NRRC- Minneapolis, MN

Grant Coordinator

NRRC (Northside Residents Redevelopment Council) is a historically Black-led neighborhood non-profit organization established in 1969. For fifty years, NRRC’s mission has been to inform, engage, and facilitate the residents of the Willard Hay and Near North neighborhoods in North Minneapolis to be primary agents for improving the social, economic, health, and environmental conditions in their community. Since its conception, NRRC’s priority has been to engage residents, identify needs, and develop programs to address those needs. NRRC began an eco-renovation of an abandoned house at 1303 Golden Valley Road in 2016 that now serves as our headquarters and the Demonstration Site for Healthy Urban Living. At the Demonstration Site for Healthy Urban Living, community members engage in sustainable practices such as a organic gardening, backyard chicken raising, installing rain barrels, maintaining pollinator and rain gardens, composting, and recycling. As a community that has historically been left out of the conversation on sustainability, the Demonstration Sites provides a crucial resource to North Minneapolis.

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Camp Fire- Excelsior, MN

Nature Fellowship Development

With nature as our catalyst, we energize youth to discover their spark so their future glow brighter.” Camp Fire Minnesota’s mission is delivered through three core programs: preK-12 Environmental Education field trips and in-class programs, nature-based summer and school-break camps, and after-school nature programs. In 2022 we led nature experiences for 10,490 youth; 48% participated in Camp Fire programming with financial assistance. A VISTA member will research and create the infrastructure to launch a Nature Fellowship Program. This new program will address a critical need in the environmental field that is predominantly White and lacks racial representation. Only 12% of U.S. government environmental agencies and nonprofit environmental staff identify as BIPOC, despite constituting 40% of the U.S. population (Pearson, 2018). Green job careers are growing, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, but opportunities to experience the benefits of this growth have yet to be equitable. As identified by the Hennepin County Climate Action Committee, "BIPOC populations are underrepresented in the environmental workforce. For example, although BIPOC residents comprise more than one-third of the U.S. population, they occupy less than 16% of staff and board positions within environmental organizations and only 12% of leadership positions, according to a 2016 Harvard study." This exciting opportunity will address the inequities built into our systems, build partnerships, and create an equitable pipeline for young people who value nature. The Nature Fellowship Program will create a pipeline to green jobs for historically under-resourced populations. The goals of the program include: Improving representation at Camp Fire and in the environmental field. Increasing cultural competency within Camp Fire programs and curriculum. Expanding our leadership development program to engage young adults ages 18+.

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Vietnamese Social Services- Saint Paul, MN

Project Coordinator

The mission of Vietnamese Social Services of Minnesota (VSS) is to help facilitate the economic, health and mental health needs of refugees and immigrants while retaining their cultural identities. Originally founded in 1987 to serve Vietnamese refugees in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, VSS now serves over 4,500 immigrant/refugee clients from Vietnam, Karen, Karenni, Somalia, and others. As a state, Minnesota has provided a second home to many displaced persons from around the world, and VSS is a proud partner in that effort. We are very proud of the fact that most of the Vietnamese Americans who are thriving in Minnesota now were former clients at VSS. The populations of refugees has changed, but the adjustment process is a familiar one. We have built expertise in this process, but now we are engaged in planning for VSS’ next phase. We are very excited with this initial collaboration with VISTA as a partner in VSS’ development efforts of building its internal and external capacities. We are collaborating in activities such as strategic planning, fundraising, and program planning, among others. This process will help VSS continue to be a strong, valued, and respected service provider in the great State of Minnesota. Organizational Summary: Vietnamese Social Services is a direct service organization, serving low income families, welcoming newly arrived immigrant and refugees, and supporting youth, adults, and seniors on their journey as new Americans. Each year, we reach nearly 4,500 program participants. Most are Karen (65%) and Vietnamese (25%) refugees and immigrants. The remaining group (10%) is composed of Burmese, Somali, and Laotian. All are residents of the 7-county metro area.

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PPGJLI - Minneapolis, MN

Programming Specialist

Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute (PPGJLI) is a nonprofit organization that seeks to promote reading and diversity in books. Reading is fundamental to education. Only 18 percent of Black fourth graders are reading at grade level, making them four times more likely to not graduate. Children are more likely to read books when they can identify with the characters. Black youth are more likely to see a black dog on a book cover than a Black child. Our nationally recognized “Leaders are Readers” program fosters literacy through multicultural books.

