Spokane County United Way and AmeriCorps
bring out the best of America
Our Role
Spokane County United Way’s VISTA Program manages the selection and support of anti-poverty AmeriCorps projects and members in Spokane County in coordination with AmeriCorps. Currently we host a VISTA Leader, 14 projects and the Summer Associates program in our community. Learn more about our projects here.
Our Strategy
- Identify anti-poverty projects which align with our vision for a more educated, healthier, and prosperous community
- Support anti-poverty projects and AmeriCorps members as they strengthen existing or develop new local programs
- Encourage sustained project operations and outcomes beyond end of AmeriCorps sponsorship
Additional Information
For program inquiries or involvement opportunities please contact Kaela Loriz, VISTA Program Director.
AmeriCorps is the federal agency connecting individuals and organizations through service and volunteering to tackle the nation’s most pressing challenges. VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) is an AmeriCorps program designed to fight poverty through indirect, capacity-building service.
What does participation in our program look like?
Hosting a project:
Develop a 3-year anti-poverty project to build capacity and sustainability for an organization or program, subject to AmeriCorps and VISTA Program approval
Assist in recruitment, selection, and onboarding of AmeriCorps member to serve at project
Supervise member and project to ensure members are building capacity through indirect service and support member and project development
Serving on a project:
Make a year-long, full-time commitment to serve on a specific project at a nonprofit organization or public agency
Use your strengths to build the capacity of organizations that fight illiteracy, improve health services, foster economic development, and otherwise assist low-income communities
Gain valuable professional experience, learn new skills, and gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of poverty
Receive modest living allowance, health benefits, and a number of end-of-service benefits, including choice of either an end-of-service stipend OR the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award
Join peer learning community of other AmeriCorps members in our program, supported by a VISTA Leader
(as of August 2021):
Financial Stability & Economic Opportunity: Fighting poverty by creating businesses, expanding access to technology, recruiting volunteers to teach literacy and strengthening antipoverty groups
Whitworth University’s Dornsife Center for Community Engagement
Spokane Resource Center
Mujeres in Action
Education: Increasing access to services and resources to improve educational outcomes from school readiness to K-12 and post-secondary access and success
Lumen High School
Odyssey Youth Movement
Spokane County United Way
Healthy Futures: Building resilience and changing lives by keeping children nurtured and safe; promoting healthy choices through education and outreach, drug and alcohol prevention and recovery, and connecting low-income families to health services
Gonzaga University’s Center for Community Engagement
Spokane Municipal Community Court
Additional AmeriCorps Focus Areas:
Veterans and Military Families
Disaster Recovery
AmeriCorps VISTA Readiness Worksheet – for prospective project sites
Call for Concept Paper Overview - for prospective project sites
AmeriCorps Member Benefits – for prospective AmeriCorps members