2. Table of Contents
FOOD INSECURITY
CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY – CLARE FAGERHOLM & SHANNON CORLETT 1
JOHN CARROLL UNIVERSITY – CATHERINE DISTELRATH & MELISSA BRESNAHAN 3
LORAIN COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE – DOMINIQUE HUGHES 5
LORAIN COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE – GRANT THOMPSON 7
LORAIN COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE – NAHTEESHA CHARLES 9
MARIETTA COLLEGE – HEATHER STEWART 11
MARIETTA COLLEGE – SYDNEY MALTESE 13
OBERLIN COLLEGE – RAFE SCOBEY-THAL & ERICA TURETT 15
SHAWNEE STATE UNIVERSITY – DANIELLE BOYLES & DOT FLANAGAN 17
UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI – KELLEY O’BRIEN & RICK SAMU 19
WITTENBERG UNIVERSITY – KATIE MINTER 21

3. !
Engaging campuses in service to the community.
Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Impact Report 2011:
Case Western Reserve University
The Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA program strategically connects college resources with
!
communities in need. Corps members gain valuable experience and educational awards. Campuses
expand their civic outreach. And community partners receive critical support.
!
BACKGROUND & HISTORY Poverty Alleviation Focus Area: Food insecurity and hunger
VISTA Corps members: Clare Fagerholm & Shannon Corlett
FOOD PROGRAM Supervisor: Elizabeth Banks • ewb@case.edu
Through the University Farm Food Program, the Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Sr. Program Director:
OCC VISTA Corps members assisted with garden Lesha Farias (740) 587-8571 • lfarias@ohiocampuscompact.org
implementation, greenhouse and crop maintenance to www.ohiocampuscompact.org
maximize plant output. They developed an interactive
presentation concerning volunteerism in the United !
States, and presented to a group of 11 Mexican
students visiting the farm through the Cleveland
Council on World Affairs. Following the
presentation, the VISTAs assisted the students as they
volunteered in the fields. The Farm Food Program
recently introduced honey bee hives to maximize
plant pollination and counteract Colony Collapse
Disorder, and the students assisted with this project
as well. They also assisted with measuring and
recording compost temperatures for a research
project, as well as developed presentations regarding
high tunnels and bee-keeping for visitor education.
!
The VISTAs harvested strawberries, yellow
squash, zucchini, tomatoes, lettuces, herbs, and
much more at Cleveland Crops.
!
FAGERHOLM AT GREEN CORPS:
VISTA Corps member Clare was involved with the
Green Corps program through the Cleveland
Botanical Gardens, which operates six Learning
Farms. Cleveland youth ages 14-18 learn about
sustainable agriculture as they seed, harvest, and sell
produce to their neighborhoods. She researched
methods to increase accessibility to the produce by
searching for community partners, identified other
grocery and (continued on reverse)
1

4. corner stores offering produce, and created a produce price
comparison chart. Furthermore, Clare developed a binder explaining
progress and useful contacts for future VISTAs to continue to reach !
out to the community and spread awareness of the onsite markets in
Fairfax, Buckeye, and Slavic Village. Groups identified and educated
about Green Corps programs include:
• Buckeye Area Development Organizations
• Cleveland Public Library- Rice Branch
• MetroHealth Buckeye Health Center
• Slavic Village Developmental
• Cleveland Public Library- Slavic Village
• Fairfax Renaissance Development Corporation
• Senior Outreach Services
• Emmanuel Baptist Church
• Karamu House
• Woodland Learning Center
CORLETT AT CLEVELAND CROPS:
Through the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities,
VISTA Corps member Shannon has been involved with the planting,
harvesting, and marketing of local, chemical free produce. At the Fagerholm and Corlett displaying
Stanard location where she spent most of her time this operation freshly harvested strawberries at
employs three job coaches (including the farm manager), fourteen Cleveland Crops
individuals with disabilities (the “consumers”) and the VISTAs.
Because this was only the second season the program had been in
existence there were many unique individual and group challenges to
face. Shannon’s challenge centered around the development of a About Ohio Campus Compact
marketing department which could effectively harvest, store, and sell AmeriCorps*VISTA
all of the produce which was coming out of the farm without any
waste of time or product. This also involved finding a balance Ohio Campus Compact is a statewide nonprofit
between sales to prominent Cleveland restaurants while still being coalition of colleges and university presidents and
able to maintain availability to the community. their campuses working to promote the civic
purposes of higher education. Ohio Campus
During the marketing process Shannon developed an easy to Compact provides resources, services &
understand system of organization which allows both the leaders and partnerships to help Ohio campuses deepen their
the consumers to understand the harvesting and sorting process, and ability to educate students for civic and social
will next be working on creating a list of all of the names of products responsibility and to improve community life.
on the property to help the workers be able to accurately spell each
of the vegetables names. In addition to exploring this process, she AmeriCorps*VISTA is the national service program
designed specifically to fight poverty. Founded as
has also formed relationships with several leading chefs in the area
Volunteers in Service to America in 1965 and
who now recognize that she is a legitimate and reliable contact for
incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of
produce on a daily basis. Even the more interested neighbors now
programs in 1993, VISTA has been on the front
attend the newly introduced farmer’s market that she manages each lines in the fight against poverty in America for
week, and are starting to accept the program into the area instead of more than 40 years.
rebelling against the farm’s establishment. Shannon’s time as a VISTA
has been spent gaining extensive knowledge about horticulture and The Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*
the daily chores of a chemical free farm, as well as getting to know VISTA Program places and supports VISTAs who
the entire community which currently benefits from the programs create and expand programs designed to bring
existence. Her hope is to be able to continue colunteering time to individuals and communities out of poverty. VISTAs
this cause and its people in the future as they look towards serve in the poorest areas of their communities to
continued expansion and growth. tackle poverty-related problems such as hunger and
homelessness, financial literacy, veteran student
services, public health and college access. More
information at: www.ohiocampuscompact.org
2

