MTCC AmeriCorps VISTA - Bozeman Schools Homeless Youth Advocate

Bozeman Public Schools exist to provide an outstanding education that inspires and empowers students to achieve high levels of success and make a difference. This project will work to support homeless and low-income students/families, as well as assessing community needs in terms of barriers to accessing education and succeeding in educational environments.

The goal of the VISTA project is to create sustainable programming to support homeless and low-income students in accessing education and community resources to increase their educational outcomes. This will include assessing barriers to accessing education (transportation, housing, basic needs, language barriers) and working with the low income community in meeting these needs. Students and parents will be part of the planning, development, and implementation of the project every step of the way. This will include evaluating and formalizing procedures documents for current systems and suggesting any needed changes.

Montana Campus Compact (MTCC) serves as the intermediary for this project. MTCC is a CEO-led coalition of colleges and universities that support civic engagement, service learning, and volunteerism across the state. Every year we place cohorts of full-time, part-time, and summer AmeriCorps members with schools, colleges, nonprofits, and government agencies in Montana. The AmeriCorps projects we facilitate increase educational equity, break down barriers between higher education and community organizations, and address the root causes of poverty in communities across the state.

In order to achieve Bozeman School District’s goals of removing barriers for education for low-income and homeless students, the AmeriCorps VISTA member will be responsible for assessing community need, creating sustainable programming for increasing donations and volunteership, and increasing program access for these students. The member will also aim to create and implement a mentorship and tutoring program across district schools to foster and empower these students to succeed. The VISTA member will ensure that awareness of these programs is spread among beneficiaries and potential sponsors. Learn more by visiting https://mtcompact.org/available-positions/