CURRENT VOLUNTEER MARYLAND VISTA SPONSOR AGENCIES
American Red Cross – Lower Shore Chapter
www.redcrosslowershore.org
VISTA member: Kate Harris
The American Red Cross – Lower Shore Chapter was founded in 1916 and serves the three Maryland Counties of Wicomico, Worcester, and Somerset. Current programs include emergency services for disaster victims, emergency communications and loans for military personnel and their families, health and safety training, and Junior Red Cross Clubs. The AmeriCorps VISTA member is responsible for researching and coordinating fund raising efforts to support the American Red Cross - Lower Shore Chapter’s disaster relief programs, services to the military, and the Junior Red Cross Club.
The Arc of Prince George’s County
www.thearcofpgc.org
VISTA member: Jamilah Mottley
The Arc of Prince George’s County, founded in 1952, is a grassroots organization offering a lifetime of support, understanding, and opportunities for people with developmental disabilities and their families. The Arc ensures that people with developmental disabilities are given the skills, access, and information they need to fully participate as citizens in their communities. The VISTA member works to build The Arc’s capacity to serve citizens with disabilities by creating an effective marketing strategy and assessment tool for the Employment Services Division.
Arts on the Block
www.artsontheblock.com
VISTA member: Ashley McDonald
For teens in and around Montgomery County, MD who are passionate about art, ARTS ON THE BLOCK (AOB) is a place to learn about the world of art, the world of work, the community, and themselves. In order to develop a better understanding of ARTS ON THE BLOCK’s long-term impacts on alumni and to gain ideas for continued program improvement, the AmeriCorps VISTA member is responsible for developing an evaluation plan that reaches out to over 200 alumni. VISTA member activities include: learning about the program to be evaluated; determining the focus of the evaluation; drafting an evaluation plan; piloting the plan and preparing for implementation, and completing the evaluation.
Banner Neighborhoods Community Corporation
www.bannerneighborhoods.org
VISTA member: Brandi Banks
Banner Neighborhoods Community Corporation’s mission is to promote resident-based leadership, support neighborhood pride and stability, and to provide direct services that contribute to the overall viability of 10 communities in southeast Baltimore. The AmeriCorps VISTA member works with staff and volunteers to define themes to be used in resource development communications with various types of stakeholders, to create new materials and tools to be used in resource development, to create new ways of reaching out to individual donors, and to build a database of individual donor and prospect contact information.
Citizenship Law Related Education Program
www.clrep.org
VISTA member: Warren Wells
The Citizenship Law-Related Education Program (CLREP) was established in 1975 to promote law-related education in public and private schools. CLREP has created and maintained a number of initiatives that provide educational, real-world opportunities for young people to enhance their knowledge of and appreciation for our legal system – in effect, bringing the law to life. Major programs include the MSBA High School Mock Trial Competition, Law Links Student Internship, Baltimore City Teen Court, and MSBA Law Day Conference. The AmeriCorps VISTA member is responsible for improving the technological infrastructure and lead innovative marketing strategies for CLREP. Additionally, the VISTA works to identify specific strategies and develop products that will enhance marketing and outreach efforts, particularly to at-risk youth populations, and those interested in helping at-risk populations.
Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore
www.cfes.org
VISTA member: Heather Towers
The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore (CFES) is a public, charitable foundation serving the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland, specifically the counties of Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester. The mission of the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore is to strengthen the community by building charitable funds, maximizing benefits to donors, making effective grants, and providing leadership to address community needs. CFES offers an array of grant programs and services for nonprofit staff and volunteers and, in 2009, brought the ShoreCAN Volunteer Center under its umbrella. The VISTA member works to develop the ShoreCAN Volunteer Center by identifying potential volunteer opportunities, providing technical assistance to ensure that volunteer opportunities are included in the 1800volunteer.org database, and working within the community to promote the volunteer center to potential volunteers.
GapBuster Learning Center
www.gapbuster.org
VISTA member: Sherrie Belton
GapBuster Learning Center Inc (GBLC) is dedicated to teaching young men and women to use their talents to address the barriers that impede them from reaching their full potential. GBLC’s programs concentrate on building solid leadership skills, improving mental calculation and critical thinking skills, building strong discipline and study habits, and serving the community. GBLC’s programs have served over 1,500 residents in the State of Maryland. The AmeriCorps VISTA member leads the development and implementation of a multilayered fundraising and marketing campaign to expand community awareness and participation in GapBuster Learning Center.
Maryland Vietnamese Mutual Association
www.mdvietmutual.org
VISTA member: Kelly Morrell
Started in 1979 by a group of volunteers to help with refugee resettlement, the Maryland Vietnamese Mutual Association, Inc. (MVMA) is the oldest Vietnamese American community based organization in Maryland. MVMA is dedicated to advancing the Vietnamese American community in Maryland through direct services, advocacy, and education. The AmeriCorps VISTA member focuses on the sustainability and financial health of the MVMA through grants and fundraising efforts.
