Host an AmeriCorps VISTA
*Applications for 2023-2024 will be available September 2022.
Hosting a VISTA Member: Why Partner with CCNYPA?
In 20+ years with AmeriCorps*VISTA, PCCE (formerly CCNYPA) has developed a rigorous screening process to ensure stewardship of federal funds through AmeriCorps. As an organization, we recognize that experienced VISTA host site campuses may have developed better defined projects, but we are committed to fair distribution across New York and Pennsylvania in all regions, settings, and types of projects.
PCCE's unique approach to project development enables campuses and communities to design their projects based on partnership with local community-based organizations. They then submit their host site applications to PCCE for consideration through a competitive host site application process.
Services
PCCE*VISTA members work to bridge campus and community through projects in the areas of tutoring and mentoring, college access, food access, access to healthcare, economic opportunity, and support for veterans and military families. The ultimate goal of the PCCE*VISTA program is to address pressing community needs, while fostering a sense of higher education institutions as agents of community change and developing AmeriCorps*VISTA members as future leaders in the public service arena.
All PCCE*VISTA projects are designed with a three-year timeline in order to support sustainability. However, campuses are required to reapply each year through a competitive process. The project and PCCE*VISTA member's work must explicitly address the following three PCCE*VISTA program goals:
1) To develop or enhance campus-community efforts to address one of the identified project focus areas;
2) To create, develop, or sustain reciprocal, mutually beneficial partnerships between the campus and community organizations, leaders, and members;
3) To foster PCCE*VISTA members as professionals and emerging leaders in the fields of community development, civic engagement, and/or higher education.
What kinds of candidates apply to VISTA and what is required of them?
Traditionally PCCE has had outstanding candidates because we strongly urge sites to require a bachelor's degree (or three years of relevant experience) and look for a strong commitment to service.
Recommended skills and qualifications for PCCE AmeriCorps*VISTA Members: * Bachelor's Degree * Well-developed interpersonal and intrapersonal skills * Understanding of the outcome-oriented nature of the PCCE*VISTA program * Organization and program planning skills to develop and enhance service programs * Ability to work as part of teams with administrative colleagues, students and faculty * Ability to recruit, train and supervise student staff and volunteers * Knowledge of community needs and best practices in human services * Excellent oral and written communication skills * Computer skills, including creating and maintaining websites, databases, spreadsheets and outreach and recruiting materials * Office and financial management skills * Creativity and self-direction * Interpersonal skills and teaching and training skills to lead training and reflection sessions with college volunteers * Ability to flex with change as activities and tasks change during a multi-year project * Experience coordinating a project or group of volunteers *
Experience related to campus-specific project:
1) Experience coordinating youth programs or serving in a tutoring, mentoring, or college access program or
2) Experience coordinating food access and nutrition programs or in a food access program,
3) Experience in coordinating health care programs, and/
4) Experience with military families and veterans. *Proficiency in Spanish may be useful with some target populations and experience tutoring in English as a Second Language.
Who should I contact if I'm interested in hosting a CCNYPA*VISTA member?
If you are interested in hosting a PCCE*VISTA member please contact Lucio Perez, Sr. Program Manager, Lucio@pcce.org
In 20+ years with AmeriCorps*VISTA, PCCE (formerly CCNYPA) has developed a rigorous screening process to ensure stewardship of federal funds through AmeriCorps. As an organization, we recognize that experienced VISTA host site campuses may have developed better defined projects, but we are committed to fair distribution across New York and Pennsylvania in all regions, settings, and types of projects.
PCCE's unique approach to project development enables campuses and communities to design their projects based on partnership with local community-based organizations. They then submit their host site applications to PCCE for consideration through a competitive host site application process.
Services
PCCE*VISTA members work to bridge campus and community through projects in the areas of tutoring and mentoring, college access, food access, access to healthcare, economic opportunity, and support for veterans and military families. The ultimate goal of the PCCE*VISTA program is to address pressing community needs, while fostering a sense of higher education institutions as agents of community change and developing AmeriCorps*VISTA members as future leaders in the public service arena.
All PCCE*VISTA projects are designed with a three-year timeline in order to support sustainability. However, campuses are required to reapply each year through a competitive process. The project and PCCE*VISTA member's work must explicitly address the following three PCCE*VISTA program goals:
1) To develop or enhance campus-community efforts to address one of the identified project focus areas;
2) To create, develop, or sustain reciprocal, mutually beneficial partnerships between the campus and community organizations, leaders, and members;
3) To foster PCCE*VISTA members as professionals and emerging leaders in the fields of community development, civic engagement, and/or higher education.
What kinds of candidates apply to VISTA and what is required of them?
Traditionally PCCE has had outstanding candidates because we strongly urge sites to require a bachelor's degree (or three years of relevant experience) and look for a strong commitment to service.
Recommended skills and qualifications for PCCE AmeriCorps*VISTA Members: * Bachelor's Degree * Well-developed interpersonal and intrapersonal skills * Understanding of the outcome-oriented nature of the PCCE*VISTA program * Organization and program planning skills to develop and enhance service programs * Ability to work as part of teams with administrative colleagues, students and faculty * Ability to recruit, train and supervise student staff and volunteers * Knowledge of community needs and best practices in human services * Excellent oral and written communication skills * Computer skills, including creating and maintaining websites, databases, spreadsheets and outreach and recruiting materials * Office and financial management skills * Creativity and self-direction * Interpersonal skills and teaching and training skills to lead training and reflection sessions with college volunteers * Ability to flex with change as activities and tasks change during a multi-year project * Experience coordinating a project or group of volunteers *
Experience related to campus-specific project:
1) Experience coordinating youth programs or serving in a tutoring, mentoring, or college access program or
2) Experience coordinating food access and nutrition programs or in a food access program,
3) Experience in coordinating health care programs, and/
4) Experience with military families and veterans. *Proficiency in Spanish may be useful with some target populations and experience tutoring in English as a Second Language.
Who should I contact if I'm interested in hosting a CCNYPA*VISTA member?
If you are interested in hosting a PCCE*VISTA member please contact Lucio Perez, Sr. Program Manager, Lucio@pcce.org