Help to alleviate poverty for low-income individuals in North Carolina. The Service Year NC Program is an umbrella project that welcomes host sites tackling a wide array of poverty-related issues in North Carolina. We place members in organizations and foundations to fight poverty across the state by increasing education and job-training opportunities, creating healthier communities, and ensuring students enter school ready to learn.
What makes us unique? We believe service has the power to change individuals and communities. In addition to their daily AmeriCorps VISTA service, all Service Year NC VISTAs will work together on a statewide collaborative project to promote and advance volunteerism and service across the state.
Service Activities
Examples of activities include: recruiting and developing a training curriculum for volunteers, creating an asset map of local anti-poverty initiatives, outreach to community and statewide stakeholders, and developing marketing and communication materials for local programs.
Community Need Addressed
In 2016, the U.S Census reported that 16.4% of North Carolina's population is living below the poverty line, the 11th highest poverty rate in the country. The Service Year NC AmeriCorps VISTA team will support community organizations across the state by building capacity for local efforts to help low-income residents out of poverty.
Position Outcomes
Service Year NC VISTAs will be placed in non-profits, and foundations across the state to build and strengthen systems in order to increase capacity and provide resources to those who need them most. Outcomes will depend on specific site placement. Examples of outcomes include increasing the number of low-income residents served by local programs, and increasing the number of students starting school ready to learn
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Living allowance, Non-competitive eligibility (federal jobs), Relocation allowance (if applicable), Stipend, Student loan forbearance, Training
Skills you will gain
Project management, community outreach, curriculum development
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner, Write cleary and effectively
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Capable of generating possible solutions, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Improvise
Teamwork
Develop constructive working relationships and maintain them over time, Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Stay positive and outcome oriented
Decisions
Accepts responsibility, Anticipate the consequences of decisions, Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Honor the privilege of being able to work with and for those being served