Meet Current VISTA Members
Nancy Kastning
NCNMEDD's VISTA Program Coordinator
Santa Fe, NM
Nancy Kastning is NCNMEDD's VISTA Program Coordinator. Previous to that role she was NCNMEDD VISTA Leader. Nancy has served as a VISTA for four years after retiring in 2016 from being a science teacher. Her first year (2017-2018) was as a VISTA in the Bighorn Basin of northern Wyoming. She worked to create a food hub to increase economic security for small family farms and availability of fresh local foods to families with food insecurity. In Nancy's second year of VISTA (2018-2019) she served with Conservation Legacy to create outdoor science education curriculum for Kasha Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument which is managed by the BLM and Pueblo de Cochiti in New Mexico. Nancy's third year of VISTA was with Montana Campus Compact (2021-2022). She worked with two tribal communities in north-central Montana as a local food systems coordinator to increase their tribal food sovereignty. Her fourth year of VISTA was as a Leader for NCNMEDD VISTA program (2023). From there she was promoted to being NCNMEDD's program coordinator. Nancy is glad to be mentoring four VISTAs in her role of program coordinator.
Christopher Woodstock
STEM Santa Fe YR 1-Marketing and Development VISTA Associate
NCNMEDD VISTA Program Capacity Building VISTA
Santa Fe, NM
Christopher started his VISTA term in June 2023, relocating from New Jersey, for his fourth term of service as an AmeriCorps member. Christopher began serving with STEM Santa Fe as a Marketing and Development VISTA Associate and is now serving at the offices of the North Central New Mexico Economic Development District, utilizing his talents capacity building to eliminate poverty.
Christopher’s three previous AmeriCorps terms were served directly with SBP in New Jersey; rebuilding houses devastated by Superstorm Sandy.
Noah M. Tama-Parris
Santa Fe County Broadband VISTA
Santa Fe, NM
Noah is serving his first year at AmeriCorps Vista at the Santa Fe County community development department with a primary focus on expanding broadband access to as many unserved county residents as possible. During his first year, he has given presentations to Santa Fe County’s broadband working group, researched and reported on funding opportunities, collaborated with various departments and county in strategic planning meetings on the county’s broadband initiatives.
Marcus Murrell
City of Santa Fe Poverty Aleviation Navigator VISTA
Santa Fe, NM
Marcus Murrell, City of Santa Fe’s Poverty Alleviation Navigator VISTA, is addressing poverty within marginalized communities in the City of Santa Fe. Marcus is working with City staff to develop and implement the Economic Development Strategic Action Plan and Community Navigator Program. These projects aim to bridge the gap between under-represented communities in poverty and essential business resources and entrepreneurial opportunities. Simultaneously, Marcus is dedicated to advancing workforce development initiatives by providing support for career pathway development, comprehensive job training, and the enhancement of job-related skills. These workforce development efforts are crucial to empowering individuals in the City of Santa Fe to access better employment and thus break the cycle of poverty.
Betty Bastai
Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Recovery VISTA
Las Vegas, NM
Betty Bastai is serving as a VISTA member with the Las Vegas New Mexico Community Foundation (LVNMCF). Betty has been a VISTA for three years after moving from Washington State to New Mexico in 2018. In her first year (2018-2019), she served as the STEAM Design Specialist with UNM Social Media Workgroup, an organization that promotes STEAM education. In Betty’s second year (2019-2020) she was a Cities of Service Experience Matters VISTA with the City of Albuquerque, Office of Civic Engagement. She collaborated with another VISTA member and the Department of Senior Affairs to develop a multigenerational mentoring program. Betty carried out her third year as a VISTA with the City of Santa Fe, Office of Economic Development (OED). She helped the OED compile and edit an extensive newsletter, manage the 11,000 newsletter subscribers, promote OED’s events and newsletter on its Facebook page, and assisted the OED with the implementation of a Free Wi-Fi Program in low income mobile home parks. Betty is very excited to bring her extensive experience and enthusiasm to LVNMCF to help the foundation’s ongoing effort to support the communities and individuals impacted by the Hermit’s Peak and Calf Canyon Fires.
If you or someone you know is interested and would like to become an AmeriCorps Member,
please feel free to visit us at https://americorps.gov
This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information
and military service.