AmeriCorps

VISTA Campus

lauran — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:53:07 -0500

This new online learning center for the VISTA community includes tutorials, courses, resources, links, discussion boards, a place to create your own profile and your own journal, and so much more. New VISTAs will find information on pre-service orientation (PSO) the terms, conditions, and benefits (TCB) course, and the VISTA Member Handbook.

EnCorps: Tried and true resources for member development

lauran — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:23:11 -0500

Find the field-tested resources you need to recruit and train AmeriCorps and VISTA members. This site assists program staff in finding and sharing proven practices for recruiting and developing successful national service participants.

Resources for AmeriCorps Programs

lauran — Thu, 08 May 2008 12:50:52 -0500

Start here to see our favorite resources to assist you in running your AmeriCorps program.

Ask the Expert: Greg Chun — Disaster Preparedness

amberc — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:25:07 -0500

Ask the Expert Archive

SEPTEMBER 2006

Greg Chun, Director of Disaster and Emergency Management, California Service Corps

Project STAR: Performance Measurement

lauran — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:20:38 -0500

Welcome to Project STAR Online!

Project STAR is a Corporation for National and Community Service sponsored technical assistance provider in performance measurement. We help set up national service program performance measurement systems and analyze the outputs and outcomes for program improvement.

For more information, please contact Project Star at 800-548-3656 or star@JBSinternational.com

Click on your national service program icon to access performance measurement assistance now!

Effective Practices for Service Events: National Arab American Service Day

magdalenam — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:20:52 -0600

12th Annual Continuums of Service Conference: Building a Global Community through Collaborative Engaged Scholarship

Angelaw — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 18:28:19 -0600

It has never been more important to bring students, faculty, service-learning and civic engagement practitioners, and community members together to address the critical issues we are facing locally and globally. Given the current global economic climate, and the enormous changes in our world, it is imperative that we use engagement to support and enable our fellow citizens to live, work, access higher education, and improve the health of our society.

Federal Financial Report (FFR)

corik — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:43:48 -0600

In January 2009, CNCS grantees will begin reporting financial data using the new Federal Financial Report (FFR). This will replace the Financial Status Report (FSR). The following materials will provide you with an overview of the new report:

Federal Financial Report (PDF)
View the new Federal Financial Report form and the general instructions for completing the form.

Webinar: Fundraising for Community Technology

Angelaw — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:32:21 -0600

Don’t miss this myth-busting and informative session on where money really comes from for Community Technology programs and activities.

*Offered by Susan Howlett, an expert in nonprofit fundraising.
*Learn eye-opening facts about the best sources of funding, and how to approach donors and funders to set up a win-win situation.

Professional Media Relations

Angelaw — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:45:21 -0600

Participants in this intensive five Friday half-day training designed specifically for nonprofit communicators plan media campaigns around one of their own stories, while learning basic public relations skills. Participants in the course also get the opportunity to develop a story and pitch it to journalists. The course includes one copy per organizations of Spin Works, the nonprofit pR handbook, and one copy of Getting on the Air, Online & into Print 2009, our indispensible directory of area media contacts plus many valuable handouts.

Trainers: Thom Clark and Gordon Mayer

AmeriCorps*NCCC Blog

lauran — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:37:44 -0600

Read posts from members serving through the AmeriCorps*NCCC Central Region Campus in Denver.

What's Next: Life After Your Service Year

lauran — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:33:40 -0600

Tutorial to help AmeriCorps and VISTA members plan for transitions after their service term. Includes resources on

Going to school
Establishing a career
Continuing in service
Using the ed award wisely

National Conference on Volunteering and Service, June 22-24, 2009 in San Francisco, CA

corik — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:13:02 -0500

Mark your calendars today to attend the world's largest gathering of volunteer and civic leaders next June in San Francisco, one of the most innovative and exciting cities in the world! Co-convened by HandsOn Network and the Corporation for National and Community Service, the annual event provides attendees with an opportunity to learn, connect, and be inspired through a wide range of exciting and informative plenary sessions, workshops, special events, service projects, exhibits, specialized "tracks," and more. Past speakers have included Presidents George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter, Colin Powell, Representative John Lewis, Jon Bon Jovi, and many more. For more information and for highlights from Conference 2008, visit www.VolunteeringandService.org.

VISTA Campus Website Launched

corik — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:11:01 -0500

VISTA has cut the virtual ribbon on the VISTA Campus, an online learning environment for the VISTA community. Our aim is to support you in your development throughout and beyond your VISTA service.

The Campus includes self-paced tutorials and courses, reference materials, discussion boards, a campus bookstore and more to help improve your skills and connect with other VISTAs. Access the site at vistacampus.org.

