Learn and Serve Colorado

AmeriCorps*VISTA

AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) is a sister program to Learn and Serve America through the Corporation for National and Community Service.  AmeriCorps*VISTA provides full-time members to nonprofit, faith-based and other community organizations, and public agencies to create and expand programs that ultimately bring low-income individuals and communities out of poverty.  Through AmeriCorps*VISTA, ordinary people provide extraordinary service in more than 1,200 projects nationwide.

AmeriCorps*VISTA members leverage human, financial, and material resources to increase the capacity of low-income communities across the country to solve their own problems.

Since 1965, more than 140,000 Americans served through VISTA. Today, nearly 6,000 AmeriCorps*VISTA members serve throughout the country—working to fight illiteracy, improve health services, create businesses, increase housing opportunities, bridge the digital divide, and strengthen the capacity of community organizations.

VISTA Volunteers in Learn and Serve Colorado Schools

Colorado Springs School District 11

The Partnership for Civic Engagement of Colorado College enlists the volunteer expertise of Michele Bergeman and VGail Vonderweidt in coordinating the Public Achievement Program at Wasson High School in Colorado Springs.  Eight Colorado College students work in pairs with the four groups of Ms. Stroup's class, two class periods each week.  Michele has been an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer responsible for the current success of this year's Public Achievement Program at Wasson High School.  She joined this effort in January of 2009.  VGail is also an AmeriCorps Volunteer who joined in supporting the Public Achievement effort in August 2009.  Both VISTAs will serve for one year with Colorado College. 

"I would like to think that my work in Service-Learning is helping District 11.  I have worked in different aspects of Service Learning through being a Public Achievement Coach, to leading a teacher training on the benefits of Service-Learning.  I think that Service Learning is part of the changing face of education for the better.  The students I see that work with Service Learning definitely receive a benefit of having their voice heard and know that they are making a change themselves" ---Colorado Springs VISTA Volunteer

For additional information, please log onto: www.americorps.org.