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AmeriCorps VISTAs

 

AmeriCorps VISTA

The WVU AmeriCorps program supports non-profits and organizations by filling gaps through localized service initiatives in West Virginia. 

Open VISTA Positions

make a difference, choose wvu americorps 

AmeriCorps calls on Americans to turn their determination, compassion and creativity into solutions for our nation’s most pressing challenges. Everyone has what it takes to choose a future of service and join a community 1.25 million strong.  AmeriCorps connects adults, aged 18 and up, with flexible opportunities to address local challenges with local solutions, whether it is for a day, a year, or a lifetime.

Our History of Service

VISTA, Volunteers in Service to America, was conceived by President John F. Kennedy as a domestic counterpart to the Peace Corps and was started by President Lyndon Johnson as part of the War on Poverty. It is the national service program that works to eliminate poverty. The first VISTAs began serving in 1965, in migrant farm worker camps in California, the hollows of eastern Kentucky, and the urban neighborhoods of Hartford, CT. In 1994, VISTA was incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of programs. Today, AmeriCorps VISTA is as vibrant and necessary as ever.

Looking to be a prospective americorps vista?

Open VISTA Positions

Explore open VISTA positions: an opportunity to foster social change and build resilient communities. Uncover roles where you can apply your skills to make a meaningful impact.

Read More: Open VISTA Positions

Prospective VISTAs

Learn about requirements, benefits, and the transformative impact you can bring to communities.

Read More: Prospective VISTAs

VISTA Alumni

Experience the transformative journeys of former VISTAs, their impactful stories, and discover where they are now. Learn about the long-lasting benefits and diverse opportunities afforded by serving with the AmeriCorps Collaborative.

Read More: VISTA Alumni

Becoming a Host Site

Interested in empowering your organization with a VISTA member? Learn about the process, benefits, and transformative impact of becoming a VISTA host site within your community through WVU's Center for Community Engagement.

Read More: Becoming a Host Site

Hear from our vistas

Discover the impact our VISTAs have on various communities throughout West Virginia. 

I support WVU Extension to ensure civil rights compliance in all Extension programs. Over the summer, I visited 14 of our 4H camps.

A headshot of a woman with brown hair.

Ebony Martin

Civil Rights and Diversity VISTAWVU Extension Services

Read More: Ebony Martin

I help spread the word about our summer reading program, Energy Express, assisting in a wide range of areas.

A woman with flower earrings and a white shirt posing for a headshot photo.

Lexus Middleton

Energy Express VISTA WVU Extension | Energy Express

Read More: Lexus Middleton

I have always had a passion for volunteering in the community and within my home state of West Virginia.

Briar Williams

AmeriCorps VISTA LeaderCenter for Community Engagement

Read More: Briar Williams


2023-2024 AmeriCorps VISTA Magazine

Hear engaging experiences from our VISTAS serving with the Center.

Each VISTA has a unique story and approach to service. Our projects assist in supporting economic and community growth throughout the Mountain State. 

View Publication

Our service initiatives

Following the AmeriCorps VISTA message of community engagement, our members participate in a variety of service initiatives throughout the year. 

Buck'Neers Meal Packing

With over 700 volunteers participating, WVU and The Ohio State University packed 300,000 meals to be distributed throughout our two states.

View Photos: Buck'Neers Meal Packing

AmeriCorps 9/11 National Day of Service at WV National Cemetery

On the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, Americans of all ages and backgrounds are again invited to join and lead community service projects to honor the lives and service of those we lost on September 11.

View More: AmeriCorps 9/11 National Day of Service at WV National Cemetery

WVU Rack Student Pantry

The Rack: WVU Student Food Pantry program aims to alleviate hunger for all WVU students and foster a healthy and inclusive community by providing access to food and programs.

View More: WVU Rack Student Pantry

MLK National Day of Service

The Martin Luther King, Jr., National Day of Service is a defining moment each year when Americans across the country step up to make communities more equitable and take action to create the Beloved Community of Dr. King’s dream.

View More: MLK National Day of Service

Looking for a way to serve? Find opportunities on our organization's iServe page!

AmeriCorps Impact

What is the direct impact of AmeriCorps members serving in West Virginia?

Full AmeriCorps WV Report

Meeting Needs in WV

View AmeriCorps' impact in the State of West Virginia for the 2023 Fiscal Year.

  • 3,000 Members Served

  • 514 Service Locations

  • $17.1 Million Total Investment

  • $39.4 Million in education awards since 1994 

Why join americorps?

Looking to Join a National Service Initiative?

Embrace a new challenge. 

Channel your passion to create change with AmeriCorps VISTA. Earn money for college, gain leadership experience, boost your resume, find forever friends, and make an impact. 

You have what it takes. Choose your future. #ChooseAmeriCorps. 

Start today: AmeriCorps.gov/Serve

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