EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THE EAST ST. LOUIS SCHOOL DISTRICT'S MISSION IS TO CULTIVATE THE POTENTIAL IN EVERY STUDENT TO THRIVE AS A GLOBAL CITIZEN BY INSPIRING A LOVE OF LEARNING AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, BY CHALLENGING AND SUPPORTING EVERY STUDENT TO ACHIEVE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, AND BY EMBRACING THE FULL RICHNESS OF OUR COMMUNITY. THE PROPOSED VISTA PROJECT ALIGNS WITH THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOCUS AREA. THE VISTA PROJECT WILL SEEK TO ESTABLISH STACKABLE PATHWAYS FROM EDUCATION TO JOBS, WITH COORDINATED IN-SCHOOL AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL COMMUNITY ALIGNMENT, AND EXPECTS TO BENEFIT MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO ARE AT RISK OF ACADEMIC FAILURE DUE TO EXTREME POVERTY. FOUR VISTA MEMBERS WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE GOALS OF THE PROJECT BY PERFORMING CAPACITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES SUCH AS ENGAGING EMPLOYERS, DEVELOPING AND COORDINATING WORK-BASED LEARNING ACTIVITIES, DEVELOPING PUBLIC RELATIONS MATERIALS AND OTHER SUSTAINABILITY ACTIVITIES OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT YEAR.