Siena AmeriCorps VISTA

The AmeriCorps VISTA Fellows Program at Siena is seeking passionate and dynamic young professionals interested in dedicating 12 months to public service in the Capital District of New York. AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) grants individuals the opportunity to take the path less traveled, to break the status quo, to stop talking about the problem and to be the solution.

Roughly 1.5 million people live in the Capital Region of New York State, many of them in the inner cities of Albany, Troy, and Schenectady. Annually, the Center for Academic and Community Engagement at Siena College (ACE), selects 32 persons from around the country to serve with non-profits who are working to address socio-economic challenges in the region; these challenges include gaps in education, health care, housing, criminal justice, and economic development. Our AmeriCorps VISTAs fight poverty by working alongside community members to build capacity and create sustainable, local solutions.

Based on your skills and interests, you will be matched with a non-profit organization for one full year. Your role is critical to the organization, and includes gaining experience and skills such as volunteer recruitment & management, fundraising, grant writing, community engagement, and program creation & evaluation. Long-time organizations we have partnered with where our AmeriCorps VISTAs have been placed include: Albany District Attorney’s Office, the Boys and Girls Club, Capital Roots, Hunger Solutions, the Legal Aid Society, the New York State Network for Youth Success, Schenectady Office of Children and Family Services, the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy, and many others!

You will be managed on-site by a supervisor, mentored by two VISTA Leaders, and trained by an experienced VISTA management team. You will attend a Pre-Service Orientation, an On-Site Orientation, and ongoing training throughout your year of service. Online training opportunities include access to free webinars and online courses. In-person training includes high-impact, monthly professional development training that focuses on the enhancement of our VISTAs’ overall growth to make the best of the service year experience. As one of 32 VISTA Fellows, you will have the chance to bond and support each other as you learn, grow, and serve.

Siena VISTA alumni have gone on to graduate school, have been hired by their service site, and have non-competitive eligibility status when applying for federal government jobs. Other benefits include an education award, deferment of qualified student loans, and a modest living allowance. Gain professional experience while serving your community! Join the Siena College AmeriCorps VISTA Fellows team!

1. Go to My AmeriCorps (through the external application link on Handshake).​ This will be your one-stop website for almost all things AmeriCorps related, such as requesting loan forbearance, accessing tax information, using your education award, if you selected one, and of course applying to AmeriCorps programs.

2. Click on "Apply to Serve" at the bottom of the page.

3. Complete the requested profile information.

4. Once you receive your account information via email, log into the My AmeriCorps portal using the navigation pane, on the left, click on the "Application" link and create your application with at least two references included.

5. After all steps of the application are complete, click on "Finish Application." When your application is complete, click "listings" from the navigation pane on the left.

6. Scroll down and find the "Program Name" box. Type in "Siena," ignore all the other fields.

7. Click Search.

8. Read the program information and then click "Apply Now" at the bottom of the page to submit your application to Siena College AmeriCorps VISTA Fellows Program.

9. Once you have submitted the online application, we will receive a notification stating that your application has been submitted and will reach out to you.