Staff Spotlight: Hannah Tumlinson
We’re excited to shine a spotlight on one of our newest team members - Hannah Tumlinson! Hannah is one of our two AmeriCorps Summer VISTAs, working with our Volunteer Team to increase the capacity of our volunteer program through improvements to our volunteer onboarding and training processes. She comes to us as a current graduate student in Instructional Design and a former public school teacher, having chosen to dedicate her summer to giving back to the community! Outside of work, she’s an avid reader, paper crafter, seamstress, and cat mom and loves exploring Austin’s many bodies of water. Read on to learn more about Hannah!
What is your background and why did you choose to become an AmeriCorps VISTA?
I was a public school teacher for 7 years, and have spent the last year as a graduate student getting my master’s in Instructional Design. I felt that the summer VISTA program was a wonderful way to share and build my professional skills in the short time span I have, in a way that gives back to the community. I’ve spent many years working with non-profits, and I am thrilled to be back in a community-driven space.
Why did you choose to serve at Austin Creative Reuse specifically?
As a teacher, I saw firsthand how having access to art can change someone’s life, and ACR’s sustainability mission makes art accessible to anyone. A chance to support the organization and help build its capacity for growth is the best way I can imagine spending my summer.
What’s your favorite part about working at ACR?
My role is to support volunteer onboarding and training. Spending every single day supporting people who are donating their time and labor to give back to the community fills your cup like little else.
What’s the most interesting thing you’ve found donated to ACR?
I once found a set of little sparkly butterflies on wire. Since I was getting married at a summer camp, I stuck them in my bouquet, and it became one of my favorite parts of the day!
Are you an artist, crafter, or maker? What mediums do you work with? What kinds of arts and crafts do you like to do?
I am primarily a seamstress. I find it really empowering to be able to alter, repair, and create my own items to fit me to a T and own them forever. I also get a lot of joy out of paper crafts, and you will rarely find me gifting someone a card that I did not make myself.
What do you do when you’re not working at ACR/what other hobbies do you have?
English major to my core, I am always reading! I’m also slowly trying to teach myself Spanish. Hablo un poco, pero estoy aprendiendo y practicando todos los días!
Do you have any children or pets?
I have a cat named Nutmeg. However, since she loves attention from anybody, will beg for table scraps, and plays fetch, I often wonder if I really have a dog.
Are you from Austin? If so, tell us about your experience here! If not, where are you from and what brought you here?
I always love to be by a body of water if I can, and Austin has that in spades. I have lived all over Texas through the years, but finally came to Austin in 2023 because if I am going to be in Texas, I don’t want to be anywhere else!
