Helping to heal the community since 1985
Since 1985, the Vista Drop-In Center has serviced adults with a mental illness and/or developmental disability, and adults who may be homeless. Initially, this was a project of V.I.S.T.A (Volunteers in Service to America). As the program objectives matured into a consumer-driven center, management, planning, and all aspects of the project now involve the clients or consumers of the mental health system. A comradery and ownership feeling has evolved between staff, board members, and Center members.
Over the years, hundreds have been assisted by the project. As a drop-in center, participation is optional, and the structured and non-structured activities and events allow for individual pacing. Empowerment, self-improvement, and skill development are ongoing goals in this established daytime enrichment program. One way this is accomplished is through participation in free-flow visual art making including drawing, coloring, painting and crafts like holiday cards. Hundreds of pieces of visual art made by participants have been displayed in public spaces throughout the community including malls, business store windows, banks, and art galleries.
Vista is now a contracted provider of Genesee Health System (GHS).
We are grateful for the main supporters, which have been Community Mental Health (CMH) and NAMI (Alliance for Mentally Ill). Support has been steady form these sources, as well as from Community Development Block Grants. First Presbyterian and Shelter grants have helped. The City of Flint’s Human Services and Human Relations have been sponsors, fiscal managers, and for years administrated the project.
The Center has progressed to a level of self-management, as corporation status has been acquired. CMH will help monitor any fiscal concerns to further strengthen the Center’s capacity, and a professional bookkeeping service is utilized.
The Vista Drop-In Center is open for improvement and community wide input. Many allies have been developed since its origin on Garland Street in Flint. Because of operational costs and ongoing needs, new corporate sponsorship, Foundational support, and help from individuals is welcomed.
The Vista Center believes that field trips and getting out are important in order to break feelings of isolation. This creates an inclusive community and adds to fun group experiences. The Vista Center offers many enriching, fun and educational opportunities for members. Trips/activities in the past have included:
Trips to parks and lakes
Restaurant outings
Trips to health clubs
Trips to museums
Hikes at nature preserves
Trips to grocery stores and malls for smart shopping
Outings to concerts, sports games (semi-pro), and movie theaters
Join in the fun at the Vista Center!
On-site happenings are supportive too-like health related classes, landlord-tenant information,card playing/board games,videos, computer practice and games,exercise classes, and general fellowship.
Social connections add to the quality in one's life. The Vista Center helps make things happen that may not happen elsewhere for the participant/member.
Check out our past collaboration with University of Michigan Flint
Our featured artist at the Vista Center is Greg Zafiroff.
Greg Zafiroff is a college trained painter of watercolors,acrylics,and
oils. He has worked in the field of art consulting and gallery presentations for over 20 years. He is a strong advocate of the arts and how art can help transform a person's well being. Greg has won art contests and has shown in galleries mainly around the State of Michigan. He will be pleased to get your feedback and possibly entertain an offer on his often-spiritually driven art work. To access his work, please click on the word document, attached below. Vista, and the artist, thank you for taking time to view the work.
Other artists have work in our gallery on site at the center.
Email us and we can send back pics of some samples. Love to hear from you. Email at
cpbeal49@gmail.com, or vistasince85@yahoo.com
Vista Center offers Vista Visions Art gallery on site ,exhibiting and selling fine art products. The gallery is open to the public M-F, 11 to 3 or by appt .