Frank
Bio:
From: Houston, TexasGraduated from: Northern Arizona University ‘08
Degree: B.S. Psychology & Community Health Education
Frank, 24, chose CIS of Greater Phoenix as the site for his VISTA project. Midway through his college career at NAU he decided that he wanted to change majors and become a teacher. After he learned he would need 2 additional years worth of prerequisites he decided to stick out his B.S. in Psychology. “You know a lot of people go to school for seven years”. “I know, they’re called doctors”. Since Frank knew he wasn’t going to become a doctor he had to find an alternate way into the education system without having to go to school for 7 years. VISTA and CIS of Greater Phoenix seemed like a match.
Service
Frank is a Community Resource Coordinator (CRC) at Royal Palm Middle School in the Washington Elementary School District. Frank has been able to sustain vital programs offered at the school that were in jeopardy no longer being offered. He takes great pride in his after school flag football program where he has teamed up with the Arizona Cardinals and at times, given 100 kids a safe place to play, learn and grow. Frank hopes to create sports leagues for other schools whose students may never have the opportunity for supervised recreation.
Impact Story
A low-cost flag football program was put into place for the campus of Royal Palm and Cardinals Academy. It has now extended into the campus of Richard E. Miller Elementary School. Three schools now participate in the after school program, “Football Fridays”. This program is an instructional league where everyone plays. The leagues are "kid" driven with instruction in basic athletic and life skills. The leagues have given students the opportunity to play sports in a safe environment. Most importantly, this program is run by caring adults who want these kids to have the same opportunities as everyone else.