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Iowa AmeriCorps VISTA

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Founded in 1965, Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) is a public program designed to provide men and women who act as the resources for non-profit organizations and public offices to increase their ability to assist in lifting communities out of poverty.

AmeriCorps VISTA provides opportunities for Americans eighteen years of age and older from diverse backgrounds to dedicate a year of service with non-profit organizations or public entities (as a host organization) to create or to expand efforts designed to empower low-income individuals and communities. VISTA members serve for one year in full time position with a host organization.

The power of AmeriCorps VISTA is extraordinary. VISTA attracts talented, passionate people to research, create, and expand the capacity of your organization. At the same time, they mobilize volunteers who can strengthen the organization or office after the VISTA has ended their term.

Volunteer Iowa is working with dozens of community organizations across the state to leverage AmeriCorps VISTA members for full-time positions to support ongoing needs of organizations working to alleviate poverty. Year-long and summer positions are being filled now.

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For more information about serving as a VISTA member with the Volunteer Iowa VISTA Program, please contact info@volunteeriowa.org and someone from our VISTA team will be in touch.

Current VISTA openings. For more information click the link(s) to read more about the position and the organization you will serve!

YEAR-LONG POSITIONS

OrganizationPositionDescriptionContact
Centrally RootedVISTA Program CoordinatorIn this role, you will be instrumental in developing programming, implementing financial sustainability opportunities, training direct service staff, & building community relationships. Located in a low-income neighborhood, Centrally Rooted is committed to developing confidence in those affected by poverty via all modalities of creative expression. We need your help as we grow! We are looking for someone that has a growth mindset, is passionate about the arts, has strong communication skills, and is intrinsically motivation to do this kind of work.Callie Fitzgerald 
2230 Central Avenue 
Dubuque, IA 52001 
563-663-1694 
callie.centrallyrooted@gmail.com 
https://www.centrallyrooted.com/
Dental ConnectionsCommunity Connections VISTAThe Community Connections VISTA at Dental Connections will build impactful connections with the community through targeted marketing, outreach and volunteer engagement.Carly Ross        
1111 9th St        
Des Moines, IA 50314        
515-244-9136        
cross@dental515.com        
DentalConnectionsOnline.com
EMBARCDigital Media VISTAThe Digital Media VISTA will manage our digital presence. They will take photos of our activities and develop exciting social media updates; examine which communities are most active on our channels, and who is underrepresented; expand the digital presence of our Community Navigators; and create a long-term plan for staff to support social media outreach.Alicia Soppe 
4801 Franklin Avenue 
Des Moines IA 50310 
515-238-2143 
alicia.soppe@gmail.com 
www.embarciowa.org
Fort Madison Area Arts AssociationFort Madison Arts Foundation VISTA ProjectWe envision this position helping us to build better creative and cultural programming and activities for our area youth and adults. Specifically, we want to provide skills and exposure to ideas that offer possibilities to help break generational poverty and provide more opportunities for our at-risk Youth (and adults.) This position is the total package. Dream it. And Dream BIG!!Lori Illner Greene        
825 Avenue G        
Fort Madison, IA 52627        
319-372-3996 fortmadisonart@gmail.com www.fortmadisonart.com
Genesis Youth FoundationOperations VISTAThe VISTA will work with the community, volunteers, and GYF staff to coordinate and provide academic, enrichment and athletic opportunities to youth who would otherwise be denied the opportunities due to the inability (economically and culturally) to obtain resources that would empower them to be successful.Sam Gabriel        
42500 University Ave        
Des Moines, IA 50311        
515-710-6838        
s.gabriel@genesisyouthfoundation.org        
www.genesisyouthfoundation.org
Grand Avenue Community Outreach (GACO)Volunteer Coordinator VISTAGACO, located near the Iowa Great Lakes in Spencer, IA, is seeking a Volunteer Coordinator to organize, develop, and implement a comprehensive volunteer network to support the services we provide to the community.Kim Wilson        
605 Grand Avenue        
Spencer, IA 51301        
515-850-2377        
director@gacoutreach.com        
https://www.gacoutreach.com/
Heal House of IowaVISTA Special Projects CoordinatorDo you like communicating your passion for helping people using a broad palate of tools that include social media as well as collaborative communication strategies? Are you comfortable empathizing with the stories of America’s most fragile and creating and analyzing databases to help them rise out of poverty? If the answer is yes! we need you at the Heal House of Iowa.Jo Byers 
906 S Jefferson Way 
Indianola, IA 50125 
515-975-3572 
healhouseofiowa@gmail.com 
https://www.healhouseofiowa.org/
HOPE AgencyVISTA Workforce Capacity CoordinatorHOPE Agency is looking for an enthusiastic individual that has a passion for making the world a little brighter. The VISTA member will implement business plan for PawsAbilities including site specifications, code requirements, health regulations. If you are interested in learning more about how to start a business, this is an on-the-job opportunity! And, yes, you get to work with animals at the PawsAbility Doggie Daycare!Amy Wallman Madden
1230 8th Street
West Des Moines, IA 50265
515-210-7893
AmyWM@hopeagencydsm.org
www.hopeagencydsm.org
 
