Horizons VISTA On-Boarding (2021-2022 Cohort) by Gina Amico

6/7 On-Site On-boarding Checklist

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-06 13:22:32 UTC

From the good people at AmeriCorps, to help you navigate the first few days at site.

6/7 VISTA Member Orientation Check-list

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-06 13:23:43 UTC

Covering your pre-service, day 1, and in-service orientation objectives.

Creating a Community Profile

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-06 13:27:37 UTC

"Developing a Community Profile is another way to learn about the community in which you serve. It can help you understand the makeup of your community as well as the particular challenges people navigating poverty face. To create your own community profile, complete the following assignment."

Socioeconomic Community Profile Database

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-06 13:29:16 UTC

Great tool for finding out community demographics, median income, etc. Generates a customizable report.

Welcome to the VISTA x Horizons On-boarding Padlet

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-06 13:32:31 UTC

Here is a continuum of resources to help you jumpstart your service year. The first few weeks are often hectic and resources will fly at you from all directions. Feel free to add new resources to your cohort's Padlet and to the Slack. To navigate through this site, scroll to the right!

The first few weeks of sessions/assignments are geared to equip you with the basics: understanding your VAD, getting to know your cohort, understanding the VISTA structure and your project.

The next few weeks of on-boarding will work you through activities to encourage discussions around both the issues Horizons and AmeriCorps seeks to alleviate: poverty, systemic racial inequities, educational inequities.

Finally, the last segment of on-boarding seeks to help guide you towards skill-building. You will practice using strengths-based messaging, learn the basics of fundraising, and a very basic project development protocol. Additionally, you and your VISTA Leader will work together to help you develop an individualized professional development plan to help support your growth this year.

This thorough on-boarding is a new undertaking for our project, so we ask that you provide us with fearless feedback and grant us with a little bit of understanding as we smooth out the processes.

2021 Horizons Fact Sheet

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-06 13:39:30 UTC

A one-pager example of how Horizons speaks about itself

Horizons Content Style Guide

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-06 13:40:43 UTC

Guiding document on how to write with the Horizons voice using strengths-based messaging.

Horizons Brand Book

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-06 13:42:05 UTC

For you aspiring marketing moguls/graphic designers, this document provides the Horizons Fonts, logo ratios, and color codes (for Canva and more).

Some advice from the previous VISTA Cohort

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-06 13:45:22 UTC

Pre-meeting Discussion: Why did you choose to serve with AmeriCorps? Why Horizons?

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-06 13:45:55 UTC

Make sure to complete your Lessonly On-Boarding!

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-06 13:49:10 UTC

ASAP Get your Horizons Affiliated Email Address and share it with adunne@horizonsnational.org.

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-06 13:50:13 UTC

Pre-Read/View the Following before our Social Media Webinar with Kylie Lyman

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-06 13:51:24 UTC

Advancing Equity through Strength-Based Messaging

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-06 13:53:20 UTC

"We know actions speak louder than words, and that’s never felt truer than it does today. But the way programs develop their strategies and communicate about Horizons also matters. So while you've probably heard the term “strength-based messaging,” or its alternate name, "asset-based messaging," these are more than just buzzwords. They describe the direction every nonprofit that cares about equity and inclusion should be taking with their communications.

In this session, Lindsay Mullen, CEO of Prosper Strategies will discuss how adopting a strength-based approach can play a role in advancing equity, and share examples of how nonprofits are successfully incorporating this powerful messaging into their communications."

Learning About Theory of Change

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-06 14:52:01 UTC

AmeriCorps VISTA Resources and Contacts

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-06 14:56:42 UTC

Links and contacts to AmeriCorps benefits, policies, learning resources, swag.

Pre-meeting Discussion: Is the problem/need your project is tackling clear to you? How about the outcomes your project aims to achieve?

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-06 15:18:30 UTC

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-06 15:21:19 UTC

Making Sense of Your VAD

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-06 15:22:49 UTC

Pre-meeting Discussion: Where do you serve? How familiar are you with the area you are serving in? Why might a community profile be useful to conduct at the beginning of your service?

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-06 15:24:03 UTC

Webinar: Community Assessments The Heart and Foundation of VISTA Service

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-06 15:28:17 UTC

Horizons x VISTA Journal

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-06 15:31:08 UTC

First things first

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-06 15:43:29 UTC

The first week at site will be a whirlwind as you get to understand your program, its people, and--for the VISTAs who relocated--the surrounding community. Below are some essentials that can't fall through the cracks. Some of the tasks will involve asking your supervisor for assistance. Others will involve your cohort and VISTA Leader. If you have any challenges accomplishing some tasks reach out to your VISTA Leader.

Get a Horizons Email address from your supervisor or the tech person at site. All VISTAs should be given a work email through their work. This email will replace the personal email that you provided us with in your application and will serve as the main means for communication moving forward. If you have difficulties getting Horizons email address contact your VISTA Leader.
Get access to the Wifi network at site. (Self-explanatory, but oh so important)
Share your Horizons Email in the GoogleDrive Sheet and with your VISTA Leader. Once you do this, you will be granted access to the Lessonly platform (the online learning platform used by Horizon National) and to the shared AmeriCorps Drive
Sign up for the Resource Library. This is an archive of Horizons Network resources and guidance on programming, fundraising, Equity Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), etc.

Additional Resources for Performing Community Assessments

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-06 18:59:59 UTC

Core Expectations for AmeriCorps VISTAs at Horizons

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-06 19:12:02 UTC

Link to your own Cohort Padlet

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-06 19:13:00 UTC

Share out cool resources or good memes that you think your cohort would appreciate.

Have you joined our Slack Channel Yet??

