Although this year has led us to face loss, grief, and other hardships, we have also had the opportunity to grow closer to one another. Up2Us Sports VISTA members are dedicated to helping the communities they serve during the holiday season.

Below is a Q&A with Shanishka, a VISTA at the Belafonte TACOLCY Center in Miami, Florida. Hear from Shanishka about why she chose to become a VISTA member and how she is changing the game of giving back.

What inspired you to serve as an AmeriCorps VISTA member?

What inspired me to become a part of the Americorps VISTA team was the mission of Up2Us Sports. Whenever I went through a rough patch during my childhood, sports was the way to keep my mind busy and I was doing something I loved. When I wanted to give up, my coaches and peers pushed me to be the best I could be. I want to be a part of the greater good and give back, mentor children, and help to rebuild a community. I know I can learn a lot from AmeriCorps VISTA, Up2Us Sports, and the Belafonte TACOLCY Center.

How is Belafonte TACOLCY Center supporting the community this holiday season?

The Belafonte TACOLCY Center has been doing so much this holiday season. For Thanksgiving, we held two events: A farm share for the community of Liberty City and a turkey drive for the families of our programs. With the help of the Chief Press Foundation, the Key Biscayne Community Foundation, Repair the World, Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department City of Miami Police Explorer Post 162, we served 220 turkeys and over 300 boxes of fruits, vegetables, eggs, milk, and bread. We are also having a toy drive for the children in our program.

Why is it important for you to give back during the holidays?

There’s no better feeling than giving back and contributing to society. When I see a family happy, it really melts my heart and makes me thankful for everything I have and don’t have.

What does giving back mean to you?

Giving back means so much to me. It feels so good to give back to a community that I was raised in. Once upon a time, my family needed help, so I sympathize with what many of these families are going through. Denzel Washington once said, “At the end of the day, it's not about what you have or even what you've accomplished. It's about what you've done with those accomplishments. It's about who you've lifted up, who you've made better. It’s about what you've given back.” I strongly agree and am going to live by this quote as I serve my term.

*Shanishka Walker has been serving as an Up2Us VISTA since October 2020 at Belafonte TACOLCY Center in Miami, Florida where she changes the game.