Since 2003, NC Campus Compact has sponsored an
AmeriCorps VISTA program
that places VISTA “volunteers” at member campuses to support community
engagement projects that address local, poverty-related needs. In 2013 –
2014, sixteen sites across the state will host NC Campus Compact
VISTAs.
Typically, a member campus hosts a VISTA in partnership with a local
non-profit or K-12 school, but for the first time next term, we are
flipping the model to allow several community-based organizations to
host VISTAs in partnership with a campus. We expect this approach will
position our VISTAs to be even more responsive to community needs and
find new ways to engage campus resources in community-based work. All of
the 16 projects will address one of the priority focus areas identified
by the
Corporation for National and Community Service,
the federal agency that oversees AmeriCorps programs. The focus areas
are education, food security, and economic opportunity. Short summaries
for each our 2013-2014 projects are below.
Community Empowerment Fund (CEF)
Partner: UNC Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity
Focus Area: Economic Opportunity
CEF is a student-led non-profit organization based at UNC-Chapel Hill
with the dual mission of empowering members to sustain transitions out
of homelessness and developing student leadership. The goal of the VISTA
project is to increase the capacity and effectiveness of CEF’s Advocate
Program, which pairs student volunteer advocates with clients.
Advocates support clients through financial coaching, job readiness
support, financial literacy education, and connection to housing, mental
health, and higher education services. The VISTA will refine and
develop CEF’s outreach, intake, and training processes for volunteers,
including the creation of a volunteer handbook, implementation of
ongoing training curriculum for volunteers, and creation of internal
communications systems and protocols. The VISTA will also refine the
client intake system and strengthen an existing partnership with the UNC
Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity.
Duke University, Community Service Center
Partner: Lyon Park Community Center
Focus Area: Healthy Futures
The goals of the Lyon Park Commercial Kitchen VISTA project are to
provide access to healthy food for residents of the West End Community
and to develop programs that will educate residents on food preparation
and healthy eating. The VISTA member will assist with the final stages
of the kitchen development and work closely with the Programming
Committee to develop programs that meet the needs and interests of
community members. The VISTA will develop leadership capacity of
committee members by modeling strategic planning methods. Additionally,
the VISTA will network with local organizations to develop collaborative
programming to teach healthy eating and cooking habits.
Duke University, Partnership for Appalachian Girls Education (PAGE)
Partner: Madison County Schools
Focus Area: Education
The goal of the project is to help young girls and young women in
economically-distressed Appalachian communities (Madison County) achieve
educational success, including high school completion and college
matriculation. The VISTA will carry out activities that support this
goal and help PAGE achieve long-term sustainability. The VISTA will
collect and compile data on graduation rates and student needs and
challenges; assist with an assessment of PAGE programs’ impact on
participating students; and develop a strategic fundraising plan.
Finally, the VISTA will develop a publicity and outreach plan directed
at recruitment and retention of clients and at informing a wider
audience of volunteers and supporters.
East Carolina University
Partner: Third Street Community Center
Focus Area(s): Education
At ECU, the VISTA will be hosted by the Volunteer and
Service-Learning Center (VSLC). VISTA work will take place on campus and
in the community with the Third Street Community Center (TSCC), a new
faith-based non-profit meeting youth and workforce development needs in
west Greenville. The VISTA will work primarily to support TSCC by
developing a volunteer management system, recruiting ECU student
volunteers, identifying potential campus partners, and creating an
after-school program at TSCC.
Elizabeth City State University (ECSU)
Partner: H.L. Trigg Alternative School
Focus Area(s): Education
At ECSU, the VISTA will be hosted by the Student Life Office. VISTA
work will take place on campus and in the community with H.L. Trigg
Alternative School, an alternative school serving at-risk students
located beside the ECSU campus. The VISTA project aims to support
teachers and students at Trigg, engage ECSU students and campus
resources in service at Trigg, and to establish appropriate mentoring,
tutoring, or afterschool enrichment programs for Trigg students. The
VISTA will enhance volunteer recruitment and training, support the
development of student organizations that will partner with Trigg, and
make on-campus enrichment opportunities available to Trigg students. The
VISTA will also coordinate national day of service events.
