Anti-Hunger VISTA - YMCA of Greater Kansas City

Overview

AmeriCorps is the federal agency for national service and volunteerism.  The Y is partnering with them to provide opportunities for a VISTA members to serve and make sustainable change within the community.

The future of our food security and nutrition education programming is dependent on our ability to build capacity to coordinate these programs across our association, and to continue to develop partnerships with other community food service providers. Our Food Programs VISTA will provide sustainability resources to support association-wide programming that addresses hunger, access to nutritious food, and nutrition education. An individual in this role will become familiar with state organizations that administer federally-reimbursable meal programs as well as existing community organization partnerships, and develop resources that will provide guidance and support for food program administrators, staff, and volunteers. Working closely with our People Services department, our Food Program VISTA will refine existing volunteer opportunities for food program support, and identify needs and opportunities for additional volunteer involvement. By becoming familiar with the Y’s key focus areas and community service programs, the Food Programs VISTA will identify ways that we can leverage resources to address hunger and nutrition education.  This VISTA position is for a one year service term.

Benefits:

• Community Impact
  • Be part of something bigger and give back to the community.
• Living Allowance
  • You receive a modest bi-weekly living allowance to cover basic expenses.
  • The total stipend for the year of service is $24,962.
• Professional Development Training
  • You have the opportunity to attend in-person and virtual training to learn how to be a community development change agent.
• Non-Competitive Eligibility

  • Once you've successfully completed service in AmeriCorps VISTA, you will receive one year of non-competitive eligibility for employment in the federal government.

  • This special hiring status enables you to apply for federal jobs with the advantage of not having to go through the standard public competitive selection process. That means that you can be appointed to federal positions that may not be available to the general public. In addition, your application could be processed faster than others.

  • NCE does not guarantee you a federal job, but it does provide a valuable opportunity!

  • Using Noncompetitive Eligibility for a Federal Job
• End of Service Award
  • Members can choose between a Segal Education Award (valued at approximately $7,395) to pay for a range of education expenses or a $1,800 cash stipend.

Responsibilities

• Help build our capacity to strengthen the Y’s existing youth meal programs as well as expand those programs to include additional membership centers that serve low-income communities.
• Evaluate the ways in which our association is currently addressing hunger, nutrition, and food education, and develop resources that can be utilized by food program administrators, staff and volunteers.
• Conduct assessment of local community organizations and identify potential food program partners.

Qualifications

• 18 years or older.
• High School Diploma or GED
• Works effectively with people of different backgrounds, abilities, opinions and perceptions.
• Detail oriented with good organizational skills, and be multi-task proficient.
• Strong computer skills with the ability to adapt to new software.
• Must have reliable transportation. Travel around the Greater Kansas City area is required.