Krysta Peterson

Experience

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  Saha Global

  Jun 2012 - Jun 2012

  Fellow

  Immediately after graduation from undergrad I set off to Ghana to help bring clean water to rural villages. I was one of 23 individuals selected from a national pool to participate in an on-site leadership training program and empower local village women to independently run a water filtration facility. I arrived in Ghana skeptical and left in tears that I couldn't stay longer. My greatest success was bringing clean water to a village the same day a baby was born. Thanks to SAHA and my team we were responsible for giving that newborn clean water for the rest of his life! Show less

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  Peace Corps

  Jun 2013 - Oct 2014

  English Instructor

  The Peace Corps was my ultimate goal since before high school. I knew I wanted to help others and travel somewhere to do it! Every Peace Corps experience is different and we all have different stories to tell, but the one thing that we can all agree on is that it changed our lives. My job was an English Instructor to college level students at a university in a municipality of over 9 million people, but no Peace Corps Volunteer will ever say that's all they did. I was one of 2 Americans at my university and was an integral part of creating ongoing relationships for my school and the Peace Corps. Whether I was establishing a teacher/student exchange program in Cambodia and Hong Kong with the Dean of the English Department or training over 25 teachers for Chongqing Municipality and China Education Association for International Exchange, I was creating and building relationships. I was opening eyes to the Chinese of Americans and I was showing them that we are passionate, we are helpful, and that we want to be in China as an equal not a superior. Show less

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  Sunrise Senior Living

  May 2015 - Jun 2017

  Lead Care Manager & Concierge

  I worked as a caregiver to help seniors complete their activities of daily living and meet their individual care needs. My community had about 72 residents who on a given day I could be responsible for about 10-15. As a lead care manager I was not only responsible for the needs of the seniors, but ensuring that all other care managers were completing their tasks and duties efficiently and professionally. This work was not the most glamorous, but it was extremely rewarding. I grew up taking care of my grandparents and this allowed me to still feel connected with them even after their passings. I worked hard to make sure that my residents felt loved and comfortable, whether it be hand holding, a conversation, or sitting down and crocheting with them. Show less

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  HCR ManorCare

  Jun 2017 - Jan 2020

  Volunteer Coordinator

  I ran the volunteer program for Heartland Hospice! Hospice is mandated by Medicare to provide 5% of all patient direct care hours with volunteer hours. Heartland Hospice currently services 9 counties; including patients on the East, West, Central areas of Cleveland, and Akron. Heartland Hospice is continuously growing and reaching more and more patients every day. I supervised & managed volunteers and the program, while also recruiting, screening, training, and retaining high quality individuals in an effort to ensure our patients and families lives are enriched. I’ve volunteered my entire life, so to have run a volunteer program was a great privilege. Not only did I get the chance to meet and interact with new people wanting to volunteer, but I also got the chance to interact with patients too! I love getting to open people's eyes to the benefits of volunteering for themselves, but also for the people they are serving.In June 2019, I became a facilitator with Opening Minds through Art (OMA) and began bringing the intergenerational art-making program to our hospice patients with the help of our over 100 volunteers! Show less

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  PAIR

  Jun 2019 - now

  Co-Founder

  After graduating from Miami University and having an incredible experience volunteering, leading, and performing research with Opening Minds through Art (OMA), I knew I'd be coming back to the field and this programming. Upon returning from service in the Peace Corps I began working and volunteering in the aging field until one day I worked up the connections and courage to create something of my own. Promoting Art and Intergenerational Relationships (PAIR) was founded in June of 2020 to bring OMA to more organizations, universities, and communities within Cleveland and Akron. Show less

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  Miami University

  Jan 2023 - now

  Assistant Director of Opening Minds through Art (OMA)

  As the Assistant Director at Opening Minds through Art (OMA), I am dedicated to bridging generational gaps through the transformative power of the arts and I bring a wealth of experience gained through a decade-long commitment to the program. I manage daily program needs and am the Project Coordinator for the development of ScrippsAVID, fostering connections between students and older adults through a web-based platform. I take pride in designing and supervising engaging content whether that be for social media, newsletters, or virtual classes, reaching diverse audiences. With a commitment to education, I co-teach virtual classes with graduate students, co-host OMA Facilitator Trainings, and actively promote OMA through presentations and online platforms. As a certified OMA Trainer, I facilitate ongoing training sessions, manage multi-course content, and supervise OMA interns. My constant goal is to continue to contribute to the growth and impact of OMA, bringing the joy of creative expression to individuals across generations. Show less