Current Projects
Now accepting applications for the following projects:
Community and Economic Development
Mentoring
| Project Name |
| North Coast Big Brothers Big Sisters |
| RCAA - Family Services |
| RCAA - Northcoast Mentor Program (2) |
Public Health & Health Services
Mentoring
| Location | Project Name |
| Mendocino Cty. | Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mendocino County |
| S.F. Bay Area | Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay |
| S.F. Bay Area | Centerforce LIFE Project |
| Butte Co. | CHAMP Project |
| Tehama Cty. | Tehama County Dept. of Education Mentoring Program |
| Riverside Cty. | We Care San Jacinto Valley Mentoring Project |
| San Diego Cty. | YMCA Y-FRIENDz Mentoring Program |
4-H Youth Development Program
The 4-H Youth Development Program in Humboldt County has been serving youth, ages 5-19, for 95 years through non-formal, experiential education, where kids “learn by doing”. As we approach our 100th year, we are evaluating our current areas of effectiveness and how we can increase the benefits of our program to a wider audience. In our recent Strategic Planning meeting we listed over 40 strengths that our program offers. Our mission is to empower youth to develop to their fullest potential. Citizenship, Leadership and Life Skills are our three primary focus areas. We strive to develop the identified four essential elements for youth: belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity; in a safe environment with certified volunteer leaders that provide positive role models and mentoring.
The VISTA member will assist in the support and strengthening of existing programs and the development of support and promotional materials to begin implementing new programming to meet the identified needs.
4-H VISTA Application - PDF Format
Arcata Economic Development Corporation
Based on the theory that increased income alone is not likely to move individuals and families permanently out of poverty, this program promotes savings and the building of assets through training in financial skills, and participation in a matched goal savings program with aims such as home ownership or small business investment.
The VISTA member will take the lead in finding new, more flexible sources of funding to stabilize the program, while continuing to enroll more micro-entrepreneurs. The VISTA member will also enable AEDC to pursue funding to develop and implement the post-secondary education asset option. Due to the fact that Humboldt State University and College of the Redwoods are located within our community, AEDC is in a strong position to network with these institutions and other partners, such as the Humboldt Regional Occupation Program, Eureka High School, and the Humboldt Area Foundation.
Project Narrative - PDF Format
Work Plan - PDF Format
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mendocino County
Valid Drivers License, automobile, and insurance required for this position.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mendocino County Mentoring Program (BBBSMC) promotes personal and social responsibility through one-to-one mentoring activities. The BBBSMC will utilize 2 AmeriCorps VISTA members to increase the number of quality mentors who will serve children living in at-risk conditions including children of incarcerated parents, the most vulnerable children in Mendocino County.
VISTA members will be placed in Ukiah and Fort Bragg to recruit mentors throughout Mendocino County for screening, referral and placement with BBBSMC using various strategies, including creating public service announcements, articles and outreach materials, distributing flyers and bookmarks, staffing event tables, etc. Direct outreach will include community presentations to businesses, civic clubs, professional associations, students and faculty at educational institutions, labor unions, military facilities, and key leaders in the community.
Project Narrative - PDF Format
Work Plan - PDF Format
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay
In Marin, Napa and Solano County/City, there are as many as 6,800 children of incarcerated parents, many of whom need a caring and consistent adult in their lives. It is the goal of this project to develop and strengthen the capacity of local partner mentoring organizations, including faith-based entities, to serve children of incarcerated parents by cultivating a cadre of quality volunteers to serve as mentors to be matched to participating program youth. During this three-year project VISTA members will educate the community regarding the need for mentors in an effort to increase the number of mentors matched to youth. VISTA members will build capacity of participating programs to serve youth by recruiting, screening, and referring mentors to appropriate programs to assist in sustaining mentoring activities.
VISTA members will organize community service, recreational, educational and cultural activities which will provide mentor-mentee matches with opportunities to build their relationships within a group setting and at no cost to the match or program. A series of comprehensive trainings, inclusive of curriculum and study materials, will be developed and facilitated by the VISTA member and BBBS Staff
Project Narrative - PDF Format
Work Plan - PDF Format
Centerforce LIFE Project
Centerforce has over 30 years of experience as a non-profit agency that provides services, education and advocacy for prisoners and their families. Leaders in Future Environments (LIFE) is a specific Centerforce program that provides mentors for San Francisco Bay Area youth between 11-18 years of age who have an immediate family member in jail or prison. The program serves youth in Alameda, San Francisco, San Mateo, Contra Costa, and Marin Counties. LIFE is a prevention-based program that seeks to break the intergenerational cycle of crime and incarceration by providing on-going support and positive role modeling.