5. 1
!
Engaging campuses in service to the community.
Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Impact Report 2011: John Carroll
University
The Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA program strategically connects college resources with
communities in need. Corps members gain valuable experience and educational awards. Campuses
expand their civic outreach. And community partners receive critical support.
!
HISTORY & BACKGROUND
Poverty Alleviation Focus Area: Food insecurity and hunger
Northeast Ohio (specifically the Cleveland VISTA Corps members: Catherine Distelrath & Melissa
area) has a reputation of being one of the Bresnahan
poorer, more dangerous cities in Ohio. At the Site Supervisor: Margaret Finucane
same time, however, Cleveland boasts a larger (216) 397-4698 • mfinucane@jcu.edu
number of community gardens than any other Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Sr. Program Director:
city in Ohio. The city of Cleveland and its Lesha Farias (740) 587-8571 • lfarias@ohiocampuscompact.org
www.ohiocampuscompact.org
surrounding areas are making progress.
Clevelanders are working tirelessly to ensure !
that fewer people are living in a food insecure
situation every day and that more people have
access to healthy, fresh food on a regular basis. !
This summer, the OCC Summer Associate
VISTA Corps members, Catherine and Melissa,
have joined the community garden initiative in
Cleveland in some important ways. First, by
maintaining the Carroll Community Garden on !
campus at John Carroll University and donating
all of its produce to the Heights Emergency
Food Center; second, by partnering with Asian
Services In Action (ASIA) on its community
garden and outreach efforts; third, by
researching various ways to make it easier for
people to develop and maintain community
gardens, and researching ways to get healthier
foods into the lunch programs at Cleveland
schools.
!
COMMUNITY IMPACT
There are 150 schools in the Cleveland
Metropolitan School district, most of which
are responsible for providing Cleveland’s youth
with 1-2 meals a day. That means many
Cleveland schools are responsible for about
75% of lunches that a child eats per year.
However, much of the food that is served in
area schools is processed, preserved, imported
food that is not healthy for students.
3

