VISTAs report project successes in the new year

NC Campus Compact VISTAs recently submitted their Interim Reports detailing activities and outcomes from January 1 - March 31. They have done so much good work that we can't share it all here, but we will share some highlights!

VISTA Sara Brown (kneeling in jeans) with Kotlowitz and students.

Sara Brown, UNC-Asheville's VISTA, had an op-ed published in a local Asheville newspaper, The Urban News. In her piece, "An Unheard Voice - Cost Over Kids," Sara urges school district decision-makers to clarify plans for students and staff of the William Randolph School, an alternative school serving middle and high school students who are at-risk of not graduating. Sara has worked since August to strengthen a partnership between UNCA and Randolph, engaging college student volunteers as tutors and mentors and organizing enrichment opportunities for Randolph students on UNCA's campus, like a February 21 visit with Alex Kotlowitz, author of There Are No Children Here.

Sally Parlier, Durham Technical Community College VISTA, was responsible for opening the Durham Tech Campus Harvest (DTCH) Food Pantry. Since opening on January 22 the Food Pantry has had over 750 visits and served more than 150 individuals. They've also collected approximately 2,400 lbs of food and raised $1,761 in cash donations. Sally has also developed a new partnership with Jordan High School. Her work has received attention from local media, as in this February report on WTVD:

Before finishing her term of service in February and starting a VISTA Leader position in Tennessee, UNCG VISTA Anya Piotrowski shared her magnum opus: the IRC - Tranisition Greensboro Community Garden Manual. The manual is an incredible accumulation of organic and permaculture garden techniques, planting schedules, garden design documents, and volunteer orientation materials that will enable future garden coordinators to manage the site (and local volunteers) year-round. If you are interested in a copy, contact Anya.

At Warren Wilson College, VISTA Jacqui Trillo reports exciting news: her partner organization Homeward Bound has hired a part-time Volunteer and Donations Coordinator who is taking on some of the duties Jacqui managed during the fall. Jacqui has helped the new staff member transition into the position by training her on volunteer and donation management materials, systems, and tools that Jacqui developed in the fall. Jacqui writes, "I know that my work last semester was constructive because some of the ideas she first suggested were ones I had already either implemented successfully or had tried and found to be unsuitable for the needs of HB." Capacity-building!

Elizabeth Corney at ECU reports that she has worked with the university's Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations to secure a $2,000 donation that will support the Campus Kitchen project next year. To help win the gift, Elizabeth compiled service numbers, photos, and a letter. In this final year of VISTA support for the CK project at ECU, Elizabeth has made sustainability a priority, creating a work study and a graduate assistant position to support the project and preparing a Campus Kitchen manual which will guide future coordinators.

Check the blog later this week for more project highlights!

NC Mayors recognize importance of National Service

On April 9, fourteen North Carolina mayors affirmed the value of AmeriCorps in their cities by taking part in the first-ever Mayor's Day of Recognition for National Service. Led by Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the Corporation for National and Community Service, the day of recognition is a chance to highlight the solution-oriented contributions national service members make every day.

The fourteen North Carolina mayors join over 800 mayors from across the country. NC Campus Compact VISTAs are supporting projects in several of these North Carolina cities, and we would like to thank these mayors for recognizing the value of national service:


Mayor Terry Bellamy, Asheville

Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt, Chapel Hill

Mayor Anthony Foxx, Charlotte
Mayor William "Bill" V. Bell, Durham

Mayor Alfonzo King, Goldsboro

Mayor Michael R. Brown, Grand Forks

Mayor Benita Sims, High Point

Mayor BJ Murphy, Kinston

Mayor Joseph Gibbons, City of Lenoir

Mayor Ray Pennington, Lumberton

Mayor Miles Atkins, Mooresville

Mayor Nancy McFarlane, Raleigh

Mayor Bill Saffo, Wilmington        

Mayor Allen Joines, Winston-Salem

Several NC Campus Compact VISTAs are participating in events, including those in Charlotte and Raleigh. VISTAs Pam Pate and Christina D'Aulerio, of UNC-C and Queens University of Charllote respectively, joined fellow AmeriCorps members and representatives from nonprofits across the city at city hall to be recognized by Mayor Anthony Foxx. Jennifer Evans, Wake Tech Community College VISTA, was part of a group recognized for their service by Mayor Nancy McFarlane of Raleigh, featured in the photo. 

