Averett University’s Center for Community Engagement and Career Competitiveness (CCECC) has recently been selected by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to serve as an intermediary organization for eight AmeriCorps VISTA members for the Dan River Region – currently the only college or university in the Commonwealth of Virginia to serve in this role.
The CCECC is serving as the local hub to increase capacity in service delivery and leadership. Together with the Dan River Nonprofit Network and six additional program sites, the CCECC coordinates VISTA members to alleviate poverty in the Dan River Region. Members serve full-time for one year at non-profit organizations, multiplying their impact and building their capacity to carry out essential projects.
“Along with our nonprofit, corporate and K-12 and higher education partners, the CCECC has worked to strengthen the social and economic vitality of our region for the past three years,” said Rachel Covington, assistant director of community engagement in Averett’s CCECC. “This program is another example of how we can support residents in the Dan River Region through service and engagement, with a focus on the alleviation of poverty.”
Through a three-year grant valued at $198,466 per year from CNCS – the federal agency that administers AmeriCorps and leads the nation’s volunteering initiatives – these AmeriCorps VISTA members will provide support to address anti-poverty initiatives across the City of Danville and Pittsylvania County.
In addition to the CCECC hosting two AmeriCorps VISTA members – its third and fourth consecutive members to date – members will work with the Danville Science Center, God’s Storehouse, the Health Collaborative, the Dan River Nonprofit Network and Middle Border Forward. There are currently five positions still open.
The eight AmeriCorps VISTA members serving through these projects in the Dan River Region will join the more than 5,690 AmeriCorps and Senior Corps members serving throughout the state at 805 local service sites. Since the program’s inception in 1994, AmeriCorps members in the Commonwealth of Virginia have earned more than $55.9 million in AmeriCorps scholarships for their service.
Those interested in joining AmeriCorps should visit AmeriCorps.gov/Join. AmeriCorps VISTA positions provide a living allowance, skills-building, comprehensive training and support, an education award, and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of Virginia residents. Those interested in applying for the local VISTA positions should visit my.americorps.gov, click on “Search Listings,” and then type in “Averett” in the “Program Name” field.
Just last fall, AmeriCorps, which includes AmeriCorps VISTA, celebrated a major milestone for the national service program; surpassing 1 million AmeriCorps members. Since 1994, AmeriCorps members have provided more than 1.4 billion hours of service and earned more than $3.3 billion in education scholarships, more than $1 billion of which has been used to pay back student debt.