6. 2
!
Dietary and grocery habits in the community also model after a !
system where imported foods dominate over local products and
preservatives are common. As a result, efforts to better the system !
as well as the health of the individuals who live inside it are being
made all over Cleveland. Examples of some of these groups and
individuals include Rich Hoban with the Cuyahoga County Board of
Developmental Disabilities, Asian Services In Action (ASIA), the
Heights emergency food center, and certain government workers
who coordinate with such groups.
This summer we worked with and learned from these various
groups. Primarily, however, we worked to create a resource manual
for community partners that can help such organizations in their
efforts to continue working toward a greener and healthier
Cleveland by incorporating important information we learned from
various groups and research. The goal of this manual is to make it !
easier for people to create a healthier food system in Cleveland !
schools and to help individuals understand the various reasons
gardening is useful and important.
CAMPUS IMPACT
The Center for Service and Social Action at John Carroll University About Ohio Campus Compact
has partnered with the Heights Emergency Food Center (HEFC) for AmeriCorps*VISTA
several years. However, in the past few years, the partnership has Ohio Campus Compact is a statewide nonprofit
suffered a bit due to various circumstances, such as scheduling coalition of colleges and university presidents and their
difficulties. Because of the VISTA efforts with the community garden campuses working to promote the civic purposes of
in the past two years, the relationship between HEFC and John higher education. Ohio Campus Compact provides
Carroll has improved to the point of creating a more viable option resources, services & partnerships to help Ohio
for sending student volunteers to HEFC. campuses deepen their ability to educate students for
The VISTA members have also worked to include more John Carroll civic and social responsibility and to improve community
students in the gardening process. Recruiting student volunteers life.
during the summer is more difficult as many students vacate campus AmeriCorps*VISTA is the national service program
during the summer months. However, by making a fun event out of designed specifically to fight poverty. Founded as
our planting day, as opposed to simply planting the garden Volunteers in Service to America in 1965 and
themselves, the VISTA members were able to recruit student incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of
volunteers who would be available and willing to help throughout programs in 1993, VISTA has been on the front lines in
the summer. Including more students throughout the summer the fight against poverty in America for more than 40
should encourage more students to get involved and learn more years.
about the garden when they return to campus in the fall. The Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA
Program places and supports VISTAs who create and
expand programs designed to bring individuals and
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FUTURE: communities out of poverty. VISTAs serve in the
The VISTA-created manual includes information about why poorest areas of their communities to tackle poverty-
gardening is healthier for the environment. It also includes related problems such as hunger and homelessness,
information on how to integrate a more sustainable and local food financial literacy, veteran student services, public health
system into schools. In addition to the community manual, Catherine and college access. More information at:
has also comprised a garden manual for John Carroll’s Community www.ohiocampuscompact.org
garden. The resources can be utilized by any of the 60 community
partners that work with the Center for Service and Social Action
and can also be utilized within John Carroll to further efforts toward
a more local and sustainable city.
!
4

7. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
! Engaging campuses in service to the community.
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
! Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Impact Report:
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
! !
Lorain County Community College
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
The Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA program strategically connects college resources with communities
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
in need. Corps members gain valuable experience and educational awards; campuses expand their civic outreach;
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
and community partners receive critical support.
! ! ! ! !
HISTORY & BACKGROUND Poverty Alleviation Focus Area: Food insecurity
!
In Elyria OH, 23 percent of families with children less than 18 VISTA Corps member: Dominique Hughes
years of age live in poverty. The poverty rate more than Site Supervisor: Marcia Jones
!
doubles to 47.8 percent in families with a female head of (440) 366-4729 • mjones@lorainccc.edu
household and children under the age of 18. This summer in Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Sr. Program Director:
!
close partnership with Lorain County Community College’s Lesha Farias (740) 587-8571 •
(LCCC) Campus Gardens, Elyria City Schools (Northwood lfarias@ohiocampuscompact.org
Middle School), and Giant Eagle the Lorain County Urban
! www.ohiocampuscompact.org
League (LCUL) was able to combat food insecurities associated
with poverty.
!
Summer Associate VISTA Corps member Dominique Hughes, !
!
with the help of Project Ready Director, Tina Allen, and Project
Ready volunteer, Cassandra Allen, coordinated 58 hours of
!
direct and indirect service learning for 6-9th grade students
whom are in the LCUL’s Project Ready Summer Camp. July
25th through August 12th was dedicated to informing 16 local
!
youth about job creation for the next generation, food access,
hunger, healthy eating and living.
!
COMMUNITY IMPACT
!
Project Ready youth were introduced to issues of food
insecurity through a poverty simulation. Those who were
!
unable to afford a plentiful amount of food during the
simulation identified food banks/pantries, food stamps, and
!
schools lunch programs as their options. It was essential to
review the importance of food assistance for its relevance to
!
our community service. Project Ready youth were one
hundred times more connected to their service than they
!
would have been if they had not participated in a poverty Project Ready student Nancy Tanner and
!
simulation. It reminded everyone how important their Dominique Hughes helped pull weeds in
commitment to civic engagement would be for the next three the Green-Land Youth Experience
weeks.
Garden. Project Ready youth devoted
Service learning programs involve students in organized 20 hours of direct service learning to
community service that addresses the local needs of community campus gardens renovations.
partners, while developing academic skills and instilling the
importance of civic responsibility.
5

