Community service and volunteerism have always been a vital force in American life.
Throughout history, our nation has relied on the dedication and action of citizens to tackle our biggest challenges.
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.”
VISTA, like Head Start and other lasting antipoverty programs, was created by The Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 to serve the needs of the poorest Americans.
Remember together we can make a difference!
Everyday across the nation AmeriCorps VISTA members are tackling America’s toughest problems in:
- Disasters Services
- Economic Opportunity
- Education
- Environmental Stewardship
- Healthy Futures
- Veterans and Military Families
Georgia 4-H is also very active in all of these area, making the partnership between Georgia 4-H and the AmeriCorps VISTA program an ideal situation.
Georgia 4-H currently has 2 Americorps VISTA members, serving Calhoun County and Evans County. These VISTA members have all chosen to spend at least one year working with Georgia 4-H to work with fund development, marketing, and volunteer management. The VISTA members come at no cost to Georgia 4-H, but do receive a small housing allowance and health benefit plan from the Corporation for National and Community Service. Together these VISTAs have developed over $100,000 in cash resources and over $20,000 in non-cash resources helping Georgia 4-H to “make the best better.”
Great Stories
Keri Hobbs
Office:(706)542-4H4H
Fax:(706)542-7373
klgandy@uga.edu
OR
Melinda Miller
Phone:229-386-3414
Fax: 229-386-7139
mdmiller@uga.edu
The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (working cooperatively with Fort Valley State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the counties of Georgia) offers its educational programs, assistance, and materials to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or protected veteran status and is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action organization.
© 2018 Georgia 4-H. All rights reserved.