Full-time, year-long service members gain valuable experience while helping Central Minnesota nonprofits, government agencies build lasting programs to alleviate poverty throughout the region
The Initiative Foundation is seeking participants to serve as national service members in its AmeriCorps Volunteers In Service To America program. Fourteen year-long positions are available in Brainerd, Backus, Little Falls, Maple Lake, St. Cloud, Sebeka and Waite Park.
?ÄúWe?Äôre committed to helping our VISTA service members discover and grow their personal and professional talents during their year of national service,?Äù said Amanda Whittemore, program specialist for the Initiative Foundation?Äôs AmeriCorps VISTA program. ?ÄúAt the same time, we?Äôre dedicated to helping our host sites achieve their objectives, whether it?Äôs strengthening skills for the unemployed and underemployed, building a regional program to increase access to healthy food, or utilizing solar energy to cut heating costs for people living in poverty.?Äù
Organizations hosting 2017-2018 VISTA service members include
?Ä¢ Brainerd Public Library
?Ä¢ The Center, Brainerd
?Ä¢ Oasis Central Minnesota, Little Falls
?Ä¢ Promise Neighborhood, St. Cloud
?Ä¢ Rural Renewable Energy Alliance, Backus
?Ä¢ Sprout, Little Falls
?Ä¢ The city of St. Cloud
?Ä¢ Stearns-Benton Employment & Training Council, St. Cloud
?Ä¢ Tri-County Action Program, Waite Park
?Ä¢ Wadena County Developmental Achievement Center, Sebeka
?Ä¢ Wright County Community Action, Maple Lake
?Ä¢ The Yes Network, St. Cloud
?Ä¢ Initiative Foundation (two positions), Little Falls
For a list of projects or to apply, visit ifoundvista.org.
Individuals selected for VISTA service start their full-time, year-long service on July 25, 2017. Service members receive ongoing training and leadership development, a monthly living allowance, monthly housing allowance, health care allowance and other benefits.
Since 2000, the Initiative Foundation has supported 200-plus VISTA service members who have been placed at more than 100 host sites throughout the 14-county region of Central Minnesota. Collectively these VISTA service members have raised more than $2.5 million in cash resources, leveraged nearly $1.5 million in in-kind resources, and helped recruit more than 9,100 new community volunteers.