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The University of Wisconsin-Parkside AmeriCorps*VISTA project is working to alleviate poverty in Racine and Kenosha through economic development and financial fitness. This newsletter highlights the progress and accomplishments of the VISTA members and the overall project to date.
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Welcome to the 2013-2014 UW-Parkside VISTA year! This is the second year of the project and I’m very excited to be able to share with you all of the great work that the VISTA members are doing for their organizations. I came to Racine after completing my AmeriCorps VISTA term in Denver, CO with the Western Hardrock Watershed Team working with a statewide volunteer water quality monitoring program. The UW-Parkside VISTA project is a change of pace for me, but I am quickly expanding my horizons and becoming familiar with the Racine area. Originally from the Boston area, I’m excited to explore a new part of the country and be a part of the UW-Parkside VISTA project. I am looking forward to telling you about how the program is growing and building on the work that the 2012-2013 VISTA cohort completed to make more of an impact within our community.
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Here is a summary of the resources generated by the VISTA project in the 2012-2013 year:
- Community Volunteers involved in the VISTA projects: 409
- Volunteer Hours: 3,052 with a cash value of $67,571
- Cash Resources generated by VISTA members: $28,820
- In-Kind Donations: $4,755
The VISTAs are already well on the way to making an even larger impact in the community this year!
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Amy Macemon is working with three local organizations to provide the region with increased food security. Sustainable Edible Economic Development (SEED) is working to create jobs through healthy, sustainable, local agriculture. The Homeless Assistance Leadership Organization (HALO) allows entrepreneurs to use their industrial kitchen for making their value-added products prior to starting off on their own. Racine Urban Garden Network (RUGN) has community gardens that serve over 200 gardeners across Racine. Last month, RUGN held their largest ever Harvest Festival. Despite a day that started off with bad weather, Amy and about a dozen volunteers were able to make it a success. The festival ran from 2 - 9 pm but really kicked off after 3:30 when everyone was sure the rain showers had subsided. All in all, about 150 community members came out to celebrate and taste some great chili from eleven local restaurants. In addition to chili tasting, there were three garden-themed crafts, eight vendors, a raffle, and live music to close the festival. If you'd like to see pictures from the event, check them out here. Other projects that Amy is working on include: securing funding for SEED's scholarship program, working with the Racine Farmers Market to allow them the capability to accept Wisconsin Food Share benefits for the 2014 season, increasing partnership opportunities for the HALO incubator kitchen, and working to expand RUGN's educational programming. If you have questions about about of the projects, or are interested to know how you can get involved, contact Amy.
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VISTA to Start work with the City of Racine
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We are pleased to welcome Caitlyn White to the VISTA cohort as of November 2013! Caitlyn is a recent graduate of the University of New Hampshire where she got her bachelors degree in Tourism Planning and Development, with a minor in
Community and Environmental Planning. Caitlyn grew up in Natick, Massachusetts
and recently relocated to Racine, Wisconsin to serve with the City of Racine Department of City Development.
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Upcoming VISTA Project Events
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- November 16: Money Conference VISTAs Molly MacPhail with the Racine Coalition for Financial Fitness, Brian Dean with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program through the Racine/Kenosha Community Action Agency, and Demetri Vincze with the Homeless Assistance Coalition and the HOPES Center have been helping to plan this event.
- November 17-23: Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week Demetri Vincze has been working hard with local organizations to create awareness and to collect food and personal items for homeless children in our community.
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