About AmeriCorps*VISTA

BE THE CHANGE! 

NC Campus Compact VISTAs serve for one to three years at different colleges and universities across the state.  They coordinate community service events, establish new community partnerships, and mobilize students and faculty to get involved with service-learning courses in an effort to create sustainable change on their campuses.

The work of NC Campus Compact VISTAs makes a difference.

Overview
In 2003, NC Campus Compact implemented its AmeriCorps*VISTA Program, which matches AmeriCorps*VISTA members with member campuses in order to support their civic missions and community engagement programs. The program has rapidly expanded since its inaugural year. Starting with just five members in the summer of 2003, we quickly gained two new members in January 2004 and six more in July 2004. By 2007, the NC Campus Compact VISTA program grew to 22 members. Our program has grown yet again with 26 VISTAs serving at different colleges and universities during the 2008-09 year.

Throughout the state, NC Campus Compact VISTA members are hard at work strengthening existing or germinating programs so that they are sustainable and effective; mobilizing and empowering students, staff, and faculty as volunteers and engaged citizens; and furthering the civic mission of higher education. Yet the day-to-day work functions and specified outcomes vary according to the host campus’ needs. By hosting a NC Campus Compact VISTA, member campuses are able to augment their resources and infrastructure and create sustainable programs that will extend beyond the VISTA member’s term of commitment.

What is AmeriCorps VISTA?
Founded in 1964 as an element of President Lyndon Johnson’s "War on Poverty", AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) is one of the oldest government programs enabling private citizens to make a full-time commitment to the alleviation of poverty through the development of sustainable programs in local non-profit organizations. AmeriCorps*VISTA members commit to a year of service and poverty to promote the positive growth of their communities and are rewarded with an education award or small cash stipend upon completion of their term.

The continuance and growth of the AmeriCorps*VISTA program is dependent upon federal funding, which is reviewed annually. The amount of funding passed by Congress and the number of volunteers currently committed to VISTA within each state then determines the number of slots for which non-profit organizations compete.

For more information about AmeriCorps, please visit www.americorps.gov