Marketing and Outreach
Organization:
ScienceQuest/EDC VISTA Name:
Susan Wong
Program Start:
8/2002
Program End:
8/2003
Project Description:
Susan’s responsibilities required her to split her time between two distinct projects (ScienceQuest and YouthLearn) and she has been wonderful in balancing the work. Susan has played a major role in enhancing the websites of both YouthLearn and ScienceQuest. She was responsible for developing new pages and for maintaining the integrity of existing pages. She played an important role in monitoring the usage statistics of the websites. Her responsibilities also included assisting ScienceQuest participants through a discussion list, and coordinating ScienceQuest trainings. Susan has assisted in the creation and production of YouthLearn’s e-newsletter. She also coordinated a number of special projects for the YouthLearn community, such as assisting applicants to the Beaumont Foundation Technology Grants.
Project Outcome:
The ScienceQuest work plan stayed true to the work Susan did for this project. She assisted with training, provided ongoing support, and documented progress of ScienceQuest teams. The original YouthLearn work plan was ambitious in the tasks outlined, and assumed a full-time VISTA would be placed with the project. Given that Susan has been splitting her time on two projects, tasks on the YouthLearn plan needed prioritizing. Those tasks have been core service enhancement, especially the Website and the electronic newsletter. She has also been involved in market development, by prospecting organizations and current events in the field of youth and technology, and representing YouthLearn at professional meetings. As YouthLearn has evolved quite a bit while Susan has been with the organization, other projects have been added to her responsibilities, such as assisting the communities with special initiatives, and researching the creation of printed publications.
Impact Quote:
Without the support of a VISTA member, we simply would not be reaching the numbers of people that we are today, nor with the level of support that we aim for. It has been an enormous boon to us to have Susan for the past year! After school programs and youth development professionals across the country (and world!) are reaching kids in ways that they might not be able to without these two projects.