Eco3 recently welcomed three new VISTAs to our team of 15 VISTAs already serving across the Northland in many communities in addition to the City of Duluth. Left to right, are Karla Hernandez, Prairie Rose Agricultural Institute for Research, Innovation (PRAIRIE) Seeding the Future VISTA, Campbell “Cami” Fischer, the Food Sovereignty VISTA with the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, and Rachel Vaughn, the Change and Community Outreach VISTA at Lincoln Park Children and Families Collaborative.
Karla Hernandez is serving as the Prairie Rose Agricultural Institute for Research, Innovation, and Education (PRAIRIE) Seeding the Future VISTA. Karla is Mexican and Salvadoran, born in Grand Forks, ND, and currently living in Moorhead, MN. She has two children and a puppy and works part time as a Harm Reduction Advocate through Fargo Cass public Health. Karla is passionate about helping others in any way. During the summer, Kara enjoys spending as much time at the lakes and enjoys visiting new ones. She can talk anyone’s ear off, so be cautious!
Campbell “Cami” Fischer is serving as the Food Sovereignty VISTA with the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, working to increase accessibility to fresh produce and culturally relevant foods. She recently graduated from Northern Michigan University with a degree in Environmental Studies and Sustainability and a minor in Native American Studies, with a focus on local food systems and food sovereignty. She hopes to learn about growing food, and grant writing, as well as making long-lasting connections with our local food systems. In her free time she enjoys being in the company of Lake Superior and foraging for the goodies our environment has to offer.
Rachel Vaughn is serving as a Change and Community Outreach VISTA with Ecolibrium3 at Lincoln Park Children and Families Collaborative. She will be assisting in various administrative duties to help the community of Lincoln Park thrive through their youth and family programs and events. Rachel is originally from Fort Thompson, SD, and grew up on the Crow Creek Sioux Reservation where she frequently served at a community non-profit. Rachel has a Bachelor of Arts in Family Studies from Lubbock Christian University (TX) and is passionate about mental health awareness, diversity inclusion, and personal connection. In her free time she loves to journal, tend to her many plants, and talk with her friends.
We’re very excited to have them join the Eco3 VISTA cohort team. And we look forward to learning more about them and to seeing all of their contributions and accomplishments in the coming year