WACA is a proud AmeriCorps VISTA program site and a sub-site intermediary. Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) began in 1965 as a national service program to fight poverty in America. In 1993, VISTA was incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of programs. AmeriCorps VISTA taps the skills, talents and passion of more than 8,000 Americans annually to support community efforts to overcome poverty.
Why VISTA?
WACA’s AmeriCorps VISTA members not only gain the satisfaction of knowing that their work helps build communities and improve the quality of life for low-income persons in western Arizona, but they also gain invaluable skills to help them develop both professionally and personally. WACA provides professional development opportunities throughout an AmeriCorps VISTA member’s year, personalized to meet their specific needs. Our AmeriCorps VISTA members come from all around the country and have enjoyed the unique experience that living in western Arizona provides…whether it’s hiking in the mountains outside of Kingman, floating down the Colorado River near Parker, or star-gazing under the desert sky near Yuma. From any of our sites in western Arizona, a short day-trip can take a VISTA member to the amazing views at the Grand Canyon, the big-city experience of Los Angeles or Las Vegas , the beaches of southern California, or the cross-border shopping, eating and entertainment opportunities in Mexico. Life as an AmeriCorps VISTA member in western Arizona is an opportunity to build experiences and opportunities that will stay with the VISTA long after their service year has ended.
Serve with us
WACA is looking for talented, emerging leaders from a wide variety of backgrounds to commit to a full-time national service opportunity for at least one year. WACA’s AmeriCorps VISTA programs include:
A Pathway Out of Poverty: VISTA members work to develop programs to alleviate poverty in western Arizona through capacity-building projects including:
- Developing an Individual Development Account program to provide funding for low income individuals to obtain post-secondary education. {link to IDA page}
- Creating a home performance program that will assist homeowners at all income levels to reduce home energy costs and improve energy efficiency. Using a social-enterprise framework, revenue generated from the program is used to support programming focused towards low-income households. {link to WAHP page}
- Enhancing program and non-profit service integration to create a seamless support system for persons seeking employment, job training or educational attainment, or homeless services.
AAA Get Healthy: VISTA members serving under the Area Agency on Aging’s Get Healthy program work to develop healthy, active lifestyle options and educational opportunities for persons of all ages. Activities include:
- Recruiting volunteers
- Creating a training program
- Conducting community assessments
- Developing collaborative partnerships
- Identifying sustainability needs for health and wellness programs
VISTA Summer Associates
WACA provides an opportunity for locally-based young adults to participate in the VISTA Summer Associate program. Summer Associates serve full time (40 hours a week) for 8 weeks in the summer. Currently Summer Associates help to deliver the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, expanding WACOG’s ability to approve funding to families in need of utility assistance during the hot Arizona summer months. Summer Associates receive a small living stipend and a small end-of service education or cash award.
Local Organizational Support
Is your organization interested in having an AmeriCorps VISTA serve at your site? Are you concerned you may not have the organizational capacity to develop and support your own AmeriCorps VISTA program? WACA is an AmeriCorps VISTA Intermediary and can provide the administrative support for a VISTA member that allows sub-site organizations to focus on turning their dream project into reality. WACA seeks sub-sites with project ideas that will expand the organization’s capacity to provide anti-poverty programs within Yuma, La Paz and/or Mohave Counties.
For more information on AmeriCorps VISTA: https://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps/americorpsvista