Service opportunities available, apply now! Scroll to the bottom of the page to learn more.

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 VISTAs (Volunteers In Service To America) by 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.”

The VISTA program, 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!

Every day 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 areas, making the partnership between Georgia 4-H and the AmeriCorps VISTA program an ideal situation.

VISTAs give at least one year of service to Georgia 4-H in areas of volunteer development, marketing, and fundraising.  Their services are leveraged to extend the great benefits of 4-H positive youth development to additional youth. VISTAs receive a small living allowance and a health benefit plan from the Corporation for National and Community Service.  They also have the option for an education award or cash award after their successful year of service. Together these VISTAs have developed more than $600,000 in cash resources and over $66,000 in non-cash resources helping Georgia 4-H to “make the best better.”

Apply Today

 VISTA Member Openings

Georgia 4-H develops youth into young civic-minded leaders who have been shown to make healthier choices. To further the great benefits of this youth development programming, additional volunteer leaders are needed to expand the programming reach. This project aims to engage an additional 50 low-income youth per year, in the selected counties of Georgia by expanding 4-H club programming resources and developing leaders in Georgia. Specifically, this AmeriCorps VISTA will increase resources to support youth, recruit and develop volunteers, develop or expand funding streams (through grants and sustainable fundraisers), and expand the number of volunteer-led clubs and volunteer-led initiatives.

We currently have 2 county service opportunities available and 1 role at that State 4-H Office open. We also have 6 8-week service opportunities available for this summer! Contact Laura Goss at laurwalt@uga.edu or 706-542-444 for more information about serving. Check out the below recruitment video to learn more about the service with GA 4-H VISTA AmeriCorps. You can be a part of something bigger! Review the impact tab to learn about the various ways members make a difference in the communities they serve.

 

Applications Open:

Are you ready to have an impact? Apply today to serve as a Georgia 4-H Americorps VISTA or Georgia 4-H AmeriCorps Summer Associate!

    • Georgia 4-H State Office AmeriCorps VISTA
      • Member will serve at the Georgia 4-H State Office. The office is located at the Hoke Smith Annex in Athens, GA on the University of Georgia Campus. VISTA will be supervised by the 4-H Volunteer Specialist, Keri Hobbs.
      • Previous member-created new statewide volunteer training resources (PPTs, tools, and videos). Managed large-scale fundraisers to support low-income youth to attend 4-H camp. Also, VISTAs previously have created STEM educational resources and volunteer appreciation social media campaigns.
      • Application Link: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=90349&fromSearch=false
    • UGA Extension Office 4-H VISTA
      • There are two county service opportunities available! We have offices located in every county of Georgia (159), so let us know where you would like to have an impact. Perhaps you are interested in serving a rural community, targeting urban youth with educational resources, or developing funds to support high school youth in middle Georgia. Reach out to Laura Goss (706)-542-4444 OR laurwalt@uga.edu and we can discuss placement and seek local support.
      • Previous VISTAs serving in the county have raised funds (3-year project) for a mini-bus to support staff’s reach to new audiences by providing transportation from school to the local office. Other VISTAs developed resources to create new clubs, day camps, and workshops to educate youth on healthy living, career development, and science. VISTA members have also supported the organization, recruitment, and onboarding of community volunteers to expand 4-H reach to city schools, afterschool clubs, or to a new audience who previously was unreached.
      • Application Link: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=106899&fromSearch=false
    • Georgia 4-H Summer Associate
      • Member Duties: VISTA Summer Associates will play a key part in developing healthy habits in youth, assisting UGA Extension efforts with combating food insecurity through food security initiatives, and strengthening volunteer programs and partnerships formed by the UGA Extension 4-H youth development team. Throughout the summer, the VISTA member will gain invaluable experiences in healthy living and youth development and will gain a keen insight into the operational aspects and inner workings of a nonprofit organization supported on the county, state, and national level. VISTAs will also have the opportunity to work with regular-service VISTA members and VISTA Summer Associates in other counties across Georgia who are committed to serving youth, developing adult leadership, and establishing healthy habits in both rural and urban communities. The VISTA member will work to support state events to promote positive youth development.
      • Locations and Application Link :Columbia County: https://tinyurl.com/mry8mbcjEvans County https://tinyurl.com/bdz4n9tnFulton County https://tinyurl.com/jz8p4nr2

        Peach County: https://tinyurl.com/4bjjhm7s

        Jackson County https://tinyurl.com/4jfk8fz4

        State 4-H Office: https://tinyurl.com/y4tjwfah

Interested individuals can participate in the AmeriCorps virtual meeting, which is offered twice a month. Participants will learn about the benefits of AmeriCorps service. Georgia 4-H also offers virtual chats for interested applicants to learn about service benefits and the Georgia 4-H VISTA role. Contact Laura Goss (706-542-4444 OR laurwalt@uga.edu) about a one-on-one virtual chat to learn more about the Georgia 4-H VISTA Project or see details below for the AmeriCorps VISTA virtual meetings.

 

 

 

 

 

Impact of AmeriCorps VISTA

Read the impact statements, snapshots, great stories below to learn more about the service of our AmeriCorps VISTAs

VISTAs are a part of something bigger!

The below graphic showcases the impact of two Summer Associates who provided direct service within their selected communities.

 

 

Keri Hobbs

Office:(706)542-4H4H
Fax:(706)542-7373
klgandy@uga.edu

Laura Goss

Office:(706)542-4H4H
Fax:(706)542-7373
laurwalt@uga.edu

Melinda Miller

Phone:229-386-3414
Fax: 229-386-7139
mdmiller@uga.edu