Metropolitan Community Development Corporation
www.mcdcorp.org
VISTA member: Nora O’Malley
Metropolitan Community Development Corporation (MCDC) is an emerging nonprofit in downtown Silver Spring that provides social and economic development programs to mainly low income and African immigrant families. MCDC was founded by Bethel World Outreach Church (BWOC) to address the emerging social, legal and economic problems of its large immigrant base, which is currently about 4,000 from 48 nations. The AmeriCorps VISTA member works with the Executive Director in MCDC’s resource development efforts. The VISTA member is responsible for researching and writing grants, as well as developing template letters and proposal packets.
Moveable Feast
www.mfeast.org
VISTA member: Emily Sze
Moveable Feast delivers nutritious meals to people who are living with HIV/AIDS or breast cancer. Moveable Feast is based in Baltimore City and delivers in the city, surrounding counties, and along Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Moveable Feast serves 1,100 people each week that are poor, isolated, and sick and in need of the nutritious foods that we provide. The AmeriCorps VISTA member works with the development department and to analyze Moveable Feast’s current technology, both website and internal database. The VISTA member also reviews marketing materials and facilitates use of all social media, including Facebook, YouTube, blogs, etc.
NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore
www.nami.org/sites/namimetrobaltimore
VISTA member: Elanor Wainscott
Established in 1983, NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore (NAMI) is a grassroots organization made up of families, individuals, and professionals dedicated to helping families alleviate the suffering and combat the stigma that surrounds biologically based brain disorders. More than 4,000 people participate annually in NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore’s education and community outreach workshops. The AmeriCorps VISTA member takes the lead in enhancing marketing strategies for NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore by collecting personal stories from program participants using FLIP video technology. The VISTA member also works with the organization to develop an overall outreach and marketing plan using these videos.
Parks and People Foundation
www.parksandpeople.org
VISTA member: Katie Dix
Since 1984, the Parks & People Foundation has worked to improve the quality of life of Baltimore City’s neighborhoods by creating and supporting educational, recreational, and environmental programs and partnerships that work to unite citizens and open spaces. The Community Greening Resource Network (CGRN) is a collaborative membership program started in 2008 to address the self-identified needs of Baltimore City’s community gardeners and greeners by providing the resources, education, and connections they need to be successful. The AmeriCorps VISTA member focuses on resource development and fundraising to build CGRN’s capacity to operate as a sustainable program. The VISTA member is also responsible for coordination of all program components, which include membership, material distribution days, monthly newsletters, coordinating horticultural and community building workshops, and communicating with partner organizations.
Parks and People Foundation
www.parksandpeople.org
VISTA member: Andrea Calderon
Since 1984, the Parks & People Foundation has worked to improve the quality of life of Baltimore City’s neighborhoods by creating and supporting educational, recreational, and environmental programs and partnerships that work to unite citizens and open spaces. Parks & People co-sponsors the Community Greening Resource Network (CGRN), a collaborative membership program started in 2008 to address the self-identified needs of Baltimore City’s community gardeners and greeners by providing the resources, education, and connections they need to be successful. In the past year, CGRN launched a new schools membership to address their specific needs (curriculum, summer care, etc), and created partnerships with education-related organizations to begin working on these tasks. The AmeriCorps VISTA member is responsible for coordinating the newly-established Green Schools Coalition of non-profits and city agencies who support Baltimore City schools in nurturing the culture and practice of sustainability.
Project PLASE
www.projectplase.org
VISTA member: Lauren Stoler
Project PLASE is a nonprofit dedicated to aiding homeless persons in Baltimore. Project PLASE provides both direct services and advocacy on behalf of the homeless population, and serves nearly 500 of Baltimore’s homeless men and women per year. The AmeriCorps VISTA member works to develop Project PLASE’s presence in the local community. Project goals include identifying community resources, enhancing the Speakers’ Bureau, and developing student groups that focus on the issues of homelessness.
Project PLASE
www.projectplase.org
VISTA member: Jordan Silverman
Project PLASE is a nonprofit dedicated to aiding homeless persons in Baltimore. Project PLASE provides both direct services and advocacy on behalf of the homeless population and serves nearly 500 of Baltimore’s homeless men and women per year. The AmeriCorps VISTA member focuses on development work at Project PLASE. Project goals include engaging donors as partners in Project PLASE’s mission, researching funding opportunities, and developing a sense of community among donors.
Service Stories
Volunteer Maryland Coordinators take on the challenge of AmeriCorps service because they are committed to helping solve the critical human and environmental needs of our times. It is no surprise, then, that after the VM year of service. Read more...
VISTA Spotlight
Each year, Volunteer Maryland (VM) staff members, alumni, and other
colleagues and trainers in service and nonprofit. To that end, VM Coordinators and
local Service Sites. Read more...
