The United Way of Central Jersey (UWCJ) is seeking an AmeriCorps VISTA who will significantly advance our ongoing efforts, through a process of active community engagement, family advocacy and inter-organizational collaboration, help low income inner-city families take advantage of vocational and educational opportunities effectively moving them from poverty to self-sufficiency. Bringing together elected and other public officials in the City of Perth Amboy (New Jersey), executive level personnel from the Middlesex County Workforce Development Board and leadership personnel from non-profit agencies, faith based and educational organizations as well as other stakeholders, the VISTA will play a key role in helping families, most especially those with young children, gain access to ESL, budgeting, financial and health literacy services.
Given that the population of Perth Amboy has the highest rate of unemployment in the County, and that the city is comprised primarily of Latino families, we would expect that the VISTA would be able to communicate in Spanish, assess family needs and skill levels prerequisite to serving as a strong family advocate / family navigator helping them connect with services ultimately enabling them to secure sustainable employment affording them a living wage.
United Way of Central Jersey through its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program, our leadership participation in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funded Perth Amboy based Culture of Health Initiative and our continuum of direct services to families with children age 0-8 has already established outstanding relationships with Perth Amboy based public and non-profit agencies thus assuring that the VISTA will have widespread organizational support. This challenging and exciting opportunity will assuredly enable a VISTA to make an impactful, meaningful and measurable difference in the lives of low income families in Perth Amboy.