Athens-Clarke County resident Peggy R. Chavis knows you can’t wait for someone else to do something for you. While trying to find a job, Peggy realized she could use her skills to help establish an organization to help others.  On October 1, 2001, doors to the VISTAS CENTER opened with Ms. Chavis as Administrator. VISTAS is an organization dedicated to empowering people who are blind or visually impaired to become more self-sufficient through advocacy, education and training.

Through her affiliation with the Institute for Community and Organizational Development, Inc., (ICOD), the VISTAS CENTER is being established with a two-year $248,000 grant from the Technology Opportunities Program (TOPS) of the U. S. Department of Commerce. 

This lady understands the needs of the visually impaired. Several years ago, Peggy began to lose her eyesight and this meant giving up her job.  However, she was determined not to give up her independence.  Peggy had always been active in volunteer work and began to lend her skills to organizations for the visually impaired.

After learning to make adaptations in her daily life through an orientation and mobility program, she then enrolled at the University of Georgia. In 1998, she graduated with a degree in Social Work. Even after graduating from college, finding a job was extremely difficult so she returned to school to earn an advanced degree. And later in May 2001, she completed a Masters in Social Work .

While taking a grant-writing class, she realized that all of the things she wanted to do for the blind and visually impaired could be done if she just had resources.  After much research and collaboration with a number of colleagues involved in advocacy and development, an application for funds was prepared.  In September  2001, ICOD, Inc. was notified that Peggy’s dream would be funded.  It has taken only a few months to find office space, purchase equipment, hire staff and plan classes. And now, VISTAS is open for business!  Peggy admits that when she has time to think about it, everything seems unbelievable, “I know that I as well as so many people in this 12-county region have been blessed.”

She remains active on the local, state and national level including 8 years as president and vice president of the Inter-Community Council;   president of the Athens Heritage Lions Club, Immediate Past President of the Athens Chapter of the GA Council of the Blind,  current VP of the GA Council of the Blind,  the Athens-Clarke County Commission on Disabilities, Advisory Council for the Athens Transit System,  the Advisory Board of UGA’s Institute on Human Development and Disability, and co-chair of the  membership committee of the American Council of the Blind.