Meet Miami’s ServeNext Organizer
Why did you want to become a ServeNext Organizer? 
I wanted to become a ServeNext Organizer because I believe it is the best and most innovative human capital strategy to address our nation’s most pressing needs.
What 1-2 major things do you hope to accomplish as an Organizer?
- Have national service be part of the conversation for local elections.
- Create sustainable systems to safeguard national service as an interest for Miami-Dade.
What do you see as the biggest challenge to your work as a ServeNext Organizer?
The apathy that permeates Miami. However, I know that bringing together these disjointed ‘bright spots’ will help move our community in the right direction.
What do you see as the biggest threat to the national service movement today?
I believe that the downfall to the movement is a lack of supporters and champions in the right arena. People who are not supporters of the national service movement do so because they are misinformed or just lack the information.
Why do you think it is important to not only do direct service, but to also take the next step and be a voice for AmeriCorps and all national service in America?
To stop at direct service is leaving the work half-done. The reality is that direct service is only half the battle because if we want these programs to continue doing the amazing work that we know they are (because we have served with them) then we need to fight to ensure their sustainability.
Vanessa can be reached by email at vchristiansen@servenext.org.
Please also take some time to meet the rest of our 2012 organizers.