Two-page fact sheet outlining the impact that Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA corps member Grace Andrews had on the Miami University campus and within the surrounding community.

1. Engaging campuses in service to the community.
Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Impact Report: Miami University
Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA 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.
Poverty Alleviation Focus Area: Ohio Benefit Bank,
HISTORY & BACKGROUND Community Outreach, Hunger, and Homelessness
Southwest Ohio is a vast and complex place, and the For more information contact:
social issues that exist in the region are as diverse VISTA Corps member: Grace Andrews
and multifaceted as the people and communities (513) 529-1425 • andrewge@muohio.edu
located therein. From rising numbers of small-town Site Supervisor: Monica Ways
families affected by food insecurity, to practices of (513) 529-2961 • waysmp@muohio.edu
gentrification that exacerbate homelessness in the Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Sr. Program Director:
heart of Cincinnati, Southwest Ohio is now being Lesha Farias • (740) 587-8571 • lesha.farias@gmail.com
challenged to do more with less. www.ohiocampuscompact.org
State budget cuts are negatively impacting the extent
of programs and services in the region, yet non-
profits and social service agencies are experiencing a
dramatic increase in the demand for their services.
One way that these agencies can continue to
operate effectively is to connect with universities.
Miami University’s Office of Community Engagement
and Service catalyzes mutually beneficial campus and
community partnerships, through which community-
based agencies can access vital resources in the face
of a declining economy. The Ohio Campus Compact
VISTA is an integral component of this framework.
“Partnering with the Miami University AmeriCorps VISTA
has allowed our organization to provide services through Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Grace Andrews has
two key functions: receptionists and shopping assistants, dedicated the past year to transforming campus and
as well as ancillary functions of food sorting and stocking. community through service and social action. Grace
Our student volunteers are an integral part of our Choice helps to build capacity with community partners by
Pantry model… The Choice Pantry is able to function generating student-volunteers that help them to
well with minimal required staffing, which frees more alleviate poverty and illiteracy in Southwest Ohio. She
money for food purchases.” works closely with university entities such as the
--- Mickey Bement, Service Manager Social Action Center, Residence Life, Off-Campus
Oxford Community Choice Pantry Affairs, Greek Life and the Western Program in order
to create a campus culture that is concerned with
COMMUNITY IMPACT community well-being. This spring, Grace launched an
Community-based non-profit and social initiative to designate Miami’s Social Action Center as
service agencies need volunteers to an Ohio Benefit Bank site, and hosted its first
function. VISTAs at Miami University have counselor training session.
a strong record of providing necessary

2. human capital to help alleviate poverty in Southwest Ohio
communities. As the above quote illustrates, community partners
rely heavily on the capacity building work of VISTAs, especially in terms
The VISTA Impact
of generating ample volunteers, so that they can stretch their resources by the numbers
further and extend their impact in communities. By partnering with
Miami University through the VISTA connection, our community Benefiting Community and Campus
partners benefit from steady volunteers, philanthropic endeavors,
Volunteers Generated: 703
research, and access to transportation, technology, and supplies. Since
July 2010, OCC VISTA Grace Andrews connected 30 community Total Hours of Service: 9,785
partners in Oxford, Hamilton, Middletown, and Cincinnati with the
ongoing help of 703 student-volunteers, each serving an average of 14 Core Agency Partnerships: 16
total hours with their agencies or schools. Altogether, volunteers offered Core School Partnerships: 14
9,785 hours of volunteer service, providing agencies with work
valued at over $209,000. During 2011, Andrews also launched a new Benefit Bank Counselors Trained: 14
initiative at Miami to build a sustainable framework for training students
as Ohio Benefit Bank (OBB) counselors and connecting them to OBB Individuals served by Benefit Bank 9
sites and clients in the area. The program trained 14 new counselors at Funds Obtained for Projects: $1,830.00
the first session, and nine individuals were served during the April tax
season. This summer, Andrews hopes to obtain a grant in order to Pledge-A-Meal Fundraiser: $7,795.70
purchase computer stations so that the Social Action Center (which she *Value of Volunteer Hours: $209,007
advises) can become a designated OBB site.
*One hour = $21.36 (Independent Sector, 2010)
CAMPUS IMPACT
While the VISTA connections clearly benefit communities surrounding 92% of Miami student volunteers felt
universities, campuses themselves also enjoy great results. Through that service in the community
service partnerships, students at Miami become engaged citizens who enhanced their coursework, and 83%
indicated that serving influenced their
deeply understand poverty-related social justice issues in their
choice of major.
community. Service enhances civic development, improves
critical thinking, and ultimately makes education more
About Ohio Campus Compact
meaningful for students. According to a survey of Miami student-
volunteers, 83% of the students agreed that they felt more connected to AmeriCorps*VISTA
their community; 86% felt that they now better understand poverty and Ohio Campus Compact is a statewide nonprofit
social justice related issues in their community; and 75% plan to stay coalition of colleges and university presidents and
involved in community service in the future- all as a result of their their campuses working to promote the civic
service. 92% of the students felt that the content of their courses was purposes of higher education. Ohio Campus
enhanced by application through service, and another 83% indicated that Compact provides resources, services &
their service experiences impacted their choice of major. These results partnerships to help Ohio campuses deepen their
speak to the important shift in campus culture that is possible through ability to educate students for civic and social
service. In order to facilitate such a shift, Andrews has also continued to responsibility and to improve community life.
develop the Social Action Center initiative as part of her VISTA work.
Andrews helped the SAC’s student-run advisory board to sponsor a AmeriCorps*VISTA is the national service program
number of poverty and social justice-related events, including 4 events designed specifically to fight poverty. Founded as
throughout Hunger + Homelessness Awareness Week and an Volunteers in Service to America in 1965 and
action/coalition building training for 16 students representing 6 student incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of
organizations. programs in 1993, VISTA has been on the front
lines in the fight against poverty in America for
more than 40 years.
KEEPING THE PARTNERSHIP STRONG: OPPORTUNITIES FOR
THE FUTURE The Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*
VISTAs have continuously strengthened the framework at Miami for VISTA Program places and supports VISTAs who
building mutually beneficial campus and community partnerships. These create and expand programs designed to bring
partnerships will continue to flourish as the number of on- and off- individuals and communities out of poverty. VISTAs
campus stakeholders increases. Continuing this work effectively means serve in the poorest areas of their communities to
engaging students, faculty and community partners in frequent tackle poverty-related problems such as hunger and
communication; maintaining awareness of how Miami can meet authentic homelessness, financial literacy, veteran student
needs of the community; adapting and innovating when new services, public health and college access. More
circumstances and situations arise; and always acting with compassion. information at: www.ohiocampuscompact.org