Fighting Poverty with Passion

The Extension Youth Enterprisers Program is seeking AmeriCorps*VISTA members to work with Missouri communities and University centers on rural youth entrepreneurship, beginning July 2007.

VISTA members live and work in communities with a specialization in
education, mentoring, financing, or networking.

Sample activities include:

• developing youth entrepreneurship curriculum materials for local and regional projects
• organizing youth revolving loan funds, scholarships, etc.
• recruiting and training business mentors from the community
• starting 4-H youth entrepreneurship clubs
• linking young entrepreneurs to microenterprise resources
• forming local not-for-profit corporations

VISTA members work with a local team and are part of a statewide network of VISTAs and other professionals working in entrepreneurship and enterprise development.

Positions are ideal for recent retirees, or persons looking to move into a youth development, business education, workforce
development, or community and economic development career.

What are some extra reasons to serve as a VISTA in Missouri?

• Two major metropolitan areas--Kansas City and St. Louis.
• Ozark outdoors, Mark Twain National Forest, and some of the most stunning blue fresh water springs.
• 225 miles of Katy Trail for hikers and bikers across the state.
• Baseball, blues, and barbecue!
• Country festivals named after nearly every fruit, nut, and vegetable known to man.
• Interstate crossroads within a day's drive of numerous Midwestern
cities.

VISTA members receive a living allowance, health insurance, childcare assistance, relocation allowance, training, and are eligible for a $4,725 education award to apply toward student loans and/or tuition and educational expenses in the next 7 years. Housing subsidies may be offered by some project sites.

Candidates must be available beginning July 10th for Pre-Service
Orientation, and go on assignment July 16th. Deadline to apply is May 1, 2007.

For more information, contact: Steve Henness, VISTA Program Coordinator, 573-884-6618, hennesss@umsystem.edu.

To apply on the web: visit https://recruit.cns.gov

VISTA is looking for experienced, energetic individuals who want to make a full-time, year long commitment to fight poverty. If you’re retiring soon, already there, or want to take a year off for a year of service, VISTA may be for you. Living allowances and other benefits are provided. More About VISTA