High Point University
Partner: West End Ministries
Focus Area(s): Economic Opportunity
At High Point University (HPU) the VISTA will be hosted by the
Service Learning Program, which is home to the new Bonner Leaders
Program. The VISTA’s work will take place on campus and in the community
with West End Ministries (WEM), a non-profit agency that provides
services such as emergency assistance and adult life skill classes. The
VISTA will improve WEM’s volunteer coordination and training systems to
support the emergency assistance program. The VISTA will also help
develop financial literacy training for WEM clients. The VISTA will
serve as a model of how HPU Bonner Leaders can act as liaisons with
partner agencies and will help develop supports for students in these
roles. The VISTA will also coordinate MLK Day of Service.
Hospitality House of Boone
Partner: Appalachian State University
Focus Area(s): Economic Opportunity
The goal of the VISTA project is to develop the “Enterprise Project,”
a thrift store program that will provide an earned income funding
source for Hospitality House, act as a resource to meet clients’ needs,
and serve as a job skills training program and facility for residents
and outreach clients. The VISTA project will build the capacity of
Hospitality House to stay sustainable and to continue impacting the
community in positive ways through the increased collaboration with the
Appalachian State University ACT Program. It will further increase
community awareness of the agency and its work, while serving as a new
way to recruit and cultivate volunteers to give of their time, talents
and treasures.
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Partner: El Centro Latino of Hickory
Focus Area(s): Education, Healthy Futures
At LRU, the VISTA will be hosted by the Office of Engaged Learning
and Community Service, which coordinates campus volunteers and service
learning opportunities. VISTA work will take place on campus and in the
community with Centro Latino of Hickory, a local non-profit agency
serving the needs of Latino families in Catawba Valley. This is the 2nd
year of the partnership. The VISTA will support Centro’s after-school
tutoring program through volunteer recruitment and training. The VISTA
will also assist in the development of new food and nutrition programs
at Centro. The VISTA will aid in creating a social media manager
position at Centro. She will also coordinate food drives and national
days of service at LRU.
Marian Cheek Jackson Center
Partner: UNC-Chapel Hill Communications Studies
Focus Area(s): Economic Opportunity
The Jackson Center is a community-based advocacy organization serving
historically African-American and low-income neighborhoods in Chapel
Hill through public history, civic media, and community action. The
VISTA will support the development of Jackson Center programs that serve
the housing and financial literacy needs of local low-income residents.
Key activities include the maintenance and expansion of service
partnerships with university units (including the Communications Studies
department), volunteer recruitment and coordination, and the
development of a new neighborhood advocacy network to pair elderly
residents with student and community advocates who can connect them with
services.
NCSU/ Raleigh Colleges and Community Collaborative (RCCC)
Partners: Chavis Heights Community Center
Focus Area(s): Education
At NC State, the VISTA will be hosted by the University Career
Development Center, the lead office in the Raleigh Colleges and
Community Collaborative (RCCC), a group seeking to promote
post-secondary access and success for under-resourced youth in Raleigh.
The VISTA will work on campus and in the community with Chavis Heights
Community Center,the main site for the RCCC’s College Center. The VISTA
will coordinate services and programs at the existing College Center
site and seek to expand the model to other partner agencies.
Specifically, the VISTA will monitor community needs and catalog RCCC
assets, conduct outreach, enhance volunteer management/training, create a
participant database, and develop after-school and summer programs.
Queens University of Charlotte
Partner: Sedgefield Elementary School
Focus Area(s): Education
At Queens the VISTA will be hosted by the Center for Active
Citizenship, the organization on campus that facilitates
campus-community partnerships. VISTA work will take place on campus and
in the community at Sedgefield Elementary School, a nearby Title I
school where 96% of students are eligible for free/reduced price lunch.
