AmeriCorps VISTA (2022 - 2023)
The NEED:
Despite a decades-old assumption that Minnesota is a national leader in education, young people in Minnesota are often up against many systemic barriers as they pursue graduation. These barriers disproportionately affect low-income students and students of color. Nearly 1 in 5 Minnesota high school students did not graduate on time in 2018. High School graduation is a milestone that ALL students deserve to achieve and is critical in setting young people up for successful futures. ALL students have great potential, but some become academically or socially disengaged due to a system that does not fully support them. As these young people become increasingly disconnected from their schools and communities, their risk of dropping out increases.
The Alliance’s AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) program builds organizational capacity by strengthening and connecting existing resources and best practices to better serve youth, especially young people of color and young people living in poverty.
You SERVE:
Alliance AmeriCorps VISTA members implement three key strategies through their term of service:
- Build capacity at their host site organization to help address education inequities such as the achievement and opportunity gaps
- Coordinate efforts that bridge and build the integration of school and community-wide support for youth focused on providing and sharing resources that increase a young person’s school attendance, behavior, and course performance (all indicators with a strong link to academic engagement and high school graduation)
- Actively engage youth as agents of change in closing the opportunity and achievement gaps in their communities
Alliance AmeriCorps VISTAs are hosted statewide at partner agencies to support and amplify the capacity of organizations to be effective and create robust solutions in addressing poverty and educational inequities. The service of VISTA members allows partner organizations to support more youth to graduate and works to close the opportunity and achievement gap in Minnesota. The partner organizations for the 2022 - 2023 VISTA term are the following:
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities
- Children First Inc
- Children’s Defense Fund
- Community Mediation and Restorative Services, Inc.
- FamilyWise Services
- Hopkins Public Schools Community Education
- Junior Achievement North (JA North, previously JA Upper Midwest)
- Legacy of Dr. Josie R. Johnson Montessori
- Minnesota Alliance With Youth
- St. Paul Parks and Recreation
- St. Louis Park Public Schools
You EARN:
- AmeriCorps Living Stipend: $575.40 twice per month
- AmeriCorps Education Award: $6,495 Education Award upon successful completion of service. This award can be used toward federal qualifying student loans or future post-secondary education. Members may waive the education award and choose a $1,800 end-of-service cash stipend instead.
- Benefits: Qualified student loan forbearance, qualified child care assistance, Up to $7,900 in a healthcare allowance plan for out of pocket health care costs, AmeriCoach life coach, TAP transportation card (metro area), $500 in grocery or gas support
Minimum REQUIREMENTS
- 18 years or older
- High School graduate with a Diploma or GED
- A U.S. Citizen, U.S. National or Lawful Permanent Resident Alien of the United States
- Not have served more than the allowed number of AmeriCorps terms previous to this term. Eligibility based on AmeriCorps term limitations.
- Able to pass a complete National Service Criminal Service History Background check (including National Sex Offender Registry, State of service and State of residence, and FBI checks) - eligibility requirements listed here.
Learn more & apply today by clicking the "Apply Externally" button.
Please note: This program is available to all, regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service. Reasonable accommodations are provided upon request for interviews and service activities. This document is available in alternative formats.