CURRENT VOLUNTEER MARYLAND VISTA SPONSOR AGENCIES
Advocates for Survivors of Torture and Trauma
www.astt.org
VISTA member: Rachel Avery
Term dates: June 26, 2009 to June 25, 2010
As a nonprofit, human services organization, Advocates for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (ASTT) has been serving torture and trauma victims for 15 years by providing holistic care to more than 200 clients a year. Advocates for Survivors of Torture and Trauma offers survivors the opportunity to find sustainable ways to heal from the physical and emotional wounds of torture and trauma and to become fully functioning members of society.
One role that the VISTA member is responsible for is working directly with the Executive Director to produce a calendar for funding reports and presentations that have a focus on the extreme poverty of the torture survivors. The VISTA member also actively focuses on alleviating the survivor’s suffering while spreading awareness among the local community about the needs of the survivor. The VISTA member is also responsible for establishing an online evaluation system that highlights the successes of the program as well as the areas for improvement.
American Red Cross Lower Shore Chapter
www.redcrosslowershore.org
VISTA member: Pat Hill
Term dates: January 26, 2009 to January 25, 2010
All of the programs offered by the Lower Shore Chapter of the American Red Cross are directly in support of their mission of helping people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. The response after an emergency is handled solely by the Emergency Services Department and all program delivery and responses are done by volunteers with oversight from paid staff.
The VISTA member works primarily with the Emergency Services Department. In addition to this, the VISTA member will recruit and train volunteers from the Junior Red Cross Clubs to teach preparedness programs in the community.
American Red Cross Lower Shore Chapter
www.redcrosslowershore.org
VISTA member: Barbara Roles
Term dates: January 26, 2009 to January 25, 2010
All of the programs offered by the Lower Shore Chapter of the American Red Cross are directly in support of their mission of helping people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. The response after an emergency is handled solely by the Emergency Services Department and all program delivery and responses are done by volunteers with oversight from paid staff.
The role of this VISTA member is to expand human resources and community outreach in order to provide a higher level of education and preparedness among community members in Worcester, Wicomico, and Somerset Counties. The VISTA member also serves as a representative for the Red Cross Disaster Services when working with other community organizations, and provides follow-up guidance to disaster clients to help with long term disaster recovery.
American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula
www.redcrossdelmarva.org
VISTA member: Sarah League
Term dates: August 28, 2009 to August 27, 2010
The American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula serves the entire state of Delaware, and Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's and Talbot counties in Maryland. Programs include: disaster relief, community education persenations, programs to keep members of the military in touch with their families, and life saving skills training. With the need to educate as a top priority, their mission is to provide relief to victims of disaster and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.
One role that the VISTA member takes on at this organization is to support the Emergency Services department by creating contacts and forming relationships with fire companies, with the end result being an agreement where the fire companies call the Red Cross when families need assistance. By building relationships with the fire companies, local families will be served as quickly as possible after experiencing a disaster. The VISTA member’s role also includes contacting and scheduling volunteers for the distribution of emergency preparedness door hangers in the neighborhoods where disasters occurred and identifying neighborhood churches, community centers and businesses where Community Disaster Education classes can be held.
Arts on the Block
www.artsontheblock.org
VISTA member: Rachel Gelenius
Term dates: August 28, 2009 to August 27, 2010
Arts on the Block takes pride in empowering creative youth, ages 14-21, to imagine and shape fulfilling futures while contributing to the quality of life in their communities. They provide youth with the opportunity to use their creative gifts to overcome socio-economic barriers and to become change agents in their communities. Arts on the Block also helps their young apprentices develop career confidence and workplace competencies such as self esteem, positive core values, educational aspirations, and life skills.
The role of the VISTA member includes developing partnerships for a project-based workshop targeting low income and out-of-school youth, researching and interviewing prospective partners among area non-profits and governmental agencies, and assiting in the development of funding streams. The VISTA member also assists in recruiting 12-15 workshop participants, developing marketing materials, and developing curriculum and an operations manual for a project-based workshop.
