Many of you know that I served as a VISTA for one year of national service. VISTA, for those who don't know their AmeriCorps acronyms by heart, stands for Volunteers In Service To America. VISTA was created in the 1960s as the domestic version of the Peace Corps and VISTA members still get a hybrid of benefits that straddle those given to Peace Corps members (non-competitive status for federal jobs, anyone?) and AmeriCorps (what? 5,500 bucks towards my student loans???).
Right now, I supervise two great VISTAs at my job and I will hopefully soon supervise a third. They work to improve our region's food system in a variety of ways, working with many different people and communities. They are part community organizer, part researcher, part grant-writer, and part a few other things, depending on the day.
This week, we are recruiting for two of these positions. They are both challenging in their own ways, but offer opportunities to make real, positive change in the world. One is located in Crescent City and will work with two community groups trying to improve food in our schools and neighborhoods. The other will be working in the upper Yurok Reservation, doing similar work, but in a different cultural and geographic setting. They will both be part of a dynamic and friendly team -- my food team!
If you work with young people -- people, for example, who have recently completed undergraduate anthropology degrees -- and are having a hard time finding a job in this economy, encourage them to consider this opportunity. VISTA is a year of service that gives back through training, real-life experience, and a small, but meaningful financial benefit.
For those who love numbers, our VISTA positions provide the VISTA living stipend of $927 a month plus a local housing stipend of $800/month. At the end of the year, members get an education award of approximately $5,500 (it's tied to the Pell Grant maximum) that can either pay off existing student loans or pay for further education.
Please spread the word! My VISTA service was an incredible experience and I highly recommend it for anyone who isn't sure what they want to do with their degree or their life.
*Really, in this economy, the pay's not all that lousy for a single person around here.
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