Spirit of Service Award Winners

corik — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:00:26 -0500

These annual awards recognize outstanding participants in each of the Corporation’s three main programs—Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America. This year, the Corporation and the Points of Light & Hands On Network are instituting a new corporate Spirit of Service Award honoring one company that embodies an ethic of service through its entire business enterprise, including a commitment to engaging employees, customers, and business peers in giving back as a core business practice. Read about the Senior Corps award recipients; AmeriCorps award recipients; and Learn and Serve Recipients Wendy Doromal, Nick Metrakos, and the seventh grade class at Monforton School.

AmeriCorps Week 2008 Video Contest Winners

corik — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:55:33 -0500

Winners were announced at the national conference in Atlanta (June 1-3) and are available for viewing at www.americorpscontest.org.

Notice of AmeriCorps Funding Opportunity

corik — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:54:35 -0500

The Corporation is announcing the anticipated availability of $67,628,000 to award new and re-competing AmeriCorps State and National grants.

Rigorous Longitudinal Study of AmeriCorps Finds Significant Impacts Eight Years Later

corik — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:52:11 -0500

Released in coordination with a Brookings Institution briefing this morning, the study, Still Serving: Measuring the Eight-Year Impact of AmeriCorps on Alumni, is the most rigorous evaluation ever conducted on AmeriCorps’ long-term impacts on its members. The report, executive summary, and other information are at www.NationalService.gov/research/.

Writing inclusive service descriptions

magdalenam — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:22:31 -0500

An important step in creating an inclusive national service program is to review your program's current service descriptions. Prior to any recruiting outreach efforts, it is critical to clearly define the tasks that need to be accomplished, the environment where the participant will serve, and other important details of the position. This effective practice, provided by the National Service Inclusion Project in March of 2007, outlines this strategy as part of an overall plan for making your program inclusive.

Preparing mentors to work with older foster youth

magdalenam — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:56:12 -0500

Foster youth may have significant needs and issues that can inhibit the successful development of mentoring relationships. Many have experienced separation and loss in their lives, making it difficult for them to form positive relationships with an adult. Mentoring foster youth who are preparing for independence requires long-term commitment from mentors. And mentoring programs serving these youth must provide intensive training and support for mentors to help them develop the lasting relationships foster youth need. This effective practice highlights strategies used by the Powerhouse Mentoring Program — a community-based mentoring program that provides one-on-one mentoring for youth ages 13–21 in the foster care system in Multnomah County, Oregon. The mission of Powerhouse is to provide community-based mentoring to youth in foster care to enhance their successful transitions from adolescence to adulthood.

From Incarceration to Community: The Weed and Seed / AmeriCorps*VISTA Reentry Initiative

lauran — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:59:09 -0500

This publication examines the issue of prisoner reentry in four communities and the collaboration among AmeriCorps*VISTA, Weed and Seed Communities, and their private and public partners to assist the previously incarcerated in their return to active citizenship. The publication covers public safety and community & youth empowerment; the leveraging of public and private support; and increasing the capacity of communities, organizations, and human capital.

Facilitating volunteering benefits for people with disabilities

magdalenam — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:49:02 -0500

People with disabilities volunteer for many of the same reasons as those without disabilities — to forge new relationships, gain personal satisfaction and social status, hone marketable skills, and for networking opportunities. This effective practice, excerpted with permission from an article by Angela Novak Amado, and published in the online edition of Impact: Feature Issue on Volunteerism by Persons with Developmental Disabilities, addresses how program directors and supervisors can enhance the volunteer experience for people with disabilities, allowing them to gain the most from their efforts, and subsequently reaping the ultimate benefits for the communities in which they serve. Elesheva Soloff with the National Service Inclusion Project submitted this effective practice in June 2008.

My AmeriCorps

lauran — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:37:41 -0500

My AmeriCorps is the place to go if you want to apply to serve, or if you are an AmeriCorps member or alum and want to check on your education award.

AmeriCorps Week

Angelaw — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:22:38 -0500

AmeriCorps Week is a recruitment and recognition event designed to bring more Americans into service, salute AmeriCorps members and alums for their powerful impact, and thank the community partners who make AmeriCorps possible.

AmeriCorps Week provides an opportunity for AmeriCorps members, alums, grantees, program partners, and friends to shine a spotlight on the work done by members in communities across the country—and to motivate more Americans to join AmeriCorps or volunteer in their communities.

Visit the event website for more details @ www.americorpsweek.gov.

Interviewing potential applicants using an inclusive process

magdalenam — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:34:51 -0500

The interview and selection process for applicants with disabilities has many legal considerations that can be intimidating for program staff. In most cases when an error is made, it is not because of the intent to discriminate, but because the interviewer wants to help, desires more information, or wants to clarify information. This effective practice offers some basic guidelines to help programs conduct successful interviews and was submitted by the National Service Inclusion Project in August 2008.