Meet Our Current VISTA Members
Nancy Kastning
NCNMEDD's VISTA Program Coordinator
Santa Fe, NM
Nancy Kastning is NCNMEDD's VISTA Program Coordinator. Previous to that role she was NCNMEDD VISTA Leader. Nancy has served as a VISTA for four years after retiring in 2016 from being a science teacher. Her first year (2017-2018) was as a VISTA in the Bighorn Basin of northern Wyoming. She worked to create a food hub to increase economic security for small family farms and availability of fresh local foods to families with food insecurity. In Nancy's second year of VISTA (2018-2019) she served with Conservation Legacy to create outdoor science education curriculum for Kasha Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument which is managed by the BLM and Pueblo de Cochiti in New Mexico. Nancy's third year of VISTA was with Montana Campus Compact (2021-2022). She worked with two tribal communities in north-central Montana as a local food systems coordinator to increase their tribal food sovereignty. Her fourth year of VISTA was as a Leader for NCNMEDD VISTA program (2023). From there she was promoted to being NCNMEDD's program coordinator. Nancy is glad to be mentoring four VISTAs in her role of program coordinator.
Stephanie Juarez-Ventura
Serving at Bridge to Health New Mexico
(June 3, 2024 to June 4, 2025)
Stephanie Juarez-Ventura serves as an AmeriCorps VISTA for Bridge to Health NM responsible for capacity building activities including marketing, community outreach, grant writing, and government affairs. Stephanie grew up in Washington State before moving to Scranton, Pennsylvania where she graduated from Marywood University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design and advertising/public relations. She joined the marketing and communications team at The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce in 2020 working her way up from intern to manager of content and strategic communication before her move to New Mexico.
Adam Elbeck
Serving at the Santa Fe Farmers Market Institute
(Nov. 4, 2024 to Nov. 3, 2025)
Adam is serving his first year with AmeriCorps VISTA at the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute as their Healthy Futures Food Systems Coordinator. The VISTA project is to work within historically underserved communities to create more economic opportunities and improve food access by and for the community. He is supporting the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, which aims to strengthen the regional food value supply chain. His work involves supporting entrepreneurs, from producers to retail operations, and building capacity for training and technical assistance. This effort is focused on increasing knowledge about economic opportunities, improving business sustainability and resiliency, and providing equitable access to affordable financing.
Carrice Chardin McKinstry
Serving at Santa Fe YouthWorks
(November 4, 2024-November 3, 2025)
Originally from Denver, Colorado, Carrice is a visual artist who has travelled extensively and exhibited internationally. For the past 10 years she has made Santa Fe her home. She is serving her first year with AmeriCorps VISTA at Santa Fe YouthWorks and is responsible for capacity building to bridge the gap between disenfranchised youth and community leaders in the northern New Mexico region. Carrice will be working with YouthWorks to connect marginalized youth in poverty with work-based learning, workforce preparation, training, business apprenticeships, job placements, and education opportunities to promote their economic advancement and success. She will develop YouthWorks navigation program in collaboration with the Administrative Coordinator in charge of Navigator services. Carrice intends to draw upon her education - BFA in Illustration and MFA in Sculpture, her professional experience as an art professor, as well as her past and current experience of service and outreach in the various communities she has lived, in addition to her VISTA service at YouthWorks to enhance her skill set. Carrice is currently earning her MA in Art Therapy/Counseling so she may serve her community at a professional level.
Betty Bastai
Serving at Las Vegas New Mexico Community Foundation
(February 12, 2024-February 10, 2026)
Betty Bastai is serving as a VISTA r with the Las Vegas New Mexico Community Foundation (LVNMCF). Betty has been serving as a VISTA since moving from Washington State to New Mexico in 2018. In her first year (2018-2019), she served as the STEAM Design Specialist with UNM Social Media Workgroup. In Betty’s second year (2019-2020) she was a Cities of Service Experience Matters VISTA with the City of Albuquerque, Office of Civic Engagement. She collaborated with another VISTA member and the Department of Senior Affairs to develop a multigenerational mentoring program. Betty spent her third year as a VISTA with the City of Santa Fe, Office of Economic Development (OED). She is bringing her extensive experience and enthusiasm to LVNMCF to help the foundation’s ongoing effort to support the communities and individuals impacted by the Hermit’s Peak and Calf Canyon Fires.
Makayla Day
Serving at Santa Fe Farmers' Market Institute
(January 13, 2025-January 12, 2026)
Makayla Day is serving as a VISTA with the Santa Fe Farmers Market Institute in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Her role is to further design and implement the “Local Foods For All” project with the Institute. Makayla grew up in Washington State and graduated in 2023 from the University of Washington with a Bachelor's degree in Social Work and Dance. She served with the University District Food Bank in Seattle through the Washington State Service Corp as an AmeriCorps State/National member (2023-2024).
Norma Pagan
Serving at City of Santa Fe, Santa Fe, New Mexico
(January 13, 2025-January 12, 2026)
Norma Pagan is serving as a VISTA with the City of Santa Fe Office of Economic Development. Originally from El Paso, Texas, she previously served as a VISTA Community Health Outreach Coordinator, VISTA/VITA Community Development Liaison, and VISTA Community Engagement Coordinator with United Way of El Paso County, Texas. She has served three years as a VISTA and successfully crafted, disseminated outreach materials to promote engagement with the Healthy Food Financial Initiative, and Community Volunteers. Through her efforts, she secured participation from local food retailers, fostering partnerships to expand the network of resources available to the community and fostered county employees' voluntarism. She holds a BSHA in Health Administration, AAS in Drafting and Design Engineering/Architecture, CNA in nursing provider to veterans, and diversified certificates and work experiences in healthcare, accounting, and engineering. These experiences have strengthened her skills in crafting outreach materials, fostering partnerships, coordinating community health initiatives, and community resources.
Norma will be collaborating with City of Santa Fe OED staff to develop a Financial Empowerment Center, and to continue establishing a navigation program for social services for impoverished community members in the City of Santa Fe.
If you or someone you know is interested and would like to become an AmeriCorps Member, please feel free to visit us at https://americorps.gov
This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information and military service. .