The Campus Compact VISTA program is happy to share that we are now recruiting for exciting and impactful AmeriCorps VISTA positions across the country. View our open listings and apply →
AmeriCorps VISTA is a year-long, full-time opportunity for Americans 18+ to build capacity for organizations that provide critical anti-poverty interventions. The Campus Compact VISTA program serves as an intermediary, supporting a large cohort of VISTA Members as they serve projects on college campuses and in their communities.
Benefits of Service with Campus Compact VISTA:
- Trainings and weekly cohort meetings for growth and professional development
- Student loan deferment or forbearance while in service
- Healthcare benefits & childcare assistance
- Bi-weekly living allowance
- Relocation allowance
- Segal Education Award ($7,395) or cash stipend ($1,800) at the end of service
- Non-competitive eligibility for federal jobs
- Generous personal, sick, and holiday time
Our VISTA members serve at over 40 different host sites across the country, addressing five different focus areas to address and alleviate poverty. These areas include healthy futures, economic opportunity, education, environmental stewardship, and veteran and military families. There will be an opportunity that is just right for you to serve your community, develop your career, and earn great benefits.
Read below about how VISTA members make an impact at Campus Compact member institutions:
Hosted through its Multicultural Retention Services office, Portland State University's VISTA project focuses on serving first-generation, low-income high school students. This past year the VISTA member, Mak Morales, has worked to strengthen mentoring initiatives between high school and college students, creating supportive materials and opportunities that help foster these relationships.
Morales has also supported the Multicultural Retention Services staff by enhancing outreach efforts in order to improve navigating resources through advising services. This will help remove barriers to college persistence and degree attainment, key strategies in reducing poverty through educational access and success.
All this work contributes to the overall success of mentoring initiatives and provides the best support possible to high school students wishing to attend college. Through the VISTA program Morales has had opportunities to lead, collaborate, and make a meaningful impact by building long-term infrastructure that supports student success and retention
When asked what drew them to serving through AmeriCorps at Portland State, Morales said, "I was interested in this position because I wanted the opportunity to help support low-income and first-generation college students like myself. I felt compelled after completing my MPH (Master’s in Public Health) to give back and serve in this way."
Stationed out of the Thrive Center Food Pantry at National Louis University (NLU) in Chicago, Illinois, the Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA project focuses on developing and implementing long-term, sustainable solutions to address food insecurity and strengthen support systems for low-income college students. The Food Pantry VISTA member, Ian Richmond, focuses on pantry improvement and community engagement to enhance the effectiveness and reach of Thrive Center’s pantry services.
Richmond works to improve important initiatives that address student food insecurity and promote equitable access to essential resources for students in need. Part of that work includes developing food distribution plans to ensure that students who are food insecure can access food and other pantry supplies when they are in need. Richmond receives feedback from pantry users and collaborates with donors and partners to acquire food and supplies that meet all student needs. As a result, he also maintains community partnerships with local organizations, food banks, and service providers to expand available resources and strengthen the overall impact of Thrive Center Food Pantry operations, widening access to nutritious foods for students visiting the pantry.
Now in his second term as the NLU Food Pantry VISTA, Richmond spoke on his favorite memory from his time as an AmeriCorps VISTA, saying, "We occasionally collaborate with other departments, hosting a ‘mini pantry’ in their spaces. It's always wonderful to see how many students get exposure to us from those events who hadn't ever been inside the food pantry before."
In a recent panel with our VISTA alumni, several alumni shared how AmeriCorps significantly shifted their career paths. Whether service sparked their interest in anti-poverty work, gave them connections to their next role, or showed them other common pathways after service, AmeriCorps gave them new opportunities and expanded their networks.
As shared by Rashmi Mohan, who served with Campus Compact EnviroCorps, “AmeriCorps was my first real job out of college, and I’m still constantly referring to the skills and experiences I gained from my time with AmeriCorps.”
When asked about the impact of service, current members shared their experiences below:
“My VISTA service has deepened my understanding of the social, economic, and systemic complexities affecting San Mateo County, California. As a lifelong resident, this VISTA term has allowed me to bridge the gap between my personal lived experience and my capacity-building work at Thrive Alliance, the Alliance of Nonprofits for San Mateo County. While all VISTAs live and work in their assigned communities, doing so in my own backyard has made this journey uniquely meaningful. I imagine that this will be a pivotal chapter in defining my commitment to my neighbors and my growth as a community leader.”
— Hadley Stevick
Stanford University
“The network of professionals I gained not only supported me through the first few years of my career but also has supported me in my transition to new things. It has been really great to be surrounded by intelligent, hard-working people who are incredibly passionate about creating change in the world… I truly don't think I would be as well-adjusted, confident, and excited to pursue social change if it weren't for them.”
— Izzy Conners
College for Social Innovation
“Personally, this experience has helped me step outside my comfort zone. There were moments where I had to take initiative, speak up, and handle situations I wasn’t fully prepared for. Over time, I became more confident and more patient, especially when working with youth and different members of the community. It has also changed the way I see impact. I’ve learned that even small actions can make a difference, and that showing up consistently matters. This experience has strengthened my commitment to helping others and being involved in my community. Overall, my year of service at Alamito will help shape who I am becoming, and I know it will continue to influence my future decisions, both in my career and in my personal life.”