The MTCC VISTA Project represents MTCC's innovative approach of addressing poverty problems through strategic campus-community partnerships. The program offers organizations the opportunity to build sustainable infrastructure to alleviate poverty by leveraging the resources of higher education institutions. MTCC utilizes a 6-stage community building lifecycle for its VISTA project, which engages students and community members in needs assessment, strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation.AmeriCorps VISTA members serving with MTCC projects are placed in full-time service positions for one year in communities across Montana. All MTCC VISTAs receive a living allowance, health care coverage, and may choose an AmeriCorps Education Award or cash stipend upon completion of their term of service. Members relocating to serve may also receive reimbursement of relocation expenses for travel and shipping costs. AmeriCorps Education Awards can be applied toward tuition or to pay down existing college loans. MTCC VISTAs may receive graduate credit for their service through the ALIVE program offered through The University of Montana’s Office for Civic Engagement. Because the service term with AmeriCorps is full-time, VISTAs cannot be current students (except through ALIVE) or hold other employment.
What types of service activities do MTCC VISTAs perform?
- Assess K-12 school performance
- Assess food security and emergency food needs
- Assess low-income housing availability
- Promote service-learning
- Organize and facilitate community groups and boards
- Connect service groups with high schools and colleges to increase the number of community service scholarships awarded
- Engage youth in community service
- Expand and start campus-community volunteer centers around Montana
- Write grants to fund anti-poverty work
- Launch community service web pages
- Build the capacity of colleges and universities to advance the public purposes of higher education and to educate students for civic and social responsibility