Meet the Volunteers

2009-2010

Journey along with our volunteers by following Captivate: the blog of Cap Corps Midwest. 

Name:  Matt Bassett

Hometown: Topeka, KS
College: Creighton Univ.
Major: Physics
Minors: Biophysics, Studio art
Service Site: Urban Ecology Center
City: Milwaukee, WI

Serving as: Community Program Educator, helping urban kids gain understanding of and appreciation for the environment.

Name:  Michael Beard

Hometown: Beaverton, OR
College: Catholic Univ.
Major: Psychology
Minors: Philosophy, Theology and Math
Service Site: Ciudad de los Niños
City: Lima, Perú

Serving as: Tutor and mentor for 13-14 year olds at Capuchin residential school

Blog: Miguelito goes to Lima

Name:  Tania Brown

Hometown: Waimanalo, HI
College: U of Hawaii at Manoa
Major: Family Resources
Service Site: Ciudad de los Niños
City: Lima, Perú

Serving as: Tutor and mentor for 3-5 year olds at Capuchin residential school

Blog: A Journey Worth Taking

Special Note: Served in Cap Corps at Alternatives for Girls in Detroit from 2008-2009.

Name:  Mary Buck

Hometown: Portland, ME
College: New Hampshire TC
Major: Business Administration with Paralegal Certificate
Service Site: Maria High School
City: Chicago, IL

Serving as: Assistant to President of all-girls school.

Special Note: This is Mary's second year serving with Cap Corps at Maria H.S.

Name:  Susan Elle

Hometown: Nampa, ID
College: Western Wash University
Major: Math and Spanish
Service Site: Colegio Santo Niño
City: Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua

Serving as: Teacher's Aide at Catholic K-12 school

Name:  Phil Gardner

Hometown: Hoffman Estates, IL
College: Loyola U (Chicago)
Major: Philosophy

Service Site: House of Peace Community Center

City: Milwaukee, WI

Serving as: Volunteer Coordinator and Program Assistant for Capuchin ministry serving people with food, clothing, legal and health services.

Name:  Chelsea Kapitan-Daniel

Hometown: Wauwatosa, WI
College: St. Norbert College (WI)
Major: Spanish

Minor: Sociology, Peace and Justice

Service Site: El Divino Niño Escuela
City: Managua, Nicaragua

Serving as: School Social Worker

Name:  John LaCross

Hometown: Alpena, MI
College: Aquinas College (MI)
Major: History, Theology

Minor: Chemistry, certificate for secondary education

Service Site: Detroit Cristo Rey High School
City: Detroit, MI

Serving as: Classroom Teacher and Campus Minister

Name:  Courtney Loring

Hometown: Smithfield, RI
College: George Washington U
Major: Political Science

Service Site: Cantera

City: Managua, Nicaragua

Serving as: Assistant to Economic Development programs

Blog: Coconita's travel blog

Name:  Kate Macan

Hometown: Shawnee, KS
College: Creighton Univ.
Major: Theology and Spanish

Service Site: Cantera

City: Managua, Nicaragua

Serving as: Youth Program Associate for organization serving at-risk youth in Jorge Dimitrov barrio in Managua.

Name:  Shardé McFall

Hometown: Yonkers, NY
College: Spelman College
Major: Psychology
Service Site: Southwest Chicago PADS
City: Chicago, IL

Serving as: Assistant Case Manager for daytime drop-in shelter for people experiencing homelessness.

Name:  Corey Mehlos

Hometown: Merrill, MI
College: U of Notre Dame
Major: Great Books

Service Site: Messmer Catholic Schools and St. Ben's Community Meal

City: Milwaukee, WI

Serving as: Debate Teacher and Coach, Volunteer Coordinator

Special Note: Corey served at Messmer as a Cap Corps volunteer in 2008-2009.

Name:  Gwen Meyer

Hometown: Columbus, OH
College: Creighton Univ.
Major: English

Service Site: Earthworks Urban Farm

City: Detroit, MI

Serving as: Urban Farmer, creating more just and sustainable food system.

Special Note: Gwen served at Earthworks as a Cap Corps volunteer in 2008-2009.

 

Name:  Kathryn Ray

Hometown: Madison, WI
College: Oberlin College (OH)
Major: Religion
Service Site: Colegio Santo Niño
City: Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua

Serving as: High School Religion and Music Teacher   Blog:  Encabezadas 

Special Note: Kathryn served at Hope House of Milwaukee as a Cap Corps volunteer in 2008-2009.

Name:  Warren Richardson

Hometown: Evanston, IL
College: DePaul University
Major: History
Service Site: Chicago Legal Clinic
City: Chicago, IL

Serving as: Legal Assistant at clinic that provides legal services for people who are low-income.

Name:  Sean Sammon

Hometown: Cleveland, OH
College: Univ. of Cincinnati
Major: Civil and Environmental Engineering

Service Site: Dominican Center for Women

City: Milwaukee, WI

Serving as: Housing Rehabilitation Assistant

Special Note: Sean also served in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps from 2007-2008.

Name:  Alanna Shahly

Hometown: Fraser, MI
College: U of Michigan
Major: Arts & Ideas in the Humanities, International Studies

Service Site: Alternatives for Girls

City: Detroit, MI

Serving as: Program Associate in Prevention programs of organization that serves at-risk girls and young women.

Name:  Krystyna Soljan

Hometown: Rahway, NJ
College: Trinity College (CT)
Major: Religion and Anthropology
Service Site: 8th Day Center for Justice and Southwest Chicago PADS
City: Chicago, IL

Serving as: Justice Educator and Program Assistant for daytime shelter program

Name:  Lee Valentyn

Hometown: Kaukauna, WI
College: Carroll College (WI)
Major: Psychology and Spanish

Service Site: Colegio Santo Niño and Escuela Maureen Courtney

City: Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua

Serving as: Counselor and Teacher's Aide

Blog:  Leecaragua

 

Name: Jill Vonnahme

Hometown: LeMars, IA
College: Creighton University
Major: Justice and Society

Minor: Spanish

Service Site: Voces de la Frontera

City: Milwaukee, WI

Serving as: New Sanctuary Movement Coordinator

Name:  Alyssa Welch

Hometown: Buhl, ID
College: Carroll College (MT)
Major: Psychology
Service Site: Ciudad de los Niños
City: Lima, Perú

Serving as: Tutor and mentor for 8-12 year olds at Capuchin residential school

Blog: La Vida Extranjera

Name:  Tara Whipkey

Hometown: Spring Lake, MI
College: U of Michigan
Major: English

Service Site: Capuchin Soup Kitchen: Rosa Parks Children and Youth Program

City: Detroit, MI

Serving as: Youth Program Assistant

Special Note: Tara served with City Year in Detroit from 2008-2009.