WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced programs in Dickinson, Fargo and Minot will receive a total of $243,790 in AmeriCorps VISTA grants from the Corporation for National and Community Service. The programs and their awards are:
Dickinson – ND Senior Career Development II Project, $50,482. This program assists low-income seniors and economically disadvantaged youth attain independence and personal fulfillment through education, training, guidance and supportive services. AmeriCorps VISTA members will recruit volunteers, write grants and conduct community outreach in Stark County.
Fargo – Park District of the City of Fargo, $50,482. This program reduces malnutrition and isolation in seniors and helps them age in place. To expand awareness and participation in the nutritious meal program, AmeriCorps VISTA members will organize focus groups, create surveys to better understand current unmet needs, and recruit volunteers.
Minot – Souris Basin Planning Council, $142,826. This program’s mission is to support communities, leaders and entrepreneurs to expand economic opportunity across North Dakota. AmeriCorps VISTA members will conduct research on best practices and resources, write grants, develop new programs and conduct community outreach.
Created in 1965, AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) is a national service program designed to alleviate poverty in America. AmeriCorps VISTA members serve full-time for one year at non-profit organizations, schools, or local government agencies, multiplying their impact and building their capacity to carry out essential projects. By recruiting and managing community volunteers, fundraising, coordinating projects, and more, AmeriCorps VISTA members make anti-poverty organizations stronger. They serve nationwide, supporting local programs that reduce homelessness, improve health services, develop financial assets, improve academic performance, and expand job opportunities for those in need.
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