AmeriCorps Term of Service / Spring 2024
Mountain T.O.P. holds a very special place in my heart. They do incredibly important work in an area that has been systematically disadvantaged for decades. It was a privilege to bring my design expertise to the organization. During my term of service, I was responsible for several different projects, including graphics for different areas of the ministry, postcards, apparel, maps, and program evaluation. I worked closely with the small full-time staff to create deliverables that incorporated their ideas while maintaining a refined approach.
YOUTH SUMMER MINISTRY THEME GRAPHIC
The theme for Youth Summer Ministry 2024 was Journey, based on Psalm 84:4-7. Mountain T.O.P.'s 50th anniversary is coming up next year, but they are celebrating the year before and after as well. They requested that the graphics for 2024, 2025, and 2026 fit together or relate to each other in some way. This graphic was designed with that in mind (upcoming theme graphics cannot be revealed publicly yet). This graphic was used for social media posts, email blasts, shirts, and banners.
ALUMNI CAMP THEME GRAPHIC
Mountain T.O.P. piloted a new program called Alumni Camp geared toward former summer staffers and getting them re-involved with the ministry. The theme was Ripple in the Water and I chose a vintage/retro style to reflect the goal of reconnecting with people from decades past.
50th ANNIVERSARY GRAPHIC
This graphic will be used in 2025 to celebrate Mountain T.O.P.'s 50th anniversary.
POSTCARDS
The service project team tasked me with creating postcards to help collect projects for the beginning of the summer. The information needed to be as concise as possible to fit the format. Over 200 people called in with projects after receiving the cards.
MAPS
Mountain T.O.P.'s service area encompasses a total of eight counties in the Cumberland Plateau. These maps help Service Project Managers plan projects based on location and proximity. The service areas are broken down by counties, cities, and communities. Camp locations and major roads are indicated as well.
PROGRAM EVALUATION
I participated in a class at Sewanee University of the South as a community partner representing Mountain T.O.P.. The class was focused on program evaluation and I worked with two students for six weeks to look at the way that we evaluate the homeowners' experience with our Major Home Repair program. When class started, it was clear they didn't really understand what Mountain T.O.P. does or how it works, so I drafted a graphic on the collaborative tool we used, Miro, to help explain the organizational structure. We also updated the existing logic model to improve flow, clarity, and focus.
