AmeriCorps VISTA
The Nashman Center and DC Public Schools (DCPS) collaborate on an AmeriCorps VISTA program. Our VISTA members come to DC from around the world to fight poverty by leveraging community partnerships and recruiting volunteers to increase opportunities and access in Title I schools across the district.
Through this collaboration, we recruit and train federally funded VISTA members who serve in DCPS Central Office, schools, and at GW. School-Community Liaison VISTAs build capacity by working directly with school personnel and community organizations as well as the GW community to cultivate partnerships, create volunteer programs, and collaborate with the community to develop engaging enrichment programs for DC youth. Within DCPS Central Office, our VISTAs work to create and maintain systems informed by experience, research, and best practices. Lastly, VISTA members placed at GW help to build capacity by connecting the community with campus resources through service-learning courses, nonprofit partnerships, recruiting student volunteers, etc.
Applications Closed
Look out for opportunities opening in Spring 2027
ArtReach Program Fellow - Serve with ArtReachGW at THEARC to enhance existing after-school and community partnerships to provide arts education, workforce skills development and art therapy.
School Partnerships Fellow (DCPS Central Office) - Serve with the DCPS Central Office to expand its capacity to cultivate and support school partnerships with local community organizations and government agencies; develop and support data systems, assessment, and communications; support training and student community service.
Benefits Include:
- Living Allowance ($2,145/month)
- $7,395 Education Award available upon completion of service
- Relocation Assistance
- Healthcare
- Paid Leave
- On-Site Training and Ongoing Professional Development
- Non-Competitive Eligibility for Federal Positions
- Paid transportation for work-related travel
- Paid interest for Student Loans
Volunteer with our Program Partners
Check out the VISTA Program volunteer opportunities with our community partners on GivePulse.
2026-27 DCPS Community Partnerships Fellows
- Chelsea Murillo-Parra
Born and raised in New York Chelsea is passionate about public health and health education. She comes from a family of immigrants who have persevered through every challenge to put her on the path she is on today. She is also a GWU alumna as of May 2026!
As an alumna from GW who has gotten to know DC, she truly has fallen in love with this city and its people. As an undergrad, she recognized the important work the Nashman Center does all over the DMV and wanted to be a part of it. She can not wait to do her part as a GW VISTA fellow!
Chelsea serves at Ida B. Wells MS
- Grace Curry
A recent graduate of The George Washington University, where she studied Political Science and Human Services & Social Justice. Alongside her studies, she was a Division I athlete and stayed involved in the DC community through volunteer work with local schools and organizations. She is passionate about nonprofit work and giving back, and is excited to bring that energy to AmeriCorps!
During her time at George Washington University, she has seen firsthand how individuals like herself can have a direct impact in their community and have had many opportunities to engage directly with the D.C. community. These experiences have shaped her perspective, guided her classwork, choice of major, and decisionmaking about her future. As she thought about what she wanted to do after graduation, a year of service felt like a perfect fit, and, to be able to do that in D.C., a community she is familiar with and have grown to love, would bring everything full circle.
Grace serves at Stuart-Hobson MS in NE DC.
- Jonae Addison
Jonae is a dedicated community member with a strong track record of service across local and national organizations. She has contributed to Safe Passages and AmeriCorps National in Oakland, CA, So Others May Eat (S.O.M.E.) in Washington, D.C., Eat.Learn.Play. in Oakland, CA, and KaBOOM! in Bethesda, MD. Focusing on supporting vulnerable populations, advancing child and family initiatives, and building equitable communities. These experiences have strengthened her collaborative approach and commitment to hands-on civic engagement. She is excited to bring this passion and experience to the Honey W. Nashman Center.
Her why is simple: Community. She has been involved with a number of projects and helping to uplift others since she was a child thanks to her parents. Pouring into people of all ages and backgrounds is such a blessing that she doesn't take lightly. She loves what the Nashman center does and can’t wait to help build with the team.
Jonae serves at Johnson MS in SE DC.
- Paul Huang
Paul graduated from the Ohio State University in 2025. He studied Public Management and Politics, Philosophy, and Economics with a minor in Spanish. He has experience in the nonprofit, education, community development sectors and spent the last year teaching English as a foreign language in Villena, Spain. He is looking forward to bringing his energy, passion, and creativity to a DC public school with a high Spanish speaking population through this program.
