The VISTA Project

2012 AMERICORPS*VISTA SUB-SITE RFP
Due Tuesday, February 22, 2012
We welcome voting-members to submit an application to become a sub-site to the OCDCA VISTA Project to begin Summer 2012. Funding is provided by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) through the Ohio Housing Trust Fund (OHTF). Limited slots are available; therefore this is a competitive process and some slots will be reserved for housing only initiatives. The CNCS VISTA Program mission statement is to increase capacity for low-income people to improve the conditions of their own lives. View the RFP here.

The VISTA Ohio Community Revitalization Project (OVCR). Created in 1995 as a partnership between the Ohio CDC Association and the Corporation for National Service, the VCR Project places AmeriCorps* VISTA Members with community development corporations throughout the state.

VISTA Members create lasting change by assisting with affordable housing development, homebuyer education, economic literacy programs, Individual Development Accounts, microenterpise, foreclosure prevention, vacant and abandoned properties and community organizing. VISTA members also recruit volunteers and conduct fundraising.

VISTA members serve a host site full-time for one calendar year (no outside employment is allowed.) VISTA sponsoring organizations must be a voting member of the Ohio CDC Association. Limited VISTA slots are available; some slots will be reserved for housing only initiatives. Sponsoring sites will be responsible for meeting quarterly reporting requirements and completing monthly timesheets.

Ohio CDC Association currently has two types of VISTA slots available: Cost-Share and Standard. Cost-Share VISTA members specifically develop and create homeownership education and counseling programs, foreclosure prevention programs, home improvement and home repair programs, IDA homeownership programs, supportive housing, and activities to address vacant and abandoned properties.

Funding for the Cost-Share VISTA members comes from the Ohio Housing Trust Fund (OHTF). Standard VISTA members can focus on a range of activities including affordable housing, community economic development, IDAs, microenterprise, foreclosure prevention, vacant and abandoned properties and community outreach and organizing that supports community-based development objectives.

If you are interested in being a VISTA site with Ohio CDC Association please contact Dave Foust, Membership Manager at (614) 461-6392, ext. 205 or by email at dfoust@ohiocdc.org or Amy Rosenthal, Associate Director (614) 461-6392, ext. 204 or by email at arosenthal@ohiocdc.org

AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC)

Do you have projects that you've been trying to complete for a long time or a special project that you could use assistance completing? Could the energy of a team of 10-12 young adults help you complete them? AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) is a full time team based national service program. NCCCs work with non-profit organizations, state and local agencies, and Native American communities to complete projects that typically last 6 - 8 weeks.

The North Central Region has been very busy in the last three years. The region has graduated three classes (300+ members) and have conducted over 150 projects. They are getting ready to serve sponsors during our Class XVIII which runs from March 2012 until November 2012. Application Deadlines are November 18, 2011, February 17, 2012, and May 4, 2012.

View Request for Proposals     View Project Application

Requesting proposals for team-based, community service projects typically lasting 6-8 weeks that focus on at least one of our five main service areas:

  • Natural and Other Disasters
  • Energy Conservation
  • Environmental Stewardship and Conservation
  • Infrastructure Improvement
  • Urban and Rural Development

VISTA Leader

Elvira Terán, Ohio CDC Association, Columbus

Current Members

Doretha Chatman, Mary McLeod Bethune Intervention & Enrichment Center
Alexandra Debiase, Ohio City Near West Development
Rhonda Gray, Lancaster-Fairfield Community Action Agency
Keith Harris, Nazareth Housing Development
Jennifer Harvey, Appalachian Center for Economic Networks
Emily Jones, The New Path
Patrick Kennedy, Burten, Bell, Carr Development, Inc
Kameelah Muhammad, Organize! Ohio
Sean Posey, Youngstown Neighborhood Development
Kate Roth, WSOS Housing
Colby Sattler, Neighborhood Progress Inc
Joel Solow, Slavic Village Development
Jack Storey, Northeast Shores Development Corp
Benjamin Von Blon, Homes on the Hill CDC

Current VISTA Member Bios and Activities