About
Born of a partnership between the Mayor's Office and 55,000 Degrees, the Cradle to Career AmeriCorps VISTAs are placed at partner organizations across Louisville that help support lifelong learning and success. In these roles, VISTAs engage the community, strengthen cross pillar coordination, and assist with implementation of key projects and programs. This not only uplifts support for the entire Louisville community, but particularly helps targeted low income, minority, and other at risk populations in greatest need.
Cradle to Career
In January 2015, Mayor Fischer officially launched Cradle to Career to establish a systematic approach to eliminate barriers that interfere with lifelong learning and success. This system of integrated public and private services that begins in the early years and leads to post-secondary and career success will result in a skilled workforce and ensure all citizens have the opportunity to succeed.
Many cutting-edge cities have taken a “collective impact” approach to address complex community issues related to education achievement, attainment and career success. Cradle to Career brings community partners together to work toward this common goal of providing all citizens access to lifelong learning and workforce opportunities.
Activities under the Cradle to Career initiative are executed under four major pillars of work that function together to strengthen the education/workforce pipeline. The four areas include:
Many cutting-edge cities have taken a “collective impact” approach to address complex community issues related to education achievement, attainment and career success. Cradle to Career brings community partners together to work toward this common goal of providing all citizens access to lifelong learning and workforce opportunities.
Activities under the Cradle to Career initiative are executed under four major pillars of work that function together to strengthen the education/workforce pipeline. The four areas include:
- Early Care and Education/ Kindergarten Readiness convened by our Metro United Way
- K-12 Success convened by Jefferson County Public Schools
- High School to Postsecondary Transition and Completion convened by 55,000 Degrees
- 21st Century Workforce and Talent convened by KentuckianaWorks
AmeriCorps VISTA
In 1963, President John F. Kennedy envisioned a national service corps “to help provide urgently needed services in urban and rural poverty areas.” Less than two years later, President Lyndon B. Johnson realized Kennedy's dream by launching the “War on Poverty.” Johnson welcomed the first group of 20 VISTA volunteers saying,
Your pay will be low; the conditions of your labor often will be difficult. But you will have the satisfaction of leading a great national effort and you will have the ultimate reward which comes to those who serve their fellow man.”
Today, around 8,000 VISTAs are placed each year in more than 1,100 projects in low-income communities around the country. With passion, commitment, and hard work, they create or expand programs designed to bring individuals and communities out of poverty
VISTA members generally do not provide direct services, such as tutoring children or building homes. Instead, they focus their efforts on building the organizational, administrative, and financial capacity of organizations that fight illiteracy, improve health services, foster economic development, and otherwise assist low-income communities. VISTAs develop programs to meet a need, write grants, and recruit and train volunteers. In each case, you’ll be strengthening an organization so it can continue to serve the needs of the community once AmeriCorps VISTA’s support has ended.
Each VISTA member makes a year-long, full-time commitment to serve on a specific project at a nonprofit organization or public agency. In return for their service, AmeriCorps VISTA members receive a modest living allowance and health benefits during their service, and have the option of receiving a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award or post-service stipend after completing their service.
Text taken from Corporation for National and Community Service, "AmeriCorps VISTA"
Text taken from Corporation for National and Community Service, "AmeriCorps VISTA"