Robyn Hegland is a first-year Americorps VISTA working at Women’s Opportunity & Resource Development, Inc. (WORD) in Missoula, Montana. WORD works to create opportunities, programs and policies that inspire and support women's development, leadership and choice for the benefit of the entire community. This includes providing case management, counseling and basic needs assistance to low-income women with families as well as advocacy and tutoring for homeless youth in the community.

The overall goal of WORD’s VISTA project is to provide outreach and education in order to increase the visibility of WORD in the community, strengthen partnerships with other community agencies and develop funding opportunities in order to better serve clientele. With a degree in Women’s Studies and experience organizing feminist events, her passion has shown through in her work to increase WORD’s online presence, improve annual events, increase community involvement and visibility and develop funding opportunities. Not only has her work strengthened community support for her host organization, it has provided critical awareness-raising of homeless and low-income women and families in the Missoula area.

Robyn’s knack for online organizing and design has created new, highly effective branding and communication mechanisms for WORD. Because of the VISTA, WORD now has up-to-date brochures and newsletter templates as well as a new, organized and current website. Robyn has also greatly increased WORD’s social media presence, doubling the friend base and keeping supporters ‘in the loop’ about how to help WORD provide programming to Missoula families. Robyn has used this support to involve WORD in a number of community spotlights in the community which have brought in funding as well as public recognition. Additionally, she organized a Toiletry Drive which brought in over $3000 dollars’ worth of toiletry and household items. Friends of WORD have stated that they have seen WORD represented in the community more than they have in the twenty-six years which WORD has been operating.

One of Robyn’s greatest achievements this year is her record-breaking co-organization of WORD’s annual fundraiser, Many Faces of Women. The VISTA spent months in preparation- spending each day soliciting auction donations, designing and printing materials, setting up meetings, coordinating advertising, and promoting the event. Last year, the event netted $15,000 dollars. This year, the event brought in $25,000 dollars. Robyn kept careful records of her activities and contacts for future organizers, increasing the capacity of this event as a majorly successful fundraiser for years to come. She is currently working on organizing two summer events, the “Missoula Women’s Health Fair” focused on educating the community about the Affordable Care Act and its benefits, and “LADYFEST,” a concert benefit for WORD spotlighting female musicians in the community.

Robyn has decided to enroll for a second year at WORD and the staff and board are ecstatic. She has been practicing her grant-writing skills, writing five small grants already this year. WORD has taken great cuts in the last year, particularly in the administrative sector; Robyn hopes to dedicate the next year to securing funding for an additional administrative position in order to sustain capacity beyond Americorps. She is proud of her work this year and excited to take on another; her VISTA experience has deepened her commitment to national service and promoting equality for women.