Baltimore CASH Campaign- Financial Services Coordinator
www.baltimorecashcampaign.org
VISTA member: Christina Tufaro
Term dates: July 31, 2009 to July 30, 2010
The Baltimore CASH Campaign was formed in the fall of 2001 to implement strategies to increase economic opportunities for low-income Baltimore families. The campaign focuses on “making work pay” by leveraging the tax code as a gateway to financial services for working families. The Baltimore CASH Campaign's primary activities include: conducting marketing and outreach about the Earned Income Tax Credit; providing free volunteer income tax assistance to help low and moderate income; connecting clients to asset development resources, including financial literacy counseling and home buying workshops; and advocating on behalf of financial issues impacting working families.
The VISTA member works to strengthen existing partnerships, develops new partnerships, and implements marketing initiatives to increase the awareness of free tax preparation and asset development services. The VISTA member is also responsible for creating marketing materials to promote the Baltimore CASH Campaign programs and initiatives, increasing community participation by conducting marketing outreach, working with community-based and financial partners to increase cross-marketing of products and services, and creating a tracking system or database for the Baltimore CASH Campaign to help quantify impact.
Baltimore CASH Campaign- Partnership and Resource Coordinator
www.baltimorecashcampaign.org
VISTA member: Hattie Scott
Term dates: July 31, 2009 to July 30, 2010
The Baltimore CASH Campaign was formed in the fall of 2001 to implement strategies to increase economic opportunities for low-income Baltimore families. The campaign focuses on “making work pay” by leveraging the tax code as a gateway to financial services for working families. The Baltimore CASH Campaign's primary activities include: conducting marketing and outreach about the Earned Income Tax Credit; providing free volunteer income tax assistance to help low and moderate income; connecting clients to asset development resources, including financial literacy counseling and home buying workshops; and advocating on behalf of financial issues impacting working families.
The role of the VISTA member is to strengthen existing partnerships among the Baltimore CASH Campaign, the Maryland CASH Campaign, and the Job Opportunities Task Force, while increasing statewide capacity for tax operations and asset development services. The VISTA member will assist with the planning of focus groups or town halls, provide support to the Director of Tax Operations on statewide training and technical assistance, provide support and outreach regarding tax and asset development data collection, and provide support for asset development services such as a state-wide asset building network.
CASA de Maryland
www.casademaryland.org
VISTA member: Sara Mosenkis
Term dates: August 28, 2009 to August 27, 2010
CASA de Maryland’s primary mission is to work with the community to improve the quality of life and promote equal treatment for low-income Latinos and their families. CASA works with other low-income immigrant communities and organizations by making its programs and activities available to them, and advocating for social, political, and economic justice for all low-income communities. CASA’s vision is for strong, economically and ethnically diverse communities in which all people – especially women, low-income people, and workers – can participate and benefit fully, regardless of their immigraion status.
This VISTA member is responsible for collaborating with other CASA departments to develop curricula and materials that are linguistically and culturally appropriate to CASA’s population. The VISTA also works to develop and implement leadership trainings and related materials for community leaders. Over the course of one year, the VISTA member will collaborate with education department staff to develop and implement annual work plans, oversee the publishing of curriculum, including negotiating prices and copyright issues; develop and implement a marketing plan for distribution of all published material, train CASA staff and teachers on popular education methodology and use of all CASA materials, and promote the use and knowledge of popular education methodology in all educational activities.
