VHA is happy to introduce our May VISTA Spotlight, Becky Harris, who serves as the Systems Coordinator VISTA at Renovation Alliance in Roanoke, VA.
About Becky:
Becky Harris is a graduate of James Madison University, majoring in Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication. She has worked in various settings, including the front desk at a university library and backstage at a dinner theater. Renovation Alliance stood out to her because her first summer job was painting dorm rooms and providing minor building repairs at the University of Mary Washington. In her spare time, she enjoys watching movies and TV, writing, photography, and baking and has called Fredericksburg home for the past ten years.
Current Project:
Since starting her AmeriCorps journey with Renovation Alliance (RA) in August, Becky has focused on developing resources that staff and future VISTAs can use to provide assistance to homeowners. One of Becky’s main projects has been helping Renovation Alliance transfer to a new homeowner application software system called Neighborly. This process involved manually entering information from the old software system and continually updating information when necessary. Along with the transfer, Becky created two user manuals: one for how to input applications (from a staff perspective) and one for how to fill out the online application (from a homeowner perspective). The latter has been included on RA’s website so that prospective applicants can use the document as a guide when completing the application. The manuals are designed so that staff and future VISTAs can easily access and update them, as needed.
In addition to assisting with the new application software system, Becky created a new resource list that is used to refer callers to other organizations that may be able to provide assistance. For example, if a homeowner seeking repairs lives outside of RA’s service area, staff would refer them to an organization that serves the homeowner’s location. If they are calling about services RA does not offer, staff would refer them to an organization that provides the services they are looking for. Part of the process of making the list involved reaching out to each organization to ensure that their contact information was accurate. Contacting the organizations also served as a way to build and maintain community awareness among local organizations about Renovation Alliance. A printed copy of this list is kept by the phone, so that people can quickly identify resources that may be helpful to the caller. A digital copy is also available so that staff and future VISTAs can continue adding and updating resources.
Aside from the projects listed above, Becky has also worked on preparing for a spring event (Renovation Celebration), grant writing and research, making surveys and flyers, and posting on Renovation Alliance’s social media accounts. To connect with Becky regarding her work, please email becky@renovateall.org.