As you may know, the Florida Literacy Coalition has partnered with AmeriCorps*VISTA to place VISTA volunteers in community based literacy organizations throughout the state. AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) provides full-time members to nonprofit, community organizations, and public agencies to create and expand programs that ultimately bring low-income individuals and communities out of poverty.
AmeriCorps*VISTA members leverage human, financial, and material resources to increase the capacity of low-income communities across the country to solve their own problems. Currently, VISTAs within our statewide project work on 3 main goals including:
- Financial Literacy
- College/Career Pathways
- At least one of the following
- Health Literacy
- Family Literacy
- Prison Re-entry
- GED/TOEFL readiness
VISTAs must work on the projects mentioned above, they must have a desk, computer and phone and have a full time supervisor. Sites pay a $500 administrative fee to the Florida Literacy Coalition per year for a full time (35-40 hours a week) VISTA placement.
VISTAs are paid a small living stipend ($10,692) through the Corporation of National and Community Service and receive health care and their choice of a educational award worth $5550 or a $1500 cash award at the end of their service.
Our partnership with AmeriCorps*VISTA has been incredibly successful over the past 7 years. Over the past year, statewide, our VISTAs have recruited over 1000 volunteers and solicited almost half a million dollars in cash and non-cash resources. Organizations have benefited greatly from the services that a full time VISTA member has been able to provide to the organization and the community!
If you are interested in becoming a VISTA site, contact me at balleine@floridaliteracy.org or 407-246-7110 X202.
You can also find more information about VISTA at http://www.floridaliteracy.org/vista.html or http://www.americorps.gov/for_individuals/choose/vista.asp.