The VISTA member will conduct the following activities: donation solicitations and/or fundraising to support program capacity increases and enhance current services provided to both the mentors and mentees; youth participant and adult mentor recruitment; community outreach and education about the project and our target population; program and administrative support to the Children and Families Department at Centerforce; research to maintain information and community referrals network for participants and their families; educational material development (for youth); support-planning and facilitation of program events; assist project evaluation efforts and conduct quarterly confidential surveys.Project Narrative - PDF Format
Work Plan - PDF Format
CHAMP Project
The mission of the Chico High Academic Mentoring Program (CHAMP) is to match individual students with responsible, caring adults who will offer support, stability, and a chance for young people to develop the academic knowledge and literacy skills to succeed. Although we have mot maintained records for the entire seven years, we do know that in the past two years, at least 15 of the 100 students we have served have an incarcerated parent and we believe the number to be significantly higher.
The VISTA memeber will: review current and past mentor project activities, policies, procedures including best practices and mentoring partnerships or collaboratives; develop a mentor recruitment presentation suitable for public audiences; create and organize program materials for recruiting mentors including brochures, bookmarks, flyers, PSA's; coordinate presentations with service clubs, colleges, universities, human service organizations, businesses, political bodies, and others to educate the community about the need for mentors for children of incarcerated parents; recruit, screen and refer potential mentors to participating program/s; rrack referrals by entering volunteer information into the program database.
The VISTA member will organize activities which will provide mentor-mentee matches with opportunities to build their relationships within a group setting and at no cost to the match or program.
Project Narrative - PDF Format
Work Plan - PDF Format
Food for People - Gleaning and Food Acquisition
Valid Drivers License, automobile, and insurance required for this position.
Food for People is designated by the California Department of Social Services as the food bank for Humboldt County, and has been providing emergency and supplementary food for people in need for 25 years. Humboldt has been ranked 3rd in the state for its incidence of hunger and food insecurity, with No. 1 being the worst.
The VISTA member will be involved in the Gleaning and Food Acquisition Program and will specifically engage farmers and ranchers to increase the volume of their fresh produce and meat contributions; will participate in education and outreach to low-income residents in order to increase their knowledge and use of growing and preserving their own foods; will create a gleaning model for use at each of their 20 pantry sites; and will work within each community to assess their needs and develop a comprehensive plan to address those local needs.
Project Narrative - PDF Format
Work Plan - PDF Format
Food for People - Nutrition and Food Stamp Outreach
Valid Drivers License, automobile, and insurance required for this position.
Food for People is designated by the California Department of Social Services as the food bank for Humboldt County, and has been providing emergency and supplementary food for people in need for 25 years. Humboldt has been ranked 3rd in the state for its incidence of hunger and food insecurity, with No. 1 being the worst.
Food for People's anti-hunger activities have included a focus on nutrition education and access to food stamp benefits as a means of reducing hunger and improving health, and we have coordinated the Food Stamp Access Task Force since 1999. The VISTA member will be working with our Community Education and Outreach Program staff to extend nutrition education activities and food stamp and other federal food program outreach activities to other community-based programs, including Family Resource Centers, Community Health Centers and Food for People's network of 20 food pantries located throughout Humboldt County. Outreach and support activities will also be provided for low-income individuals.
Project Narrative - PDF Format
Work Plan - PDF Format
Humboldt Community Alliance with Family Farmers
The Humboldt chapter of the Community Alliance with Family Farmers (HCAFF) works to educate the public about family farming's important role in society; to develop new market opportunities for low-income farmers; and to promote the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. Nutrition is at the heart of many of our most pressing children's health issues. In Humboldt County, 42% of youth over the age of five and 46% of adults are overweight according to California Food Policy Advocates. By educating the low-income population on the benefits of a healthy diet, we will enable them to make more educated food choices and prevent diet-related disease.
