VISTA of the Month/Oct. 2009
October 2009: Valerie Smith/South Carolina Business Initiative (SCBI)
1. Where are you from? I currently reside in Columbia, South Carolina after relocating here from California in 1999.
2. What were you doing before becoming an AmeriCorps VISTA? Unemployed and working as a volunteer consultant at the site (SCBI) while building my own business.
3. Why did you join AmeriCorps VISTA? Unemployed and unable to find lucrative employment, the VISTA assignment was a perfect opportunity to gain the knowledge and expertise I need to run a business while contributing to building the capacity of one of the most successful business development resource centers in SC.
4. What are your duties as a VISTA? Working with the Executive Director to build the volunteer based, document procedures, identify funding opportunities, and assist with grant writing.
5. What are your goals from your year of service? To assist the organization with increasing its capacity to serve by improving public awareness of the organization, its vision, services, and training. In addition, increase the number of community partners and volunteers serving the organization.
6. What are your plans after your year of service? Attending the University of South Carolina to obtain my PMBA with an international option and focus in economics.
7. Any special accomplishments? Renewed partnerships latent --- with Midlands Workforce Development Board, Midlands Community Development Corporation. Developed new partnership connections with OBO, Cooperative Ministry, Trained over eight new volunteers and interns, created volunteer training orientation materials, marketing materials, newsletters, and postcards for distribution. Identified critical funding opportunity newly announced through SBA that the organization was not aware of that resulted in funding of $100K. Played a pivotal role in the development and funding of the United Way of the Midlands PIC Application for $20K.
Currently Valerie is enrolled in graduate school and working part-time with an after school program. She is also in the process of launching her own non-profit.
