AmeriCorps VISTA

Sofia Howson

Clinic: Illinois Association of Free and Charitable Clinics
Position: VISTA Leader

I graduated from Wake Forest University in 2018 with a BA in Anthropology. Shortly after graduation, I joined the U.S. Peace Corps and served in Togo, West Africa as a Community Health and Malaria Prevention Volunteer. I am excited to start my new role as the VISTA Leader with the Illinois Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (IAFCC) where I hope to support the IAFCC VISTA members as well as implement a telehealth project among member clinics all with the goal of increasing access to healthcare. In my free time I enjoy tap dancing!

Caitlin Bratland

Clinic: Illinois Association of Free and Charitable Clinics
Position: VISTA Leader

In August 2020, my time as a Marketing and Fund Development VISTA in Dallas came to an end. After moving back to Chicago, I began working on an MPA. As VISTA Leader, I hope to support IAFCC VISTA members in getting the most out of their service while they work towards completing their objectives. I had great VISTA leaders, and I am thrilled to have the chance to pay it forward. I enjoy fitness, podcasts, and listening to music. Looking forward to a year of service! 

Anjali Patel

Clinic: Illinois Association of Free and Charitable Clinics
Position: Substance Use and Behavioral Health Coordinator

 Hi! My name is Anjali and I am originally from Schaumburg, IL. I recently graduated from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH where I immersed myself in non-profit work that showed me how compassion and empowerment could build community resilience. I am passionate about improving health equity and ensuring that marginalized groups can receive affirmative care. I am excited to serve as an AmeriCorps VISTA at the IAFCC office working to expand the Substance Use and Behavioral Health Project! Outside of this work, I enjoy reading, trying new foods, traveling to new places, and enjoying time in the sun!

Marissa Sorini

Clinic: Illinois Association of Free and Charitable Clinics
Position: Data Collection and Fund Development VISTA

My name is Marissa Sorini. I recently graduated from DePauw University (2020). I majored in Classical Studies and minored in Latin. I will be doing Data Collection and Fund Development for IAFCC. In my free time I enjoy playing card games, working on puzzles, or watching comedy shows.

Eimi Percival

Clinic: Bolingbrook Christian Health Center
Position: Volunteer Management, Communications, and Data Management VISTA

Hannah Pluister

Clinic: Chicago Women’s Health Center
Position: EHR Integration VISTA

I am 23 years old, and I was born and raised in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. My favorite color is green, my favorite food is vegan stuffed peppers, and I love to travel! I have 5 siblings, 2 cats, and a dog. I graduated from UIUC in 2019 with a major in History, then right after graduation I joined the Peace Corps. I served in Cambodia for 9 months before the pandemic forced all volunteers to come back to the States. However, I am grateful for the things I’ve learned this past year and for the opportunity to serve with the IAFCC and Chicago Women’s Health Center! 

Cate Ettinger

Clinic: CommunityHealth
Position: Education and Engagement VISTA

Cate Ettinger graduated from Northwestern University with her B.S. History and Social Policy in 2019. Originally from Sacramento, CA, she has worked at a number of nonprofits over the years, focusing on both education and refugee resettlement. She received a 2020 Fulbright grant to work as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Malaysia for 10 months. Her time teaching in a rural secondary school was cut short by evacuation due to COVID-19, and she returned to Chicago to pursue a service year through the AmeriCorps VISTA program. She believes that healthcare is a fundamental human right, and is excited to work with the staff, providers, and volunteers at CommunityHealth to facilitate positive change.

Lily Alvey

Clinic: DuPage Health Coalition
Position: Data Coordinator

I’m Lily, and I am the Data Coordinator VISTA for the DuPage Health Coalition. In 2018 I graduated from the University of Iowa with a BA in Mathematics and a minor in Statistics. After graduating, I served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Sierra Leone, teaching mathematics to middle schoolers and high schoolers. In my free time I enjoy hanging out with my dog.

Alex Solis

Clinic: DuPage Health Coalition
Position: Health Equity Outreach Summer Associate

Maria Alejandra Solis has joined our Vista Summer Service with IAFCC and DHC. For the last five years, Maria has been working for Metropolitan Family Services in the Head Start program where they serve families and children with support and resources in areas of need. She recently concluded an undergraduate degree in Medical Coding and Billing and will be applying those skills in our program.

Maria is aware of the importance of interpersonal and intercultural communication needed in order to address appropriately the community we will serve and is looking forward to getting started.

Alisha Vohra

Clinic: DuPage Health Coalition
Position: Health Equity Outreach Coordinator

Alisha serves as the Health Equity Outreach Coordinator for the DuPage Health Coalition (DHC). Originally from Naperville, IL, she recently graduated from Northwestern University with her B.A. in Biological Sciences and Global Health Studies. While in college, she discovered her passion for global and public health and is very excited to help increase health equity and access in the community she calls home! Outside of work, you can find her baking, finding new places to satisfy her love for coffee or reading up on her next travel destination

Sam Qian

Clinic: DuPage Health Coalition
Position: Communications and Outreach Coordinator

Sam serves as the Communications and Outreach Coordinator for the DuPage Health Coalition (DHC). He is tasked with expanding DHC’s marketing, outreach, and fundraising activities. Sam is passionate about making healthcare and healthcare information more accessible for low-income, uninsured DuPage County residents. Sam received a Bachelor’s Degree in Cognitive Science from Case Western Reserve University. Outside of work, you can typically find him playing tennis, watching TV shows, or spending time with friends and family.

Ashley Lederman

Clinic: The Loretto Hospital
Position: Community Outreach Coordinator and Medical Records VISTA

Ashley is the Community Outreach Coordinator and Medical Records VISTA at Loretto Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. She is also pursuing a master’s degree in public health with a concentration in epidemiology through the University of Illinois-Springfield. She is passionate about increasing access to health care and improving health literacy. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, their dog, and two cats.

Adelaide Del Angel

Clinic: Old Irving Park Community Clinic
Position: Data, Social Media and Fund Development VISTA

My name is Adelaide Del Angel. I am originally from Chicago and currently live in Evanston. I attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where I studied molecular and cellular biology pre-med with a minor is Spanish. I will be spending the next year with Old Irving Park Community Clinic in Chicago, Illinois. My role in the clinic is data, social media, and fund development through the lens of capacity building as a VISTA.

Alexa Beeson

Clinic: Rx Outreach
Position: Clinic Outreach Coordinator

I’m Alexa and I am the Clinic Outreach Coordinator for Rx Outreach in St. Louis, Missouri. I’m originally from Connecticut and just graduated from Washington University in St. Louis this past May with a Bachelor’s in Classics and Anthropology with a concentration in Global Health and the Environment. I am super passionate about health equity and ensuring that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, has access to affordable medication, and I look forward to using that passion to create a sustainable and flexible marketing scheme in order to get more patients the medications they need to thrive. I love to cook, bike, and listen to audiobooks in my free time!