By Sheila Golden
For the News Tribune
KEYSER - “Every time you interact with someone you have an opportunity to recruit that person for service,” said Monique Frazier as she recently ended her three-year position as an AmeriCorps VISTA.
Frazier had served Mineral County in that capacity since January 2007.
The emphasis of her service was to initiate and maintain programs to promote literacy in the county.
“I could not deliver direct service to people. Instead, my role was to develop a way and recruit the people to meet the literacy needs of people in the community,” she explained.
“I’m not able to continue in this position because AmeriCorps VISTA limits us to only three years,” Frazier stated. “Limiting the time gives others the opportunity to serve.”
During her tenure, Frazier played a vital role with the Energy Express literacy program. She recruited volunteer coordinators, community volunteers and mentors.
“Recruiting college students as mentors was the most rewarding thing for me,” she commented. “I met a lot of awesome young people. I developed strong bonds with many of them and we still stay in touch,” she continued.
“They became like my children. I will really miss Energy Express. I may continue to be involved as a volunteer,” she said.
The literacy advocate went on to urge college students and others in the community to become involved with the upcoming literacy enrichment program.
Other literacy based projects initiated by Frazier included both the Family Storytelling and the Reading Partners programs.
During her three-year stint, Frazier often stepped “out of the literacy box” and served the area in numerous other ways. She modified the Family Storytelling program and made it available to the clients at the Developmental Center and Workshop.
She spearheaded a clean-up campaign at Camp Minco and laid the groundwork for a refurbishing effort to be carried out at the camp this spring.
Additionally, she has become involved with the local CEOS, as well as the Mineral County Relay for Life. Her efforts have also extended to becoming a member of the Med Reserves and coordinating the local food collection campaign that coincided with the statewide observance of the National Day of Service and Remembrance on Sept. 11, 2009.
Frazier has also been a volunteer with the Mineral County Warm the Children campaign and as she says, “Warm the Children really stands out for me. I want to continue to do this.”
When asked how she plans to spend her time now, Frazier responded, “I will try to catch up on my housework. I’ll do my spring cleaning.”
She went on to express her thanks to all of those with whom she has partnered in providing various services. “I appreciate the support of the WVU Extension Office and Margaret Miltenberger who served as my sponsor. I also want to thank Potomac State College, New Creek Primary School, the Mineral County Family Resource Network and the many individuals I served with.”
In summing up her feelings about her AmeriCorps VISTA experience Frazier said, “The last three years have been challenging but overall rewarding. I feel sad to leave this service, but I feel that I have accomplished things. I have completed some worthwhile projects over the past three years.”
