"Strengthening communities one volunteer at a time"
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| 2004 AC*VISTA members being sworn in by David Eisner, CEO Corporation for National and Community Service at the National Conference. |
The Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network, through a generous award from the Corporation for National and Community Service, has launched a new initiative that will engage up to 75 VISTAs per year over three years to serve in Volunteer Centers across the country.
VISTAs will recruit volunteers and develop organizational capacity for new or existing programs to meet community needs in one or more of five focus areas:
- Empowering Faith-Based and Grassroots Organizations
- Asset Development and Wealth Creation
- Strengthening Families
- Homeland Security: Emergency and Disaster
- Youth-at-Risk
The initiative will:
- Increase levels of volunteer involvement in each focus area.
- Increase the capacity of local organizations to provide quality volunteer opportunities in one or more of the four focus areas.
- Increase financial independence of individuals and families in low-income communities.
- Increase the long-term sustainability of Volunteer Center programs developed in these focus areas.
Through the combined efforts of local disaster programs, asset development initiatives, family and/or faith-based initiatives, the VISTA AmeriCorps members will:
- Develop new and strengthen existing programs that increase the number of volunteers engaged in these efforts.
- Provide and promote service opportunities that are inclusive of and address issues related to low-income communities.
- Build the capacity of local organizations by developing materials and delivering trainings that strengthen their ability to provide quality volunteer opportunities.
- Develop strong community partnerships with organizations that support and provide service opportunities.
- Collect and analyze grant learnings and disseminate the results throughout the National Network.
We are also currently recruiting for VISTA members for year two of the program. Review the current list of sites accepting applications.
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