The past couple years OregonASK has had a partnership with the Office of Equity through the VISTA Position, My Brother's Keeper. As January ends and February begins, our current My Brother's Keeper VISTA will be transitioning out of his role into a new one with OregonASK and The Department of Psychology at Concordia University. Before he ends his VISTA year, he wrote a reflection his VISTA experience on how it has impacted him personally and professionally.

"For me, the My Brother's Keeper VISTA position was part of a larger transition in my journey.

After nearly 10 years of direct service to underserved communities, I had run into my fill of frustrating policies, institutions, administrators and overall general ways of operating. I made the decision to learn how to become an agent for change and found Concordia University's Community Psychology Program.

As a quick aside, you may be wondering what is community psychology. I did too before stumbling across the field a few years ago. From the Society for Community Research and Action, "community psychology goes beyond an individual focus and integrates social, cultural, economic, political, environmental, and international influences to promote positive change, health, and empowerment at individual and systemic levels."

The parallel between what I was learning in the classroom and what I was doing during the day was invaluable. I was able to learn theory and see in practice the same day. For example, I was able to use the Barbershop Reading program I was working on for Black Male Achievement (BMA) Portland as the final capstone for my community development class. I was able to do an in depth executive analysis on Oregon Robotics Tournament and Outreach Program (ORTOP) for my nonprofit management class because ORTOP is a partner of Oregon ASKs network.  Another example is I analyzed Measure 11 and it's disparate impact on young men of color, for my policy and advocacy class. This was done right after leaving a BMA Steering Committee meeting where the repeal of Measure 11 was discussed. The number of ways in which I was able to weave the work I was doing as a VISTA to the work I was doing in the classroom and vice versa continues to grow each day forward.

Beyond the work, my time as a VISTA gave me the opportunity to establish roots in a new community. With OregonASK, I was able take a snapshot of the entire state and learn how the larger statewide systems worked or didn't work. With BMA, I was able to deeply invest my time in Portland and connecting with people, organizations, institutions and systems focused on the health, safety and success of black men. The access and connections I've gained over the year has provided a platform to launch my career as an agent for change.

I would be remiss to mention the biggest highlight of the year of getting engaged to my wonderful fiancé who's had her own journey of finding her role and purpose as a social worker here in Portland. Together we've found a home here and are excited for what lays ahead.

To sum it all up, my MBK VISTA year has given me a community, a family, a home, and a purpose. My only hope is that I was able to give as much back to the people and organizations I've served. As my MBK VISTA year comes to an end, I'm eager to take what I've gained and pay it forward."