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-06 19:32:54 UTC

Join us and pay the pet tax! (Send a photo of your furry friend.) No pets, no problem. Any cute animal photo is appreciated. https://join.slack.com/share/zt-rfax2kkn-YNTXigeInRPUSQY_5THp6w

Resource Color-Code Key

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-06 19:42:30 UTC

White = General Administrative Tasks
Yellow = Discussion Questions
Green = Resources/Activities to Support your On-Boarding
Red = Key AmeriCorps Documents
Purple = Key Horizons Documents

Link to your VISTA Leader's Calendly

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-06 19:43:15 UTC

Sign-up now for a 20 minute one-on-one with Gina!

Write a letter to your future self (Six months from now)

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-06 19:54:57 UTC

Try to address the following:

What are you feeling right now at the start of your service?
What excites you about this upcoming year?
What anxieties do you have right now?
At this point in time, what are your main motivations for serving?
Using the link above, schedule your message to deliver on .

The Service Year Looks Different for Everyone

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-06 20:00:04 UTC

Attached are several different examples of service years from various Horizons VISTAs from the last year.

The general pattern we've noticed:

VISTAs are kept incredibly busy in the summer while program is running.
VISTAs feel less productive in September and October.
VISTAs feel left adrift during school holidays.
VISTA-let projects begin to pick up around November
March is a slower month for VISTAs
VISTAs become very busy with summer preparation around Late-March, Early-April

Discussion: How would you explain what you do in 1 minute or less?

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-07 12:54:38 UTC

Elevator Pitch

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-07 12:55:28 UTC

"Crafting and practicing a compelling introduction to yourself and your organization is an important step in connecting with your community and the individuals you will serve as a VISTA."

When you're done, please comment with your elevator pitch.

Discussion: The mission of the AmeriCorps VISTA program is "to engage members in a year of full-time service to strengthen organizations that eliminate or alleviate poverty through the mobilization of community volunteers and resources." What is poverty? How is it measured in the United States?

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-07 12:57:12 UTC

How Poverty is Measured in the United States

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-07 13:01:26 UTC

After viewing the video, reflect on the following questions. You may want to keep a journal of your thoughts.

What struck you about this video?
What impact might an inaccurate measure of poverty have on policies, programs and people?
Can you think of a more effective way to measure poverty?

Poverty in America Worksheet

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-07 13:03:27 UTC

A slightly dated, but still relevant resource to briefly cover the intersectional factors that contribute to poverty.

A List of Poverty Research Centers in the United States

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-07 13:06:01 UTC

Thirteen Lessons on Poverty

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-07 13:07:10 UTC

The following segment of on-boarding, will be based off of the AmeriCorps module titled "Thirteen Lessons on Poverty."

As you view the video, reflect on the following questions:

What theories guided the war on poverty? (Because the VISTA program grew out of the war on poverty, these theories shaped the program)
How has our understanding about poverty changed over time?

Discussion: Thirteen Lessons About Poverty - Segment 1

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-07 13:09:51 UTC

Watch the first section of the video, up to 4:26, and reflect on the following questions:

Who do you know who might be surprised to learn that 34% of all Americans experience short-term poverty?
How should this information shape an overall strategy for addressing poverty -- especially given the different needs of people in short-term poverty, persistent poverty, or at risk of poverty due to income insecurity?

Is your project focused on serving people in short-term poverty, people in persistent poverty, or people who - for reasons such as income insecurity - might be likely to become poor in the future. Which aspects of your organization’s programs indicate the population you'll be serving?

Discussion: Thirteen Lessons About Poverty - Segment 2

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-07 13:10:13 UTC

Watch the second section of the video, from 4:27 to 9:24. This section of the video covers some of the specific factors that determine how likely someone is to experience poverty, what impact those factors might have on their experience, and what sort of supports different people in poverty need. After watching this segment, consider how the following topics covered in these lessons relate to your project:

Age at which someone first experiences poverty
Geography
Disparities across racial and ethnic groups
Need for childcare
Disability

Which of these factors are relevant to your project, and in what ways? What resources do you think you would need to know about to address these topics in the community where you serve?

Discussion: Thirteen Lessons About Poverty - Segment 3

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-07 13:10:52 UTC

Watch the final section of the video, from 9:25 to the end. This section will cover larger structural causes and effects of poverty such as:

Low-wage work leaves many working Americans in poverty, even if they have multiple jobs.
Whether or not people have access to affordable healthcare can have a huge effect on whether they fall into or remain in poverty.
The poverty-prison-poverty cycle traps individuals and families, making it more difficult to alleviate poverty.
People in poverty are already experiencing more difficulties due to climate change and other environmental concerns.
The “War on Poverty” didn’t fail, although poverty persists in America.

Think back to what you learned about your organization’s Theory of Change through the diagram and definitions provided, and in conversation with your supervisor. Reflect on the following questions:

How does the Theory of Change address one or more of the structural causes and effects of poverty described in the video?
How will your activities as an AmeriCorps member build capacity and advance your organization’s Theory of Change?
What do you think some of the biggest challenges will be?

Discussion: Grant Writing

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-07 13:21:38 UTC

What is a grant? Have you ever written a grant? Does your VAD include grant writing opportunities?

Webinar: Writing Winning Grant Proposals

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-07 13:24:41 UTC

Webinar: Strategizing Your Funding Search

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-07 13:26:47 UTC

Strategizing Your Funding Search Resources

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-07 13:27:45 UTC

Winning Grant Proposal Resources

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-05-07 13:28:32 UTC

VISTA Webinars

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-06-11 15:36:01 UTC

Timesheet & Time Off Request

HorizonsVistaLeader — 2021-06-15 20:49:30 UTC