Campus Life

Americorps Vistas host community engagement forum Jan. 19

Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

The AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) program at Penn State Berks will host a civic and community engagement event on Friday, Jan. 19, in the Perkins Student Center Lion's Den. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m., and the event will run until 1:30 p.m. This free event is open to students, faculty, staff and community members. Lunch will be provided, but attendees must reserve their seat by registering at Eventbrite.

Gina and Rhiannon Jacobs, Berks AmeriCorps VISTA members, will present the program. This "Start Your Year with Service" event will promote knowledge of and engagement in AmeriCorps and explain how the VISTA initiative builds the capacity for nonprofit initiatives such as the college’s Penn State Educational Partnership Program (PEPP) and Be Bold Take Charge (BBTC).

The forum will include presentations from VISTA alumni Lisa Weaver and Alex Roche, a panel discussion with Regional Reading AmeriCorps VISTAs, and an interactive game highlighting the history of the Reading community.

Nguyen and Jacobs hope to engage with attendees in meaningful conversations about the dynamics of the City of Reading; to motivate young and creative leaders to make an impact in the community; and to discover a newfound passion for social change.

About AmeriCorps VISTA

AmeriCorps VISTA was established in 1965 by President Lyndon Johnson as a part of his War on Poverty. Since 1965, more than 220,000 individuals have served across the country. AmeriCorps VISTA engages more than 8,000 members; leverages $178 million in cash and in-kind resources; and mobilizes 900,000 volunteers each year.

For more information about AmeriCorps VISTA, internship opportunities, and how to get involved, contact Rhiannon Jacobs at rcj5088@psu.edu or Gina Nguyen at gzn5044@psu.edu.

Last Updated January 10, 2018