AmeriCorps VISTA
ILCC began its VISTA program during the 2008-09 school year. We started with fifteen VISTAs working on thirteen campuses spread out all over the great state of Illinois. At the end of our first year, we were awarded six new positions by the Corporation for National and Community Service (the government entity that administers AmeriCorps, as well as SeniorCorps and Learn and Serve). Currently in our second year, we have twenty-one VISTAs working on seventeen campuses, making us the largest VISTA program in Illinois.
While the specific duties of ILCC VISTAs differ based on the specific needs of their host campus, they all work under the umbrella of increasing civic engagement on college and university campuses. Some examples of specific duties include:
- Recruiting, training, and coordinating student volunteers.
- Providing leadership development and civic reflection activities for volunteers.
- Strengthening service-learning programs and co-cirricular volunteer opportunities.
- Coordinating campus projects commemorating national days of service, including Martin Luther King Jr Day, National AmeriCorps Week, and the National Day of Service and Rememberance.
- Educating students, faculty, and staff about community needs and poverty issues.
- Creating sustainable programming and campus-community partnerships.
All member campuses are welcome to apply to host an ILCC VISTA. For more information, please contact our VISTA Leader, Erin Wethern, at ewethern@depaul.edu.
Interested in serving with ILCC? Our VISTA application process typically opens in April. All positions last for one year and begin in June, July, or August, depending on when you are assigned to attend pre-service orientation (PSO). Benefits include a small living stipend, health coverage, life insurance, childcare assistance (if eligible), and the choice between an education award (worth $4,725) and a stipend ($1,200) upon completion of service.
Meet our VISTAs! Read their bios here.
Illinois Campus Compact currently have VISTA serving at the following campuses:
Lincoln Land Community College
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
University of Illinois-Springfield
ILCC is now hiring VISTAs!
Find instructions for application process here
Apply at www.my.americorps.gov and create a profile!