AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) is a national service program that for 50 years has been at the forefront of building the capacity of communities to fight poverty. VISTA members devote a year or more of their lives to address poverty’s root causes. They do this by mobilizing community volunteers and local resources, and by increasing the capacity of people in low-income communities to rely on themselves. To achieve its program purpose, VISTA operates under the core principles of anti-poverty focus, community empowerment, sustainable solutions, and capacity building.
Alvernia University’s Office of Career Development has developed a VISTA supported project, to offer low-income, first-generation college-aged students the opportunity to develop career-readiness skills through real-world experiences. The experience will contribute to student’s professional development by providing real-world learning experiences, networking opportunities, leadership and teamwork skills, and career exploration.
The AmeriCorps *VISTA member will serve as a liaison with nonprofit organizations embedded in the Greater Reading community to help develop internships with the hope that these experiences will foster a passion for philanthropic work. The VISTA member will connect qualified students with organizations based on need, offer career-education and career-planning opportunities for students, and track student learning outcomes as part of this project.
For information on how your organization can become a partner with The Greater Reading Nonprofit Internship Program, a program that aims to increase connections between local nonprofit organizations and Alvernia University students contact AmeriCorps VISTA member Justin Anderson ([email protected]).