CHAI – Comprehensive Housing Assistance Inc.
www.chaibaltimore.org
VISTA member: Timothy Gelles
Term dates: July 31, 2009 to July 30, 2010
Comprehensive Housing Assistance, Inc.’s (CHAI) mission is to develop and support thriving, stable communities in northwest Baltimore. CHAI accomplishes this mission by: developing and managing affordable housing, rehabilitating housing and providing supporting repair services, supporting neighborhood organizing and neighborhood development, undertaking neighborhood organizing and work in public schools, providing services to seniors, promoting homeownership, and providing loans for the purchase and upgrade of homes. The Neighbors Assisting Directly In Volunteerism (NADIV) program is part of CHAI's Senior Home Repair and Modification Program (SHRM), which provides subsidized home repairs and modifications for low income senior adults and people with disabilities who own their homes.
The role of the VISTA member is to create a branded, consistent look for NADIV and to create marketing materials such as flyers, brochures, and informational packets to promote the program. In addition to this, the VISTA member is responsible for creating a presence on social networking sites and other new technologies, such as Twitter.
Citizens for Washington Hill
VISTA member: Victor Rodgers
Term dates: August 2, 2009 to August 1, 2010
Citizens for Washington Hill provides multiple services to the Washington Hill community and works towards addressing the needs of its residents through the historic preservation of the neighborhood and development of community programs. Citizens for Washington Hill is also the umbrella association for six homeowners association and one tenant association.
The three main goals of the VISTA member are to assist the Executive Director in obtaining funding to sustain the Youth on Their Way program, organize parents to be more involved in the program, and develop a partnership with Baltimore City Public Schools Board of Education.
Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore
www.cfes.org
VISTA member: Jonathan Fitzsimmons
Term dates: August 28, 2009 to August 27, 2010
The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore (CFES) is a public, charitable foundation serving the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland. The mission of the CFES 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.
The VISTA member is integral in supporting the development of ShoreCAN, a sustainable volunteer center to serve the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland. The primary objective is to support residents seeking opportunities to serve the community and organizations in need of valuable human resources.
Dayspring, Inc.
www.dayspringinc.org
VISTA member: Kit Hughes
Term dates: July 31, 2009 to July 30, 2010
The mission of Dayspring, Inc. is to support and promote children’s total development and to assist them in being and becoming productive, giving members of society. Visions for Education, a project of Dayspring, Inc., embodies the belief that the academic success of children in the community is directly related to their access to high quality educational settings that are intellectually rich, experientially relevant, and staffed by knowledgeable, competent, and caring individuals.
The role of the VISTA member is to develop and maintain databases of donors, volunteers, and partners, and work to secure funding to support Visions for Education. This VISTA project supports Dayspring’s long-term goals by increasing funds raised through individual donations and grants, as well as to develop donor, volunteer, and partner databases. The VISTA member will also have the opportunity to interact with the community through volunteer recruitment and partnership development.
Montgomery County Office of Community Partnerships
www.montgomerycountymd.gov
VISTA member: Gabe Salgado
Term dates: July 31, 2009 to July 30, 2010
As an integral part of the Offices of the County Executive, the Office of Community Partnerships (OCP) provides coordinated outreach to the County’s diverse populations in partnership with County departments to ensure that efficient, effective, responsive, and high quality services are provided to all residents with an emphasis on the County’s ethnic communities. The primary goal is to break down the barriers of income, race, ethnicity, religion, and sector that divide the residents of the County, and to build bridges between community residents and County government.
The VISTA member supports the work of a newly-formed Faith Community Advisory Group and the recommendations from a 2007 Ethnic Diversity Leadership Summit. This work is achieved by communicating with stakeholders, continuing to develop a diverse talent bank, and writing and disseminating weekly e-bulletins and monthly e-newsletters.
Moveable Feast, Inc.
www.mfeasr.org
VISTA member: Jonathan Fenton
Term dates: July 31, 2009 to July 30, 2010
Moveable Feast provides free services to 1,050 low-income individuals each month who have chromic and serious illnesses. They provide home-delivered meals, medical transportation, and culinary skills development.
