(Courtesy of JFCS) For Katie Wolchko, finding a career pathway after college was no easy feat. “I liked my job, but I wanted to explore different roles in the nonprofit world, especially fundraising. My father recommended AmeriCorps VISTA, a program I had never heard of, but upon further research I found it to offer so many opportunities to work in community organizations and give back in a direct way.”
In 2018, Wolchko joined Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Northern New Jersey (JFCS) as a fundraising VISTA, working on nonprofit development through special events and grant writing. By the time Wolchko’s one-year VISTA service came to a close, she had gained enough experience in grant writing and fundraising, making her a competitive applicant at any nonprofit. Luckily, JFCS had an open position. Emily, the food pantry VISTA, also joined JFCS at the end of her one-year service. They both credit much of their success to being a VISTA.
Said Wolchko: “AmeriCorps VISTA led me to an organization and a career that I love. For anyone looking to learn and grow professionally and personally, I cannot recommend it more.”
What Is VISTA?
Founded in 1964, VISTA was an opportunity to make a tangible impact on communities through President Johnson’s War on Poverty. Since then, over 220,000 AmeriCorps VISTA members have worked with local organizations to enact new programs and services, develop resources, expand each organization’s capacity and positively impact their communities. JFCS is one of several nonprofits throughout the country that host AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers.
Why Be a VISTA?
VISTA members (who are typically recent grads) join a nonprofit organization like JFCS for one year. Each VISTA member becomes a part of the organization’s team, akin to a paid internship, allowing recent grads a unique opportunity to learn, grow and focus their passions on what interests them most. It’s a great gap-year experience, from which each VISTA moves on to future opportunities, continues schooling or gets hired for jobs at nonprofits like JFCS.
For Stefanie Rendine, current JFCS marketing VISTA, AmeriCorps was a chance to build critical skills and explore a new career in marketing and fundraising while taking graduate-level courses online. “I chose to join AmeriCorps VISTA because I am in a nonprofit management graduate program and wanted to gain real-life experience while in school. Upon completion of my year, AmeriCorps also offers an educational grant to help with school,” said Rendine. “This experience has helped me to focus my specific area of interest within nonprofit, and has set me up with skills I can use in my next endeavor.”
A federal government program, AmeriCorps provides several benefits to young graduates and service-minded individuals: a financial stipend, professional development, health allowance account, early access to future federal government positions and a lucrative end-of-service tuition award or a cash stipend.
Ariel Barreras was one of JFCS’s 2019 AmeriCorps VISTAs. She boasts academic and professional success due to her VISTA participation. A recipient of the education award, Barreras is completing a masters of library science program and has secured a full-time job in her field.
“The VISTA experience prepared me for grad school by teaching me more about the needs of the community, and how to meet them,” Barreras said. “As someone who aspires to be a librarian, this experience served as an introduction to serving and connecting with people. A lot of the skills I gained in the VISTA program I have used in grad school and in my work as a library assistant.”
VISTA Opportunities
JFCS has several current openings for AmeriCorps VISTA members in their Teaneck office. Roles include agency administration, relaunch career services, and the corner market/food pantry. Please contact JFCS more information at 201-837-9090, ext. 225. To apply for a VISTA role within JFCS, please visit www.jfcsnnj.org/careers and send your resume and cover letter to [email protected].
To be eligible for AmeriCorps, members must be at least 18 years old and be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. To find out more about AmeriCorps, please visit www.americorps.gov/serve/fit-finder/americorps-vista.
