“My parents are from West Virginia, and my entire family is from Appalachia for many generations,” Dara explains about her deep connection to West Virginia. “Even though I grew up in Florida, I feel that I was raised with an Appalachian mindset by people who work hard, do their best, and hope they can get by and maybe do even better. My family was able to overcome the forces of generational poverty thanks to state and federal programs ranging from New Deal programs like the Community Conservation Corps to Veterans homeowner benefits for my dad’s military service.”
Her family’s struggles and successes shaped Dara’s outlook on the world. She considers it a responsibility to take from the opportunities that benefited her to give back to Appalachia. This is why the AmeriCorps VISTA opportunity with the Meadow River Valley Association (MRVA) spoke to her on a deep level.
For Dara, working with MRVA has given her a chance to better understand the issues facing West Virginia communities and what needs to be done to help the communities overcome challenges. Dara has also spent her time thinking about ways that communities can change their economies to grow and survive. She points to connecting our state’s abudance of natural beauty with economic opportunities like recreational tourism as being key to creating resilience and growth for local economies.
This understanding of West Virginia’s connection to its natural beauty is what drives Dara’s work with MRVA. The Meadow River Valley was devastated during the 2016 flooding and has spent years rebuilding. The work has included working on parks and creating a way to bring people to the area to enjoy the natural assets found in the Meadow River Valley.
“My belief is that in addition to flooding mitigation and prevention measures, communities need to shift to an economic development model that emphasizes a symbiotic relationship with the environment,” Dara says. “One way to tie a financial gain to best environmental practices is through the development of businesses that thrive as a result of healthy and thriving environments – such as river trails, rafting, kayaking, hiking, and other low impact eco-tourism.”
Her time volunteering with MRVA as part of AmeriCorps has given her a stronger appreciation for the importance of the work being done. She is now a strong advocate for people joining AmeriCorps to make a difference in their communities.
“I encourage organizations to find out how they can sponsor an AmeriCorps position, likewise I encourage individuals to visit the AmeriCorps website to see what opportunities are available,” Dara says. “If a year-long commitment to AmeriCorps is not the right fit, I suggest community members in West Virginia connect with umbrella organizations like The Hub in Charleston, WV Nonprofit Association, Volunteer West Virginia, Blueprint Communities. These organizations offer a wealth of resources, but also observing how these organizations run is highly instructive for small organizations and communities to get started on their journey of making change.”
The West Virginia Development Hub hosts AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) members in communities participating in our coaching programs as well as in partnership with organizations around the state. The Hub currently has VISTA sub-sites in Fairmont, Morgantown, Rainelle, Clarksburg, Elkins, and other communities. The VISTA program was founded in 1965 and is an anti-poverty program providing needed resources to nonprofit organizations and public agencies to help lift communities out of poverty. The VISTA program places volunteers 18 years or older into communities where they perform a year of full-time volunteer service.
In the VISTAs of West Virginia series, you’ll learn more about the VISTAs working in Hub communities uplifting economic and community development teams around the state.
Interested in becoming a VISTA? Check out current opportunities through The Hub »