1 Blanca Baker AmeriCorps VISTA REACH

What is AmeriCorps VISTA? In 1963, President John F. Kennedy envisioned a national service corps “to help provide urgently needed services in urban and rural poverty areas.” Less than two years later, President Lyndon B. Johnson realized Kennedy's dream by launching the “War on Poverty.” Johnson welcomed the first group of 20 VISTA volunteers saying, “Your pay will be low; the conditions of your labor often will be difficult. But you will have the satisfaction of leading a great national effort and you will have the ultimate reward which comes to those who serve their fellow man.” 2

What do VISTA members do? Each VISTA member makes a year-long, full-time commitment to serve on a specific project at a nonprofit organization or public agency. In return for their service, AmeriCorps VISTA members receive a modest living allowance and limited health benefit options during their service, and have the option of receiving a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award or post-service stipend after completing their service. About 6,500 VISTAs are placed each year in more than 1,200 projects in low-income communities around the country. 3

What do VISTA members do? 4 VISTA builds capacity in nonprofit organizations and communities to help bring individuals and communities out of poverty. VISTA has been helping fight the War on Poverty for 50 years now, and today nearly 6,000 VISTA members serve in hundreds of nonprofits and public agencies throughout the country – working to promote literacy, improve health services, create business, increase housing opportunities, or bridge the digital divide.

Who Can Sponsor a VISTA Project 5 Public, private, or faith-based nonprofit organizations, as well as, local, state, or federal agencies can become an AmeriCorps VISTA sponsor. Applications for VISTA projects are handled through the Corporation State Offices. Project sponsors are not required to provide a financial match but must be able to direct the project, supervise the members, and provide necessary administrative support to complete the goals and objectives of the project. One consistent goal for every VISTA project should be the sustainability of the project by the sponsoring agency and the low- income community after AmeriCorps VISTA project sponsorship ends.

How to Sponsor a VISTA Project: 6 To apply for AmeriCorps VISTA members, a potential sponsor must contact the CNCS State Office covering the area in which the proposed project would be located to discuss application requirements and procedures. AmeriCorps VISTA uses eGrants, the CNCS online application system for single-site project renewals and new applications. The CNCS State Office will provide technical assistance during the application process. You can also download the initial application. The length of the application process varies, but the average time from the initial contact to a final decision is 3 to 5 months. Click here for more infohere

Why did I decide to become a VISTA?? 7

Time for an Activity! 8

Questions & Comments 9