Finding Purpose Through Service: Inti’s AmeriCorps Story

Through Goodwill Northern New England’s AmeriCorps VISTA Partnership, individuals have the opportunity to build professional skills while helping nonprofit organizations strengthen their communities. For Inti, that experience helped her discover a deeper sense of purpose.

As a Development Associate at Nashua PAL, Inti supports a variety of projects that help advance the organization’s mission. From marketing and communications to fundraising and community outreach, her work helps connect people to resources and programs that support local youth and families.

“It’s helping people that really brings a lot of joy to me,” Inti said.

Over the past year, her service has not only benefited the organization she serves but has also helped her grow personally and professionally.

Building Skills Through Service

The Goodwill Northern New England AmeriCorps VISTA Partnership places members at nonprofit and public agencies across Maine and New Hampshire. Members help build organizational capacity while gaining valuable experience in fields that align with their interests and career goals.

At Nashua PAL, Inti has had the opportunity to contribute across multiple areas of the organization.

“Because I’m a Development Associate, I get to work on a little bit of everything,” she said. “From marketing and advertisement to the newsletters and the voice of PAL and even fundraising.”

The variety of responsibilities has allowed her to develop new skills while exploring different aspects of nonprofit work.

According to Jen Miller, Director of Development and Partnerships at Nashua PAL, the flexibility of the AmeriCorps VISTA program allows members to build on their strengths and pursue opportunities that are meaningful to them.

“It really depends on the person that’s in that role, their skills, their talents, what they are passionate about and what they want to do,” Miller said. “If we can make it happen, we want to make it happen.”

That flexibility has helped Inti discover where she can make the greatest impact.

Making a Difference in the Community

While much of her work supports PAL’s operations and outreach efforts, one of the most rewarding parts of Inti’s service has been seeing the impact the organization has on young people.

Being part of the PAL community has given her opportunities to form meaningful connections and better understand the needs of the children and families the organization serves.

“Being here with the kids, it makes me a part of their lives personally,” Inti said. “I start paying attention to behaviors or maybe I should sit down and have a talk with them, make sure that they’re OK.”

Seeing that impact firsthand continues to motivate her.

“You can actually see the difference and impact you make on these children’s lives,” she said. “I think that’s something that keeps me coming back.”

Miller says that commitment to helping others has been evident throughout Inti’s service.

“Being an AmeriCorps member is something genuinely special,” Miller said. “It’s a labor of love. You put yourself in that situation because you know you’re going to a place that needs some support and some help.”

Discovering a Sense of Purpose

As her service year progressed, Inti developed confidence in her abilities and gained a clearer understanding of the type of work she wants to pursue in the future.

Miller has witnessed that growth firsthand.

“I really feel like she’s found her footing, especially over the last six months,” she said. “She’s really creative. Finding those pieces where she can make that impact and then really taking off and doing it.”

For Inti, the experience has provided something even more valuable than professional development.

“Like a lot of us, we kind of try to find a purpose in what we do,” she said. “The Goodwill Northern New England AmeriCorps program helped me find my purpose.”

Today, she hopes her work helps raise awareness about the impact organizations like Nashua PAL have in their communities and encourages others to consider service opportunities of their own.

“I want more eyes on PAL and Goodwill because I want people to see what we do,” she said. “If I can help with that, then I’m good.”

Through Goodwill NNE’s AmeriCorps VISTA Partnership, Inti has gained valuable professional experience while making a meaningful difference in her community. In the process, she found something she wasn’t necessarily looking for: a clearer sense of purpose and a passion for helping others succeed.

Goodwill Northern New England is a local nonprofit dedicated to investing in people. Goodwill NNE provides comprehensive support to those facing barriers to achieving their work and life goals. Our Workforce Services serve thousands of individuals each year – including our own teammates! Our holistic approach to employment combines the best practices of social work and workforce development. Goodwill NNE stores embody our mission and drive sustainability through re-use, while offering good jobs and free supports to all employees. Goodwill NNE operates in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. For more information visit GoodwillNNE.org.