Kansas Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA Project
KsCC's newest class of AmeriCorps*VISTAs are all on-site and jumping right in to serving their schools. A warm welcome to:
- Angela Deckard - VISTA Leader
- Danica Murray - Butler Community College
- Leah Noakes - Fort Hays State University
- Aly Rodee and Sara Weber - Kansas State University
- Brae Johnson and Julie Wilke - Southwestern College
- Michael Chavez and Michael Knight - University of Kansas
These dedicated individuals will spend the next 12 months building stronger community partnerships, expanding service learning, and enhancing programs for low-income and first generation students. We're grateful for their help and commitment.
The 2009-2010 KsCC VISTA Team
Front (left to right): Sara Weber, Aly Rodee, Michael Knight
Back: Angela Deckard, Brae Johnson, Danica Murray, Julie Wilke, Michael Chavez
Not pictured: Leah Noakes
What is AmeriCorps*VISTA?
AmeriCorps is a national service program of CNCS, the Corporation for National and Community Service, an independent federal agency created to connect Americans of all ages and backgrounds with opportunities to give back to their communities and their nation. AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) is one of several AmeriCorps programs, and provides full-time members to nonprofit, faith-based and other community organizations, and public agencies to create and expand programs that address poverty-related issues and help to bring low-income individuals and communities out of poverty. Through AmeriCorps*VISTA, ordinary people provide extraordinary service in more than 1,200 projects nationwide. |
What is the Kansas Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA Project?
The Kansas Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA Project helps colleges and universities to better respond to pressing issues facing low-income communities by improving the quality of campus community service and civic learning programs, and by increasing the number of students coordinating programs and directly serving in the community.
What do KsCC AmeriCorps*VISTA Members do?
KsCC VISTA Members will connect colleges with local community agencies to address the needs of low-income communities. Members will tap into existing campus and community/faith-based resources to lead and coordinate sustainable local initiatives. These efforts will instill in students and volunteers a deeper understanding of poverty-related issues and how they can be addressed. KsCC VISTA Members will coordinate service-learning initiatives that link course work to community work; assist with training and student development activities; recruit volunteers for schools and community/faith-based organizations; build bridges between college campuses, the community, and K-12 schools; and work alongside volunteers in order to accomplish these goals. Projects at the campus sites may include, for example, developing youth civic leadership programs, international service teams, or bilingual community outreach initiatives.
Where are KsCC VISTA Members located in Kansas?
KsCC AmeriCorps*VISTA Members serve for one year as Service-Learning/Community Service/Civic Engagement Specialists, at colleges and universities across Kansas, beginning in July/August of each year. In 2009-2010, VISTA sites include Butler Community College (El Dorado), Fort Hays State University, Kansas State University (Manhattan), Southwestern College (Winfield), and the University of Kansas (Lawrence).
