Texas Campus Compact

	AmeriCorps*VISTA

Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) was created by President John F. Kennedy in 1963, which expanded when President Bill Clinton created the AmeriCorps network in 1993. Throughout the decades, VISTA has evolved to respond to local problems and the changing face of poverty. More than 170,000 VISTA members are responsible for building many innovative programs, including Head Start, Job Corps, and Upward Bound.

Baylor University is pleased to announce that Interim President David Garland has joined the Texas Campus Compact! Founded in 2000, Texas Campus Compact is part of a national coalition that promotes service-learning and is committed to the civic purposes of higher education. As a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, TXCC advocates for responsible citizenship skills, develops collaborative campus-community partnerships, and supports faculty who integrate service-learning into their research and curricula.

Today, its 6,500 members—who serve at 1,200 projects nationwide—continue to address the root causes of poverty.  They are developing new programs, raising funds, helping manage projects, and otherwise building the capacity of nonprofit organizations to become sustainable and of families to break the cycle of poverty.

In conjunction with our membership, Baylor will host an AmeriCorps*VISTA member in the Division of Student Life. 

Amanda Allen will serve as our first AmeriCorps*VISTA member. Originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, Amanda studied business journalism and graphic design at Baylor. She exhibits a passion for service and serving the needs in our community through her participation in Steppin’ Out Steering Committee, Baylor Civil Rights Tour, Mission Waco Youth Programs, World Cup Café, Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Ike relief trips, UBC mission trip to Kenya, TOMS Shoe Drop, and Falling Whistles Loves Speaks Campaign. Amanda has extensive experience with journalism, including serving as Co-Editor of Focus Magazine, reporter for the Baylor Lariat, and intern for Forum Magazine. She will work in the Department of Student Activities to build capacity in service and service-learning programs, and in the Division of Student Life to serve the Campus Kitchens Project. We are thrilled to have Amanda on board!