VISTAs, Stockton Center for Community Schools

Posted by on May 29, 2012

The national Points of Light  Hands On Corps VISTA organization has approved Stockton Center for Community Schools for two full time VISTA representatives to do community service in the Atlantic City community from August 2012 – August 2013. I am seeking your assistance in identifying potential candidates who can apply for the two positions we will have.

It is important to note the following:

1.       VISTA work is full time immersion in community service, it is not considered a job.

2.       The service work is modeled after the Peace Corps of the 1960s, VISTA workers will immerse themselves in the Atlantic City community and help Stockton and its community partners meet community needs in AC.

3.       Similar to the Peace Corps concept, VISTAs are paid small stipends, between $10,000-$12,000 a year, at the poverty level of the area they are working in.  They cannot have other employment – not full or part time during their service year.  Health benefits are included and they will receive a $5550 education award upon completion of the service year that can be used to pay off federal student loans or be applied to future college study.

4.       The typical candidate is a recent college graduate, between employment opportunities or grad school (part time grad school is acceptable), from the local community, and living at home or with roommates.  Bachelor degree and experience in volunteerism and community service are required.  Knowledge of AC is a preferred.

5.       Criminal background check and FBI fingerprinting check are mandatory.  Candidates will be rejected if they do not pass either check.

6.       VISTAs must commit to working the full year.  If they left before the service year was up they would not be replaced and our program would suffer.

7.       This is a national search and all candidates must submit their application materials through the national portal.

So…

If you know any interested and suitable candidates, encourage them to prepare their materials and get ready  to apply online through the national portal for the VISTA program.

Here are your position titles and ID #s to share with potential applicants – they can search using this information on https://my.americorps.gov/mp/login.do.

45724    12 HOC VISTA Stockton Student Academic Success
45725    12 HOC VISTA Stockton Parental and Community

National has told us that final decisions on candidates with their acceptance must be completed by June 20.   Mandatory out of town training is from Aug 6-9 and the first day of service at Stockton begins August 13 and runs through August 12, 2013.

Please email me if you have any questions or give me a call.   Thank you and have a great evening.  We are going to do some great things together this school year!

Reva A. Curry, PhD, RTR, RDMS, FSDMS
Executive Director of Community Partnerships
Stockton Center for Community Schools, School of Education
The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey
101 Vera King Farris Drive
Galloway, NJ 08205
609-652-4535
609-626-5528 (fax)
Reva.Curry@stockton.edu