AmeriCorps VISTA - Food Security & Tutoring

AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) is a national service program that helps fight poverty. VISTA members serve full-time for one year with nonprofit organizations and public agencies.

Responsibilities

UMW Food Security VISTA: Help support food security in Fredericksburg by working with a local alt. high school and the Food Security team at University of Mary Washington. Build partnerships with local Food Bank.

Longer description:

The VISTA will address food security in Fredericksburg by working with two groups. They will work with Stafford County’s Phoenix Center for Innovative Learning. Formerly known as the Alternative Program, they house innovative academic programs for high school students who are struggling in mainstream learning environments. The Phoenix Center serves students experiencing food insecurity who do not have access to food resources during the school day. The VISTA will also work with the Food Security Team on the University of Mary Washington (UMW) campus to build a resource hub that provides a one-stop-shop online information resource for individuals experiencing food insecurity. Work will be integrated into the Gwen Hale Resource Center, an on-campus food pantry. The VISTA will build relationships with the local Food Bank and local funders who can support food security on the UMW and Phoenix Center campuses.

Hazel Hill Homework Club: Build the capacity of an afterschool tutoring program by working on volunteer recruitment, partnership development, and fundraising. Position located on UMW campus in Center for Community Engagement. 

Longer description:

The Hazel Hill VISTA will work with Resident Services staff at Hazel Hill Apts. to help support tutoring and other interventions for the K-12 residents in support of K-12 academic success. The VISTA will help generate additional resources for the programs including new volunteers, partnerships, and funding. The VISTA will accomplish these goals through developing and expanding partnerships, recruiting and supporting volunteers, and securing financial resources. These actions will result in improved tutoring and out-of- school programming, resulting in improved outcomes for beneficiaries including academic engagement. During the first year of service, the VISTA will meet with staff at the National Housing Trust and residents (parents, youth) at Hazel Hill Apartments to learn more about the existing tutoring, out-of-school time, and K-12 enrichment programming. The VISTA will conduct a Community Assessment (SWOT analysis for the programs and an environmental scan of the Fredericksburg community) to better understand existing resources and partnerships and potential new resources and partnerships. They will also explore possible funding sources for different types of enrichment programming, including the local Community Foundation (CFRRR). This research will result in a strategic planning report which includes the description of the context, need, and resources for tutoring and out-of-school activities for the Hazel Hill Apartments. This strategic plan will also include recommendations for next steps, produced in partnership with staff at the National Housing Trust. This strategic plan will provide a road map and workplan for the VISTA for the remainder of the project period.

Qualifications

Applicants should:

• Be 18 years or older
• Hold a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work experience
• Hold Citizenship or legal residency
• Have reliable transportation