Our House e-newsletter February & March 2012 | Page 11

AmeriCorps at Our House: pages 8 to 21

What do VISTAs do?
All of Our House’s programs have
VISTAs, currently ten total, each
with a different responsibility. One
VISTA, for example, organizes our
biggest fundraising events. Another
plans adult education curriculum in
our Learning Center. Some of our
VISTAs have college degrees directly
related to their VISTA positions.
After completing their terms, many
of our VISTAs move on to jobs in the
same fields as their service positions.
At Our House, as at other VISTA
sites, VISTAs are treated the same as
other staff members. People who
come into our offices can’t even tell
which staff members are VISTAs.
During the past 5 years, our VISTAs
have increased volunteer numbers,
increased donor numbers, and
improved communication with the
community, making it possible for
Our House to offer more services to
more people. As a result, AmeriCorps
gave Our House the 2010 award for
Outstanding VISTA Site in Arkansas.
Our House’s AmeriCorps program
has continued to grow, adding even
more VISTAs and new members
from another AmeriCorps branch
known as CIA.
related articles:
Our House’s CIA, page 12
Executive Director’s Letter, page 14

2007-2008 Our House VISTA:
Program Specialist
Now: Family Housing Manager
at Our House, & MSW candidate

2008-2009 Our House VISTA:
Development Assistant
Now: Special Events Coordinator
at Ronald McDonald House

2009 Our House VISTA:
Community Engagement
Coordinator
Now: Co-Director
at Together For Hope of Arkansas

2010-2011 Our House VISTA:
VISTA Leader
Now: Master’s student at the
Clinton School of Public Service