The VISTA member will assist HCAFF to develop infrastructure so that we can increase our nutrition education activities and ultimately decrease and/or prevent diet-related disease. Main VISTA activities will include: increasing project visibility, developing agency infrastructure, sustaining program activities, and planning and hosting health-related special events for low-income K-6 students and their families.
Project Narrative - PDF Format
Work Plan - PDF Format
Humboldt Community Breast Health Project
Valid Drivers License, automobile, and insurance required for this position.
The overriding goal of the Humboldt Community Breast Health Project (HCBHP) is to ensure that all women, regardless of cultural or socio-economic background or age, have access to early detection and high quality care for breast health and gynecologic cancer concerns.
The VISTA member will focus on two critical areas of need: First: to work with staff to expand and formalize volunteer recruitment, training, coordination and appreciation programs. Second: to assist in cultivating sustainable local funding sources which are not project-specific, but can provide a yearly core operating support so that they can continue to offer services free of charge.
Project Narrative - PDF Format
Work Plan - PDF Format
The Ink People - The Coffee Opp
Founded in 1979, The Ink People Center for the Arts is a collaborative public benefit arts and culture organization that connects the community with resources for cultural sensitivity and development. Our DreamMaker Program began in 1988 to foster self-directing projects inspired by individuals or groups who have a vision of making the community a better place through art. The Ink People provides administrative support and technical assistance to DreamMakers to ensure the best chance of success. Many of our current 43 DreamMakers respond to needs of disadvantaged youth in the community.
The Ink People recently adopted The Coffee Opp as its newest youth-led DreamMaker Program for teens of high school ages 14-19. The Coffee Opp's mission is to offer teens in the Eureka area a space free from drugs, alcohol, violence and discrimination and to provide leadership skills for their self-sufficiency. The VISTA member will help build the infrastructure necessary for project sustainability by developing and implementing a business plan, securing volunteers and training support, and obtaining funding to insure both launch and prolongation of The Coffee Opp. The VISTA member will conduct monthly planning meetings with youth and adult partners to establish partnerships within the community in addition to generating local and outside resources.
Project Narrative - PDF Format
Work Plan - PDF Format
North Coast Big Brothers Big Sisters
North Coast Big Brothers Big Sisters (NCBBBS) in conjunction with Redwood Community Action Agency's (RCAA) Northcoast Mentor Program (NMP) in Mentoring Children of Prisoners is committed to provide one-to-one mentors for children in need. Through our program NCBBBS, whose mission is to promote personal and social responsibility through one-to-one mentoring will seek out children in need to match them with appropriate and screened mentors. NCBBBS will utilize an AmeriCorps VISTA member to either increase the community awareness of NCBBBS or to increase the amount of monetary support for the agency.
The VISTA member will either serve NCBBBS in the capacity of public relations specialist or fund development specialist. In which ever function the member serves they will work closely with the Executive Director and the appropriate board committee to create a plan of action regarding their respective positions. Upon the completion of the action plan the member will begin supporting the agency by following the action plan with the supervision of the Executive Director as detailed in our site specific work plan. The public relations specialist will concentrate on developing media connections making announcements, submitting articles, etc. The Fund Development specialist will concentrate on developing new funding streams for the agency including, but not limited to grants, special events, and sponsorships.
Project Narrative - PDF Format
Work Plan - PDF Format
Small Business Development Center: Plan It Green Project
Plan-It Green is a project of the Center for Environmental Economic Development (CEED). Plan-It Green's mission is to encourage the adoption of economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable practices in Humboldt County and to facilitate their implementation through education, collaborative partnerships, and technical assistance. Plan-It Green members envision a future of prosperous communities, green business practices, healthy living, and innovation. Plan-It Green has eight "satellite" areas of focus: Energy, Transportation, Water Management, Site Development, Recycling and Waste, Economics, Built Environment, and Government Ordinances. Each of these satellites is an area of interest in which Plan-It Green attempts to encourage the local region to implement green, sustainable, and socially positive alternatives. A major focus of Plan-It Green is to create local job markets for small business expanding into the "green" market.
