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AccountAbility Minnesota, St. Cloud site, provides high quality tax preparation and related financial services to individuals and families of limited means by leveraging volunteer resources and advising and assisting others to provide similar services in their communities. www.accountabilitymn.org
- Current VISTA project: Increase services by leveraging resources and relationships previously developed in St. Cloud and the surrounding area with organizations serving immigrants, especially in the Latino and Somali communities.
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Anna Marie’s Alliance, St. Cloud, provides safe shelter, support, and referral services for battered women and their children. The Alliance also works with the community on systems change and violence prevention. www.annamaries.org
- Current VISTA project: Coordination and refinement of the second-year After-Care Services program; providing follow-up advocacy and support to former residents of their battered women's shelter and transitional house.
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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota, St. Cloud, helps children reach their full potential by providing positive growth experiences through professionally supported, one-to-one mentoring relationships with caring, trained volunteers. www.bbbscentralmn.org
- Current VISTA project: Help develop and expand programming for at-risk youth residing within Bel Clare Estates, recruit volunteers and support fund-raising efforts.
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Bridges of Hope, Brainerd, builds bridges of support, anchored in Christ's love, between families in the Lakes area and the community assets that can help them thrive and gain hope. www.bridges-of-hope.net
- Current VISTA project: Assist in development of a local thrift store operation by developing volunteer and job skills training opportunities and assist in the expansion and programming of the Crow Wing Coalition to End Poverty.
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Catholic Charities Emergency Services, St. Cloud, builds communities, promotes family life, and enhances human dignity by providing quality services to meet the physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs of individuals and families of all faiths and beliefs. http://www.ccstcloud.org
- Current VISTA project: Expand volunteer base to include more students from local colleges and university in service delivery. Coordinate Emergency Services efforts with local groups to better meet the furniture needs of low income people in central Minnesota. Continue to recruit and train people from the Somali and Hispanic communities to volunteer at Emergency Services
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Central Lakes College/Upward Bound, Brainerd, prepares low-income and first generation high school students in grades 9-12 for post secondary education by providing academic advising, supplemental instruction, tutoring, career exploration, leadership training, and skill development.
- Current VISTA project: Coordinate development of a student mentoring program that matches Upward Bound high school students with college mentors and develop and coordinate a parent advisory board.
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Child Care Choices, Inc., St. Cloud, provides leadership for child care excellence. www.childcarechoices.net
- Current VISTA project: Develop job training program for Somali women to work in child care centers or start home-based centers of their own.
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Communities Investing in Families, Mora, helps communities promote and sustain economic stability for families in East Central Minnesota. www.investinfamilies.org
- Current VISTA projects:
- Expand offerings of their More Money-More $ense financial literacy training program and develop one-to-one personal budgeting opportunities.
- Develop a car repair element of their regional car donation program that gifts donated vehicles to low income families.
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Foley Area CARE/Living at Home Block Nurse Program, Foley, works with aging neighbors of our community to live longer, happier, and meaningful lives. www.foleyareacare.org
- Current VISTA project: Research current needs of the elderly in the Foley area and develop/enhance programs based on those needs with a particular focus on improving physical health.
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Girl Scouts of Minnesota & Wisconsin Lakes and Pines Council, Bemidji, helps build girls' courage, confidence and character through leadership programs. www.gslakesandpines.org
- Current VISTA project: Expand youth development and leadership opportunities for girls and young women in northern Cass county and for adult volunteers throughout the area.
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Housing Coalition of the St. Cloud Area, St. Cloud, works within the community to help assure that safe, decent, affordable housing is available to those in need. www.housingcoalition.com
- Current VISTA project: Provide support to an inter-agency effort to develop a donated furniture and home furnishings distribution site.
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Isanti County Commission on Aging, Cambridge, coordinates services and activities, both public and private, that may further the quality of life for all older adults in Isanti County.
- Current VISTA project: Assist in planning, development and sustainability of the Cart to Cupboard goods delivery program.
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Kids Against Hunger of Central Minnesota, Sauk Rapids, fights poverty and hunger both locally and internationally through a collaborative community effort. www.kidsagainsthungercm.org
- Current VISTA project: Create a youth committee and youth board to be involved in community outreach, fundraising, educational presentations, and eventually, some of the operational responsibilities of the organization.
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Lakes Area Restorative Justice Project, Pequot Lakes, works to restore community by involving juveniles who have caused harm, the people who were harmed, and local citizens in a process which addresses the needs of the victim, holds the youth accountable for restoration and promotes healing for all. www.lakesarearestorativejustice.org
- Current VISTA project: Help establish and support a broad-based, collaborative Youth Wellness Task Force in order to reduce youth violence in the Brainerd Lakes Area.
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Mille Lacs Area Partners for Youth, Onamia, is a collaborative made up of Mille Lacs Area Community Education and eight community partners to improve the lives of local youth.
- Current VISTA project: Develop a business mentoring program for youth to enhance the local workforce and expose young people to potential work/career opportunities.
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Multicultural Center of Central MN – African Women’s Alliance, St. Cloud, exists to empower African female immigrants through hands-on education, holistic support and the provision of and facilitation to needed resources.
- Current VISTA project: Plan for, develop and implement programs to serve African female immigrants in the St. Cloud area. These programs include an ELL Bridge Program, Literacy through Cooking and Life Skills Programs. The individual will work directly with the women to gain insight on their needs and assess the effectiveness of programs implemented.
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Pearl Battered Women’s Resource Center, Milaca, provides support to survivors of domestic and sexual violence through direct services, prevention and community awareness. www.pearlcrisiscenter.com
- Current VISTA project: Enhance donations and sales, and build a volunteer pool for our "Community Closet" new and used thrift store.
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Rabideau Conservation Academy and Learning Center, Blackduck, will provide residency-based service-learning opportunities to young adults modeled after and in the spirit of the Civilian Conservation Corps program.
- Current VISTA project: Help develop programs, partnerships, etc., to transform former Civilian Conservation Corps Camp (CCC) into an academy for youth and young adults where they can learn and practice life/work skills.
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Rural Renewable Energy Alliance, Pine River, makes solar power accessible to people of all income levels. www.rreal.org
- Current VISTA projects: Two VISTA members are assisting with streamlining manufacturing and installation of furnaces, financial development, communications and marketing.
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Stearns-Benton Employment and Training Council, St. Cloud, works with community partners to meet the workforce needs of businesses and job seekers. www.co.stearns.mn.us/906.htm
- Current VISTA project: Create and conduct a research study that gauges the impact of various elements of a workforce development program to help identify the most effective activities to enable MFIP recipients find and maintain work.
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