The role of the VISTA member includes educating service providers in the community about the services and programs of Moveable Feast, helping to identify new providers as partners for services, and identifying clients who are eligible for Moveable Feast services. The VISTA member will also have the opportunity to learn about data collection and statistical analysis.
Parks and People Foundation
www.parksandpeople.org
VISTA member: Sarah Ritter
Term dates: July 31, 2009 to July 30, 2010
The Parks & People Foundation has developed innovative solutions to issues facing Baltimore City including the restoration of the neighborhoods and the natural resources as well as the academic enrichment and motivation of children. In order to realize their vision of a healthy environment where people live, work, learn and play, they have formed a strategy targeting two major fields of endeavor: The Great Parks, Clean Streams & Green Communities program and the Motivating Youth program.
The role of the Urban Agiculture and Greening VISTA is to promote urban agiculture and greening as a tool for communtiy revitalization and health. This VISTA member also focuses on increasing access to healthy food and unstructured play for childern in Balitmore City, and developing a program that will stremline pairing of urban agiculture and greening resouces with the needs of community members.
Parks and People Foundation
www.parksandpeople.org
VISTA member: Sandy Robson
Term dates: June 26, 2009 to June 25, 2010
The Parks & People Foundation has developed innovative solutions to issues facing Baltimore City including the restoration of the neighborhoods and the natural resources as well as the academic enrichment and motivation of children. In order to realize their vision of a healthy environment where people live, work, learn and play, they have formed a strategy targeting two major fields of endeavor: the Great Parks, Clean Streams & Green Communities program and the Motivating Youth program.
The goal of the Schoolyard Greening VISTA’s service year is to work with those currently involved in schoolyard greening in Baltimore to explore creative solutions to the need for coordination among schoolyard greening efforts to solve persistent challenges with schoolyard green spaces and to build the collective capacity of the schoolayard greening community and advance our efforts.
Patterson Park Public Charter School
www.pppcs.org
VISTA member: Erica Richardson
Term dates: July 31, 2009 to July 30, 2010
The mission of Patterson Park Public Charter School (PPPCS) is to develop well-educated, community-minded children by providing high-quality, community-based education that capitalizes on the diversity of nearby neighborhoods, and uses the resources of Patterson Park. As part of both the Charter School movement and the Community Schools Initiative, PPPCS is committed to meeting the needs of the students, families, and communities beyond the reach of a traditional public school.
The role of the VISTA is to develop a sustainable Family Mentoring Project, consisting of peer mentors for parents and community mentors for students. The VISTA member’s role also includes training identified parents how to be an informed resource to other parents in areas such as housing, financial management, government assistance, and other forms of support.
Prince George’s Volunteer Center
www.princegeorgesvolunteer.org
VISTA member: Sharlene Nicholson
Term date: November 17, 2009 to November 16, 2010
Prince George’s Volunteer Center (PGVC) was established in 1982 to provide a central focus for the development, coordination, organization, and recognition of the volunteer activities in the area. Through volutneer recruitment and referral, training of managers of volunteer resources, recognition of volunteers; and in partnership with Prince George’s County government’s citizen emergency preparedness effots, PGVC is a resource for all local organizations relying on volunteers to achieve their missions.
The role of the VISTA member is to serve as a Program Coordinator at PGVC. Duties include coordinating PGVC’s role in the MLK Day of Sevice project and Make a Difference Day 2009, serving as a member of the Prince Georges County Human Services Coalition annual Empowerment Conference planning committee, and particiapting as a member of the PGVC team.
Project PLASE – Community Awareness
www.projectplase.org
VISTA member: Andrea Sledd
Term dates: July 31, 2009 to July 30, 2010
The mission of Project PLASE is to house and serve homeless citizens who have special needs (AIDS/HIV, mental health, psychiatric needs, chemical dependencies, developmental disabilities) in a temporary housing situation with 24-hour supported supervision, case management, and counseling, with a focus on helping the individual function at the highest level.
