2025-2026 TMA VISTA PROJECTS - Transform Mid-Atlantic

Loyola University Maryland TMA Loyola York Road Food and Security Access VISTA

The York Road Food Security AmeriCorps VISTA Project aims to combat food insecurity and lack of fresh produce in the Govanstowne neighborhood of Baltimore. The VISTA member will oversee the implementation and growth of the Govans Community Fridge and support other food access initiatives like the Healthy Corner Store Initiative and the Govans Farmer's Market. Through community collaboration and educational programming, the project seeks to increase food nutrition and equity, creating a healthier and more sustainable community. More to come!

Abby is a recent graduate of Fordham University with a degree in International Studies and Peace and Justice Studies. She will be working as an AmeriCorps Member for Food Access and Security at Loyola University Maryland. Abby is passionate about equitable access to healthcare and women's health and plans to pursue her Masters of Public Health following her service year.

Transform Mid-Atlantic (TMA) TMA Grants Development VISTA Project

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The Grants and Community Education VISTA Project focuses on building capacity for TMA's community engagement programs on college campuses and with community non-profits. By developing and executing a grant-seeking strategy in collaboration with TMA staff, the project will alleviate poverty and build healthy communities through campus-community engagement programs. The VISTA member will play an integral role in grants and fundraising meetings, strategy sessions, and development of sustainable systems for the acquisition and management of funding to support poverty relief and promote healthy futures, education, and economic empowerment.

Ashley is a young social impact professional committed to creating thriving places of opportunity. She spent the first four years of her career with a mission-driven team in a social enterprise focused on improving economic mobility in partnership with philanthropic clients (e.g., Gates Foundation), public sector leaders (e.g., DC’s own Deputy Mayor for Education), and nonprofits (e.g., North Carolina Community Schools Coalition). There, she witnessed the power of local community leaders in creating the conditions for economic in/mobility in different zip codes and launched Bell Creek’s first practice area focused on connecting national and local efforts. She committed to transitioning into public service as soon as she could, which landed her a provocative though short tenure as the Special Assistant to DC’s Deputy Mayor for Planning & Economic Development in the Bowser Administration.

A guiding principle of Ashley’s work is to connect public and social sector leaders to communities, creating feedback loops between those with and without power as well as national insights and local realities. In search of a position that allowed her to fully live her values, she is now transitioning into a year of service with AmeriCorps where she will serve as the Grants and Program Development VISTA for Transform Mid-Atlantic, building TMA’s capacity in fostering civic engagement programs across postsecondary and community institutions focused on breaking the multidimensional cycle of poverty.

Ashley is a graduate of Rice University (Brown College ‘20) in Houston, where she studied public health and psychological science. She took away an award-winning undergraduate thesis project in psychoneuroimmunology, early experience in nonprofits and community health education, extensive time and dedication to student governance and civic engagement programs, international exposure to public health and migration issues in Sweden, a systems orientation to social change, a strong work ethic thanks to her work/study program and stubbornness
to maintain 1-2 PT jobs alongside extracurriculars and studies, and a love of coffee (former/forever Rice Coffeehouse KOC).

Ashley lives in Cleveland Park with her long-time partner, Ellie, who is a
Pediatrics Resident at Walter Reed, a Naval Officer, and a former Owl. While away from her desk, Ashley spends her time doing anything outdoors (hiking, climbing, kayaking, pickleball, running, etc.), dreaming up travel plans, trying new board and card games, following her love of food from the kitchen to local restaurants, and championing the work of community-based organizations. While she’s a native Texan and misses BBQ and breakfast tacos, the upsides of southern hospitality, and the country farm(ish) she grew up on with her family, she is a fiercely proud Washingtonian... as they say in Texas, “I wasn’t born here, but I got here as fast as I could!”