Project Grant 12VSNMI012

COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK (CAN)'S MISSION IS TO PARTNER WITH CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND INDIVIDUALS FROM UNDER-RESOURCED NEIGHBORHOODS IN WASHTENAW COUNTY TO CREATE BETTER FUTURES FOR THEMSELVES, AND TO IMPROVE THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY LIVE. THE PROPOSED VISTA PROJECTS ALIGN WITH THE EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOCUS AREAS. THE VISTA PROJECT IN THE EDUCATION FOCUS AREA WILL CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND THE ACADEMIC TUTORING AND ENRICHMENT SUPPORT AND DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A COLLEGE ACCESS AND SUCCESS PROMOTING PROGRAM, BENEFITING THE OVER 250 STUDENTS CURRENTLY SERVED ANNUALLY BY CAN. THIS NUMBER IS INCREASING AS CAN CONTINUES TO EXPAND. THE VISTA PROJECT IN THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOCUS AREA WILL STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND CAN'S WORK SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, CAREER EXPLORATION, INTERNSHIP, APPRENTICESHIP AND JOB SHADOWING AND PLACEMENT PROGRAMS, BENEFITING THE ~ 60+ TEENS CAN TRAINS ANNUALLY. THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STRONGER POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION COMPONENT HAS COMMENCED. TWELVE VISTA MEMBERS WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROJECTS' GOALS BY PERFORMING ACTIVITIES SUCH AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRAINING CURRICULA, TOOLKITS, PROTOCOLS AND OTHER RESOURCES, PILOTING AND REFINING NEW PROGRAM COMPONENTS, DESIGNING VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES, INCREASING THE NUMBER OF LOCATIONS AT WHICH CAN OFFERS ITS PROGRAMS, AND EXPANDING AND SOLIDIFYING RELATIONSHIPS WITH EXISTING AND POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT TWO YEARS. VISTAS WILL ALSO ASSIST IN THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT NEEDED TO SUSTAIN THESE EXPANDED PROGRAMS IN THE FUTURE. THIS YEAR, 2017, IS AN ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT YEAR FOR CAN, AS IT IS CELEBRATING ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY ? AND A SPECIAL SIGNATURE EVENT IS PLANNED FOR OCTOBER.