Staff Spotlight: Sofia Jousmaki
Each month, we highlight one of the incredible staff that makes the magic happen here at Austin Creative Reuse. This month, it’s Americorps VISTA Volunteer Specialist, Sofia Jousmaki!
Sofia has been serving as the Americorps VISTA Volunteer Specialist at ACR for about 5 months now and is excited to continue supporting volunteer capacity for ACR’s wonderful volunteer program! Outside of volunteering, Sofia enjoys DIY decor projects to create unique yet functional gamer furniture pieces. She’s pursuing a career in counseling with a focus on "geek therapy." As well as streaming RPGs and honing her voice acting skills.
Keep reading to find out more!
How did you find Austin Creative Reuse?
I only learned about ACR through searching local Americorps volunteering opportunities and saw the words creative and reuse pop up as an Austin-based site. I was ecstatic to learn such a place has been here vibrantly growing.
What’s your favorite part about working at ACR?
I’m learning a lot about how volunteers are foundational to ACR’s efforts in donations processed each month, how non-profits show appreciation and recognition of the communities supporting the mission in conservation and even the many new ways materials come to be used; fabric samples for toys, marker caps for collage, etc.
Are you an artist, crafter, or maker? What mediums do you work with? What kinds of arts and crafts do you like to do? Any projects you would like to show off?
Maybe I’m more of a maker, taking scraps to compile into something functional but colorful. I like to DIY my home decor; like my bookshelf bed with a reading nook and painting doodles to confuse the eye at which way to look at it.
What do you do when you’re not working at ACR/what other hobbies do you have?
Currently, I’m working towards becoming a therapist, I want to incorporate several niches of ‘geek therapy’ into how life is understood and connected. I also like streaming RPGs into fun video edits while improving my voice acting over them.
What’s the craziest thing you found in donation/ fabric mountain? / Funniest thing you’ve seen donated to ACR?
I’ve been shown quite a few pieces of oddity; a lynx face pelt, a Persian drop spindle whorl, athletic silk panels, and even loads of subtle 2000s joke slap stickers.
Do you have any pets?
Yes, I have a German Shepard named BryleeMaceGrimm, she’s 6 years old and obsessed with broccoli and laser lights.
Are you from Austin? And if not, where are you from?
I live in the area currently but I’ve lived quite a few years in Colorado and Finland so I might go back to either given the snow prospects and orange yogurt.
