Newsletter Article January 07

Movin’ on up! Hello everyone, I am so glad to be here in Fort Bragg! My name is Kristie Singer and I am a VISTA (Volunteer in service to America) here to work with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mendocino County. I found out about this position on the internet (isn’t it amazing?!) through Americorps which is a corporation dedicated to combating poverty here in the United States. My one year commitment of service with Big Brothers Big Sisters will involve recruiting, screening, and matching our wonderful volunteers with Littles from the community including one our newest programs Mentoring children of Prisoners. I get to foster these precious relationships by creating fun events for the Bigs and Littles to attend together free of cost! Along with fundraising and grant writing, my main focus will be capacity building and creating sustainable programs so that the things I create and nurture this year can continue to flourish after my time here is through.

I just moved from Long Beach in Southern California where I left my family and my Alma Mater, California State University Long Beach. I was born and raised in Long Beach and only moved away from the city just this summer, for my internship on Catalina Island at a camp called The Catalina Experience. In case you were wondering how I end up with the coolest jobs, my Bachelor’s Degree is in Recreation and Leisure Studies. My parents are both teachers and my older brother is currently attending CSULB to also become a teacher. He is married to a lovely woman from Okinawa, Japan and I have two handsome and lively nephews. Luke is 5 and Jake is 2 ½. I am a life long soccer player and also enjoy playing the flute. I didn’t leave everyone behind, I moved with my fiancé, Juan Carlos who is a new student at College of the Redwoods and our dog, an American Pitt Bull named, Dia.

I know this year will be awesome for the community as well as a great learning experience. I look forward to meeting and interacting with the entire community, that means you!

Thank you,
Kristie Singer