New VISTA Opportunities

[Bill London <london@moscow.com>]

> If you know of an organization working to increase opportunities in
> low-income communities and would like to have AmeriCorps*VISTA members help,
> please forward this email.
>
> AmeriCorps*VISTA Launching Entrepreneur Corps
>
> AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) is launching
> Entrepreneur Corps, a nation-wide initiative to recruit 400 social
> entrepreneurs.  Entrepreneur Corps members will help nonprofit organizations
> and public agencies promote financial programs for low-income individuals
> and communities. Corps members also will help community organizations
> generate assets to sustain themselves by integrating traditional business
> practices such as generating diverse revenue streams, technology planning,
> and endowment development.  AmeriCorps*VISTA seeks applications to sponsor
> project opportunities.
>
> Building equity and generating savings are critical to helping move people
> permanently toward self-sufficiency. AmeriCorps*VISTA has been a leader in
> financial asset development innovation by dedicating members to establishing
> Individual Development Accounts (IDA), home ownership, and automobile
> acquisition programs.  There is also an increasing opportunity to help
> low-income people become self-sufficient by developing their own businesses
> through entrepreneur education and micro-enterprise.  Entrepreneur Corps
> seeks to promote these ventures.
>
> Since 1965, AmeriCorps*VISTA has been helping bring communities and
> individuals out of poverty.  Today, nearly 6,000 AmeriCorps*VISTA members
> serve in hundreds of nonprofit organizations and public agencies throughout
> the country-working to fight illiteracy, improve health services, reduce
> unemployment, increase housing opportunities, or bridge the digital divide.
>
> For more information about this funding opportunity, call 202-606-5000
> extension 204 or visit
> <http://www.nationalservice.org/whatshot/notices/ac_vista_nofo_14dec01.html