 NC Campus Compact is proud of the role our VISTA members play in mobilizing college student volunteers, creating partnerships with local non-profits, and improving life for citizens in these and all the communities our projects serve.

Thank you, Mayors and thank you, VISTAs!

VISTA member helps Raleigh colleges and community connect

As a VISTA hosted by NC State University to support the Raleigh Promise, Brianna Roach is developing new programs that prepare young people to access higher education. A key to her work is the time she spends each week visiting community partners and the kids they serve. "Brianna is our 'boots on the ground' in the community," her supervisor Dr. Kelly Laraway explains.

Since she began her VISTA service in August, Brianna has learned about the network connecting the six colleges and universities that make up the Raleigh Colleges and Community Collaborative, and the many resources those institutions can bring to bear in her work setting up the Raleigh College Center. The center is conceived as resource for community residents, especially young people, who want information and preparation that will lead them to access higher education. As the community liaison, Brianna spends time each week at the Chavis Heights Community Center, home of the first College Center. She also regularly connects with other key partners serving Raleigh youth, including Neighbor 2 Neighbor and the Hope Center.

So far, Brianna has organized college and career fairs and scheduled presenters from partner campuses to provide regular monthly programming at Chavis for the Insight Series. For example, on March 28th, Brianna hosted an etiquette dinner for 60 youth and 10 adults. The young people wore professional dress and had the chance to gain etiquette and interview tips, and they received items such as a portfolio to prepare them for professional settings.

Brianna at Chavis Community Center.

Brianna has also organized arts and science enrichment programming in at the College Center, and she is excited about a plan to offer mini-tours of several local colleges, including NCSU, Peace University, and her alma mater, St. Augustine's University. The tours will give up to 25 young people a chance to both visit the campuses and participate in fun activities like spray painting State's expression tunnel or playing a game show at Peace.

A New Jersey native from a large family, Brianna says working with the kids at Chavis has been the best part of her VISTA experience. She has tried to find ways to make College Center programs "down to earth" and fun - presenting financial aid information in a game of College Access Jeopardy, for example, rather than droning on about completing the FAFSA. "I learned that every kid doesn't need saving... they are smart, they have challenges, they want opportunities. I also learned that if you are not genuine with them, they will pack your bags for you."

When her VISTA year ends, Brianna hopes to move into a teaching position. Until then, she says, "I'm excited that I have the chance to be here" to help develop the programming calendar and make connections for the College Center. Her focus on presenting college information in ways that are fun and engaging will continue to influence future College Center offerings.                                                                                                                             

AmeriCorps Week: UPDATE!

What does it mean to say AmeriCorps is a national service program? For one thing, it means AmeriCorps members make a pledge to serve our country, a pledge that is reminiscent of the oath of service taken by the United States Military and the President!

VISTAs are also on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to perform service for their country and their communities.

All this week, and throughout their year of service, AmeriCorps members are working hard to support communities all over the country.

NC Campus Compact VISTAs have been working hard this week (as usual!) and have shared pictures of themselves in their AmeriCorps gear and of their projects! Check out some of those pictures below.

Celebrate AmeriCorps Week, March 9 - 17!

 

This week we celebrate the service of our AmeriCorps VISTA members and alumni! Since 2003, over 150 NC Campus Compact VISTA members have engaged students, faculty, and staff in projects that fight poverty and meet community needs.

Associate Director Leslie Garvin and VISTA Leader Rachel Rogers represent!

Show your true AmeriCorps colors by wearing your AmeriCorps gear to work on Monday, March 11! Share your photo with us by posting your pic to our NC Campus Compact Facebook page or tweet it @nccampuscompact!

Each year, more than 80,000 AmeriCorps members across the country commit themselves to intensive service through thousands of non-profits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith-based organizations. These men and women tackle tough problems while mobilizing more than 3 million volunteers for the organizations they serve and raising $480 million in cash and in-kind contributions. More than 7,000 AmeriCorps members are VISTAs like ours, who serve full-time for one-year to build the capacity of poverty-fighting projects. Other AmeriCorps members serve with State and National Programs or with AmeriCorps NCCC. Among our current VISTA cohort are several alums of other AmeriCorps programs (like Tiara Pugh and Christina D'Aulerio.)

AmeriCorps is a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service. Learn more about AmeriCorps.

