MidYear 2024: A Highlight of my Year

Vrushali Thakkar is a member in Atlanta, Georgia who serves at the International Rescue Committee.

MidYear was a way for Vrushali to feel more connected to her team in Atlanta and other members across the country. She wrote this reflection a few days after she made it home from the MidYear conference in Baltimore, Maryland.

The NDMVA AmeriCorps Mid-Year Conference in Baltimore, Maryland, was a highlight of my year. Spending four days with the Atlanta cohort helped us bond, share our service experiences, and encourage each other to improve and serve our communities more effectively.

Meeting leaders from across the country and learning about various service projects and organizations was enlightening. My work focuses on supporting the health and wellness of resettling refugees, and hearing about the challenges and successes of others in similar roles offered valuable insights I plan to bring back to Clarkston, Georgia. Additionally, discovering more about the background and mission of NDMVA and AmeriCorps, especially their efforts on an international scale, was fascinating. This knowledge added depth to my understanding of our work and reinforced my dedication to our goals of love, community, and togetherness. Working alongside such a strong group of individuals has truly inspired me.

This experience made us feel closer and more appreciative of each other's strengths, and it served as a powerful reminder of how lucky I am to work with such dedicated and inspiring people.