Project Grant 18VSNMI011

BETHANY CHRISTIAN SERVICES MISSION IS TO DEMONSTRATE THE LOVE AND COMPASSION OF HUMANITY BY PROTECTING AND ENHANCING THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THROUGH QUALITY SOCIAL SERVICES. THE PROPOSED VISTA PROJECT ALIGNS WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOCUS AREA. THE VISTA PROJECT AT BETHANY WILL SEEK TO RECRUIT, TRAIN, AND SUPERVISE 12 FULL-TIME, ON-SITE VISTA MEMBERS AND 1 FULL-TIME VISTA LEADER (AT ANY GIVEN TIME). THESE VISTA MEMBERS OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR WILL GENERATE EXPANDED SOURCES OF SOCIAL CAPITAL AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES IN KENT COUNTY TO HELP ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF POVERTY. SPECIFICALLY, THESE ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT AND MANAGEMENT; JOB DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES; TRAINING AND EDUCATION; TUTOR MATCHING; HOUSING; DONOR ENGAGEMENT; EVENT PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION; ESL/ESOL CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT; AND JOINT CULTURAL ORIENTATION AND ENHANCED CULTURAL ORIENTATION CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT. ALL OF THESE ACTIVITIES ARE DIRECTLY AIMED AT EXPANDING BETHANY'S CAPACITY TO SERVE THE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED IN WEST MICHIGAN. THESE CAPACITY-BUILDING RESOURCES CREATED BY VISTA MEMBERS WILL HELP EMPOWER THE TARGET POPULATIONS TO BUILD EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, FINANCIAL LITERACY, AND STABLE HOUSING IN ORDER TO OVERCOME THE DEBILITATING EFFECTS OF UNSTABLE, DYSFUNCTIONAL, OR NON-EXISTENT FAMILY DYNAMICS; THE LACK OF STABLE ADULT ROLE MODELS AND SUPPORTS; UNDER-DEVELOPED SOCIAL, RELATIONAL, AND LIFE SKILLS; DIFFICULTY ASSIMILATING AND TRANSITIONING INTO THE MAINSTREAM REALITIES OF ADULT LIVING; INADEQUATE EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT; AND OBSTACLES ACCESSING AND UTILIZING BASIC COMMUNITY RESOURCES.