AmeriCorps VISTAS from both Cleveland State Community College and Lee University have teamed up to help Bradley County and other surrounding communities. Brandy Ball of CSCC and Kyle Hinch of Lee University have been hired as the new AmeriCorps VISTAS, joining Amber Bush who is starting her second year of service as a VISTA at Lee University.

The three VISTAS will assist CSCC and Lee as they continue to develop and expand service-learning programs at their institutions.

In 1963, President John F. Kennedy envisioned a national service corps “to help provide urgently needed services in urban and rural poverty areas.” Two years later, President Lyndon B. Johnson made Kennedy’s dream a reality and welcomed the first 20 VISTA volunteers telling them, “Your pay will be low; the conditions of your labor often will be difficult. But you will have the satisfaction of leading a great national effort and you will have the ultimate reward which comes to those who serve their fellow man.”

Today, AmeriCorps VISTA offers 6,500 members who serve at 1,200 projects across the country.

Cleveland State and Lee, as well as several other public and private colleges and universities in Tennessee, applied to AmeriCorps requesting VISTA positions to assist with the service-learning movement that is gaining national prominence. According to Learn and Serve America, a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, service-learning is “a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities.”

Service-learning offers a unique opportunity for students to get involved and make a real difference in their communities by integrating community service projects with student learning. It engages students in the educational process, using what they learn in the classroom to solve real-life problems. Students not only learn about democracy and citizenship, but they become actively contributing citizens and community members through the service they perform.

Dr. Jerry Faulkner, CSCC vice president for Academic Affairs, said, “Service-learning takes students beyond the four walls of the classroom. It provides an opportunity to learn that exceeds anything found in textbooks, lectures, or the Internet.”

Brandy Ball is a former CSCC student currently taking time off to serve as the AmeriCorps VISTA for one year. Ms. Ball is working on a degree in Office Systems Administration with a concentration in Medical Assisting.
“I actually heard about the AmeriCorps VISTA position through Mrs. (Ann) Cunningham at CSCC spring semester,” said Ms. Ball. “I was a CSCC student working with her on the service- learning high school seminar ‘How to Get a Job and Keep It.’ I ended up taking on some heavy leadership roles with that, and Mrs. Cunningham recommended me to Susan Webb-Curtis, associate professor/director of Cooperative Education and Service-Learning. I have prior military service, so when I was told of the responsibilities for this job, I was immediately interested. The idea of civic duty is very important to me, especially right now with the economy the way it is.”

“Brandy has taken a year off from pursuing her degree to lend her enthusiasm, passion, and outstanding public relations skills to our AmeriCorps VISTA project," said Ms. Webb-Curtis. "In exchange, she will have the opportunity to make great professional contacts, to help students, to learn the intricacies of developing a new program, and to really make a difference in our communities. Brandy will be working closely with our faculty to help them envision and develop service-learning activities to incorporate into their courses. She will also develop community partnerships with agencies who would like to involve student volunteers in a service-learning capacity. The college is most appreciative of the opportunity to have a VISTA helping us as we build a service-learning program that will benefit the community and our students. We want our students to be lifelong volunteers."

Amber Bush, a second year VISTA with Lee, received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in French from Lee University in May of 2008.

Ms. Bush said, “I heard about the position from Mike Hayes, Lee University’s assistant vice-president of Student Development. He told me all about the opportunities of AmeriCorps, and I was just finishing college at the time and was looking for a job. This job sounded right up my alley. I did it all last year, and it went great. At first, I wasn’t sure what all was expected of me, but I got into a groove after a while and really enjoyed the experience. I have really enjoyed learning leadership skills and managing all of the volunteers. This year, one of my goals is to be more intentional about learning how to develop the volunteers, not just telling them to ‘Do this,’ or ‘Do that,’ but to teach them in a way where they are learning something along the way.”

Kyle Hinch is the newest member of the AmeriCorps family at Lee University. Hired as the new VISTA in August of this year, Mr. Hinch received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pastoral Ministry in May of this year, also from Lee University.

Mr. Hinch said, “I went on a trip to Honduras in March with William Lamb, the director of Field Experiences at Lee. I was really impressed with his leadership skills, and he served as a mentor to me. This job opened up, and he called to talk to me about it. I’m really excited about the opportunity to serve as a VISTA. I hope to gain more experience because when I leave, I’m going into ministry to be a pastor. Being a VISTA allows me the ability to understand partnerships, effective communication, not to mention the whole service aspect because you are reaching people that truly need your help.”

