Nicholls State University welcomed Louisiana’s first VISTA volunteer on Jan. 15 to inspire Nicholls students to get involved with volunteer work and strengthen the community.Louisiana native Charlene Moore, who was sponsored by Louisiana Campus Compact, can now add Volunteers in Service to America to her resume that includes work with the United Way, Leadership Terrebonne, the Governor’s Advisory Board for children and many other organizations in her 36 years of social service work.

Moore will be making contacts in the community and trying to help bridge gaps between Nicholls’ faculty and America’s charitable organizations as well as state organizations that deal with poverty. Moore is proud to be part of the organization that some people refer to as the “domesticated Peace Corps.” “This is a great way for student volunteers to develop their skills before finding their callings,” Moore said in a press release.

Through passion, commitment and hard work VISTA volunteers fight illiteracy, strengthen community groups, create businesses and improve health services. VISTA was originally conceived by President John F. Kennedy in 1960, but was founded in 1965. AmeriCorps incorporated VISTA into its network of programs in 1993. AmeriCorps’ VISTA members serve full-time for a year at a non-profit organization or local government agency. “VISTA’s” receive a small stipend for their year of volunteering.

In 2007, 6,852 VISTA’s served over 11 million hours and raised $172 million nationwide. Sixteen of these VISTA’s worked out of New Orleans during the Tulane University Center for Public Service project, which focused on issues such as health care, job development, asset development historical and cultural preservation.

VISTA members can be sponsored by any local non-profit organization, educational institute or public agency with a project designed to alleviate poverty. VISTA’s serve as short-term resources to help achieve long-term poverty and community resolutions.

Louisiana Campus Compact’s program director, Karen Powell, was pleased and said the initiative will encourage faculty partner with other organizations to further service-learning needs. “Her experience and insight into the needs of this community will prove most beneficial,” Powell said.

“I am thrilled that Nicholls has a new VISTA volunteer. We’re now able to establish the groundwork in making service-learning more a part of the Nicholls experience.” said Morris Coats, economics professor, chair of Nicholls’ Service-Learning committee and the VISTA program’s on-site supervisor. Coats’ was responsible for locating Moore and is pleased with the result.

For additional information or to volunteer your time to the VISTA program, visit www.americorps.org/about/programs/vista.asp