Iowa Disaster Human Resource Council (IDHRC)Disaster Response Communication Specialist VISTATornados. Floods. Ice. Windstorms. It takes a whole community approach to build disaster resiliency. Join the Iowa Disaster Human Resource Council (IDHRC) in building capacity to coordinate, collaborate, cooperate and communicate together before, during, and after disasters in Iowa.Patti Fields
P.O. Box 1352
Johnston, IA 50131
515-300-8586
director@idhrc.org
www.iavoad.org
Iowa Youth Writing ProjectEducation and Program VISTAUse your language skills to further K-12 writing enrichement and education! Help empower youth to find their voice and develop a lifelong love of writing. Work alongside outreach leaders in the nation's first UNESCO City of Literature.Mallory Hellman
24 Phillips Hall
Iowa City, IA 52245
319-467-4694
mallory-hellman@uiowa.edu
https://iywp.org
Iowa Youth Writing ProjectCommunity Outreach and Engagement VISTAUse your creative and persuasive writing enrichment and education! Help keep the IYWP's mission sustainable by planning creative fundraisiers to keeping stakeholders in the loop.Mallory Hellman
24 Phillips Hall
Iowa City, IA 52245
319-467-4694
mallory-hellman@uiowa.edu
https://iywp.org
Kirkwood Community College - TRIOVeteran Support and Mentoring Program VISTADesign and implement a Military Support Programs and Networks (M-SPAN) portfolio to address the needs of military or veteran connected students.Scott Gay
6301 Kirkwood Blvd SW
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
319-398-5684
scott.gay@kirkwood.edu
https://www.kirkwood.edu/eoc
ManUp Iowa MentoringFundraising VISTAAre you ready to make a huge difference? Our community, like so many others across the United States is suffering from a lack of positive male role models for our male youth. The VISTA member for this project will work with our Program Director to launch and grow our organizations fundraising efforts. Allowing our program to launch new weekly groups and serve youth and schools on our wait list. The majority of the work can be done remotely, and the hours will be flexible.Zach Smith
P.O. Box 65575
West Des Moines, IA 50265
515-988-9358
zachsmith@manupiowa.com
www.manupiowa.com
NAMI Southwest IowaFundraising Coordinator VISTAJoin our organization as an AmeriCorps VISTA Fundraising Coordinator and help us achieve our mission of supporting individuals in need. As our VISTA member, you will work closely with our Development Director to plan and execute fundraising events, manage donor relationships, and expand our donor base to ensure the long-term sustainability of our programs.Anna Killpack 
403 Front Street 
PO Box 143 
Neola, IA 51559 
402-689-5913 
anna@namisouthwestiowa.com 
www.namisouthwestiowa.com
NAMI Southwest IowaMarketing Director VISTAThe VISTA Marketing Director role, with the assistance of and in collaboration with current staff, will include creating content, developing campaign strategies, identifying target markets in need of our mental health support groups and educaiton, and expanding reach and building exposure through social media and traditional marketing channels.Anna Killpack 
403 Front Street 
PO Box 143 
Neola, IA 51559 
402-689-5913 
anna@namisouthwestiowa.com 
www.namisouthwestiowa.com
Volunteer IowaVISTA LeaderNAMI Southwest Iowa seeks a Marketing Director VISTA to assist with creating content, developing campaign strategies, identifying target markets in need of our mental health support groups and education, and expanding reach and building exposure through social media and traditional media.Jana Daisy        
1963 Bell Avenue        
Des Moines, IA 50315        
515-348-6263        
jana.daisy@volunteeriowa.org https://www.volunteeriowa.org

 

SUMMER POSITIONS

We are now recruiting for summer VISTA positions! AmeriCorps VISTA members can serve this summer full-time for 10 weeks. Positions available are listed below. Benefits will differ from year-long positions, but you will still receive a living allowance while serving and choose between an education award or stipend for the end of service benefit. Come join us this summer for a rewarding experience!

 

OrganizationPositionDescriptionContact
Heal House of IowaSummer VISTA Guest AdvocateHeal House of Iowa makes a difference in the lives of homeless people living in Warren County. Join us this summer: support our guests in finding housing and employment; engage with local agencies.Judy Pauley
906 S. Jefferson Way
Indianola, IA 50125
515-201-8240
healhouseofiowa@gmail.com
https://www.healhouseofiowa.org
NAMI DubuqueNAMI Dubuque Summer VISTA OutreachNAMI Dubuque provides support, resources, and programming for those who are struggling with mental health. NAMI Dubuque provides one-on-one services, group support, and programming from those and to those with the unique understanding of people with lived experience, these programs and support groups provide outstanding free education, skills training and support.Britni Farber  
225 W 6th Street  
Dubuque, IA 52001  
563-581-2740  
president@namidubuque.org  
https://www.namidubuque.org
NAMI South Central IowaVolunteer Recruitment VISTAThe ideal VISTA candidate will meet community members, learn about their specific needs, and share with them the programs and services NAMI can provide, encouraging them to become part of the NAMI family and bring help and support to those in their community.Dewey McConville  
209 East Maple Street  
Centerville, IA 52544  
641-216-3114  
namisci8@gmail.com
Volunteer IowaSummer Volunteer Engagement VISTAThe VISTA will improve the ability for individuals and groups across the state to find and register for meaningful volunteer opportunities and improve the ability for nonprofits and organizations who are in need of volunteer assistance to have those needs met.Jana Daisy  
1963 Bell Avenue  
Des Moines, IA 50315  
515-348-6263  
jana.daisy@volunteeriowa.org  
https://www.volunteeriowa.org