Do you want to work with AmeriCorps? You could be a North Carolina Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA. We are recruiting now for positions that start August 2013 and run for one full year. Visit our FAQ Page for Prospective VISTAs to learn more about our program and application.

Now accepting applications for 2013-2014 VISTAs!

NC Campus Compact is now accepting applications from candidates for 2013-2014 AmeriCorps VISTA positions. Our next VISTA cohort will begin in August 2013 and serve for one full year.

To learn more about our program and the application process, visit our FAQ page for Prospective VISTAs.

Please visit our position listing on AmeriCorps.gov when you are ready to create your AmeriCorps application and begin our application process.

NC Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA members work with a community agency and a campus to develop a partnership that addresses local needs in one of three areas: education (especially K-12 success or access to post-secondary education), economic opportunity (especially housing or financial literacy), or healthy futures (especially food security). The specific nature and objectives of the project vary depending on host site. Most VISTA members share work time between campus and community partner offices, and thereby gain experience in both non-profit and higher education arenas. 

Member activities may include: * developing processes, materials, and tools for volunteer recruitment, training, and coordination * establishing community or campus leadership teams around issues of concern * designing internship positions at community partner * seeking financial support for community partner * coordinating national day of service events * creating publicity and outreach materials. 

Applicants must be:

• U.S. Citizen or lawful permanent resident
• College graduate (or Bachelors degree expected by May 2013)  

 Strong candidates will have:

• passion for the VISTA mission of fighting poverty and strengthening communities
• strong interest and experience in community service
• experience working with volunteers, especially college students
• proven leadership and project management skills
• proven networking, communication, and organization skills
• ability to work with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds  
• ability to work independently and as part of a team
• ability to engage others

VT VISTA supports engagement with Head Start

As an alumnus of the University of Virginia, VISTA Wyatt Taylor knew a little about in-state rival Virginia Tech. But since he began serving in the VT Engage office to strengthen partnerships with New River Valley Head Start, he's begun to feel like a true "Hokie." (Whatever that is.)

"People rib me about it in the office," Wyatt says of his alma mater. He doesn't seem to mind. Even a winter snow storm that postponed his biggest service event couldn't chill his enthusiasm for Blacksburg. In the fall he enjoyed hiking and other outdoor pursuits, but he spent much of his time visiting community Head Start sites as part of his work to strengthen VT's partnership with the agency. An added bonus has been the community of other VISTAs in the area: "We get together and have pot lucks."

VT volunteers clean a bus used to transport Head Start kids.

Recently, Wyatt coordinated one of VT's premier service events, the MLK Day Care Face Lift. Originally scheduled for January 26 but postponed due to winter weather until February 9, the project sent 53 students to five local Head Start day care centers to clean, paint, and spruce up facilities. The event continues work begun by previous VISTAs, but Wyatt's emphasis has been on connecting student organizations - like VT's men's lacrosse team - directly with Head Start centers so they can continue a volunteer relationship beyond the MLK event. Wyatt also conducted a needs assessment of sites during the event planning stage to ensure the day of service met centers' most pressing needs.

Wyatt has worked with the New River Valley Head Start system to conceive new ways for VT students to support the children. For example, a new bus buddies program will utilize VT student volunteers as bus monitors to accompany children to and from centers. Wyatt has also worked with students and faculty in VT's Agriculture department to create garden boxes at five Head Start centers. A group of students is designing and implementing age-appropriate lesson plans that incorporate gardening activities.

Wyatt Taylor (far left, VISTA shirt) with student volunteers.

Also in the fall, Wyatt helped coordinate service placements for VT's Week of Engagement and the campus's Remember Serve Learn initiative, which involves students, faculty, and staff in service to commemorate tragedies of 9-11 and the Virginia Tech school shooting on April 16. Wyatt included several local Head Start sites in those events. In the spring, he is looking forward to facilitating ongoing connections between student organizations and the New River Valley Head Starts, clarifying student leadership responsibilities, and strengthening the new service efforts.

His own experience doing community service as an undergrad led him to VISTA. "The idea of student engagement is one I put a lot of stock in," he explains. "It was a big part of my college experience." A native Mississippian with two university professor parents, Wyatt sees the Campus Compact VISTA experience leading him to a career that blends higher education and community engagement.

"Coming to VT was a great option for me," he says. "It couldn't have worked out better."