Make a National Impact with AmeriCorps VISTA!

Join a national movement to fight poverty and strengthen communities! United Way of the Lakeshore is proud to partner with AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) to create meaningful change for families who are ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) and facing poverty.

Serve as a VISTA Member in the role of Student United Coordinator VISTA and help drive solutions that empower families and build stronger communities!

Position Overview

As a VISTA, you will serve as a national service volunteer for a one-year term, focusing on capacity-building projects that make a lasting impact. While this is not a traditional job, VISTA members receive a living allowance and excellent benefits while serving alongside passionate teams.

Are you ready to make a lasting impact while empowering the next generation of changemakers? Join us as the Student United Coordinator VISTA at United Way of the Lakeshore! This unique opportunity lets you harness your creativity and leadership skills to build sustainable volunteer programs that strengthen educational outcomes and transform communities. In this role, you’ll collaborate with schools, nonprofits, and student leaders to develop systems that enhance volunteerism and build capacity for long-term success. You’ll design frameworks, organize workshops, and foster partnerships that empower students to address challenges in education, health, economic mobility, and sustainability. Your work will start by gaining a deep understanding of the local volunteer ecosystem, engaging with stakeholders, and identifying opportunities for growth. Through collaboration with educational leaders and nonprofit partners, you’ll create strategic plans to strengthen school resources and expand student volunteer programs. By facilitating focus groups with students and assessing community needs, you’ll ensure every initiative is impactful, inclusive, and sustainable. As you progress, you’ll develop a dynamic Student United Program, empowering student leaders to grow volunteer initiatives. You’ll establish tools like shared calendars and resource guides to streamline participation and maximize engagement. Beyond building programs, you’ll also help nonprofits integrate student volunteers by creating toolkits and sharing best practices, ensuring these efforts thrive long after your service term ends. This is your chance to inspire the next generation of community leaders and leave a legacy of sustainable impact. If you’re passionate about building systems, sparking collaboration, and making a difference in education and beyond, this VISTA role is the perfect fit.

Benefits of Serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA:

• Living Allowance: Receive a modest bi-weekly stipend to cover basic living expenses. (Annual amount: $22,800)
• End of Service Award: Choose between a Segal Education Award (to cover education costs) or a cash stipend. Members aged 55+ can transfer the education award to an eligible family member.
• Non-Competitive Eligibility (NCE): Gain a hiring advantage for federal employment opportunities.
• Professional Development: Participate in in-person and virtual training to advance your skills.
• Child Care Assistance: Eligible members may receive financial support for children under the age of 13.
• Healthcare Benefit: Choose between reimbursement for existing healthcare or enrollment in an AmeriCorps healthcare plan (includes dental and vision).
• Additional Benefits: Learn more at americorps.gov/vistabenefits.

Make a Difference, Build Your Future

Serving as a VISTA means more than just volunteering—it’s about empowering communities, gaining valuable skills, and building pathways for your future career.

Apply today to join United Way of the Lakeshore in transforming lives and creating opportunities for families to thrive!

Make a National Impact with AmeriCorps VISTA! Join a national movement to fight poverty and strengthen communities! United Way of the Lakeshore and Read Muskegon are proud to partner with AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) to create meaningful change for families. Serve as a VISTA Member in the role of Engagement Specialist at Read Muskegon to help drive solutions that empower families and build stronger communities.

As a VISTA, you will serve as a national service volunteer for a one-year term, focusing on capacity-building projects that make a lasting impact. While this is not a traditional job, VISTA members receive a living allowance and excellent benefits while serving alongside passionate teams.

Position Overview

The mission of Read Muskegon is to strengthen communities through improved literacy. As the Engagement Specialist at Read Muskegon, you will:

Develop and implement an outreach strategy to increase participation in Adult Basic Education (ABE) programs, diversify and expand the volunteer tutor pool, and boost family engagement in Great Start-funded programs, particularly among low-income families. By strengthening referral pipelines, streamlining processes, and enhancing community relationships, the volunteer will drive enrollment, improve volunteer activation, and reduce barriers for learners and families to access programs and services.

Responsibilities may include:

- Develop and deliver outreach materials

- Organize and participate in events such as job fairs, community festivals, and

informational sessions to promote programs.

- Analyze and strengthen referral pipelines with new and existing partners

- Handle volunteer inquiries, connect prospective volunteers to appropriate

program staff, and guide them through the onboarding process.

- Streamline learner intake and engagement

- Create systems to collect feedback from volunteers, learners, and families about

their experiences.

- Develop targeted strategies to increase enrollment of adult learners in ABE

programs and low-income families in Great Start-funded programs.

- Focus on diversifying the volunteer tutor pool through tailored recruitment efforts,

including outreach to underrepresented groups.

Skills

Strong administrative skills with attention to detail and organizational abilities.
Experience in recruiting volunteers and managing volunteer programs.
Proficiency in supervising teams and fostering a collaborative work environment.
Knowledge of market trends related to community engagement and program development.
Ability to collect and analyze data for informed decision-making.
Familiarity with literacy and reading principles is a plus.
Excellent project management skills, capable of juggling multiple tasks efficiently.
Proficient in social media management for effective outreach and engagement.
Benefits of Serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA:

-Living Allowance: Receive a modest bi-weekly stipend to cover basic living

expenses. (Annual amount: $22,800)

-End of Service Award: Choose between a Segal Education Award (to cover

education costs) or a cash stipend. Members aged 55+ can transfer the

education award to an eligible family member.

-Non-Competitive Eligibility (NCE): Gain a hiring advantage for federal

employment opportunities.

-Professional Development: Participate in in-person and virtual training to

advance your skills.

-Child Care Assistance: Eligible members may receive financial support for

children under the age of 13.

-Healthcare Benefit: Choose between reimbursement for existing healthcare or

enrollment in an AmeriCorps healthcare plan (includes dental and vision).

-Additional Benefits: Learn more at americorps.gov/vistabenefits.

Make a Difference, Build Your Future

Serving as a VISTA means more than just volunteering—it’s about empowering

communities, gaining valuable skills, and building pathways for your future career.

Apply today to join Read Muskegon and United Way of the Lakeshore in

transforming lives and creating opportunities for families to thrive!

Join us in making a difference within our community by applying your skills as an Engagement Specialist!