Adult Learning Programs of Alaska administers the Interior Alaska VISTA Umbrella for the Corporation for National and Community Service. There is the capacity to place twelve VISTA members in projects throughout the Interior. Visit the website developed by and for AmeriCorps*VISTA in Fairbanks: http://arcticvista.wordpress.com/.

Local agencies supporting VISTA members currently include:

Adult Learning Programs of Alaska
Adult Learning Programs of Alaska's core purpose is educating for life's transitions. VISTA members work on collaboration projects with Tanana Chiefs Conference, the development of rural adult education services streamlining access and providing support to adults in remote villages throughout Alaska's Interior and on the Veterans History Project.

Currently recruitment is in process for the rural education and veterans history positions.

Alaska Legal Services Corporation
Alaska Legal Services Corporation (ALSC) is a private, nonprofit law firm that provides free civil legal assistance to low-income Alaskans. The VISTA member works on providing information and getting information out about self-help legal resources available through AlaskaLawHelp.org to Alaskans living in the Interior.

Big Brothers Big Sisters
Big Brothers Big Sisters has a VISTA member working on providing mentoring to the youth in Bethel, Alaska. There is also a position at BBBS working on developing the program to rural villages all over the Interior of Alaska. Through the Amachi program, the VISTA member works on providing 'Bigs' to 'Littles' whose parents are currently incarcerated.

Currently recruitment is in process for the Bethel and Fairbanks based positions.

Calypso Farm and Ecology Center
Calypso Farms and Ecology Center promotes local agriculture and environmental awareness through hands-on education in natural and farming ecosystems. The VISTA member has developed a curriculum for elementary school teachers to use in their classrooms, and in addition, has developed the Schoolyard Garden Initiative in which gardens were planted in local schools for use as teaching tools and to provide over 20 families with food during the summer months. Area youth are employed to work the gardens.

Recruitment will begin soon.

Fairbanks Downtown Association/North Pole
The VISTA member works with both of these communities on revitalizing the downtown areas of Fairbanks and North Pole. The projects implement the latest in urban design concepts by ensuring public participation.

Fairbanks Native Association—FNA
FNA is one of Alaska’s oldest urban Native organizations. FNA provides social services, primarily in the North Star Borough, including behavioral health, education, employment assistance, and community service to Alaskans regardless of race as well as specific programs for Native groups. The VISTA member aids in fundraising and community outreach activities.

Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks and Recreation-Pioneer Park
Pioneer Park is a 44 acre historic theme park located on the Chena River in Fairbanks, Alaska. It's a place to relax and smell the roses, a place to explore the past, a place to learn, and a place to play. The VISTA member is working with the local community to revitalize the Native Village in Pioneer Park. The Native Village consists of a Museum with a wide range of Indian and Eskimo artifacts, buildings representing Alaskan Native architecture of the 1800's and an amphitheater carved into the natural setting of indigenous foliage.

Recruitment will begin soon.

Farthest North Girl Scout Council
Based in Fairbanks, Farthest North Girl Scout Council has a history and tradition dating from 1925, thirty-four years before Alaska became the 49th state. The VISTA member is working on developing the rural program so that girls who live in the Interior of Alaska are able to participate in Girl Scouts. This position requires flying out to rural villages, lots of walking, canoeing and riding snow machines in the winter!

Currently recruitment is in process.

Greater Fairbanks Area Habitat for Humanity
Through the work of Habitat, thousands of low-income families have found new hope in the form of affordable housing. Churches, community groups and others have joined together to successfully tackle a significant social problem -- decent housing for all. The VISTA member in Fairbanks works on volunteer development and coordination and updating the database for fundraising purposes as well as volunteer coordination.

Currently recruitment is in process.

Literacy Council of Alaska
The Literacy Council of Alaska (LCA) is a non-profit educational agency, which began in 1973. The goal of the agency is to increase literacy in the Fairbanks community. The VISTA member is working on supporting the Family Literacy project by finding funding sources in order to support and build sustainability for the program.

World Eskimo Indian Olympics - WEIO
WEIO is a cultural celebration based on skills required to survive in the Alaskan wilderness. The first World Eskimo Olympics was held in Fairbanks in 1961. The VISTA member works on everything from assisting with coordinating the games to marketing and developing the business plan for WEIO.

AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) provides full-time members to nonprofit, faith-based and other community organizations, and public agencies to create and expand programs that ultimately bring low-income individuals and communities out of poverty. Go to www.americorps.org for more information!

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