We Strive For Literacy

Nearly 4 out of 10 Vista Unified students are not reading at grade level, leaving hundreds of children without the foundational literacy skills needed for lifelong success. Meanwhile, families face a fragmented ecosystem of resources, making timely support difficult to access.

To solve this, We Strive for Literacy (WSFL) is launching the Vista Literacy Collaborative—uniting schools, families, community organizations, volunteers, and funders into a seamless support network designed to assist ~300 low-income children and families over the next three years.

Important Note: This is a capacity-building service opportunity, not a direct tutoring role. As a VISTA member, you will create the sustainable systems, tools, referral networks, and documented processes that keep this initiative thriving long after your service year ends.

(This is a great opportunity for recent high school or college graduates looking to take a gap year or someone retired)

Key Responsibilities

• Partnership Mapping & Outreach: Assess existing community partners and local resources to build a structured pipeline and partner map.
• Infrastructure & Tool Development: Design reusable meeting agendas, facilitation tools, and follow-up procedures for Collaborative stakeholder meetings.
• Referral & Enrollment Pathways: Co-design, pilot, and refine family-friendly referral systems in direct collaboration with local schools, organizations, and families.
• Knowledge Sharing: Document best practices, train staff/partners on system usage, and contribute tools to the Vista Literacy Collaborative Replication Toolkit.

Year 1 Focus & Measurable Goals

• Establish or strengthen 10 community partnerships.
• Pilot partnership engagement, referral, and planning tools with at least 4 core partners.
• Create and hand off standardized, documented procedures to ensure ongoing program sustainability.

Desired Skills & Qualifications

We are looking for candidates who bring strong interpersonal and organizational capabilities:

• Core Competencies: Community Organization, Relationship Building, Communications, and Leadership.
• Operational Skills: Public Speaking, Technology/Computers, Project Coordination, and Teamwork.
• Background/Interests: Education, Business/Entrepreneurship, or Nonprofit Management.

Program Benefits

• Living Allowance
• Choice of Segal Education Award or End-of-Service Stipend upon successful completion
• Transportation Reimbursement & Relocation Allowance (if eligible)
• Healthcare Coverage & Childcare Assistance (if eligible)
• Structured supervision, hands-on project coaching, and ongoing professional

We Strive for Literacy (WSFL) is building the Vista Literacy Collaborative so schools, families,
community organizations, volunteers, and funders can work together to connect more
low-income children with timely literacy support.

4 out of 10 of Vista Unified students are not reading at grade level, leaving many children
significantly behind in the foundational literacy skills they need for school success. Families
must also navigate disconnected services, making it harder to find timely, effective support.
Over three years, the Collaborative expects to benefit approximately 300 low-income children
and families by strengthening partnerships, referral pathways, volunteer systems, community
awareness, and sustainable resource development.

This is a capacity-building service opportunity. AmeriCorps VISTA members create systems,
tools, relationships, and documented practices that remain after their service year rather than
provide ongoing direct tutoring. Members serve from WSFL’s Vista office as part of a
three-person VISTA team and receive structured supervision, project coaching, and
professional-development support.