Thanks to a three-year grant, students seeking volunteer opportunities and ways to give back to their community now have a resource on campus.
Kaitlin Emig, coordinator for service learning and volunteering, has been hired through a grant known as the Kansas Campus Compact in conjunction with the AmeriCorps Volunteer in Service to America program.
“The whole mission of the AmeriCorps VISTA is to eradicate poverty,” Dean of Students Cassy Bailey said.
Emig will be working on capacity building, creating readily accessible community service and outreach programs in Baldwin City and surrounding communities like Lawrence and Gardner.
“Capacity building means that she is going to build the program so that when she leaves after her year of service, they’ll continue on without her, and there will be sustainable programs in that way,” Bailey said.
The grant will provide Baker with three VISTAs – one for each year. Bailey said her hope is that students will eventually be able to take on leadership roles and run the program themselves.
“Currently, (Emig) is making partnerships with community agencies or nonprofits; she’s assisting some of our student groups who have a philanthropy chair in connecting with community partners, making sure their experience is more meaningful,” Bailey said.
Senior Rachel Kilian spoke with Emig last week about volunteer opportunities that would be available to her after graduation in May 2009. She said it was great bouncing ideas off someone who knew answers to her questions.
“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity and a great resource,” Kilian said. “It’s really important for people to spend at least some time doing some kind of volunteer work, and I like how she’s focusing on one main problem, which is poverty. I think when you have a smaller spectrum of something that you want to work toward then it’s just easier to accomplish that goal.”
Emig is an employee of the AmeriCorps organization, not the university, so she will be getting a minor stipend as income through the grant.
“It’s all about working in the community, living in the community and going through the same issues that the community members are going through,” Emig said. “So, you get paid what is considered threshold poverty level, and you usually have to live in or around the community you’re working in.”
Baker has provided Emig with a room in Gessner Hall and a meal plan for her one-year duration on campus.
“Typically, those are not included in a VISTA contract, but those are commitments that the college has made to this program,” Bailey said.
Bailey also said the grant provides little funding for the programs Emig will be working on such as alternative spring and fall breaks, food drives and learning initiatives within classroom curriculum.
“Many times people who are in these positions work under extreme cases,” Bailey said.
“They’re working for a nonprofit agency or place where resources and funds are very limited, and so often times a VISTA is very creative in finding ways to make this work. I think Kaitlin will do a wonderful job on our campus.”
