FL|CC AmeriCorps VISTA Initiative

The FL|CC AmeriCorps VISTA Initiative contributes to the missions of FL|CC and the Corporation for National and Community Service by placing VISTA members with colleges, universities and community-based organizations. The FL|CC AmeriCorps VISTA Initiative provides resources, networking opportunities, and training for VISTA members. FL|CC VISTA members work to combat poverty through leveraging higher education resources to build the capacity of local non-profit organizations and through recruiting and training college students to provide college access mentoring for youth. FL|CC VISTA members are successfully building bridges between the classrooms and communities by connecting educators, students, and community partners to improve education and address societal needs through campus-community partnerships, applied civic education, and engaged citizenship. Students are learning from being engaged in meaningful service opportunities that create positive change in communities.

Founded as Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) 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. 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. More than 170,000 Americans have served through VISTA. Today, nearly 6,000 VISTA members serve throughout the country.