This VISTA member is responsible for building capacity to promote awareness of Project PLASE and its client population in the local community as well as for devising and launching a totally new poverty-eradication program.
Project PLASE – Funding for the Future
www.projectplase.org
VISTA member: Hanna Mast
Term dates: July 31, 2009 to July 30, 2010
The mission of Project PLASE is to house and serve homeless citizens who have special needs (AIDS/HIV, mental health, psychiatric needs, chemical dependencies, developmental disabilities) in a temporary housing situation with 24-hour supported supervision, case management, and counseling, with a focus on helping the individual function at the highest level.
This VISTA member is responsible for building capacity for Project PLASE to engage and activate donors, for securing reliable sources of funding, and for engaging donors as partners in the mission of serving the homeless. This VISTA member will also be responsible for devising and launching a totally new community event to raise the profile of our organization.
Saving Our Sisters – Resource and Fund Development
www.savingoursisters.org
VISTA member: Mae Gore
Term dates: July 31, 2009 to July 30, 2010
The mission of Saving Our Sisters is to provide a safe, drug free residence for women who want to recover from drug and alcohol addiction. Saving Our Sisters helps women obtain identification cards, social service assistance, healthcare, GEDs, bank accounts, employment, legal assistance, and long term housing.
The role of the VISTA member is to develop systems for resources and fund development that will build capacity, expand services, and promote sustainability. These efforts include developing creative and imaginative fundraising activities and events; initiating strategies for corporate sponsorships, managing a donor database, and grant writing.
Saving Our Sisters – Membership Development Coordinator
www.savingoursister.org
VISTA member: Rachel Levy
Term dates: July 31, 2009 to July 30, 2010
The mission of Saving Our Sisters is to provide a safe, drug free residence for women who want to recover from drug and alcohol addiction. Saving Our Sisters helps women obtain identification cards, social service assistance, healthcare, GEDs, bank accounts, employment, legal assistance, and long term housing.
The role of the VISTA member is to develop and implement the membership structure for Saving Our Sisters, Inc. The membership efforts will include creating and disseminating innovative promotional and recruitment material, conducting membership campaigns and drives, and managing the membership database.
Seedco
www.seedco.org
VISTA member: Renee Johnson
Term dates: July 31, 2009 to July 30, 2010
Seedco is a national nonprofit organization that works with local partners to create economic opportunities for disadvantaged job seekers, workers and neighborhood entrepreneurs. Seedco uses practical, effective strategies to address the challenges confronting Americans who are struggling to leave poverty and achieve economic progress.
This VISTA member is responsible for collaborating with EarnBenefits partners and key stakeholders to determine professional development needs, identifying content experts to offer training to the network, and training new EarnBenefits screeners on how to use the EarnBenefits Online (EBO) screening tool. The VISTA member also works with new EarnBenefits sites to enhance their ability to do marketing and outreach to their community and provide ongoing refresher trainings.
Volunteer Center for Anne Arundel County – Mentoring
www.volunteerannearundel.org
VISTA member: Janice Hayes–Williams
Term dates: July 31, 2009 to July 30, 2010
The Volunteer Center for Anne Arundel County connects people and resources through volunteerism to create a vibrant community of service in Anne Arundel County, MD. The Anne Arundel Mentoring Roundtable (AAMR) promotes mentoring efforts throughout Anne Arundel County, with an emphasis on serving low-income and disadvantaged areas. The Roundtable supports school-based and community-based mentoring programs by providing technical assistance, training, and recruitment assistance for youth mentoring programs. The Volunteer Center houses the AAMR as a crucial part of its goal of connecting people with opportunities to address community needs.
The Youth Mentoring VISTA Project provides technical assistance, training, outreach, and volunteer mentor recruitment assistance for local mentoring programs serving elementary through high school aged at risk youth. The VISTA member will also help recruit and train at least 25 mentors and will facilitate the development of mentoring programs at a minimum of three schools.