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PPGJLI - Minneapolis, MN

Fundraising and Development Specialist

Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute (PPGJLI) is a nonprofit organization that seeks to promote reading and diversity in books. Only 18 percent of Black 4th graders are reading at grade level making them 4 times more likely to not graduate. Children are more likely to read books when they can identify with the characters. Black youth are more likely to see a black dog on a book cover than a Black child. Our nationally recognized “Leaders are Readers” program fosters literacy through multicultural books. As PPGJLI programming expands, it will require additional donors, book distribution channels, and community partnerships. The Fundraising and Development Specialist will help PPGJLI sustain this expansion by building these valuable resources. The Fundraising and Development Specialist will be instrumental in promoting literacy and leadership within the MN African American community. The specialist will expand the organization’s donor base, book distribution channels, and community partnerships. The Fundraising and Development Specialist will work with PPGJLI staff and board members to create new opportunities for community engagement with a focus on an inter-generational approach to promoting reading and diversity in books. The Fundraising and Development Specialist will develop communications and marketing resources that support PPGJLI staff and board members in building and maintaining growth and outreach. The VISTA will work closely with communities of color to understand the social impact of lack of funding in literacy in poor neighborhoods. The VISTA will be someone who has strong knowledge of community outreach and can establish a sense of trust in underserved communities of color. A successful candidate will have a strong initiative of community outreach, skills in problem-solving, and experience with using current technology. The VISTA will receive fundraising and community outreach training from the PPGJLI staff. 

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International Institute of Minnesota - St. Paul, MN

Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator

The VISTA will build the volunteer capacity of IIM by developing a sustainable volunteer program and improving systems, staff capacity, and volunteer management throughout the organization. Specific activities include: Interview clients, staff, and potential volunteers to determine their needs, pain points and desires for volunteer participation; championing volunteer capabilities and roles; re-start and manage the Refugee Mentor and Bus Buddy programs; build and manage a volunteer/intern management system in NeonCRM; design training materials and train new volunteers and interns; and lead volunteer recognition and stewardship for the Institute. The VISTA will also coordinate and acknowledge in-kind and needed donations to support clients’ basic needs across Institute programs.

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CAIR-MN- Minneapolis, MN

Education Resource Coordinator

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)’s mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding. The VISTA project will address the needs of our constituency, the East African immigrant community, by researching, planning, and creating an online resource toolkit to enhance the community’s well-being.

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Open Cupboard - Oakdale, MN

Community Engagement Specialist

Open Cupboard’s mission is to provide nutritious food to our neighbors in a respectful manner and engage our community in the fight against hunger. We currently provide fresh food to over 4,000 households each week. The majority of people we serve are from Maplewood, Oakdale, Woodbury, and the East Side of St. Paul. While we are located in Oakdale, we are open to anyone in need of food, regardless of where they live. In our Today’s Harvest markets, we offer fresh, healthy food donated each day from local grocery stores. The Community Engagement Specialist will work on expanding our food rescue donors, focusing on culturally specific grocers and farms. They will also support volunteer recruitment and engagement, including increasing the number of BIPOC and bilingual volunteers. This work will include creating new volunteer opportunities throughout all of our programs.

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American Indian OIC- Minneapolis, Minnesota

Community Engagement Specialist

American Indian OIC (AIOIC) has been helping its neighbors for more than four decades, addressing challenges seeded long ago. Founded by leaders of the American Indian Movement in 1979, the mission of American Indian OIC is to empower American Indians who wish to pursue career opportunities, providing individualized education, training, and human services in a culturally rich environment. Each year, AIOIC helps more than 800 of our neighbors, the vast majority of low-income people of color, access culturally contextualized education and workforce services to make positive strides toward economic stability and independence. Although our mission is rooted in the advancement of Native Americans, anyone who could benefit from education and career services is welcome, regardless of race, creed, age, gender, or sexual orientation. In fact, our career pathways programs are branded with the name “Takoda,” a Dakota word meaning “friend to all.” The diversity of our staff has significant benefits for BIPOC youth participants, who see staff members as positive role models who reflect their identity, encouraging the formation of trusting relationships and increasing student engagement with culturally relevant curricula. These attributes make AIOIC effective and well-positioned to help participants follow their self-designed education and career pathways. We know that education is a key component to fair and just inclusion into society, and AIOIC is proud that its programming results in higher educational attainment and earnings for participants. These results advance prosperity, improving lives and strengthening our community. Those who complete our job training program see, on average, a 66% increase in their income. The central goal of our VISTA project is raising awareness and participation in our programs through community engagement. The VISTA worker will join a dedicated team of 40 here at AIOIC.

