Vermont Housing Conservation Board 2005 - Vermont Housing and ...

VERMONT COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM
Recently released findings from
‘A Longitudinal Study of Service
in AmeriCorps’ revealed that Ameri-
Corps alumni are:
1) more connected to their communities;
2) more knowledgeable about
problems facing their communities;
3) more likely to participate in
community activities; and
4) more likely to choose public
service careers.
The Vermont Community Stewardship
Program (VCSP) helps individuals
in Vermont to achieve just that while
providing integral support to housing
and conservation nonprofits around
the state.
VCSP is now in its eighth year as
an AmeriCorps project of the Vermont
Housing and Conservation Board. It
is one of five AmeriCorps programs
in Vermont that are partially funded
by the Corporation for National and
Community Service and the National
Service Trust.
While still actively recruiting for
the current year, the VCSP roster
includes 29 AmeriCorps members in
the field statewide, getting things done
with an emphasis on community support,
leadership and civic engagement.
The members serve with 25 housing
and land conservation nonprofits
across the state.
This year’s members have brought
a new dynamic to the program: with
an average member age of 32.7 years,
members are bringing more experience
and diversity to their service than
ever before. This reflects an emerging
awareness that AmeriCorps is
not just for recent college graduates,
but for people of all ages who wish to
serve their communities by joining the
national volunteer movement close to
home.
VCSP has graduated 140 members
who, in turn, have involved over 6,000
community volunteers in grassroots
efforts to improve the lives of thousands
more Vermonters. These volunteers,
who include youth, have served
more than 42,000 hours, exponentially
magnifying the positive impact that
AmeriCorps members can have in
their neighborhoods. Approximately
20% of graduating VCSP members
have been hired on by the nonprofits
for which they served. Many others
have accepted jobs with other nonprofits,
returned to school or enrolled for
another term of service with VCSP.
AmeriCorps members celebrated at a closing ceremony in August at Silver Lake.
Getting Things Done
VCSP AmeriCorps members
working with housing
organizations:
• act as role models to youth,
help children with schoolwork
and organize after-school
activities
• provide education for
fi rst-time home owners at
NeighborWorks® Home
Ownership Centers
• provide services to Vermont’s
homeless and marginally housed
population, help to identify
permanent affordable housing,
and facilitate workshops and
classes on nutrition, budgeting,
health, and resumé writing.
• organize residents to
create community gardens
and newsletters and hold
community dinners
• educate residents about
their rights and responsibilities
and help connect residents
with social services and
educational opportunities.
Members working with
conservation organizations:
• organize and lead
environmental education and
service opportunities for
school-aged youth.
• recruit volunteers.
• serve as group leaders.
• maintain trails and peform
land stewardship
responsbilities.
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