Thirty-seven million Americans live in poverty. Through AmeriCorps VISTA, you can make a tangible difference. And, you’ll find the fulfillment that comes from using your knowledge and skills to help those in disadvantaged circumstances turn their dreams into reality.

AmeriCorps VISTA is the national service program designed specifically to fight poverty. Founded as Volunteers in Service to America in 1965 and incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of programs in 1993, VISTA has been on the front lines in the fight against poverty in America for more than 40 years.

What VISTA Members Do

VISTA members commit to serve full-time for a year at a nonprofit organization or local government agency, working to fight illiteracy, improve health services, create businesses, strengthen community groups, and much more. With passion, commitment, and hard work, you’ll create or expand programs designed to bring individuals and communities out of poverty. > Learn more

• Read “VISTA: Overcoming Poverty, Building Capacity” (6.67 MB PDF)

The Benefits of VISTA Service

By serving through VISTA, you’ll gain new skills, friends, and experiences—plus you’ll get the satisfaction that comes from helping others. During your service, you’ll also receive a modest living allowance, health care, and other benefits. And, upon completing your service, you can choose to receive either an education award worth $4,725 to pay for college, or $1,200 in cash. > Learn more

A Proud History of Service

Did you know that President John F. Kennedy came up with the idea for VISTA? Or that the 170,000 VISTAs who have served since 1965 have played a key role in establishing many of the best-known anti-poverty programs, including Head Start, Upward Bound, and the credit union system? > Learn more

Become a VISTA Sponsor

Public, private, and faith-based nonprofit organizations—as well as local, state and federal organizations—can benefit greatly from linking up with AmeriCorps VISTA. Applications for members are handled by Corporation State Offices. Project sponsors are not required to provide a financial match but must be able to direct the project, supervise the members, and provide necessary administrative support to complete the goals and objectives of the project. > Learn more

Contact Us

For more information, call our toll-free line at 800-942-2677 ( TTY: 800-833-3722). Or, you can email your questions to questions@americorps.org.

Your Town Alabama is a 2 ½ day participatory workshop held annually that provides hands-on design training and planning for leaders of Alabama that want to capitalize on the development opportunities available by Alabama’s unique history, environment, location, and people.  The workshop provides an immersion for business and civic leaders of rural Alabama that face development issues and provides winning strategies to help communities succeed.  A major goal of the workshop is to introduce small town neighborhood and rural decision makers and technical assistance providers to the role of design in community planning.  Participants work in small groups to develop solutions for a hypothetical town with real world problems.  At the end of the workshop, each group has an opportunity to present their solution to the other groups for discussion.

Your Town Alabama 2010 Graduating Class

Your Town Alabama is a non-profit organization that was incorporated with the leadership of the Alabama Association of Resource Conservation & Development Councils and its affiliates, the Alabama Historical Commission, Alabama Association of Regional Councils, the University of Alabama Center for Economic Development, the Auburn University Center for Architecture and Urban Studies, Cawaco RC&D Council, Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham, the Center for Regional Planning and Design, Alabama Power Corporation and other statewide and local sponsors and a dedicated Steering Committee of concerned volunteers and civic leaders.  Your Town Alabama is a direct response to the uncertain future of Alabama’s small towns – a future increasingly threatened by large scale changes in our economy, population shifts, the impact of telecommunications and mass merchandising, and change in land policy.  Whether the threat is sudden growth or stagnation, planning and design decisions can help make the difference between survival and decay, and health prosperity and decline.

UCED has been a major partner of Your Town Alabama serving on the Executive Board since the program’s inception in 1998.  The Center provides guidance and staff support which includes registration, conference planning and implementation.  Over 625 Alabamians have participated in the workshops over the past 10 years.  The workshop scheduled for June 3 – 5, 2009 will be the 11^th anniversary for Your Town Alabama.

Inside the Aliceville Museum

UCED and Auburn University’s Urban Studio have collaborated on many projects throughout the years including downtown re-development in Moundville, Gilbertown, Pickensville, Haleyville, Aliceville, Montevallo and Marion, Alabama.  The Centers provided assistance in updating the master plans for the downtown areas and establishing a community development corporation where appropriate.  Charrettes were held in the various cities to identify opportunities for housing, light industry manufacturing and retail and commercial/professional office opportunities.  The opportunity for housing expansion, commercial/retail and tourism opportunities were also analyzed.

