What OR Campus Compact did on its summer vacation!

School has started and, for some, fall break has already come and gone!

What did Oregon Campus Compact do over its summer “vacation”? Well, we brought together critical partners to get things done in communities across the state of Oregon and we grew our team! It all adds up…

OR Campus Compact + the Corporation for National and Community Service + the Portland Schools Foundation + 37 Students from 9 Member Campuses = 14,800 hours of service + Inspiration for Rising Ninth Graders

37 AmeriCorps VISTA Members addressed the critical issue of high school completion and access to post-secondary education over the summer. In ten weeks, the Members worked with 600 rising ninth graders and nearly 200 parents or caregivers. Together they provided over 14, 800 hours of service to the community. Members created capacity for nonprofits and schools through volunteer recruitment, parent education, curriculum development, and creating mentoring programs. The Portland Schools Foundation Ninth Grade Counts program provided the focus and impetus for the summer pilot. Together we made ninth grade count!

OR Campus Compact + the Corporation for National and Community Service + 13 Member Campuses = A year ahead of Getting Things Done!

19 AmeriCorps VISTA Members began their year of service on your campuses across the state. The year ahead shows great promise as these members build the capacity of your programs to address poverty across Oregon. Members will be building community partnerships, connecting students and faculty to service, and inspiring us all to a lifetime of community engagement.

OR Campus Compact + the Corporation for National and Community Service + Washington Campus Compact + 17 Member Campuses = 460 Education Awards + 138,000 hours of service in Oregon communities

The OR Campus Compact Students In Service (SIS) program recently launched its sixth year. This regional program, hosted by Washington Campus Compact, decreases student educational expenses by awarding AmeriCorps education awards for student service. In return for education awards, students complete a 300-hour community-based learning experience through direct service and reflection. This year aims to be the largest year yet for engaging students in service through SIS.

OR Campus Compact = A great team!

I am happy to introduce a few new faces to our team. Their bios are below, but I wanted to add my welcome to Signe Bishop, Julia Sylla, and Megan Rosenberger. They are all three working diligently to bring our work to a new statewide scale, depth, and quality.

And what’s ahead this year?

This year OR Campus Compact will continue its work in the following areas: 1) decreasing student educational expenses through distribution of financial awards for student service; 2) increased placement of ORCC AmeriCorps*VISTA Members on campuses; 3) connecting campuses to local, national and international engagement resources and opportunities; and 4) delivering professional development convenings for students, faculty and staff.

OR Campus Compact will continue to communicate opportunities through our monthly ENews, website, as well as through our new Twitter feed (ORCompact). Please bookmark our website to keep the opportunity calendar on your radar! The opportunities will be abundant for our members.

In Service,
Emily