Cooperative Federal invites you to join our struggle for economic development, social justice, and community renewal by becoming an AmeriCorps*VISTA.
The credit union is a project site for AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America), a national service program in which dedicated professionals devote one year to working with a non-profit, public service, or community organization. The VISTA project has a work plan directed toward one ultimate goal: the alleviation and elimination of poverty. VISTAs realize this goal by working to build the capacity and sustainability of their sponsoring organization.
VISTA Positions at Cooperative Federal
- Web Technologies VISTA - Start Date: January 2008
- The Web Technologies VISTA will:
- Help micro enterprises and community-based nonprofits “bridge the digital divide” by using the web to communicate with customers and constituents & conduct business. Advise and do one-on-one consultation and development;
- Develop online resource center for start-up or expanding micro enterprises and community-based nonprofits;
- W/team, manage IT functions at youth credit union;
- support development of technology based micro businesses by students in under-resourced neighborhoods, &
- W/team, create a youth/kids financial literacy web site.
Qualifications: ability to communicate on technical subjects with non-technical people, comfort working with diverse groups, dedication to community service, IT or help desk experience, ability to provide one-on-one consultation services to individuals, micro businesses, and community-based nonprofits in low-income neighborhoods, exp. w/ data processing and retail/point-of-sale systems preferred.
- Adult Financial Education - Start Date: August 2008
- The Financial Education VISTA will coordinate, evaluate, revise and expand our multi-lingual financial education programs for adults. Responsibilities include curriculum development, program coordination, volunteer recruitment and training, and creation of training materials.
- Grant Writing and Fundraising - Start Date: August 2008
- The Grant-Writer & Fundraiser VISTA will work with staff, other VISTA members and volunteers to: write grant applications for financial support for programs & services to underserved communities; cultivate & maintain relationships with funders & community partners; and
maintain a grants management database, to track performance & reporting requirements.
- Evaluate & revise youth financial educ. curriculum to be responsive to financial, educational, and socio-cultural needs;
- Develop & implement youth life skills training for low-income refugees & immigrants;
- Help create youth website featuring financial ed. tools & resources;
- Work w/ team to develop interactive website for classes; develop online & audio courseware;
- Cultivate community partnerships, identify funding sources.
- Research, develop, and implement student credit union(s) in at least one Syracuse high school;
- Recruit and train students to help operate student credit union & design services;
- Design, develop, and introduce youth products/services such as microbusiness help and micro-loans, career/educational planning, and other financial counseling for youth;
- W/ team, develop youth/kids website featuring financial tools and resources and information
Stipend and Benefits
In exchange for a year of service, VISTA members receive federal student loan forbearance, a modest subsistence allowance of $10,380/year, medical and dental coverage, and upon completion of their service can receive either a $4725 educational credit (toward student loans or tuition) or a $1200 cash stipend. Low cost housing may be available.
How to Apply
If you are interested in becoming part of our VISTA team, first contact Christina at (315) 471-1116 ext. 250.
Visit the AmeriCorps application site at https://recruit.cns.gov.
Click on “Apply Now” on the left side of the screen. This will take you to the application, which is composed of several sections.
The “Program Selection” section requires you to enter in a Program Listing ID for the position you’d like to apply for.
| VISTA Position | Listing ID |
| Financial Education | NY357470-5 |
| Youth Life Skills | NY357470-6 |
| Outreach & Marketing | NY357470-7 |
| Grant Writing and Fundraising | NY357470-8 |
| Youth Service Development | NY357470-9 |
| Web Technologies | NY357470-10 |
