Meet our AmeriCorps VISTA members!

While 2020 was memorable for many reasons—one of the highlights for the Oasis Institute was the addition of two AmeriCorps VISTAs to our staff!

AmeriCorps VISTA members build capacity in nonprofit organizations across the country to help them more effectively generate the commitment of private sector resources, encourage volunteer service at the local level, and empower individuals and communities. Oasis was fortunate to have two amazing recent college graduates join the health and tutoring teams as VISTAs in the middle of such an extraordinary year.

Haley - AmeriCorps VISTA Member

Haley Eschbacher joined the national Oasis health team in June of 2020. Haley chose to serve with Oasis because

“I am passionate about the population Oasis’ serves. My Grandma suffers from Alzheimer’s and she’s my best friend. I enjoy working with the elderly and Oasis gave me a way to do that. I am thankful that I can be a part of the important work that Oasis is doing right now, especially during a global pandemic. We are able to help people feel less lonely while also educating them on ways in which they can live healthier lives. Serving at Oasis enables me to gain important job skills I can use in the future while also facilitating me to work with a population I am so passionate about, and for that I am truly grateful.”

Bailey McCoy is currently serving with the Oasis Tutoring team. She graduated from Missouri State University in May of 2020 in Elementary Education. Bailey originally came to Oasis as a Summer Associate, and then accepted a full-time position serving Oasis as a VISTA. Bailey shares,

“I chose to work with Oasis because I could use my knowledge in education and gain experience teaching outside of a classroom setting. I have learned many lessons and important skills. The tutors want to work with their students so badly that they would do anything to be with them. I helped develop an online training allowing the tutors to meet with their students virtually and am spending some enjoyable days practicing the tutoring process to help build their confidence on this new platform. The next step in my career is to become a classroom teacher in the St. Louis area. I love teaching elementary-aged children. They have such amazing personalities and imaginations. I hope to be able to have Oasis tutors in my classroom next year!”

Bailey - AmeriCorps VISTA Member

Both Haley and Bailey were instrumental in helping Oasis pivot our health and intergenerational tutoring programming to virtual models and continue to serve older adults during an unprecedented year.

We currently have two additional fulltime AmeriCorps VISTA positions open at the Oasis Institute offices in St. Louis—a Program Coordinator with the Oasis Connections team and Marketing/Tech Coordinator. These positions are a great fit for a recent marketing, nonprofit management, computer science, or communications college graduate interested in furthering their career in the nonprofit sector. AmeriCorps VISTA members serve full time for one-year terms. The positions are not salaried, but members receive a stipend to cover living expenses and an education award upon completion of the program. More information about the benefits of serving as an AmeriCorps member can be found here.