Volunteer Spotlight July

Summer programming is fully up and running here at HOPES, and we are thrilled to welcome new AmeriCorps members who have joined our 2023 Summer AmeriCorps Cohort. They are excited about providing a semester full of fun learning under the sun! Read on to learn more about our newest additions to the HOPES team:

Dafne Bedolla
Dafne is a Chicago native and her interest in empowering the community inspired her to join HOPES. She is passionate about building trust with and supporting the students we serve. This Summer, she is most excited about the opportunity to meet new people and learn how to be more social with the awesome team we have here at HOPES! To Dafne, being a volunteer means using her knowledge to support and help the community. It also means using her free time to make a difference, even if it’s only within one interaction. In her free time, Dafne enjoys doing pottery work! We are so excited to have Dafne on our team!

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Shaw Qin
Shaw joined Chicago HOPES for Kids all the way from Nashville, TN. Shaw first became interested in serving with HOPES because they want to empower students and their families. During their time here, Shaw is interested in learning how an organization like HOPES makes an impact in its own community. Shaw is most excited about gaining hands-on experience in education and community engagement, deepening their understanding of the relationship between community and education. To Shaw, being a volunteer means contributing their time and effort to the thriving of a community so that everyone can empower themselves to reach their full potential. It also means learning from the community they work with and growing to be a more compassionate citizen and member of the community. In Shaw’s free time, they enjoy listening to musical theater soundtracks and singing along! We are so excited to have Shaw on our team!

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​Samishti Bhatia
Samishti, originally from Scotland and currently a student in Chicago, joined the HOPES team because of her interest in supporting our mission to provide kids in Chicago’s underserved areas with academic support. During her service term, she is most excited about the opportunity to contribute to make one future a little bit better. To Samishti, empathy and compassion for the people she’s helping is what makes a good volunteer. In her free time, Samishti loves reading! She is currently reading The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus. We are so excited to have Samishti on our team!

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Skyler Davenport-Moore
Skyler is a Chicago native and joined the Chicago HOPES for Kids team because of her past experience working with kids at college. She is most excited about getting the chance to engage our students with the fun, educational activities we have planned for our programs. To Skyler, being a volunteer means helping others who don’t receive help as often. In her free time, Skyler enjoys writing poetry! We are so excited to have Skyler on our team!
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Nisha Firasta
​Nisha is a Chicago native and wanted to join the HOPES team because of her interest in using her time and resources towards a purpose and getting more involved with her community. Nisha is most excited to get to know everyone on the team and to see how a nonprofit organization like Chicago HOPES for Kids operates to create lasting change within the communities we serve! To Nisha, a volunteer is someone that wants to donate their time and their resources for a cause that is greater than themselves. In Nisha’s free time, she loves to knit, sew, and see live music. We are so excited to have Nisha on our team!

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