AmeriCorps VISTA Program

The best part of the program was hearing all the stories from those students about how they were making a difference in their communities

- Sophie Morin

During the 2018-2019 academic year, the Center for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL) began a multi-year partnership with the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC), the state’s lead agency for volunteerism, to place an AmeriCorps VISTA at Michigan State University. MCSC utilizes service as a strategy to address the state’s most pressing issues and empowers volunteers to strengthen communities. AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) was founded in 1965. AmeriCorps VISTA members are designed to provide needed resources to nonprofit organizations and public agencies to increase their capacity to lift communities out of poverty.

AmeriCorps VISTA members focus on capacity-building activities and work to create systems that remain long after their term of service ends. AmeriCorps VISTA projects expand the scale, impact, and resource-leveraging ability of programs and organizations by building infrastructure, expanding community partnerships, securing long-term resources, and more, as determined by local needs.

In 2020, CCEL welcomed a second AmeriCorps VISTA member, Sophie Morin, to the team. Sophie provided essential support to the CCEL team during the global pandemic. Nearly all of her service year was in a virtual environment. She was invaluable in designing effective virtual volunteering programs for MSU students and creating sustainable resource materials during this challenging time.

“The best part of the program was hearing all the stories from those students about how they were making a difference in their communities,” Sophie said. “I’ll definitely miss working with students and planning events, but I will always carry the skills I learned from them throughout my life.”

The virtual service initiatives Sophie helped create allowed for students to continue to participate in the Global Day of Service and her own VISTA year initiative project, the Virtual Summer of Service Challenge.

Sophie’s hard work and innovation will certainly be missed. The benefits and opportunities that were made available to CCEL, MSU students, and community partners through Sophie’s efforts and the support of MCSC and the AmeriCorps VISTA program will have a lasting impact on youth volunteers for years to come.