The VISTA member will develop curriculum and community partnerships, recruit targeted-income participants, plan and implement conferences, participate in fundraising activities including grantwriting, and develop the project's website.
Project Narrative - PDF Format
Work Plan - PDF Format
RCAA - Energy Services Project
Community based education, outreach and service delivery is at the core of all of RCAA's energy, telecommunications and environmental services. The VISTA project would focus on expanding the Energy Services Division's existing education, outreach and service delivery capabilities. This would be achieved through the development of systems for tracking, organizing and evaluating efforts in addition to the creation of outreach strategies and materials. In addition, the VISTA member would be researching potential sources of funding to support these activities and submitting applications, as applicable.
The VISTA member will become knowable of the Energy Services Division, client profiles and demographics and funding sources; research, develop and produce education materials low-income households; develop and submit a monthly Management By Objectives (MBO) plan; research potential funding sources; produce database of potential funding sources and application criteria; assist with the development and submission of grant proposals, and conduct a public awareness campaign.
Project Narrative - PDF Format
Work Plan - PDF Format
Redwood Coast Energy Authority
The Redwood Coast Energy Authority’s (RCEA) purpose is to develop and implement sustainable energy initiatives that reduce energy demand, increase energy efficiency, and advance the use of clean, efficient and renewable resources available in the region. The Redwood Coast Energy Information Center serves as a one-stop-shop for energy efficiency information for residential, commercial/industrial, and public agency energy users in Humboldt County.
This VISTA position will help bring a focus to RCEA’s efforts to help local governments to operate more efficiently, and will assist RCEA staff to develop public employee efficiency campaigns; convene a multi-jurisdictional “Local Government Energy Management Team”; coordinate trainings and workshops for public works staff; develop a data base of local government energy efficiency projects and opportunities; track and report on public agency energy use; and support development of local government energy management and greenhouse gas reduction plans.
Project Narritive - PDF
Work Plan - PDF Format
Redwood Coast Energy Authority - Education and Outreach Coordinator
The Redwood Coast Energy Authority’s (RCEA) purpose is to develop and implement sustainable energy initiatives that reduce energy demand, increase energy efficiency, and advance the use of clean, efficient and renewable resources available in the region. The Redwood Coast Energy Information Center serves as a one-stop-shop for energy efficiency information for residential, commercial/industrial, and public agency energy users in Humboldt County.
This position will help improve and expand RCEA’s public information and education efforts, and will assist RCEA staff with the operation of the Redwood Coast Energy Resource Center; develop fact sheets and other literature promoting available local resources; develop and coordinate public workshops and other training opportunities; coordinate information displays at community events; and work with local educators to increase delivery of energy-related curriculum and classroom activities for K-12 students. These efforts will help to connect low- and moderate-income residents with information and locally available programs to help reduce their energy use and expenditures.
Work Plan - PDF
Project Narritive - PDF
RCAA Straight Up AmeriCorps Program
The Straight Up AmeriCorps program of Redwood Community Action Agency places AmeriCorps members in K-12th grade schools throughout Humboldt County to provide a consistent, positive presence in the lives of our community’s lowest achieving youth. Each year, 50 AmeriCorps provide one-on-one school-based mentoring services, coordinate and lead health and wellness activities for students during out-of-school time (lunch, recess, and after-school programs), engage youth in our community through volunteer opportunities; and, recruit volunteers to help meet the needs of our youth.
The VISTA member in this program will be focusing on sustainability of services through the development of a fundraising plan, including developing publicity materials to increase community awareness, developing a collaborative of business and service club partners, and researching foundations.
RCAA Straight Up AmeriCorps Program Application - PDF Format
RCAA - Family Services
RCAA - Northcoast Mentor Program
Valid Drivers License, and clean DMV record required for this position.
The Redwood Community Action Agency's (RCAA) Northcoast Mentor Program (NMP) Mentoring Children of Prisoners has created partnerships with community, government, business and/or faith-based organizations whose mission is to promote personal and social responsibility through one-to-one mentoring activities. Until recently, children with incarcerated parents had not received attention as a special population with unique needs.
