Katyusca A.,  2008-09 AmeriCorps VISTA

During my senior year of college, I was looking for a job that was only a one year commitment, that would expose me to the nonprofit sector and that was in the field of community and economic development. I also wanted to serve my community and work towards eradicating poverty. When I heard of AmeriCorps VISTA, I knew it was the perfect fit.

While serving as a VISTA Member at Neighborhood Trust Federal Credit Union, I had a chance to work on a lot of different projects, like surveying credit union members, participating in a pilot project to open accounts, remodeling and implementing a procedures manual, developing marketing brochures, translating the organization's website as well as their annual report into Spanish, retooling the membership database, and cultivating partnerships with different community based organizations and businesses. I also helped to plan and coordinate the annual membership meeting, and I initiated, designed and convened a Financial Crisis panel in the fall of 2008 for members of the credit union.

It takes passion, patience and a lot of hard work to work in the nonprofit sector. The challenges that I faced during the year allowed me to grow as a person and as a young professional and to gain a better understanding of my strengths and weaknesses.Becoming an AmeriCorps VISTA Member is the best choice I have ever made.

The AmeriCorps Program was founded as Volunteers In Service To America (VISTA) in 1965, after the launch of the Peace Corps Program initiated by President John F. Kennedy. AmeriCorps VISTA is the national Federal service program designated to fight poverty here at home. AmeriCorps VISTAs serve to fight poverty, to build the capacity of a nonprofit organization and to be completely immersed in their communities and projects. VISTAs perform indirect service, in order to build sustainable programs that will help move people out of poverty.

In August 2008, NYCfNAC welcomed its first team of VISTAs, who were placed at our credit union partners: Brooklyn Cooperative Federal Credit Union, Lower East Side People's Federal Credit Union, Neighborhood Trust Federal Credit Union and Union Settlement Federal Credit Union. During their year of service, they helped to expand the capacity of the credit unions by implementing retention strategies to foster long term relationships with previously unbanked or underbanked New Yorkers. Our second year team came on board in August 2009 and has continued the great work of their predecessors.

Our third team of VISTAs will be arriving in August 2010. Although applications for the August 2010 -August 2011 NYCfNAC team are currently closed, please check back periodically if you are interested in applying for future teams.