“Stronger Together” is an Americorp/VISTA program which is a volunteer
based project designed to bridge community programs in an effort to
empower the people in it, through the use of Grassroots Organizing
techniques to built capacity and or resources in our community.
Project
goals of the program are:
1.Employment Opportunities/Volunteerism
2.Self
Advocacy
3.Self Determination
4.Organizational Collaborations
5.Community
Involvement
What do VISTA(Volunteers In Service to America)
members do?
Members commit to serve full-time for 1 to 3 years at
a nonprofit organization or local government agency and work to fight
illiteracy, improve health services,create businesses, and strengthen
community groups. Members also create or expand programs designed to
bring individuals and communities out of poverty. Americorps VISTA
members gain the ability to solve problems and achieve objectives with
their resource development and management of community relationships
Aims to strengthen parties ability to work together for the benefit of
every person involved. Skills and tools are provided to define problems
and issues and formulate solutions.
What do VISTA(Volunteers In Service to America) members do?
Members
commit to serve full-time for 1 to 3 years at a nonprofit organization
or local government agency and work to fight illiteracy, improve health
services,create businesses, and strengthen community groups. Members
also create or expand programs designed to bring individuals and
communities out of poverty. Americorps VISTA members gain the ability to
solve problems and achieve objectives with their resource development
and management of community relationships Aims to strengthen parties
ability to work together for the benefit of every person involved.
Skills and tools are provided to define problems and issues and
formulate solutions.
What is a community?
A group of
people who share a position in social and/or economic disadvantage
Disability
or membership of a particular ethnic group
Geographical area.
Benefits
Increases
in skills, competencies and self confidence
Effective, efficient and
sustainable delivery of services to communities
Promotion of social
cohesion or inclusion.
Grassroots fundraising
Raises money and
contributions of goods and services
Requires face-to-face asking,
rather than grant application
Publicizes the work of your
organizations, build networks of relationship in the community, more
people actively involved.
Volunteering
Volunteering is the
practice of people working on the behalf of others without being
motivated by financial or material gain. It is an altruistic activity,
intended to promote good or improve human quality of life. Volunteering
also helps to build more cohesive communities, fostering greater
solidarity and trust between citizens.
VISTA ADVISORY Committee
The
VISTA Advisory Committee members are selected to support and oversee
the ideals and recommendations of the “Stronger Together” project.
Advisory
Committee Members are expected to participate in (2) planning meeting
annually.
Advisory Committee Goals/Focus:
Develop positive
inclusion/integration for individuals with intellectual disabilities
Establish/Strengthen
self-advocacy groups
Support opportunities for leadership/leadership
training
Create collaborations/partnerships with community
organizations
Sponsoring Agencies:
1.Tuscaloosa’s One Place
2.Easter
Seals of West Alabama
3.Arc of Tuscaloosa
4.Indian Rivers Mental
Health Center
5.United Cerebral Palsy of West of West Alabama
People
First of Alabama
Designated Collaborations/CO-OPS/SELF ADVOCACY:
1.Gettysburg
College
2.Tuscaloosa Childrens’ Council
3.Self Advocacy Becoming
Empowered (SABE)
4.University Of Alabama
5.Kentuck Art Festival