October 28, 2015– Welcome to the third installment of our blog series where we introduce you to members of our team! Check out who we are at VT Engage, what we do, and why we serve.
Today, meet Zoe Belyavsky, one of our AmeriCorps VISTA members serving with the NRV HOME Consortium. The HOME Consortium is a regional consortium located in Southwest VA that supports the creation of housing opportunities for low and moderate income populations within the New River Valley. Zoe graduated Virginia Tech in May 2015 with a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies and French.
This interview was edited for clarity and brevity.
VT Engage: Tell us a bit about yourself, your hobbies, and what you enjoy about Blacksburg.
Zoe: I’m originally from northern Virginia, and I just graduated from Virginia Tech in May. I majored in International Relations and French. I’m interested in service-related jobs, so AmeriCorps really fit my interests. I love hiking and being in nature. I love Blacksburg because you can be up in the mountains in practically ten minutes. I’m also a member of the YMCA pottery studio, which I love!
What motivated you to apply to AmeriCorps VISTA, and how did your time at VT influence your decision?
I love the mission of AmeriCorps and what it stands for. I think it’s a really great stepping stone, and the fact that it’s just one year means I can dip my toes in many different types of jobs. I can also make connections, and I wanted to do the term in Blacksburg because I didn’t want to leave just yet. I like building off of the community that I already know and the connections I have already made, and delving deeper into that. I also liked the idea of a service-oriented job, to be able to be a resource to better those around me.
I also did a Market Kids internship with Caroline Montgomery who’s currently a VISTA (Blacksburg Farmers Market). It’s actually a funny story because I was shopping at the market, and I had heard of AmeriCorps and was really interested in doing it after graduation. Then I ran into her and overheard her say something about AmeriCorps VISTA and I was like, “What is she talking about?!” And so I went up to her and she told me I could apply to be an intern for Market Kids, then I got involved, and here I am!
Tell us about your current work with the NRV HOME Consortium and what you enjoy most about your position.
I love it! The main project that we are working on right now is called the Prices Fork Food Initiative. It centers on renovating the old Prices Fork elementary school. The school was a really large community gathering center when it was a school, so we want to pay homage to that and make it a food center to offer different jobs involving local food, farmers, and food businesses.
All the components are: affordable housing for seniors, affordable mixed housing for all age groups, a Farm to Table restaurant owned by a local farmer, a commercial kitchen for farmers doing value-added products to help them expand their business and diversify what they are selling, additional space dedicated to a food entrepreneur competition, and a community garden.
I also love working with two amazing “power” women in my office. With this position, I’ve gotten to know a lot of local farmers and talk one-on-one with them about their businesses. I think connecting with the local farmers and food businesses has been my favorite part.
Describe your relationship with the NRV community at large.
I like the perspective it gives me on Virginia Tech, and it solidifies the reason I took this job. I like being a part of my community, not just skimming the top and not really giving back. It gives me a satisfying feeling that I’m further developing my relationships with the NRV and taking opportunities to meet all the different types of people around here that I didn’t get to meet when I was a student.
Where do you see yourself 10 years in the future?
I’m passionate about a lot of things, so it could be a multitude of things, but I think two things that I’m keeping on my horizon are teaching French (potentially elementary school because I love kids a lot) or working with refugees and refugee resettlement efforts.
What does Ut Prosim mean to you?
To me, it entails keeping the mentality of how can I use my strengths to benefit the people around me, and making sure that what I’m doing has a positive effect in my community, not creating more obstacles and negative repercussions in society.
What piece of advice would you give to future Virginia Tech graduates?
I’d say spend time reflecting about what drives you and what motivates you to get up in the morning. Be really in touch with yourself and be true to yourself; true to what makes you happy and think about how you can most practically and most amazingly apply that — and just do it!