New York Campus Compact has been partnering with the AmeriCorps VISTA Program since 2003 in order to assist member campuses in developing deep, meaningful campus/community partnerships. VISTAs play pivotal roles in helping colleges and universities address community needs, develop leadership among their students, and improve collaborations between the institution and the community.
Geneseo Y2: Healthy Futures/Food Resources
SUNY Geneseo and the Livingston County Office for the Aging have developed a project to respond to the needs of poverty in the community that will assist older residents in Livingston County to remain in their homes as long as possible. The VISTA will work on three specific programs: food security programs throughout Livingston County, a Daily Hello Caller program for homebound seniors, and a food distribution program for grandparents who are caregivers of children on school lunch programs that need food on weekends and vacation days. Food security and nutritious food options at home are critical for helping low-income children focus and achieve in school.
Germantown/Kingston/Red Hook Y2: Education/K-12 Success
The VISTA will work with school districts and the community to launch a series of educational activities and cultural experiences designed to improve students' academic skills and broaden their vision of the future so that they view higher education as a viable choice. The Maple Lane Community Center, implemented during the first year, functions as a community-learning center for the Maple Lane Mobile Home Park (MLMHP). Through this center, current staff/student led projects will continue to offer MLMHP students and parents the opportunity to participate in a variety of learning and social activities to enhance cultural capital. In addition, many activities will take place on the Bard College campus, which will allow students to see and experience college life first hand. This model will be expanded into the Kingston Central School District (KCSD), where a new community-learning center will be developed.
Oswego Y3: Education/K-12 Success
The AmeriCorps VISTA at Oswego City School District will work closely with district administration, staff and faculty at the Oswego Middle School, and college personnel in implementing a large-scale mentoring program called "Mentor-Scholar." The Third Year VISTA will be responsible for developing tools to ensure sustainability of the program. The primary goal of the Mentor-Scholar program is to positively impact persistence and graduation rates so that opportunities for success are significantly increased, while possibilities of failure and drop-out are diminished. The VISTA will be located in the partner schools where s/he will be able to meet regularly with participating students to help ensure their success in the program. By virtue of being located in the schools, the VISTA will also be able to help build the capacity of school counselors, staff and faculty to support the entire student body and achieve goals for higher education.
Poughkeepsie Y1: Education/K-12 Success
Aided by a New York Campus Compact VISTA member, the Vassar College Exploring College program, and REAL Skills DEAL Program will collaborate to increase the number of college bound students in Poughkeepsie High School. The VISTA member, working under the supervision of Vassar College and REAL Skills, will (1) expand services already offered by REAL Skills, (2) create a lecture series for Vassar College, and (3) build a new program to connect DEAL and Exploring College. Primary activities will be recruitment and training of Vassar student tutors, and coordination of service providers. The VISTA will also conduct ongoing needs assessments of REAL Skills students and Vassar College participants to inform program development.
Utica Economic Opportunity Y1 & Refugee Opportunity Y1: Economic Opportunity/Financial Literacy
The VISTA project (2 positions) will focus on economic development and support for small businesses and entrepreneurial activity in Utica's high poverty and refugee communities. An economic needs assessment will help service providers, social entrepreneurs, college faculty experts, and student projects target their energy on financial education and business development needs where they can make the biggest difference. An opportunity assessment can direct low-income families and service providers to take advantage of federal, state, and local funding, education, and other resources to improve their economic future.
Applications for NYCC's AmeriCorps VISTA Program can be found at: http://My.AmeriCorps.Gov
- click on the "Search Listings" Link (below password box)
- Program Name: NYCC
Geneseo Y2: Healthy Futures/Food Resources
SUNY Geneseo and the Livingston County Office for the Aging have developed a project to respond to the needs of poverty in the community that will assist older residents in Livingston County to remain in their homes as long as possible. The VISTA will work on three specific programs: food security programs throughout Livingston County, a Daily Hello Caller program for homebound seniors, and a food distribution program for grandparents who are caregivers of children on school lunch programs that need food on weekends and vacation days. Food security and nutritious food options at home are critical for helping low-income children focus and achieve in school.
Germantown/Kingston/Red Hook Y2: Education/K-12 Success
The VISTA will work with school districts and the community to launch a series of educational activities and cultural experiences designed to improve students' academic skills and broaden their vision of the future so that they view higher education as a viable choice. The Maple Lane Community Center, implemented during the first year, functions as a community-learning center for the Maple Lane Mobile Home Park (MLMHP). Through this center, current staff/student led projects will continue to offer MLMHP students and parents the opportunity to participate in a variety of learning and social activities to enhance cultural capital. In addition, many activities will take place on the Bard College campus, which will allow students to see and experience college life first hand. This model will be expanded into the Kingston Central School District (KCSD), where a new community-learning center will be developed.
Oswego Y3: Education/K-12 Success
The AmeriCorps VISTA at Oswego City School District will work closely with district administration, staff and faculty at the Oswego Middle School, and college personnel in implementing a large-scale mentoring program called "Mentor-Scholar." The Third Year VISTA will be responsible for developing tools to ensure sustainability of the program. The primary goal of the Mentor-Scholar program is to positively impact persistence and graduation rates so that opportunities for success are significantly increased, while possibilities of failure and drop-out are diminished. The VISTA will be located in the partner schools where s/he will be able to meet regularly with participating students to help ensure their success in the program. By virtue of being located in the schools, the VISTA will also be able to help build the capacity of school counselors, staff and faculty to support the entire student body and achieve goals for higher education.
Poughkeepsie Y1: Education/K-12 Success
Aided by a New York Campus Compact VISTA member, the Vassar College Exploring College program, and REAL Skills DEAL Program will collaborate to increase the number of college bound students in Poughkeepsie High School. The VISTA member, working under the supervision of Vassar College and REAL Skills, will (1) expand services already offered by REAL Skills, (2) create a lecture series for Vassar College, and (3) build a new program to connect DEAL and Exploring College. Primary activities will be recruitment and training of Vassar student tutors, and coordination of service providers. The VISTA will also conduct ongoing needs assessments of REAL Skills students and Vassar College participants to inform program development.
Utica Economic Opportunity Y1 & Refugee Opportunity Y1: Economic Opportunity/Financial Literacy
The VISTA project (2 positions) will focus on economic development and support for small businesses and entrepreneurial activity in Utica's high poverty and refugee communities. An economic needs assessment will help service providers, social entrepreneurs, college faculty experts, and student projects target their energy on financial education and business development needs where they can make the biggest difference. An opportunity assessment can direct low-income families and service providers to take advantage of federal, state, and local funding, education, and other resources to improve their economic future.
Applications for NYCC's AmeriCorps VISTA Program can be found at: http://My.AmeriCorps.Gov
- click on the "Search Listings" Link (below password box)
- Program Name: NYCC