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LCCC Campus Gardens and Northwood Middle School Courtyard Garden. The
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healthy lifestyles. Project Ready discussed the specifics of the food pyramid,
organic and inorganic foods. A tour of Giant Eagle, food samples and L>!#=03!Q!M>FPHR!ST#6=!%9:0$!=G!
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CAMPUS IMPACT !
The Lorain County Urban League Project Ready’s partnership with Lorain
County Community College was a huge success. Through the assistance of
Summer Associate VISTA Corps member Grant Thompson and Professor Ruby
Beil Project Ready youth were able to participate in approximately 20 hours About Ohio Campus Compact
renovating LCCC’s Campus Field House Garden. Renovations consisted of AmeriCorps*VISTA
youth researching plants, transplanting plants from the Hummingbird Butterfly
Habitat Garden, redesigning the layout of Field House Garden, renaming Field Ohio Campus compact is a statewide
House Garden to The Urban League Project Ready Green-land Youth Experience nonprofit coalition of colleges and university
Garden, and designing a sign in the Fab Lab (offers tools needed to conceptualize, presidents and their campuses working to
design, develop, fabricate and test a wide variety of things). promote the civic purposes of higher
education. Ohio Campus Compact provides
The Urban League Project Ready Green-land Youth Experience Garden’s tranquility
resources, services & partnerships to help
provides the perfect study break and has the possibility to be sustainable with
Ohio campuses deepen their ability to educate
future assistance from volunteers. Not only were youth able to learn about the
students for civic and social responsibility and
importance of civic engagement, they were able to learn about food access,
to improve community life.
medicinal herbs, and the basics of gardening. LCCC and LCUL’s summer
partnership has been a win-win situation achieving desired results for both the
AmeriCorps*VISTA is the national service
campus and community.
program designed specifically to fight poverty.
Founded as Volunteers in Service to America
CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FUTURE in 1965 and incorporated into the
AmeriCorps network of programs in 1993,
The Lorain County Urban League’s Project Ready’s first summer was able to be VISTA has been on the front lines in the fight
successful through the help of community partners, staff, parents and youth. against poverty in America for more than 40
Challenges included transportation, and organizing service learning hours. The years.
Project Ready Summer Program has the potential to double in numbers by next
summer with the support of Elyria City Schools, Lorain County Community The Ohio Campus Compact
College, Oberlin College Bonner Center for Service and Learning, REACHigher, AmeriCorps*VISTA Program places and
Gear Up, Ninde Scholars and NASA (National Aeronautics and Space supports VISTAs who create and expand
Administration). These formalized partnerships coupled with agency programs designed to bring individuals and
collaborations, and programming experience will only enhance Lorain County’s communities out of poverty. VISTAs serve in
students’ civic engagement in the future. the poorest areas of their communities to
tackle poverty-related problems such as
hunger and homelessness, financial literacy,
veteran student services, public health and
college access. More information at
www.ohiocampuscompact.org.
6

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HISTORY & BACKGROUND &
Lorain County Community College (LCCC) is located in Elyria, Poverty Alleviation Focus Area: Food Insecurity
Ohio, a community located on the western edge of the VISTA Corps member: Grant Thompson
Cleveland metropolitan area. Within a seven mile radius of Site Supervisor: Michele Henes
LCCC, there are seven areas classified as food deserts by (440) 366-7034 • mhenes@lccc.edu
the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Ohio Campus Compace VISTA Sr. Program Director:
Service. This service defines food deserts as low income Lesha Farias (740) 587-8571 • lfarias@ohiocampuscompact.org
communities in which 500 people, or 33% of the population, www.ohiocampuscompact.org
live more than 1 mile from a grocery store. 25,124 total
people live in these food deserts, 20,413 of which (81.2%)
are considered to have low- access to food.
(http://www.ers.usda.gov/data/fooddesert/)
&
Being the most affordable option for education in Lorain
County, Lorain County Community College serves many
students and families from low socio-economic backgrounds.
The Children’s Learning Center is a non-profit child-care and
pre-school service provided to staff, faculty, and students of
LCCC. Given economic and food access issues in the
community, many of the children served by the center possess
little knowledge about where food comes from. Because of
this, the center’s director, Michele Henes, has been working in
conjunction with Filtrexx GardenSoxx to implement a pilot
gardening curriculum called, “A Garden for Every Child.” One of
the main goals of this curriculum states that: “Gardens with
edible crops can foster the development of positive nutritional
attitudes and behaviors. Kids learn the sources of their food
and are motivated to try new fruits and vegetables.”
&
In 2010, Henes secured a Youth Garden Grant from the LCCC Children’s Learning Center Students were given
National Gardening Association in order to expand and care hands-on gardening experience. Not only did they
for a student garden at the Learning center. get to witness the growth process of their plants,
& they had the opportunity to actively participate in
“It became incredibly concerning to me that, when asked this process, from planting the seeds, to providing
where their vegetables come from, a large percentage of our the plants with water, and keeping track of the
students would respond: ‘McDonald’s’” garden’s progress.
- Michele Henes (Above: OCC VISTA Grant Thompson and Learning Center Students
Director, Children’s Learning Center plant pumpkins that the students started from seed.)
&
&
&
& 7

