“AmeriCorps VISTA” Program Creates 11 New Outreach Positions

Mayor Robert J. Duffy today joined Library Director Paula Smith, Literacy Commission Chair and President of M&T Bank of Rochester Daniel Burns and the New York State Director for the Corporation for National and Community Service Donna M. Smith to announce a major programmatic investment in the City’s library system. The City applied to the Corporation for National and Community Service, an agency of the Federal Government, to establish a comprehensive “AmeriCorps VISTA” program to support the City’s Literacy Initiative in the branch libraries. The City’s request was approved earlier this month. 

"This partnership between the City, our library system, and the Corporation for National and Community Service is a prime example of the creative ways that the community is working together to bring services to our neediest citizens,” said Mayor Duffy.  “We are committed to raising the literacy levels of our families and children and the ‘AmeriCorps VISTA’ program is an important step in helping us realize progress towards that goal."

"Today's announcement positions the Rochester Public Libraries at the heart of the Mayor's Literacy Campaign,” said Paula Smith. “The Corporation for National and Community Service is providing the library system with significant resources that we will devote to building programs dedicated to increasing the literacy levels of our families and raising our neediest citizens out of poverty. We are most grateful for this major investment."

When Mayor Duffy held his Literacy Summit in November, 2006 he announced that the City’s libraries would serve as the center of the City’s roll out of the Literacy Initiative.  Today’s announcement presents a tremendous opportunity to add vitally needed resources to the City’s ten branch libraries in extending their reach into neighborhoods.  The federal grant provides 11 VISTA Members for the City of Rochester. Ten VISTA Members will serve in each of the branch libraries, while one candidate will be recruited as the VISTA Leader to help support the program centrally.  The VISTA Leader has to have served previously in an AmeriCorps VISTA program, AmeriCorps NCCC, AmeriCorps, or the Peace Corps program. The other ten VISTA members must be over the age of 18 and successfully pass a background check. 
   
The mission of the City’s AmeriCorps VISTA program is to create neighborhood literacy networks surrounding and supporting the work of the city’s 10 branch libraries. At the heart of the AmeriCorps VISTA program is a mission to build capacity in community programs that serve an impoverished population. Working in the city’s libraries, VISTA members will recruit volunteers, develop programs, and train community members to administer literacy programs that serve Rochester’s neediest families. 

Today’s announcement encourages residents to apply for these community outreach/literacy positions. The Corporation for National and Community Service provides a living allowance and benefits. The City has partnered with Cricket to provide free cellular service to VISTA Members for the full length of their service. The City will also provide laptops to the VISTA members to utilize in their community work. Go to www.cityofrochester.gov to learn more or to apply for these community service positions. 

News Media: For more information, call Steve Schwab at 428-6282.