AmeriCorps VISTA Outreach Coordinator

The Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA program places AmeriCorps VISTA members in full service with our campus and community partners for a one-year period. During this year, members spend 35 hours per week on their host site's campus or with one of that campus's community partners to work on building systems and programs that support low-income college students and community members. The VISTA member's work is to build capacity, meaning that rather than directly serving the community, they're enhancing or creating systems, structures, and resources that support the direct anti-poverty work. Campus Compact functions as the central VISTA program hub, performing program administration, offering training and support to VISTA members and their projects, and connecting the work happening in individual projects both to similar work happening nationwide and back to AmeriCorps. For detailed program information and FAQs, please visit our website.

The VISTA Outreach Coordinator will be instrumental in addressing food insecurity at Western Technical College by developing and executing outreach strategies to improve access to resources for low-income students facing food insecurity. This role will focus on raising awareness of the Basic Needs Center (BNC) and its resources among at-risk students. The coordinator will collaborate with campus teams and departments, design effective outreach materials, plan workshops and events, and partner with local experts and student organizations. Additionally, they will evaluate and report on outreach efforts, conduct needs assessments, and gather stakeholder feedback to continuously improve services and support. Ideal candidates have strong strategic planning and communication skills, community outreach experience, and a passion for addressing food security challenges and promoting student well-being.

• Outreach Strategy Development
  • Assess current outreach methods and identify gaps.
  • Create a targeted outreach plan for low-income students and those at risk of food insecurity.
  • Design and implement outreach campaigns using various formats, including social media and community flyers.
• Collaboration and Training
  • Work closely with the Basic Needs Team and Marketing Department to align outreach strategies.
  • Develop training materials for faculty and staff on available resources and referral processes.
  • Partner with HR to include training in new employee orientation and faculty sessions.
• Educational Workshops and Events
  • Organize workshops and information sessions focused on food security and resource navigation.
  • Collaborate with local experts and student organizations to co-host events that promote awareness and support.
• Evaluation and Reporting
  • Track outreach activities and their outcomes, providing regular reports to the Basic Needs Team.
  • Conduct needs assessments to identify challenges related to food security.
  • Establish feedback mechanisms to gather input from students and community members for continuous improvement.
• Attend orientation, weekly meetings, days of service, and trainings/retreats coordinated by Campus Compact
• Complete data collection and reporting activities required by Campus Compact and AmeriCorps

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate degree preferred
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills to develop working relationships with program partners and program staff.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Prior leadership, volunteer, and/or internship experience with a nonprofit organization.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products.
• Prior experience working with college students, low-income populations, or other vulnerable groups.

• Some College
• Strong commitment to community service and addressing socio-economic inequities.
• Need to be able to work independently and in teams.
• Must be flexible and able to work with the various needs of adult and diverse learners.
• US Citizen, national, DACA status, or legal permanent resident
• Must be able to complete federal background check

Service Term:

July 14, 2025 - July 13, 2026

Please note that this start date is subject to change. Start dates are based on a federal calendar and are not flexible. Regardless of start date, the term of service lasts exactly one year.

• Status: Hybrid
  1. Note: VISTA Members may work remotely one to two days a week; VISTA members must be located within commuting distance of their host site (Western Technical College - La Crosse, WI ).
• Hours
  1. M - F 8:30 AM - 4 PM

• Bi-weekly living allowance of $957.46
• End of service award (AmeriCorps member must choose one of two options; requires completion of full term of service to receive)
• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award ($7,395)
• End-of-Service Cash Stipend ($1,803.10)
• Relocation stipend for candidates moving more than 50 miles ($750)
• Mileage reimbursement for candidate moving more than 50 miles ($0.40/mile)
• Healthcare benefits (AmeriCorps member must choose one of two options)
• Healthcare allowance for out-of-pocket expenses
• Basic healthcare coverage
• 10 Days Personal Leave
• 10 Days Sick Leave
• 14 Days Holiday Leave
• Child care assistance for children under 13 years of age (income dependent)
• Student loan forbearance or deferment for certain loans
• 1 year of noncompetitive eligibility for federal positions*
• Access to professional development opportunities provided by Campus Compact & AmeriCorps

• Parking
• Free Transit via Western ID

1. Apply Directly to the Site (preferred option)
   1. Reach out to the site contact, Julie Christensen via email at christensenj@westerntc.edu and Linh Nguyen via email at nguyenl@westerntc.edu with your resume and information
      1. Title the email "VISTA Application: Your Name" to ensure it's not missed
2. My AmeriCorps.gov Application
   1. Visit this link and apply to the position through the my.AmeriCorps.gov system
      1. Note: The myAmeriCorps system is sometimes finicky and can be hard to update - if that website says "no longer accepting applications," please feel free to reach out to our team via email at vista@compact.org to check.
      2. For support using the myAmeriCorps portal, please see this document.