Paul lived in DC a few summers ago working for a local nonprofit called Spur Local. This introduced me to what the city has to offer young professionals looking to become involved in mission driven organizations with both local and national impact. I return to the district this time with hopes of becoming a part of this kind of work in the long-term, and excited to contribute to the success of the Nashman Center and the DC Public schools.
Paul serves at Browne EC in NE DC.
- Rebecca Meister
Rebecca is from Richmond, VA, having recently graduated from the College of William & Mary with a bachelor's degree in Government and Women's Studies. She has a great love of service, and spent last summer as a volunteer at the National Park Service in eastern DC. She also has a passion for exploration, having spent a semester abroad in London. Rebecca is also quite passionate about the performing arts, having been an active writer/performer/theatre maker for almost 15 years.
Rebecca deeply admires the work the Nashman Center is doing in and around DC public schools. Having worked closely with children for the last 5 years, she understands the importance that strong role models and effective programming can have for youth. Rebecca fell in love with the city of DC after doing a summer program there in college, having spent a lot of her time in Anacostia and its surrounding neighborhoods as a part of her internship with National Capital Parks - East. She is eager to contribute her talents to the Nashman Center's goals and to learn from all the incredible people and work already being done there and around the city!
Rebecca serves at Elliot-Hine MS in NE DC.
- Tashoi James
Tashoi is a graduate student in Urban and Regional Planning at Georgetown University with a background in public service, contract management, and experience working in a transportation planning environment. She is passionate about working with communities and understanding how planning and public policy decisions can positively impact people's everyday lives. She values fairness, meaningful community engagement, and creating places where people feel heard, valued, and connected to opportunity.
Tashoi chose to serve in DC because she wants to become more connected to the city and the people who call it home. She hopes to move beyond her experience as a student and learn directly from the people and organizations working with DC communities. She values the Nashman Center's focus on community-centered service and sees it as an opportunity to build real relationships, listen to community needs, and contribute in a way that she may not otherwise have a chance to.
Tashoi serves at Sousa MS in SE DC.
2026-27 School Partnerships Fellow
- Sadie Dodds
Sadie is a recent GW graduate with a bachelors in English and a double minor in Art History and Data Science. Originally from Baltimore, MD, she spent most of her childhood in the island community of Key West, FL but is happy to have made her way back to the Mid-Atlantic. She's currently an AmeriCorps VISTA Fellow placed with DC Public Schools' Partnerships Team.
Throughout her time as an undergrad at GW University, she fell in love with DC. This city has a long, fascinating history shaped by protest, block parties, hardship, music, and so much more. It is at once a big city and a close-knit community and getting to be a part of the history of a place this special, even in a small way, feels deeply meaningful.
Sadie serves in the DCPS Central office supporting the Partnerships Team.
2026-27 Community Engagement and Outreach Fellows
- Alexa Corales
Alexa is a recent VT graduate who majored in Business Information Technology with a minor in Psychology looking to give back to her community and foster continuous change during her time here. She enjoys volunteering and baking during her free time and is actually a twin. She served as Vice President of her sorority, Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha Inc, and was the Social Media Chairwoman in her university's Latin Association for Student Organizations. She loves trying new things/new foods and loves movies!
She wanted to join the Nashman Center as well as serve in DC due to her passion for nonprofit work as well as falling in love with the DC community. She has had experience working in DC nonprofits and seeing the change we are able to make in peoples' lives has been some of the most rewarding experiences she has ever had. She especially enjoys the Nashman Center's continual encouragement of learning and educating others in order to grow the community and equip others with the tools they need to make successful futures for themselves.
Alexa supports the SMARTDC and engagedDC Nashman Center programs.
- Christian Williams
Christian is a double alum of GW, graduating with a Master of Arts degree in Political Science in May 2025, and graduating from GW with an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Political Science in May 2023. In his free-time, he loves to read about history, listen to oldies music, and run around the DC area training for races throughout the year!
Christian is committed to making the community around him a better place and hopes to enter a career that focuses on that mission. Both AmeriCorps and the Nashman Center are both devoted to that mission and provide the perfect opportunity to help people, make their lives better, and create positive change in not just Foggy Bottom, but the Washington, DC area as a whole!
Christian supports Nashman Center’s fundraising & Veteran initiatives as well as other projects as they arise.