Volunteer Center for Anne Arundel County – Youth Programs
www.volunteerannearundel.org
VISTA member: Jennifer Calub
Term dates: August 28, 2009 to August 27, 2010
The Volunteer Center For Anne Arundel County connects people and resources through volunteerism to create a vibrant community of service in Anne Arundel County, MD. The purpose of our Youth Volunteer Corps (YVC) and Teens as Problem Solvers (TAPS) programs is to empower and engage disadvantaged youth as agents of positive change in their communities.
The VISTA member assists with development of the new Youth Volunteer Corps by creating a consistent look for the YVC, including designing and creating informational packets, and a website. The VISTA is also responsible for designing, creating and updating a presence on social networking sites and other Web 2.0 technologies such as Twitter. The VISTA member also recruits youth participants residing in low-income or underserved communities to become members of the Youth Volunteer Corps and Teens as Problem Solvers.
Volunteer Frederick – Energy Action Coordinator
www.volunteerfrederick.org
VISTA member: Rebecca Robinson
Term dates: July 31, 2009 and July 30, 2010
Volunteer Frederick’s mission is to inspire, strengthen, and support volunteerism in Frederick County by connecting people with opportunities to serve, building service partnerships, and training volunteer program managers. Volunteer Frederick currently manages 11 programs.
The Energy Action Coordinator VISTA member is responsible for helping families living in poverty reduce to energy and fuel costs. The VISTA member will accomplish this goal by developing a training program to empower volunteers to effectively support low-income families in energy saving practices, developing partnerships to support the Energy Action program, recruiting and supporting volunteers as Energy Action Team Leaders and Coaches, researching funding opportunities for supporting the program, and procuring energy saving devices for distribution to low-income families.
Volunteer Frederick – Youth Projects Coordinator
www.volunteerfrederick.org
VISTA member: Ali Keeney
Term dates: July 31. 2009 to July 30, 2010
Volunteer Frederick’s mission is to inspire, strengthen and support volunteerism in Frederick County by connecting people with opportunities to serve, building service partnerships, and training volunteer program managers. Volunteer Frederick currently manages 11 programs.
The VISTA member is responsible for coordinating the anti-tobacco use educational and service learning activities of the Frederick Against Smoking Today (FAST) program, coordinating and recruiting volunteers for National Day of Service events, focusing recruitment on youth and families disadvantaged by poverty, assisting with the creation and development of the SummerServe (SS) Giving Circle to raise funds for the Sponsorship Fund which covers SS fees for youth disadvantaged by poverty, recruiting and helping to coordinate BIG Sweep teams from businesses, school clubs, and civic groups to raise funds for the SS Sponsorship Fund; and assisting with other fundraising efforts for the SS Sponsorship Fund including grant research and proposal writing, letter writing and, more.
Volunteer Frederick – Youth Projects Coordinator
www.volunteerfrederick.org
VISTA member: Keila Kirkpatrick
Term dates: July 31, 2009 to July 30, 2010
Volunteer Frederick’s mission is to inspire, strengthen, and support volunteerism in Frederick County by connecting people with opportunities to serve, building service partnerships, and training volunteer program managers. Volunteer Frederick currently manages 11 programs.
The VISTA member’s role is to plan, coordinate, implement, and recruit youth living in poverty for Volunteer Frederick’s SummerServe, SummerServe Express, Youth Action Corps (YAC) and Youth Action Corps, Junior (YAC, Jr) youth service learning programs. Specific activities include developing a strategy and marketing materials to recruit youth participants residing in low-income communities for VF’s youth service learning programs; planning a minimum of 15 service site projects and creating SummerServe and SummerServe Express Service Site Summary Forms and Service Site Agreements with partner agencies and programs; attending grant writing training workshops, writing grant proposals and seeking sponsors to ensure youth service program sustainability; and assisting youth with defining, designing and implementing a Youth Leadership Program.
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...