In addition, the two Centers were assisted by The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to provide funding for a Youth Leadership Initiative for high school students in six distressed counties: Bibb, Fayette, Franklin, Hale, Macon and Pickens.  Multiple workshops were held in each county involving a total of 165 high school students in the six-county area to develop leadership qualities in the youth.  A goal of the Youth Leadership Initiative was to focus on what is good about where they live and to identify ways to make a positive difference.  Creative projects evolved from the workshops including a Youth Leadership Program in Shorter which resulted in suggestions for strategies for the Town of Shorter and linking with I-85 in Macon County; participation in the County Health Fair in Bibb County; a presentation for the development of a Community Center in Fayette County; recommendation for tourism and gateway signage in Franklin County; signage for the Moundville Archaeological Park in Hale County; and signage and tourism brochures in Pickens County.

The ARC believes that youth leadership development is key to building civic capacity and long-term community sustainability in Appalachian communities. Programs that teach useful skills and build the self-confidence of young people ensure capable, effective leaders for the next generation.

Additionally, recent national trends including an increase in youth civic service and new emphasis on civic education in schools indicate a growing need for leadership training to ensure young people are prepared to participate in political and civic life.  They should instill an active awareness of community development and a respect for civic ideals.  These activities should take place within an environment where students can interact with other young people, learn from mistakes, and successfully tackle common issues.  For more information on the Appalachian Regional Commission, and Auburn University’s Urban Studio, visit the following websites:

www.arc.gov and  www.cadc.auburn.edu/soa/urban-studio

UCED’s Director, Nisa Miranda and Dr. Joe Sumners, Director of Auburn University’s Economic and Community Development Institute presented a paper in Athens, Georgia October 2, 2005 at the National Outreach Scholarship Conference entitled, “Rivals as Partners: How Auburn University and The University of Alabama are Working Together to Revitalize Rural Alabama”.  There is probably no closer relationship between the two universities than in the area of economic development outreach.  Miranda and Sumners share a commitment to promoting economic prosperity and an improved quality of life for communities throughout Alabama.  They also share a belief that the combined forces of the University of Alabama and Auburn University are a powerful partnership.

The two university offices have worked on numerous projects throughout the years, including a HUD Community Outreach Partnerships Center Project in Uniontown, Alabama; the Alabama Communities of Excellence (ACE) Program; and most recently a research project commissioned by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) entitled: “Economic Recovery Strategy for Alabama Counties Impacted by Hurricane Katrina”.  The research project is a strategy document that outlines the current situation projected resource and policy requirements, measurable goals and objectives, and recommendations for full economic recovery and sustained progress for the 24 Alabama counties that experienced damage from Hurricane Katrina.  For more information on the Economic & Community Development Institute, visit the website:  www.auburn.edu/outreach/ecdi/index.htm

Inside Black Belt Treasures

The University of Alabama Center for Economic Development (UCED) partnered with the Alabama-Tombigbee Regional Commission in a ten-county project to expand leadership, entrepreneurial and tourism investments.  The ten-county area includes Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Dallas, Marengo, Monroe, Perry, Sumter, Washington and Wilcox Counties, characterized as a distressed region.

As a result, Black Belt Treasures was developed.  UCED and the University of Alabama Enterprise Integration Lab initiated the innovative retail website project in 2005 to showcase and sell artisan and processed food products made by entrepreneurs in a 17-county area.  The area included the ten county Alabama-Tombigbee counties as well as seven additional counties from the Black Belt: Bullock, Butler, Greene, Hale, Lowndes, Macon and Pickens.  Over the past three years, Black Belt Treasures, a non-profit organization, has seen stellar sales performance representing more than 250 artisans from the 18-county area.  The development and retention of the area’s art skills have proven vital to the development of the tourism industry in the region.  The project has allowed artists to promote their products to larger markets through a gallery shop and e-commerce website.  In addition, art education is available through art classes, exhibits and demonstrations.  For more detailed information on Black Belt Treasures and the Alabama-Tombigbee Regional Commission visit the following websites:  www.alarc.org/atrc/index.htm and www.blackbelttreasures.com

The University Center for Economic Development initiated a leadership development training program for the Ala-Tom regional in 2004 to improve local decisions made in support of community and economic development.  The program is on-going and has been successful in improving the skills of existing leaders, helping counties to expand their leadership base, providing training workshops and the support to perpetuate leadership development.  Highlights of the training workshops include:

• Preserving Mayberry While Positioning Your Community for the Future
• Quality Housing
• Financing Capital Projects for Southwest Alabama
• Community Development Corporations
• Opportunities with Hispanics – Civic/Education/Health Care/Business/Culture/Tourism
• International Trade Opportunities for Southwest Alabama