- Jesús Véliz
Jesús has been part of the Nashman team for 5 years now. Initially starting off as a tutor & mentor at DC Public Schools —transitioning into a lead tutor and student leader at the Nashman Center— Jesús recently graduated GW with a Bachelors in American Studies and Spanish literature, and is excited to return to Nashman as an Outreach and Community Engagement Fellow. Passionate about community integration, student voice, and civic education, Jesús is looking forward to bridging the gaps between the theory we learn from in the classroom, and the praxis we should be engaging in to create impactful and equitable environments for learning and community.
Washington D.C. and the Nashman Center have become his new home. Leaving his land in South Texas to fight for his future and become the first in his family to receive an education, he knew the knowledge he would acquire could not only serve himself but the people that made him who he is today. His academic and professional aspirations have grown alongside the community he has been able to foster here in the DMV. He is forever grateful for the knowledge and skills his neighbors and loved ones have taught him. Community work is essential to his life, and he looks forward to spending the next year in DC continuing to solidify and create new relationships.
Jesús supports the Math Matters Nashman Center tutoring program.
- Kelsey Woody
Kelsey comes from consulting and is also a GW alumni. So honored to join the Nashman Center as a Community Engagement and Outreach Fellow. She is super excited to partner with staff and students and further her portfolio in the area of social innovation and entrepreneurship!
Working at Nashman as a Community Engagement and Outreach Fellow aligns with her short term and long-term goals in the areas of social innovation and entrepreneurship! She gets to do things like issue a monthly newsletter for GWServes, work on prime initiatives like Civic House, and also participate in enrichment activities that further her development.
Kelsey supports the Nashman Centers newsletter, GWupstart and social innovation projects, website and other projects as they arise.
- Salmah Animashaun
Salmah’s background includes financial operations, research, community engagement, and working with diverse individuals and communities. She enjoys opportunities that allow her to combine her analytical, communication, and leadership skills to make a meaningful impact. She is passionate about learning, serving others, and contributing to initiatives that create positive change.
Salma chose to serve in DC because it is a diverse and vibrant community where she can learn from different perspectives while contributing to meaningful community-focused work. She is especially excited about serving with the Nashman Center because of its commitment to connecting students and communities through service and civic engagement. She wants to use this opportunity to strengthen her leadership and community engagement skills.
Salma supports GWs Center for Interfaith & Spiritual Life.
2026-27 ArtReach Program Fellow
- Tyler Karter
Tyler is a professional with experience supporting student communities across higher education, public schools, and community‑based programs. She specializes in staff coordination, clear communication systems, and strengthening daily operations. Her background includes community engagement, partnership support, and workflow improvement in fast‑moving educational environments. She’s known for bringing structure, adaptability, and a collaborative approach to every team she works with.
She is drawn to serving in DC because it’s a city where community engagement, education, and public service intersect in a powerful and visible way. The Nashman Center’s commitment to civic leadership, equity, and community‑based partnerships aligns directly with the work she’s done supporting students and families in both higher‑education and public‑school settings. Tyler is motivated by environments where service is not just encouraged but embedded into the culture, and the Nashman Center represents that mission at a high level. Being part of this work in DC allows her to contribute to meaningful, community‑rooted impact while continuing to grow as a practitioner committed to collaboration and social responsibility.
GWServes Community Partnerships VISTA Leader
- Cierra Jones
Cierra is a community development and partnerships professional with experience advancing capacity-building initiatives through strategic collaboration, communications, and civic engagement. She specializes in fostering cross-sector partnerships, supporting leadership development, and designing outreach strategies that connect communities with meaningful resources and opportunities. Driven by a commitment to service, Cierra believes lasting impact is achieved through collaboration, trust, and intentional relationship-building.
Cierra's "why" for serving is rooted in her belief that every community deserves access to the partnerships, resources, and opportunities needed to thrive. Through the Nashman Center, she is excited to support collaborative efforts that empower VISTAs, strengthen schools, and expand community capacity across Washington, DC. She views service as an opportunity to listen, learn, and help build systems that create lasting impact long after a project ends.
Cierra serves as a VISTA Leader supporting all facets of the VISTA fellows experience.
Questions?
Contact Nadia McNeil-Thomas at gwserves
gwu [dot] edu (gwserves[at]gwu[dot]edu) or 202.994.9900
