Gabe is an AmeriCorp VISTA working at the Mattie Rhodes Center with Northeast Alliance Together.

“I am here for a year of service and I’ll be working as a community engagement coordinator, meaning I’ll be advocating for the Northeast. I’d like to also set up community events and find ways to connect the community with different organizations. Northeast already does a lot of that, they are a very active community.”

Gabe lives in Independence, but works in the Northeast and says he loves the community engagement that is exhibited in this community.

“The level of community engagement here is something that I don’t see where I live. I am trying to develop relationships with people, and I love how involved and engaged individuals are in this community with attending neighborhood meetings and community events. The capacity of Scarritt Renaissance Neighborhood Association, and Pendleton Heights with their own Arts Block and Lykins’ housing guidelines. It wasn’t on my radar before that that was something that a neighborhood association could do, for themselves. I think it’s important for the community to be active and involved and have more control over their community. Through my experience as an AmeriCorp VISTA with Mattie Rhodes, that’s something I’m learning and I’d like to take that forward into the future.”