1. Engaging campuses in service to the community
Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Impact Report 2010-2011: Ohio State Newark
The Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA member strategically connects college resources with
communities in need. Corps members gain valuable experience and educational awards. Campuses
expand their civic outreach. And community partners receive critical support.
HISTORY AND BACKGROUND Poverty Alleviation Focus Area: College Access
In the past, the city of Newark, Ohio was a
flourishing industrial town reliant on the factories For more information contact:
that called Newark home. Over the past 30 years, VISTA Corps member: Jen Anthony
many large factories and manufacturing businesses Site Supervisor: Jen Anthony
have closed or left the area leaving many residents (740) 366-9381 • janthony@newark.osu.edu
with no jobs and limited opportunities. For that Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Sr. Program Director:
reason, education is a top priority in our community Lesha Farias (740) 587-8571 • lfarias@ohiocampuscompact.org
and with our youth.
www.ohiocampuscompact.org
The Ohio State University at Newark Office of
Access and Engagement was started in 2010 to
establish meaningful partnerships and opportunities
within our local community. The office focuses
primarily on educational access, developing students
as civically engaged leaders and service scholars, and
supporting the community through campus
awareness and collaboration. Educational access is
ensuring that all students, regardless of resources or
financial status, have the opportunity to pursue post
secondary education and training. The four pillars of
the work are: availability, affordability,
academic preparation, and aspiration. The
office motivates individuals of all ages to strive
towards education beyond high school and prepare
themselves academically for college. The office assists The Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA, Jen
students and their families in understanding how to Anthony, and The Ohio State University at Newark Office
make college affordable. of Access and Engagement were able to bring multiple
educational access and civic engagement opportunities to
COMMUNITY IMPACT the students of Ohio State Newark in 2010-2011. Students
Since the inception of The Office of Access and were able enhance their skills and begin to create change by
Engagement, many outreach programs have been attending the IMPACT Conference in DeLand, Florida,
implemented based on the Newark Community. The become LeFevre Fellows and work on projects on campus
work of the Community Access Director and and in the community, participate in Big Brothers Big
AmeriCorps VISTA Jen Anthony has produced Sisters, EXPLORE College and PEAK related college access
sustainable programs that have been developed and opportunities to make a difference in the lives of children.
continued to help strengthen our community. Our These opportunities offered by the office broaden the
main educational access program, EXPLORE experiences that Ohio State Newark Students receive and
College, is a six week program for families of empower them to become leaders in society.
(continued on reverse)

2. elementary school students in the Newark City School System.
Parents learn the necessary information and tools to turn their
The VISTA Impact
student’s college dreams into reality while their students learn about by the numbers:
different careers and colleges and can begin to shape their futures.
Students reached by PEAK:
In March, the Office of Access and Engagement provided travel grants 540 second graders
for nine students to attend the IMPACT Conference in DeLand, 520 fourth graders
FL with VISTA Jen Anthony. The IMPACT Conference is a national 410 eighth graders
conference committed to engaging students in service,
activism, politics, advocacy, and other socially responsible work. Upon Ohio State Newark PEAK
returning to campus, the IMPACT Advocates were charged with Volunteers
starting three different projects in the community. They were to focus 20 student volunteers
on three areas: College Access, Homelessness and Hunger, and 30 faculty/staff volunteers
Community Betterment. The IMPACT Advocates continue to plan 100 hours of service
projects that are geared towards changing the culture in the Newark
Community. Ohio State Newark Big Brothers
Big Sisters
CAMPUS IMPACT 8 faculty/staff volunteers
On campus, Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Jen Anthony has also 10 student volunteers
played a large role in increasing civic engagement within the student 360 hours of service
population. With the help of the Central Ohio Technical College $425 fundraised
AmeriCorps VISTA Mary Fox, participation in the Big Brothers Big
Sisters program from students, faculty and staff has more than EXPLORE College
doubled this year. The VISTAs incorporate college access through Big 33 parents graduated EXPLORE College
Brothers Big Sisters by having intentional conversations with the youth 43 kids graduated EXPLORE College
about college. The program not only helps the elementary school
students in need of good role models, it also allows students, staff and Ohio State Newark Items Collected
faculty from the Newark Campus to feel a part of the community. $300 in materials collected for EXPLORE
College
VISTA Jen Anthony also played a role in the LeFevre Fellows
program. The program is a service learning class for high performing About Ohio Campus Compact
students. The students are grouped together to form teams to create
projects on the Newark campus, as well as in the community. This AmeriCorps*VISTA
year, their projects were focused on college access, recycling, and Ohio Campus Compact is a statewide nonprofit
retention. Their projects help to better the campus and surrounding coalition of colleges and university presidents and
community. their campuses working to promote the civic
purposes of higher education. Ohio Campus
Lastly, VISTA Jen Anthony spends 50% of her time with The PEAK Compact provides resources, services &
Program. The PEAK Program provides Ohio State Newark students partnerships to help Ohio campuses deepen their
the opportunity to volunteer in different programs that are run in the ability to educate students for civic and social
Newark City School District. The students read to second graders at responsibility and to improve community life.
the library, talk with fourth graders about going to college and help
eighth graders realize their future career goals. This opportunity allows AmeriCorps*VISTA is the national service program
for a well rounded experience as college students as well as allows designed specifically to fight poverty. Founded as
students to learn about the community in which they reside. Volunteers in Service to America in 1965 and
incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of
KEEPING THE PARTNERSHIP STRONG: OPPORTUNITIES FOR programs in 1993, VISTA has been on the front
lines in the fight against poverty in America for
THE FUTURE more than 40 years.
As the newly developed Office of Access and Engagement continues to
grow, so will the opportunities for the future. In the year of Jen The Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*
Anthony’s service as a VISTA, many partnerships have grown stronger VISTA Program places and supports VISTAs who
and many new partnerships have been formed. Future expansion of the create and expand programs designed to bring
office is necessary to continue to keep those relationships strong and individuals and communities out of poverty. VISTAs
to continue to impact the Newark Community and enhance the serve in the poorest areas of their communities to
experiences of Ohio State Newark students. The work that is being tackle poverty-related problems such as hunger and
done is creating change and will continue to do so for many years in homelessness, financial literacy, veteran student
services, public health and college access. More
the future.
information at: www.ohiocampuscompact.org