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Central MN Dementia Community Action Network (DCAN) - St. Cloud, MN

Development & Marketing Specialist

This project will assist the Central Minnesota Dementia Community Action Network (DCAN) to increase capacity through marketing and development. The Development & Marketing Specialist will increase the organizational financial support; capacity to serve patients, caregivers, and families throughout greater central Minnesota; reach and engage special populations and communities to increase awareness of DCAN, and individuals’ need for early dementia detection, mitigation, and prevention. The Development & Marketing Specialist will also help develop resources to enable staff and board members to take a more active role in building and maintaining relationships with donors, grantors, volunteers, and referring providers/clinicians.

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Semcac - Rushford, MN

Accessible Van Coordinator

This position will serve as the coordinator of a new program that will provide free, accessible van rides. The van will provide dispatched rides to anyone without reliable transportation, and will prioritize providing free transportation to and from COVID-19 and other vaccinations for low-income households; the provision of free rides to program eligible persons and households through Volunteer Driver Program; the delivery of nutritious Home Delivered Meals (Meals on Wheels) to eligible seniors; transport both food and consumers to and from food shelves and grocery stores; provide rides to and from medical appointments; provide rides to Head Start sites for low income and income-eligible persons.

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POPLI- Minneapolis, MN

Volunteer Outreach Coordinator

Girls in Action™ Mission: Motivate, Mentor, Empower, Engage and Educate Girls to Succeed in School and Life. How Does Girls in Action Work? A weekly mentoring and empowerment program (est. 2005) for female students in grades 6 through 12 that extends throughout the school year and is integrated into the regular school day that was founded by Dr. Verna Cornelia Price, an African-American business woman and author with a heart for seeing urban students succeed in school and life. Girls learn how to use their personal power to make positive choices in school and life. Women mentors and leaders meet with the girls weekly to work with them on decision-making, self-control, careers and leadership skills. Girls are taught how to take responsibility for their actions in school and life. Girls also participate in fields trips designed to expose them to colleges, corporations and businesses, as well as community organizations. Program Goals VISTA Position Description: We would like our VISTA to focus on the area of communication and volunteer coordination. A key factor to communication would be website updating and assisting with broadening our donor base through social media and helping identify the latest trends in technology to reach a larger audience. In hopes this effort would allow us to access and secure individual donors, partnerships and volunteers that will in turn feed directly into the program and create additional resources for our program participants. In addition our VISTA would focus on training, scheduling and recruiting program volunteers. This would include, connecting with our corporate partners to co-facilitate our custom designed training, assisting with placement and scheduling for the volunteers at our school sites and recruitment efforts.

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Promise Neighborhood - Minneapolis, MN

Volunteer and Donor Specialist

This position will be filled on a rolling basis. Apply Today! Promise Neighborhood of Central MN is a community-led organization located in and serving SE Saint Cloud. SE Saint Cloud is a rapidly changing community with two elementary schools. The two schools have over 1000 students and a poverty rate of over 90%. 80% of the students are minorities. Community members are staff, board members, volunteers, and stakeholders. Community members participate in decision-making and develop and implement programming. Our VISTA members will continue to build capacity by recruiting new volunteers and donors and creating a new outreach plan with community members, partner organizations, donors, and volunteers. Promise Neighborhood’s mission is to support families to achieve their economic, educational, and social aspirations. We provide training, leadership development, and learning opportunities to empower residents to act and speak on their own behalf.

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Isuroon - Minneapolis, MN

Youth Program Specialist

The VISTA member in this position will work on a number of levels to increase the sustainability and cohesiveness of Isuroon’s youth programs. In collaboration with the staff the VISTA will 1) co-create tools and systems for program management and outcome- and progress-tracking for youth programs 2) identify opportunities and strategies for staff growth and development, and 3) develop partnerships with local and national youth programs. The Youth Program Specialist will be working closely with both youth programs and development staff and use programs like Microsoft Excel, Salesforce, and GrantsHub to interact with program data. Training for these programs will be provided.

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