ALC Final Powerpoint
- 1. HOW CAN VISTA MEMBERS & LEADERS INCREASE LOCAL & REGIONAL COLLABORATION & NETWORKING AMONG THE VISTA POPULATION? ALC Presentation
- 2. Perdita LOCAL & REGIONAL VISTA COLLABORATION & NETWORKING Action Learning Challenge Project Presentation July 13th 2015 2PM EST Chris Gretchen Perdita Ryan Vanessa Kapila
- 3. Please mute your phones We kindly invite you to mute your phone by pressing * 6 (unless you have a mute function on your phone) You can un-mute your phone by pressing *6 at anytime.
- 4. Please mute your phones: We kindly invite you to mute your phone by pressing * 6 (unless you have a mute function on your phone). You can un-mute your phone by pressing *6 at anytime. Please do not place your call on hold. If you have a question or comment during the Q & A, 1. Please click “Raise Hand” icon below the Participants List. 2. Once you have shared your question or comment, please click “Lower Hand” icon. WEBINAR ETIQUETTE
- 5. MEET THE TEAM AmeriCorps VISTA Leader Action Learning Challenge Team Members
- 6. CHRIS MACKEY AmeriCorps VISTA Leader Toward a Sustainable Kentucky Highland Heights, KY
- 7. GRETCHEN CHOMAS AmeriCorps VISTA Leader Spokane County United Way Spokane, WA
- 8. PERDITA DAS AmeriCorps VISTA Leader North Carolina Campus Compact Elon NC
- 9. RYAN HASKELL AmeriCorps VISTA Leader The Market Foundation Seattle, WA
- 10. VANESSA REYES AmeriCorps VISTA Leader Virginia Mentoring Partnership Richmond, VA
- 11. PRESENTATION OVERVIEW The Challenge • What is the Need? • Vision, Mission, & Goals • Why Collaborate? The Project Outcome • Collaboration Toolkit • Recommendations for CNCS Reflections Team Testimonials
- 12. WHAT IS THE NEED? CHALLENGE VISTAs across the country and locally currently have an underutilized space (VISTA Campus, social media) to connect or communicate with other VISTAs thus isolating some members.
- 13. WHAT IS THE NEED? SCOPE The challenge is nationwide and affects every AmeriCorps VISTA member, leader, and project.
- 14. WHAT IS THE NEED? CAUSES The VISTA program, by design, is decentralized and independent. This can lead to isolation and make it more difficult to build a community.
- 15. WHAT IS THE NEED? CONSEQUENCES A weak or nonexistent community causes VISTAs to miss out on chances to collaborate and improve their program and personal professional development.
- 16. WHY IS COLLABORATION IMPORTANT AMONG VISTAS? Builds lasting connections and relationships Enhances the efficiency of the VISTA program Gives additional support to individual VISTAs. Holds value both personally and professionally for the VISTAs Strengthens VISTA projects Creates meaningful relationships Provides a strong support system for VISTA members Helps relocated VISTAs form a sense of community Increases a sense of connection with national service Increases networking opportunities
- 17. VISION The vision of the AmeriCorps VISTA ALC team is increased deliberate collaboration among VISTAs locally, regionally and nationally; leading to better VISTA retention, greater satisfaction among members and programs, a greater sense of community, increased peer support structure and greater branding of the VISTA identity.
- 18. MISSION The purpose of the project is to provide AmeriCorps VISTA members with an improved sense of community by providing them with an easy-to-use, sustainable, online tool that increases collaboration, satisfaction, member retention and improved the VISTA brand identity. This, in turn, will strengthen the AmeriCorps VISTA program and benefit the people we serve.
- 19. GOALS Goal 1: To provide a mechanism/tool for VISTA members that will allow them to easily use the VISTA Campus (or other platforms like social media) to search and connect with VISTAs for the purpose of promoting collaboration and meaningful relationships. Goal 2: To develop a strategy to promote and utilize this collaborative mechanism before, during, and after PSO.
