Become an AmeriCorps VISTA
with PCCE!
Interested in Exploring PCCE*VISTA Opportunities?
1. Create an account on MyAmeriCorps.gov, then search for 'CCNYPA' under Program Name.
2. Click Here to see a list of VISTA opportunities within our cohort.
1. Create an account on MyAmeriCorps.gov, then search for 'CCNYPA' under Program Name.
2. Click Here to see a list of VISTA opportunities within our cohort.
FAQs for Interested VISTA Members
Help! What are all these acronyms?
What does orientation & training look like?
You can think of orientation in three parts: CNCS, on your campus host site and CCNYPA
Are VISTAs always part of a cohort? What makes CCNYPA*VISTAs different from the other VISTAs?
Not all VISTAs come in a cohort. Most VISTAs serve within an organization as the only VISTA member or VISTAs sometimes may even serve at the same organization but our program is unique in that each VISTA is serving on a college campus in partnership with a community organization where the focus is on building the partnership focused on capacity building and sustainability. As a result, our VISTAs have similar focuses and can relate on the progression of the service year so that is where the cohort model comes in. Since we have this cohort model in our organization, each VISTA starts and ends at the same time so we are able to come together for trainings and connection to learn from others going through very similar things as you and receive support from others who understand your role. The cohort model is so helpful in figuring out best practices and new ideas for your projects while also feeling connected to something bigger. Our cohort truly feels like a family throughout the year!
How do CCNYPA*VISTAs stay connected when they are serving at different sites?
One of the main focuses of our cohort is connecting with other VISTAs. In order to do this, we created regional groups within the cohort and have meetings with these groups three times throughout the year. This gives you the chance to meet the other VISTAs near you and learn more about them and their projects and find ways to connect professionally, socially, or project-wise. We also get the chance to come together as an entire cohort three times a year. We have three retreats throughout the year: a fall retreat, a spring retreat and an end of year retreat. These retreats are to provide trainings, project-sharing opportunities, team building, project development and professional development opportunities. We recently implemented a VISTA buddy program where each VISTA is paired with another member of the cohort. VISTA buddies work together for some activities at retreats and connect for other tasks like cover letter review.
We also stay connected through online platforms as well through a private Facebook group where we can share resources, events or communicate together. We have a snapchat group so you can snap a picture of VISTA life and share it with everyone else. We also have a share drive on Google that we share presentations, and other resources. We send a monthly newsletter with spotlights and opportunities for the cohort. Finally, we have a monthly webinar series so we are able to “see” each other and communicate, even when we are spread across two states!
Can I attend school or work in addition to my CCNYPA*VISTA service?
Yes! As a VISTA, you can get a part time job as long as it doesn’t conflict with your service hours or project in anyway. You must get approval by both your supervisor and the CCNYPA Program Director and there is a form that needs to be submitted so if you are planning to get a part time job, make sure to ask them for that and submit it before!
VISTAs can also attend classes with supervisor approval and CNCS even sponsors free online classes for college credit! You can find information about them here: https://www.vistacampus.gov/vista-course-credit
How can I find resources for benefits?
(Education award, healthcare option, SNAP benefits, loan forbearance, etc)
You can find information about the benefits from CNCS on the VISTA Campus website, here: https://www.vistacampus.gov/in-service/benefits-service
CCNYPA will also provide you with a resource guide assist you with this process.
What are some opportunities for leadership/professional development?
Within our cohort, we have brought on a career coach to focus on professional development for our VISTAs. As a result, our VISTAs receive trainings and support on resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn, networking, job search, grad school search, interviews and more. Through online webinars and in-person workshops at retreats, the career coach offers professional development trainings for each step of figuring out what comes after the VISTA service year.
Our VISTAs are also encouraged to participate in professional and leadership development opportunities on their campus and in their communities. That is one of the perks in being part of our Campus Compact organization than other VISTA programs because VISTAs are able to utilize campus resources and are treated like staff so are able to attend workshops, conferences, speakers and utilize computer and library resources and career centers. They also have such a unique experienced network working with experienced professionals and faculty in higher education settings.
Finally, many of our webinars are focused on professional development topics and there is a professional development focus in each regional meet-up and retreat while we share resources regularly throughout the year for upcoming conferences, events, webinars, trainings that VISTAs can choose to attend or just articles on the focus areas, communities or poverty.
What is a VISTA Leader?
A VISTA Leader is an AmeriCorps member who has completed a year of service with an AmeriCorps program and commit to a second year of service as a VISTA. The role of the VISTA Leader is to support, mentor, coach and lead a group of VISTAs throughout their entire service year.
The VISTA Leader will be there from the first to last day of your year with the main priority of supporting you! They have a VAD just like all of you and will be working in the CCNYPA Regional Office directly with the Program Manager and staff to provide you trainings, project support, professional development and any other needs that come up. They will be the one organizing the webinars, retreats, regional meetings, and more!
Who will be my pillars of support this year?
