Mid-Year Impact Update

Sarah's Story

Every VISTA has a unique story behind their decision to serve a year (or two, or three). Our fearless VISTA Leader Sarah Masotta shares her path to service below.
 

Sarah Masotta with VISTA Member, Aidan Wildes, at
our November service project.

In 2011, I was a University of Connecticut Honors Congressional Intern recipient and interned full-time for six months within Connecticut House Representative Rosa DeLauro’s Washington, DC office.  I assisted staff to provide constituent services, coordinated Rosa’s in-home public policy dinners, summarized congressional hearings, and secured co-sponsors for the Paycheck Fairness Act.

During my internship, Rosa advocated for protecting Pell Grant funding to support low-income student academic achievement.  Education is a pathway out of poverty.  As a recipient of Pell Grants myself, I was able to mitigate some of my student loans and complete my studies at the University of Connecticut.  I thank Representative Rosa DeLauro for advocating for policies that support college access and perseverance.  I am grateful for your service to Connecticut.

Through my work with PAVE New Haven, I address the effects on poverty on education through capacity building within the community.  I began my AmeriCorps service in 2013 at Dwight Hall at Yale – the independent nonprofit center for social justice.  There I wrote grants, fundraised, and cultivated donors to support the education services coordinated by Dwight Hall staff and Yale students in the community.  Dwight Hall has 23 educational programs that focus on increasing student literacy, expanding college access, and providing wraparound service for students.

Currently I serve out of the Agency on Aging of South Central Connecticut as an AmeriCorps VISTA Leader with PAVE New Haven.  I recruit, train, and support a cohort of 16 VISTA members that are placed in 7 local nonprofits and 11 New Haven Public Schools collaborating to foster the success of New Haven children and families.

I am grateful for the opportunities I had through the University of Connecticut in awarding me an internship within Rosa’s office.  Her passion for creating public policy that improves the quality of life for all Americans encouraged me to serve my community’s educational needs through AmeriCorps.

Budget Recipe: Chicken Piccata

Chicken Piccata

Ingredients

2 whole boneless, skinless chicken breasts (1 1/2 lb.), rinsed, patted dry 

Salt and pepper 

1/4 cup all-purpose flour 

3 tablespoons unsalted butter 

2 tablespoons vegetable oil 

1/4 cup lemon juice 

3/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth 

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Chicken Piccata!

Preparation

Place chicken between 2 sheets of waxed paper and pound until thin. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper and dredge in flour.

Heat 1 Tbsp. butter and 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until butter foams. Add 2 chicken breast halves and cook without moving until browned, 3 minutes. Turn and cook until firm and browned on both sides, 3 minutes more. Transfer to a plate and cover loosely with foil to keep warm.

Add 1 Tbsp. butter and remaining 1 Tbsp. oil to skillet; cook remaining chicken breast halves. Transfer to plate and cover to keep warm.

Add lemon juice and broth to skillet and bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits from bottom of pan with a wooden spoon. Boil, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, add remaining 1 Tbsp. butter and parsley and stir until butter melts. Season with salt and pepper. Pour sauce over chicken and serve immediately.

4 Servings 

-Contributed by Natalie Bachinelo