- 20. PRESENTATION OVERVIEW The Challenge • Vision, Mission, & Goals • Why Collaborate? • What is the Need? The Project Outcome • Collaboration Toolkit • Recommendations for CNCS Reflections Team Testimonials
- 21. TOOLKIT OVERVIEWToolkitforIncreasing CollaborationAmongVISTAs Guide for VISTA Leaders Guide for VISTA Members Recorded Webinar on Utilizing VISTA Campus for Collaboration
- 22. GUIDE OVERVIEW Introduction What We Know Now Webinar Social Media & Marketing Guide Collaborative Opportunities During New VISTA OSOT Events & Meetups Community Connections Appendix VISTA Leaders AND VISTA Members Included only in the VISTA Leader Guide
- 23. WHAT WE KNOW NOW • Combined 9 years in VISTA • Stories and key points • With what we know now...
- 24. WEBINAR • Thorough tour of the collaborative tools on the VISTA campus • Quick tutorial on how to create an account • Highlight Maps, Forums, Learning Connections, VISTA Meetup • Easy to follow, step by step printed guide in the toolkit
- 25. SOCIAL MEDIA & MARKETING GUIDE • Creating a community & maintaining interest • Making connections: #AmeriCorps #SupportTheCohort • Using scheduling tools to help manage your plan • Online meeting platforms
- 26. COLLABORATIVE OPPORTUNITIES DURING NEW OSOT • Purpose: Promoting collaboration & networking during OSOT • Suggestions for communicating with new VISTAs & building sense of VISTA community • Templates: PowerPoint, welcome letter, organizational chart
- 27. EVENTS & MEETUPS • Why meeting up is important • Planning a casual event • Planning a formal event • Planning a multi-day retreat
- 28. MAKING COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS • Benefits • Identifying potential partners • Inside and outside AmeriCorps Connections • Making an ask
- 29. RECOMMENDATIONS TO CNCS 1. Before during and after PSO 2. VISTA Leaders 3. VISTA Campus 4. Observations
- 30. PRESENTATION OVERVIEW The Challenge • Vision, Mission, & Goals • Why Collaborate? • What is the Need? The Project Outcome • Collaboration Toolkit • Recommendations for CNCS Reflections Team Testimonials
- 31. “ ” For an Action Learning Challenge project with a goal of increasing collaboration between VISTAs I have enjoyed the chance to collaborate, network, and talk with other VISTA leaders (and ALC team members) during the past few months. I hope we can continue collaborating during the remainder of our VISTA terms and after. VISTA Leader with Toward a Sustainable Kentucky Highland Heights, KY Chris Mackey
- 32. “ ” I am grateful that I have had the opportunity to work with such a reliable and dynamic team. The ALC process has helped grow my capacity to work with and trust others to be strong teammates despite time differences and distance and think more strategically and systematically than I might typically. VISTA Leader with Spokane County United Way Spokane, WA Gretchen Chomas
- 33. “ ” Being a part of this Action Learning Challenge Team has been a great experience, both personally and professionally. I believe I have been privileged to work so closely over the past few months with this team of exceptional leaders, who worked seamlessly with each other to create this product that we are all proud of. I have been able to apply many of what I have learned to both my work and myself already and I have definitely gotten over my fear and hesitancy of online collaboration. It can be done! Thank you ALC! VISTA Leader with North Carolina Campus Compact Elon NC Perdita Das
- 34. “ ” Working on this ALC team has been an eye opening experience. After hearing horror stories about working at a distance and having my own bad experiences with online courses I was skeptical. However, I don't think I've ever worked with a better more capable team than I have these last few months. Everyone came together when needed and contributed their skills and perspective. I've learned so much about working as a team and practical tips on using online tools for working on project. VISTA Leader with The Market Foundation Seattle, WA Ryan Haskell
- 35. “ ” We ended every meeting with personal reflections about our experience. During this process, I would be amazed by the cohesion of our team and the progress that we made each week. I personally have learned that great things can be accomplished despite physical distance. VISTA Leader with Virginia Mentoring Partnership Richmond, VA Vanessa Reyes
- 36. COMMENTS & QUESTIONS Thank you for attending our presentation