Welcome Nicola Crawford!

To continue in the Thanksgiving spirit, we are grateful for our new AmeriCorps VISTA Member, Nicola Crawford, who supports the Refugee School Impact Grant. VISTAs serve a year in a non-profit that fights poverty. We asked her a few questions about herself.

Where are you from?
I am a Washington and Puget Sound native and grew up on Vashon Island. Now after finishing my education and some global adventures, I am back in Seattle because it is home. I love this place with the mountains and water and even the rain...

What do you like to do on your own time?
I love to read and learn new things and am a big public library fan. I like to go hiking in the mountains or walking around the city -- as long as I'm outside. I love spending time with family and friends and having fun with people I love.

How did you come to SOWA?
I am very excited to be at SOWA and working under the Refugee Student Impact Grant (RSIG) in support of education. Several years ago I had the opportunity to work at an afterschool program in South King County and discovered helping kids learn was something I truly cared about. During that time, I worked with a lot of immigrant and refugee students and that really helped lead to SOWA. Last year I had the opportunity to go and teach English in Kenya which was an amazing experience and gave me a different look into education cross-culturally. Now, I am excited to be back in my own community, working with SOWA and the RSIG.

What are some other interests?
In addition to education, I am interested in community development and conflict resolution. I like farming. I have secret ambitions to one day be a writer.

If you were an animal, what kind do you think you would be?
I’ve always thought if I were an animal I would want to be a cat because they are affectionate yet also really independent. Also, I would like to be able to always land on my feet.