April 26, 2018 | With a VISTA year under his belt, Nick Solomon was looking for a way to take his national service to the next level, to be a part of something bigger. So, he became a VISTA Leader. Nick wanted to be a mentor to the VISTAs he worked with and also expand his professional experience – something that ultimately landed him a position with the National Park Service. 

During his year as a VISTA Leader, Nick wore many hats, something that most in the non-profit world are accustomed to. He supported members in the Maryland and Washington, DC area, which allowed him to be very hands-on. He visited their sites, organized professional development trainings, reviewed any materials his VISTAs wanted a second set of eyes on and much more. He was such a prominent figure in the community that he actually became the “go-to guy” for anything CNCS related. “As the link between the non-profit where I served and CNCS, I served as the local expert on VISTA and AmeriCorps programs,” he said.

His service also provided great momentum to further his career with the federal government. “I learned about what opportunities were available for me for my next steps after my service as a VISTA Leader,” he explained. Nick worked closely with a number of federal partners as a VISTA Leader, which allowed him to learn more about federal hiring and how he could get his foot in the door. 

When asked about what advice he would give to current VISTAs and AmeriCorps members considering a VISTA Leader service term, Nick said, “If you are at all interested in working for the federal government, becoming a VISTA Leader is one of the best ways to bridge into a position, both through the knowledge, skill, and abilities development, and through the hiring authority.”

Nick currently serves as the Youth & Volunteer Program Coordinator with the National Park Service at Rock Creek Park in Washington, DC.