enable me to find work that aligned with my values. The Aging Division was a perfect fit for me, because it allowed me to do work I was passionate about while gaining more experience working with the Aging Network.
Abbey, Equal Justice Wyoming and Legal Aid of Wyoming (August 2023 to August 2024)
Location of Service: Cheyenne, WY
Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada
Alma Mater: University of Nevada, Las Vegas – Bachelor of Social Work
Experience: I’ve had the privilege of working with numerous nonprofit organizations in my home state of Nevada, including groups serving at-risk kids, the deaf community, and unhoused individuals. My two favorite experiences were as a student at the Clark County Public Defender’s Office working with mitigation specialists, clients, and attorneys, and as a member of Critical Care Comics (CCC). As a CCC volunteer, I worked with children’s hospitals, care facilities, and other organizations around Las Vegas to help bring kids smiles, as well as serving on the charity’s recruitment and grant writing committees.
After graduating with my degree in social work and spending the summer traveling, I am excited to be settling in Wyoming and joining EJW to help increase civil legal aid and resources for low-income folks. Following my VISTA service, I will be attending law school with the goal of becoming a public defender and pursuing human rights advocacy.
We will be recruiting for our next cohort of AmeriCorps VISTAs in the Spring of 2024. You can learn about serving with the Wyoming Children’s Trust Fund by watching the video of Kenai on our Alumni page.
We will be recruiting for our next cohort of AmeriCorps VISTAs in the Spring of 2024. You can learn about serving with Habitat for Humanity of Laramie County by watching the videos of Frances and Hugh on our Alumni page.
We will be recruiting for our next cohort of AmeriCorps VISTAs in the Spring of 2024. You can learn about serving with Cheyenne Regional by watching the videos of Miranda, Kaylin, and Dana on our Alumni page.
We will be recruiting for our next cohort of AmeriCorps VISTAs in the Spring of 2024. You can learn about serving with the Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault by watching the videos of Halli, Taylor, Breana, Derek, and Anna on our Alumni page.
We will be recruiting for our next cohort of AmeriCorps VISTAs in the Spring of 2024. You can learn about serving with the Wyoming Children’s Law Center by watching the videos of Lila and Sam on our Alumni page.