You are lucky in that you actually have a few support systems this year!
Your on-site supervisor, meaning your supervisor on campus, this is probably the person who contacted you about the role and interviewed you and selected you for the role. Its important to know this person is actually the one who applied and went through a pretty lengthy process to have a VISTA on campus for this project and then another long process to select YOU! So just know, they are VERY excited for you to get started and it is their project you will be working to develop so they will be a very important piece of this year. This supervisor will be your main contact. They will be there to coach you through your VAD and show you the way on campus. You will get the chance to hold weekly meetings with them all year so be sure to run everything by them FIRST and bring any questions or concerns to them FIRST.
As a CCNYPA*VISTA, your project will be on a college or university campus but will also have a community partner so that means you will also have support from the staff of the community partner as well. The community partner is a community organization that also sees the benefit of a VISTA member and they have been there since the beginning of the application stages. You will be working with your community partner throughout the entire year to serve the community utilizing college volunteers, resources and more! You will have members from the community partner who will be there to mentor and coach you through, introduce you to the community and be the go-to for questions, concerns or ideas you have to bring to the project!
Next, you have your VISTA Leader(s). Your VISTA Leader will be in close contact from Day 1. They will be supporting the cohort of VISTAs by providing trainings and other resources to help you through this year. You will have many chances throughout the year to communicate with them like check-in calls, webinars, regional meetings, retreats and more! This person has been through a VISTA year so chances are, anything you are going through, they can relate! They serve as an outside perspective because they are not actually working on your campus, so they can definitely be a great resource to call up and brainstorm or check-in for some resources or advice.
Finally, you have the CCNYPA Program Manager, Lucio Perez, who will also be in contact regularly. The Program Manager oversees the VISTA Program and VISTA Leaders so they work in close contact to provide all of these things for the cohort! You will hear from the Program Manager as you get started on your site, with information about service orientation, information and agendas for retreats, quarterly reports and he will do regional site visits during the year as well. Lucio is in close contact with the State Office of CNCS so he is a good go-to for any questions surrounding compliance related or AmeriCorps related items. He also communicates regularly with supervisors and has a great understanding of each project since he works with them from the very beginning.
- VISTA- Volunteers In Service to America
- CCNYPA- Campus Compact of New York and Pennsylvania
- CNCS- Corporation for National and Community Service
What does orientation & training look like?
You can think of orientation in three parts: CNCS, on your campus host site and CCNYPA
- CNCS will be contacting you within two weeks before your start date to review some onboarding information and action items. This will include necessary on-boarding forms as well as two live webinars to give you a glimpse of what your year will look like and what it means to be an AmeriCorps VISTA.
- On campus, you are assigned a supervisor that will be your go-to for the entire year. This person is probably one of the people who interviewed you and has been in contact you through the recruitment, interview and selection process. This person is the one that applied to have a VISTA on campus so they truly want you there and are excited for you to get started! They have scheduled a whole week of activities, meetings or just time to get you all acclimated to your new role. This will include signing your oath, meeting the different stakeholders on campus and in the community for your project, getting familiar with your campus and community, digging deeper into your VISTA assignment description and learning more in-depth about your community partner and project as a whole.
- Finally, after completing the items from CNCS and getting to spend a whole week with your supervisor on your campus, you will come together with your cohort of CCNYPA*VISTAs, VISTA Leaders and Program Director for a three-day, two-night service orientation to learn more about your role and impact you will have in your community and how to successfully navigate your service year.
Are VISTAs always part of a cohort? What makes CCNYPA*VISTAs different from the other VISTAs?
Not all VISTAs come in a cohort. Most VISTAs serve within an organization as the only VISTA member or VISTAs sometimes may even serve at the same organization but our program is unique in that each VISTA is serving on a college campus in partnership with a community organization where the focus is on building the partnership focused on capacity building and sustainability. As a result, our VISTAs have similar focuses and can relate on the progression of the service year so that is where the cohort model comes in. Since we have this cohort model in our organization, each VISTA starts and ends at the same time so we are able to come together for trainings and connection to learn from others going through very similar things as you and receive support from others who understand your role. The cohort model is so helpful in figuring out best practices and new ideas for your projects while also feeling connected to something bigger. Our cohort truly feels like a family throughout the year!
How do CCNYPA*VISTAs stay connected when they are serving at different sites?
One of the main focuses of our cohort is connecting with other VISTAs. In order to do this, we created regional groups within the cohort and have meetings with these groups three times throughout the year. This gives you the chance to meet the other VISTAs near you and learn more about them and their projects and find ways to connect professionally, socially, or project-wise. We also get the chance to come together as an entire cohort three times a year. We have three retreats throughout the year: a fall retreat, a spring retreat and an end of year retreat. These retreats are to provide trainings, project-sharing opportunities, team building, project development and professional development opportunities. We recently implemented a VISTA buddy program where each VISTA is paired with another member of the cohort. VISTA buddies work together for some activities at retreats and connect for other tasks like cover letter review.