Mr. Lamb said, “Lee University is privileged to have the support and partnership of Tennessee Campus Compact and AmeriCorps VISTA which provides VISTA officers to serve alongside our existing service-learning initiatives. The passion, drive, and creativity of Amber Bush and Kyle Hinch consistently provide the energy to ramp up existing service initiatives as well as creating new ways for students to serve. Amber was instrumental in the development of our new Campus Kitchens program and Kyle’s dogged determination to feed the hungry has ramped up our community outreach efforts. We are proud of their Lee connection, but are also thankful for the life they lead in developing student leaders to a lifetime of service.”

All of the AmeriCorps VISTAS were able to work together on Sept. 11 when students and other representatives from both Lee and CSCC teamed up to perform various tasks at a local fire station. Volunteers washed fire trucks and ambulances, cleaned restrooms, swept out the station, fed all of the staff and volunteers, and performed many other duties in order to show their appreciation toward the men and women who put their lives in danger every day.

Jerry Herman, the state program director of AmeriCorps, suggested that Cleveland State and Lee combine their efforts after President Obama declared Sept. 11 a national day of service.

“I saw an email that gave suggestions for service-learning projects, and one said washing trucks for a local fire department,” said Bush. “I thought ‘We can do that.’ Our supervisor is a volunteer chaplain for Bradley County Fire and Rescue, so I was thinking that would be a good connection. Kyle and I immediately mentioned it to him, and within five minutes, we had our event.”

All VISTAS agreed the event was a huge success. Ms. Ball said, “I was really excited to participate in this service event. Being a passionate believer in giving back, it really inspired me to see Cleveland State and Lee University joining together to serve the community that we share. It was a lot of fun overall, and we could not have asked for better volunteers.”

Mr. Hinch went on to say, “Sept. 11 is a tough day for our nation, and for firemen, in general. Even in the midst of this tough day, the event was definitely well-received. I think the service aspect brought about a very positive spin to it. One of the men told us that what our volunteers did in 45 minutes usually takes his crew six hours throughout the week to do.”

Bradley County Fire and Rescue Chief, Dewey Woody, stated, “The service day was very honorable and helpful for us, and we cherish the interaction with the students.”
Hinch said, “I just feel like service is the backbone of our country. JFK said, ‘Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.’ I think it is the American way that when you face tough times and economic difficulties, that we stand up for each other and aid one another. After 9/11, America really pulled itself together, and I feel like that is one of the reasons why service-learning has really increased. It provides experience and allows people to change lives, something that seems to be contagious. ”

Ms. Bush added, “We received very positive feedback after the event. This is something we want to do more often, join with CSCC and strive to do more activities together—maybe once a semester, if not more, so we can be more purposeful with it. We don’t want to forget about their needs just because it is not 9/11.”

Mr. Hinch said the best thing about the 9/11 event was when it was completed and they were packing up to go home, a student volunteer noticed there was a lot of food left over, and asked if it would be okay to take the food to Johnston Park to feed some of the families at Summit Housing.

“That was one of the coolest things I’ve seen since becoming a VISTA,” said Mr. Hinch. “That went beyond our plans. They took it a step beyond our event, and said, ‘Let’s do it. Let’s help more people.’”

Dr. Carl Hite, CSCC president, said, “It is always good when we can work with our sister institution, Lee University, to help out in our community. We hope to continue to work with them in the future, and by doing so, we will be able to accomplish great things.”
Ms. Bush said one thing that many people may not realize is that service-learning is different than community service because there is reflection that is taking place with service-learning. “When you find something you are passionate about, you take your skills and talents and use them. It makes the service-learning experience much more meaningful to them if they have a true interest in the volunteer work,” said Ms. Bush.

Mr. Hinch said, “I think the partnership was very inspiring because it put everyone on an even playing ground. Everyone is the same. With Lee and CSCC joining together, it shows this community that the young people in the community are here to learn, serve, and make a difference, which is very positive.”

For more information on the CSCC Service-Learning program, contact Susan Webb-Curtis at scurtis@clevelandstatecc.edu or by calling 472-7141, ext. 718. For more information on the Lee University Service-Learning program, contact William Lamb at 624-8614 or email wlamb@leeuniversity.edu.

From left, AmeriCorps VISTAS Kyle Hinch and Amber Bush, both of Lee University, and Brandy Ball of CSCC. Click to enlarge.