Welcome to the MLC!

All about VISTA Living

CommunicationsEmail updates from your VL: ~ Trainings and Events~ Need-to-Know~ Reminders~ Newsletters

- Facebook Site http://www.facebook.com/mlcvista- Facebook Group 2015/16: Coming Soon!- VISTA Living Blog mnliteracy.org/vista/

Reporting and Check-Ins

• Monthly Reflections: track your progress• Mid-Year Evaluations: assess and re-evaluate• Training Evaluations: how are we doing?• Check-ins with VISTA Leader: talk to me!• 1 site visit October/November: how’s your site?(You and Your Supervisor + Eliza and Ellen)

*Quarterly Reports:Completed by Supervisors & will ask for your input

Support VISTA Team!Eliza Kraker, VISTA Leader

Ellen Bergstrom, VISTA ManagerMeghan Paul-Cook, Coordinator

Peer GroupsGroups within the larger cohort to encourage collaboration, resource sharing, and relationship building among VISTAs!- Groups will meet approx. every 2 months- Each VISTA will take turns hosting meetings at their site

Family & Friends: Ask for what you needHelp family and friends understand your year of service so they can better support you!

Networking• Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN)• Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN)• Young Education Professionals Network• InterCorps Council of Minnesota• Minnesota Rising• Saint Paul Sprockets• Saint Paul Public Schools Foundation

Portal Resourcesmnliteracy.org/VISTA Login: mlcvista Password: literacy

• VISTA Living Blog• VISTA Roster with bios and contact info• VISTA Member Trainings Resources • Forms, Policies, and Procedures• Resources (Professional Development, life as a

VISTA member, VISTA project tasks and topics)

Professional Development Fund

Each VISTA has $150 in Professional Development Funds

Trainings, conferences and classes Progress your work as a VISTA and your

professional goals!

• Get approval from MLC• Scholarships Available!

Student Loans• Your “my AmeriCorps” account

will allow you to apply for forbearance with your loan provider

• Only eligible federal loans can be put in forbearance– You will need the name of

your loan provider and/or the number of your loan/s

• Private loans can be consolidated to lower payments if there are more than one

Talk with your loan provider to find out what will be best for you!

Student Loans After you serve, National Service Trust will cover interest

accrued on Federal Loans “Create interest accrual request” in portal

Public service forgiveness The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program forgives the

remaining balance on your Direct Loans after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer (like a non-profit, government agency or school)

About ten years of payments required, does not need to be consecutive

Submit application https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/pu

blic-service

Treat Yo’ Self!o Practice Self-Care

o Healthy foodso Go for a walko Free yoga/Zumbao Talk with a friend/your VL!o Journal or start a bullet journal (ask me about it!)o Art it upo Listen to new music (8tracks, spotify, pandora)oWatch animal youtube videoso COCONUT OIL!! Use on hair, skin, in dressings, etc.

o Start a new hobbyo Volunteer

Healthcare• Healthcare Allowance

– Have health insurance– Covers $6,600 in out-of-pocket costs– Deductible/coinsurance– Copayments – Prescriptions

• Benefit Plan– Find out if you are legally exempt from coverage at

www.healthcare.gov/exemptions– If eligible, can enroll in benefit plan– Serves as a safety net, covers routine visits, emergency care, most

prescriptions– Does not cover dental, vision, dependents, or pre-existing conditions

• Mnsure.org– You may qualify for low or zero monthly payments

Healthcare• Complete Member

Enrollment Form online• Create a “My IMGVISTA”

account at :americorpsvista.imglobal.com• Contact International Medical

Group (IMG)– Call toll free 855-851-2974– vistacare@imglobal.com

• Research options at www.healthcare.gov• Buy insurance through Health Insurance Marketplace within 60

days from start of service or within 30 days of a life event like 26th birthday, marriage, or divorce

SNAPYou are eligible for food assistance!Sign up ASAPApply online, by phone, in person, or by mail

Need:1. Bank Statement2. Social Security

number3. Proof of monthly

earnings, pay stub4. Proof of housing costs,

copy of lease

SNAPContact your county human services agency for an

application or apply online at www.applymn.dhs.mn.gov.Request a service confirmation letter from your VISTA

Leader to send with applicationHelp Line: 1-888-711-1151

Monday-Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

EBT cards can be used at Farmer’s Markets!

$$$Save$$$

• Low-cost vet care at organizations like Kindest Cut and the Pet Project.

• Free tax services and financial advice through AccountAbility Minnesota and check out this site for more info and locations: http://www.revenue.state.mn.us/

• Free bike repair help, and an opportunity to earn a bike with Cycles for Change.

BudgetingWrite our your budget and subtract

billsTake out spending money in cash and

separate amount for each week (for example, placing 20$ in an envelope for each week)

Use an excel spreadsheet Be specific!Plan for things like emergencies, off-

sale, eating out, toiletries, clothes, gifts, projects, pets etc.

Use the form from VISTA

Financial Tips

• Buy food in bulk, organize potlucks, buy seasonally, share recipes, grow a herb garden

• Free e-books online, libraries, borrow books from friends or family

• Free events listed on Facebook or citypages

• Talk about your service and how it affects you financially, friends will understand if you need to say no!

EMERGE Financial Literacy ClassEMERGE’s Four Cornerstones of Financial Literacy class meets Wednesday evenings. Each session meets four weeks in a row, and participants must attend all four classes. Classes are FREE and open to anyone who is interested.

1101 West Broadway Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55411

Each Wednesday, the class meets from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm and dinner is provided. Advanced registration is required.

2015 Upcoming dates:• September 2, 9, 16, 23• October 7, 14, 21, 28• November 4, 11, 18, Dec 2

For more information and to register call Delaney at 612-787-3751

Thoughts from your VL

• The words we choose to describe ourselves, they can empower us in the eyes of others. How we talk about our work is important because it is how others learn about VISTA.

• It is important to say thank you and acknowledge your hard work and the hard work of others.

• In the wise words of a former VISTA and my friend Alyssa Peoples, “your energy introduces you before you even speak.”

• “Your smile is your logo. Your personality is your business card. How you leave others feeling after an interaction becomes your trademark.” Jay Danzie

• Every tiny victory counts, every small victory is a step to winning bigger battles.

• Talk about the important work you will embark on, and while it’s happening, use active, positive words like “serve”, “volunteer”, “provide”, “procure”, or “secure”.

Questions???

Eliza Krakerekraker@mnliteracy.org

651-251-9066