My focus within the McKinley County VISTA program is economic development, as is the focus of the other VISTAs within this program. Branching from this focus, I am hoping to specify my focus on opportunities with, in particular, grant writing so as to make potential concepts more accessible to the Gallup area (e.g. with museums, historic building renovations, etc).
However, over the next several months my primary focus will be on the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program and expanding this program into its second year in the McKinley County area. Much more can be accomplished with this program, making this something very exciting to volunteer with.
Chamber Event Organizing
Volunteer Recruitment and Training;
Collaboration with Rehoboth Christian School (for space and
resources), possibility of expansion with Gallup High School;
Collaboration with Tax Help New Mexico (organization which
administers VITA);
Collaboration with Internal Revenue Services New Mexico branch;
Collaboration with New Mexico Asset Builders Individual Development
Account(IDA) Program;
Website Design and Posting for VITA (providing information and
contacts, etc)
Facilitate restoration of a local downtown historic building through
grant writing efforts and building owner collaboration;
Facilitate accomplishment of filling building's vacancy (with owner
approval) with a new or relocated Gallupian business that can
support the downtown business district's revitalization efforts
Assist "Smart Growth" organization (located out of Santa Fe and
Albuquerque) to study potential museums and networks and
their capabilities in the Gallup area
Somewhat in conjunction with the Museum Feasibility Study- locate
potential financial support systems/partners (i.e. grants,
other museums, city, etc), locate potential WPA Art museum
site (i.e. Comcast building? or other) and create WPA Art
network statewide and/or nationwide in hopes to center WPA
Art in the Gallup area
