NC Campus Compact VISTA

Current Issue - August 2008

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2008-2009 VISTAs and the New VISTA Program Coordinator Are Here!

NC Campus Compact is pleased to add 20 new VISTAs and welcome back four second-year VISTAs.  Janet Jones, the VISTA at Warren Wilson College, returns for a third-year. Jamarl Clark, the VISTA currently serving in the NC Campus Compact state office, will continue his term. Jonathan Romm was hired in July to serve as the new VISTA Program Coordinator, replacing the former VISTA Leader role in an effort to provide program consistency.

At the Supervisor Orientation in August, VISTAs and their supervisors engaged in a variety of dialogues that included a teleconference with the West Virgnia state director on the logistics of mentoring a VISTA, the special challenges of supervising VISTAs who live on campus and appropriate times for political involvement for VISTAs, and working styles. Returning VISTAs provided an overview of the upcoming year to the new VISTAs.

During the first week of August, VISTAs attended NC Compact’s regional meetings. They participated in professional development session on "Student Leadership Development" and gained an understanding of what other campuses are doing to engage their students.

On September 9-10, a VISTA retreat will be held in at Elon University and Welfare Reform Liaison (WRLP) Project in Greensboro. VISTAs will participate in a poverty simulation and a community asset mapping, volunteer at WRLP, and gain and understanding of poverty in NC through discussions with UNCG’s Dr. Wineburg and a representative from the state’s 211 system.

In the mean time, VISTAs are assisting their host campuses in preparing and creating initiatives and programs for the upcoming school year. Some of these include: working with first-year orientation seminars, Habitat for Humanity, Food Bank of NC, Salvation Army, and many more. We are looking forward to them empowering their students and doing good on their campuses and surrounding communities.

Seeking VISTA Alumni!

NC Campus Compact is in the process of creating its AmeriCorps*VISTA Alumni Network.  We would like to maintain contact with alumni about their post-VISTA endeavors, as well as provide opportunities to stay connected with the Compact and other VISTAs, and create a forum for the exchange of professional and volunteer information.  It is our hope to have several of our alums attend the VISTA Recognition Banquet in June 2008.  NC Campus Compact VISTA Alumni can join the network by visiting our website:  www.nccampuscompact.org/VISTA and going the “VISTA Alumni” section.

We are asking you to help spread the word and encourage any VISTA alums you are in contact with to sign up!

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