Project Description
The Keep America Beautiful AmeriCorps VISTA Project will place VISTAs in low-income communities to create or strengthen programs that increase food security such as creation and maintenance of community gardens, provide job training and develop the local economy. When appropriate, VISTAs may also address long-term recovery from disasters. A total of eight VISTAs will serve in Keep America Beautiful affiliate communities.
Specifically, VISTAs will:
1) develop community gardens in neighborhoods without access to healthy, affordable food; 2) support community coalitions in bringing new jobs and job training to neighborhoods with high rates of unemployment; and 3) research and implement efforts in communities affected by disaster to improve resilience in order to provide a firmer foundation for future economic improvement and decreased poverty.
VISTA members specific service activities may vary by site and will depend on specific projects proposed by each selected host site. VISTA activities may include community outreach, increasing community engagement and awareness, assessing community needs, recruiting and training volunteers, expanding networks and strengthening existing partnerships, identifying and securing financial resources, and developing materials such as training manuals and curricula.
Keep America Beautiful is seeking affiliates interested in serving as host sites for VISTAs to assist in the areas outlined above. A preliminary selection of host sites will be made from organizations submitting this application. Successful applicants will then be asked to submit additional information prior to final approval.
Overview of AmeriCorps VISTA
Founded in 1965, Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) is a federal anti—poverty program designed to provide needed resources to nonprofit organizations and public agencies to increase their capacity to lift communities out of poverty. In 1993, VISTA was incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of national service programs, housed at the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).
AmeriCorps VISTA supports efforts to alleviate poverty by providing opportunities for Americans 18 years and older from a diverse range of backgrounds to dedicate a year of full-time service with a sponsoring organization (Keep America Beautiful is a sponsoring organization) to create or expand programs designed to empower individuals and communities in overcoming poverty. In FY 2018 AmeriCorps VISTA plans to support approximately 7,500 full-time VISTA members who will serve with approximately 800 sponsors. They will leverage human, financial and material resources to develop sustainable solutions to problems in low-income communities across the country. VISTA led programs generally last three years. Usually projects are continued by a different VISTA member each year.
Applications are due no later than Tuesday, July 31, 2018.