VISTA members will recruit mentors throughout Humboldt County for screening, referral and placement with local service providers who serve children of incarcerated parents, using various strategies, including creating public service announcements and articles, distributing flyers and bookmarks, and staffing event tables. Direct outreach will include community presentations to businesses, civic clubs, professional associations, churches and other faith-based organizations, students and faculty at educational institutions, labor unions, military facilities, and key leaders and individuals in the community. Outreach materials such as flyers, brochures and bookmarks, will be developed to publicize the need for mentoring youth.
Project Narrative - PDF Format
Work Plan - PDF Format
RCAA - Youth Services Bureau
The Youth Service Bureau (YSB) division of Redwood Community Action Agency serves Humboldt County youth ages 10-21, and operates a 24-hour crisis hotline, emergency shelter, transitional living program, street outreach and drop-in program, mentor program, and Workforce Investment Act program. YSB is the only program in Humboldt County serving runaway and homeless young people, and the sustainability of our programs is essential for the well-being of our community. Most of our clients are low-income and come from extremely high-risk situations and many have no other means of assistance.
The VISTA member will provide support for the continuation of a YSB Advisory Board to focus on these issues, as well as find and develop new funding opportunities to enhance health-related services to this population. The individual will also create health outreach materials and presentations to be used on the streets and in schools.
Project Narrative - PDF Format
Work Plan - PDF Format
Tehama County Dept. of Education Mentoring Program
The Tehama County Mentoring program matches at-risk youth aged 5-18 with caring, trained mentors through 5 distinct mentoring programs. These are: One to One Mentors, Mentor-Tutors, Mentoring Moms (for pregnant and parenting teens), Cross Age Mentors and Lunch Buddies. Group activities for mentors and mentees are scheduled on a regular basis to promote socialization and connectedness to the community and mentoring program. There is special outreach to children of prisoners. The Tehama County Mentoring Program has been active since 2000. It is a program of the office of prevention at the Tehama County Department of Education.
The VISTA member will be primarily responsible for the Cross Age Mentoring Program, which matches elementary students in SERRF after school programs with high school students from four county high schools: Red Bluff High, Corning High, Los Molinos High and Mercy High. The VISTA will help identify children of incarcerated parents, with the goal of identifying an adult mentor for these children by the time the school year is complete and a high school mentor's commitment is complete.
Project Narrative - PDF Format
Work Plan - PDF Format
We Care San Jacinto Valley Mentoring Project
Proficiency in Spanish and/or experience in English as a Second Language tutoring recommended for this position.
We Care San Jacinto Valley, Inc. (WCSJV) is a community-based nonprofit organization initially sponsored by San Jacinto Assembly of God, a congregation that has 15 years of experience and a proven track record of offering character education/academic tutoring to at-risk youth in California's San Jacinto Valley. The purpose of the WCSJV Mentoring Program is to promote healthy lifestyles and increase resiliencies among disadvantaged children of prisoners ages 4 to 18 and their families through one-on-one mentoring by caring adult role models and improved access to community resources.
Project Narrative - PDF Format
Work Plan - PDF Format
YMCA Y-FRIENDz Mentoring Program
Proficiency in Spanish strongly recommended for this position.
The VISTA members will be working with the Y-FRIENDz Mentoring Program. Y-FRIENDz provides one-to-one mentoring opportunities for youth, ages 4-15, who have a parent currently incarcerated. The program is funded through FYSB's Mentoring Children of Prisoners initiative and operates as part of the YMCA of San Diego County, Youth & Family Services Department. YMCA Youth & Family Services is one of the leading social services agencies in San Diego and has been providing these specific mentoring services for the past 3 years. In addition to the mentoring program, Youth & Family Services offers counseling services, kinship support services, after-school programming, drug awareness and prevention education, shelter services and more reaching over 50,000 children, youth and families each year.
To further strengthen the Y-FRIENDz program and expand our ability to meet community needs, VISTA members will assist with recruiting and screening potential mentors. They will also assist with planning events and activities for mentor-mentee matches, further developing community resources and coordinating ongoing mentor training. Members will work side by side with program staff to facilitate a quality mentoring program with appropriate supports for both youth and volunteers.
Project Narrative - PDF Format
Work Plan - PDF Format
If you have questions about any of the above positions, please email the VISTA Coordinator, or call (707) 269-2049 or (707) 269-2052, Monday-Friday, 8:30-5:00 Pacific time.