Queens will be in its 3
rd year of partnership with
Sedgefield. The VISTA will work to mobilize volunteers at Sedgefield, to
plan enrichment opportunities for Sedgefield students, and to create
and strengthen partnerships with university departments, faculty, and
student organizations. The VISTA will also begin planning to evaluate
the impact of the Sedgefield partnership. The VISTA will also coordinate
national days of service.
UNC-Asheville
Partner: Open Doors of Asheville
Focus Area(s): Education
At UNCA, the VISTA will be hosted by the Key Center for
Service-Learning and Community Citizenship, which serves as a hub for
campus/community engagement efforts. VISTA work will take place on
campus and in the community with Open Doors of Asheville, a local
non-profit serving at-risk youth through education, enrichment,
tutoring, and mentoring. The goal of the partnership is to create
mutually beneficial, long-term sustainable projects centered on
improving educational and behavioral outcomes for low-achieving students
in elementary, middle, and high schools in the Asheville area.
Partnership objectives include supporting the development of a new
mentorship program between Open Doors and UNCA’s Intercultural Center,
building volunteer capacity for the Bright Ideas academic enrichment
program serving Open Doors youth at two local Title I elementary
schools, and promoting national days of service and community service
related to K-12 at-risk youth.
UNC-Greensboro
Partner: Interactive Resource Center
Focus Area(s): Economic Opportunity
At UNCG, the VISTA will be hosted by the Office of Leadership and
Service-Learning (OLSL), which develops experiential curricular and
co-curricular leadership and service-learning initiatives. VISTA work
will take place on campus and in community with the Interactive Resource
Center (IRC), Greensboro’s day center for people experiencing
homelessness. The first year of the project focused on food security
with the development of IRC’s Community Garden. In this second year of
the project, the VISTA will focus on economic opportunity, especially
improving IRC housing services (Trailways Housing Program, Second Chance
Renters program). Campus activities will raise awareness about poverty
engagement opportunities and train campus leaders.
UNC-Pembroke
Partner: Pembroke Housing Authority Residential Services
Focus Area(s): Education, Healthy Futures
At UNCP, the VISTA will be hosted by the Office for Community &
Civic Engagement, which supports the university’s mission to empower
students to engage in responsible citizenship. The VISTA work will take
place on campus and in the community with PHA Residential Services,
which provides services for public housing residents. The VISTA will
develop and implement university-community collaborations that: 1.)
address social and academic issues for at-risk youth, and 2.) create a
CARE resource center for distressed students and community members. The
community will see an increase in opportunities for at-risk youth to be
involved in positive youth development and increased youth involvement
in the community through student-led service related projects. Community
organizations and local leadership will support and sponsor more
collaborations with the university to provide sustainable resources to
area youth, local citizens and underrepresented communities.
Wake Forest University
Partner: El Buen Pastor Latino Family Services
Focus Area(s): Education, Healthy Futures
At Wake Forest University, the VISTA will be hosted by the Office of
Service & Social Action. VISTA work will take place on campus and in
the community with El Buen Pastor Latino Family Services, a local
non-profit serving the needs of Latino families in Winston-Salem’s Old
Town neighborhood. The VISTA will work to improve volunteer management
and training at El Buen Pastor, recruit volunteers for its afterschool
program, and develop nutrition education materials for children and
families. The VISTA will also support a new on-campus network for
student volunteers involved in mentoring and tutoring and coordinate the
MLK Day of Service Read-In.
Western Carolina University
Partner: The Community Table
Focus Area(s): Healthy Futures
At Western Carolina, the VISTA will be hosted by the Center for
Service Learning, the unit that coordinates campus-community
partnerships. VISTA work will take place on campus and in the community
with the Community Table, the primary food security agency in Jackson
County, serving hot meals and food boxes. The goal of project is to
strengthen the relationship between the partners, to build capacity at
the Community Table, and to raise awareness about food insecurity. The
project aims to provide the Community Table with the resources necessary
to meet their customers’ needs, to train and manage volunteers, and to
enhance publicity and outreach efforts. The project is also intended to
increase awareness of food insecurity issues on campus and in the
community through hunger-related projects and programs.
