​Lifting People Out of Poverty Since 1965 

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​AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) members bring their passion and perseverance where the need is greatest: to organizations that help eradicate poverty. The most pressing challenges we face as a nation require the most courageous and creative people to address them. An AmeriCorps VISTA member serves as a catalyst for change, living and working alongside community members to advance local solutions. 

For more information on the AmeriCorps Program, visit the Corporation for National & Community Service website. 

Apply to be a VISTA here in Stafford County!


​Stafford County Economic Development strives to achieve local economic growth by fostering employment opportunities, improving housing and cultivating amenities that improve quality of life that encourage population growth.  VISTA members will assist in planning and coalition building efforts that encourage business development, expand cultural amenities and guide public investment.

Benefits for becoming an AmeriCorps VISTA:
  • Living Allowance of $12,300
  • Housing provided for $250/month
  • Time, space and support to test your own business concept
  • AmeriCorps Health Benefit Plan (additional information on the My AmeriCorps website).
  • Education Award of $6,095 at the end of service OR an End-of-Service Cash Stipend of $1,800
  • Attendance at school/online classes permitted off-hours
  • ​Working at another job permitted off-hours

Positions Available:

1. WSU VISTA-Stafford Co. EcoDevo-Community Development VISTA
The Community Development VISTA for Stafford County Economic Development will work to engage and combat community decline, which is focused countywide. The VISTA member will research and create strategic planning documents, gather information about current real estate trends, help with the creation of shared workspace and work to increase community support. The VISTA will build capacity by improving community capacity to develop jobs and expand community support, both of which will help to break a cycle of poverty and decline.  The VISTA will also develop a marketing and outreach plan and assist with activities to increase economic growth capacity.

​For more detailed information and to apply, visit the My AmeriCorps website. 
2. WSU VISTA-Stafford Co. EcoDevo-Arts-Focused Community Relations VISTA
The Community Relations VISTA will work to build capacity with the Stafford County Economic Development team.  The VISTA will develop a marketing and outreach plan, assist with fund development, and research and document best practices for shared workspace (focused on Gray Photo Studio) in an effort to combat community decline, which is focused countywide.  The VISTA will work to improve community capacity by strengthening and developing the culture around community arts programs in the county.  The VISTA will work with two other VISTAs and overall their efforts will support increasing local jobs, conducting research to identify opportunities around community development and assisting with philanthropic development, which will help to break a cycle of poverty and decline. 

For more detailed information and to apply, visit the My AmeriCorps website. 

3. WSU VISTA- Stafford Co. EcoDevo-Employment Opportunity VISTA

**POSITION FILLED FEBRUARY 19, 2019**​

The Employment Opportunity VISTA for Stafford County Economic Development will work to combat community decline by promoting, researching and developing plans to increase employment opportunities, which is focused countywide. The VISTA member duties will include fund development and community collaboration. The VISTA will build capacity by improving community capacity to create jobs and develop, both of which will help to break a cycle of poverty and decline. The VISTA will also develop a marketing and outreach plan and assist with activities to increase economic growth capacity.

For more detailed information and to apply, visit the My AmeriCorps website.
Please help us welcome Kathleen Norman to Stafford County!  She is filling Economic Development's first AmeriCorps VISTA service member position at our shared workspace building at 311 N Broadway in St. John.  Her position will focus on employment opportunities within our shared workspace and the development of the shared workspace program across Stafford County.

Kathleen is a creative and energetic individual who is passionate about helping others. She loves hearing people's stories especially when experiencing other cultures. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, crafting, writing letters to send by snail mail, cooking, and ballroom dancing.