We also stay connected through online platforms as well through a private Facebook group where we can share resources, events or communicate together. We have a snapchat group so you can snap a picture of VISTA life and share it with everyone else. We also have a share drive on Google that we share presentations, and other resources. We send a monthly newsletter with spotlights and opportunities for the cohort. Finally, we have a monthly webinar series so we are able to “see” each other and communicate, even when we are spread across two states!
Can I attend school or work in addition to my CCNYPA*VISTA service?
Yes! As a VISTA, you can get a part time job as long as it doesn’t conflict with your service hours or project in anyway. You must get approval by both your supervisor and the CCNYPA Program Director and there is a form that needs to be submitted so if you are planning to get a part time job, make sure to ask them for that and submit it before!
VISTAs can also attend classes with supervisor approval and CNCS even sponsors free online classes for college credit! You can find information about them here: https://www.vistacampus.gov/vista-course-credit
How can I find resources for benefits?
(Education award, healthcare option, SNAP benefits, loan forbearance, etc)
You can find information about the benefits from CNCS on the VISTA Campus website, here: https://www.vistacampus.gov/in-service/benefits-service
CCNYPA will also provide you with a resource guide assist you with this process.
What are some opportunities for leadership/professional development?
Within our cohort, we have brought on a career coach to focus on professional development for our VISTAs. As a result, our VISTAs receive trainings and support on resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn, networking, job search, grad school search, interviews and more. Through online webinars and in-person workshops at retreats, the career coach offers professional development trainings for each step of figuring out what comes after the VISTA service year.
Our VISTAs are also encouraged to participate in professional and leadership development opportunities on their campus and in their communities. That is one of the perks in being part of our Campus Compact organization than other VISTA programs because VISTAs are able to utilize campus resources and are treated like staff so are able to attend workshops, conferences, speakers and utilize computer and library resources and career centers. They also have such a unique experienced network working with experienced professionals and faculty in higher education settings.
Finally, many of our webinars are focused on professional development topics and there is a professional development focus in each regional meet-up and retreat while we share resources regularly throughout the year for upcoming conferences, events, webinars, trainings that VISTAs can choose to attend or just articles on the focus areas, communities or poverty.
What is a VISTA Leader?
A VISTA Leader is an AmeriCorps member who has completed a year of service with an AmeriCorps program and commit to a second year of service as a VISTA. The role of the VISTA Leader is to support, mentor, coach and lead a group of VISTAs throughout their entire service year.
The VISTA Leader will be there from the first to last day of your year with the main priority of supporting you! They have a VAD just like all of you and will be working in the CCNYPA Regional Office directly with the Program Manager and staff to provide you trainings, project support, professional development and any other needs that come up. They will be the one organizing the webinars, retreats, regional meetings, and more!
Who will be my pillars of support this year?
You are lucky in that you actually have a few support systems this year!
Your on-site supervisor, meaning your supervisor on campus, this is probably the person who contacted you about the role and interviewed you and selected you for the role. Its important to know this person is actually the one who applied and went through a pretty lengthy process to have a VISTA on campus for this project and then another long process to select YOU! So just know, they are VERY excited for you to get started and it is their project you will be working to develop so they will be a very important piece of this year. This supervisor will be your main contact. They will be there to coach you through your VAD and show you the way on campus. You will get the chance to hold weekly meetings with them all year so be sure to run everything by them FIRST and bring any questions or concerns to them FIRST.
As a CCNYPA*VISTA, your project will be on a college or university campus but will also have a community partner so that means you will also have support from the staff of the community partner as well. The community partner is a community organization that also sees the benefit of a VISTA member and they have been there since the beginning of the application stages. You will be working with your community partner throughout the entire year to serve the community utilizing college volunteers, resources and more! You will have members from the community partner who will be there to mentor and coach you through, introduce you to the community and be the go-to for questions, concerns or ideas you have to bring to the project!
Next, you have your VISTA Leader(s). Your VISTA Leader will be in close contact from Day 1. They will be supporting the cohort of VISTAs by providing trainings and other resources to help you through this year. You will have many chances throughout the year to communicate with them like check-in calls, webinars, regional meetings, retreats and more! This person has been through a VISTA year so chances are, anything you are going through, they can relate! They serve as an outside perspective because they are not actually working on your campus, so they can definitely be a great resource to call up and brainstorm or check-in for some resources or advice.
Finally, you have the CCNYPA Program Manager, Lucio Perez, who will also be in contact regularly. The Program Manager oversees the VISTA Program and VISTA Leaders so they work in close contact to provide all of these things for the cohort! You will hear from the Program Manager as you get started on your site, with information about service orientation, information and agendas for retreats, quarterly reports and he will do regional site visits during the year as well. Lucio is in close contact with the State Office of CNCS so he is a good go-to for any questions surrounding compliance related or AmeriCorps related items. He also communicates regularly with supervisors and has a great understanding of each project since he works with them from the very beginning.