10. !
CAMPUS IMPACT !
Sowing the seeds of knowledge !
In the second summer of the curriculum’s implementation, OCC VISTA Grant !
Thompson worked to expand the existing vegetable garden, worked in !
!
conjunction with center teachers to provide experiential reinforcement of
Learning Through Doing:
learning material, and promoted garden growth so that students could witness
food production. The overall goal was to establish the idea of gardens as a
In addition to learning about gardening and
nutritional food source at a young age.
food sourcing, students received an informal
education in sustainable agricultural practices
The vegetable garden itself was expanded by more than 150 square feet and
through the use of collected rain water,
four raised bed gardens (each 3’x3’) were added. In order to foster meaningful
worm-composting food scraps, and a 100%
connections to learning material, the garden was divided into seven distinct
organically raised garden.
sections, each devoted to a type of food children would be familiar with. These
included: Salsa, Pizza, Salad, Dinner and Herb sections. Additionally a “three (Below: Students collect rain water from the
sisters garden” and three pumpkin patches were established in the raised beds. rain-barrel to use in the garden)
The students started majority of the plants from seed and transplanted them to
the garden in the summer. Throughout the summer, the students were given an !
increasing amount of responsibility over age-appropriate tasks in the garden !
(i.e. watering, weeding, growth tracking, etc.). They were also given the !
opportunity to learn through exploration in the garden on a daily basis. Students !
were also tasked with caring for a worm composting bin to supplement what !
!
they learned about composting. The students had the opportunity to harvest
!
both basil and dill from their garden before the end of summer and the fall !
students will be able to harvest a large amount of various vegetables. The basil !
was utilized by the grade-school students, who made pesto from the basil that !
they picked for lunch. !
!
!
Growing Partnerships: !
Through the center’s partnership with the local company, Filtrexx, the garden !
was primarily comprised of GardenSoxx. These are self-contained growing !
systems that can be moved from year-to-year and utilize locally-sourced, !
USDA organic compost as a growing media. Filtrexx has also been !
instrumental in the creation of the gardening curriculum utilized by the !
Children’s learning Center. !
About Ohio Campus Compact
For the second consecutive year Eric Petrus, LCCC’s Executive Chef, has AmeriCorps*VISTA
donated his time to create food for the students from the center’s garden. This
is an incredibly important part of the process because it shows the students a Ohio Campus compact is a statewide nonprofit
direct connection between the garden and their plate. This summer the dill coalition of colleges and university presidents and
from the garden was utilized by Petrus and his team to teach the students how their campuses working to promote the civic
to make a dill vegetable dip as a snack. This partnership will be utilized going purposes of higher education. Ohio Campus
forward into the fall in order to reinforce the idea of gardens as a food source. Compact provides resources, services &
partnerships to help Ohio campuses deepen their
ability to educate students for civic and social
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FUTURE: responsibility and to improve community life.
As the LCCC Children’s Learning Center Garden continues to grow, there are
almost limitless opportunities to educate children and their parents alike about AmeriCorps*VISTA is the national service
program designed specifically to fight poverty.
both gardening and food sourcing. Future projects could include an expansion of
Founded as Volunteers in Service to America in
the children’s garden to a full-fledged community garden, giving parents who may 1965 and incorporated into the AmeriCorps
not otherwise have the opportunity, the chance to share the gardening network of programs in 1993, VISTA has been on
experience with their children the front lines in the fight against poverty in
America for more than 40 years.
The center can also begin to utilize its student teachers to enhance the
current curriculum and to write more specific unit and lesson plans for future The Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA
use. As one of the first programs of this type, the center is in prime position Program places and supports VISTAs who create
to receive grants and funding to further the work that has already been done. and expand programs designed to bring individuals
and communities out of poverty. VISTAs serve in
the poorest areas of their communities to tackle
poverty-related problems such as hunger and
homelessness, financial literacy, veteran student
services, public health and college access. More
information at www.ohiocampuscompact.org.
8

11. !
Engaging in campuses services for the community.
Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Impact Report 2011:
Lorain County Community College
The Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA program strategically connects college resources with communities
in need. Corps members gain valuable experience and educational awards; campuses expand their civic outreach;
and community partners receive critical support.
HISTORY & BACKGROUND
In Elyria, Ohio, many organizations and programs that were focused Poverty Alleviation Focus Area: Food insecurity
on educating and youth leadership development have been severely VISTA Corps Member: Nahteesha Charles
impacted by federal, state and local budget cuts. Some successful Site Supervisor: Marcia Jones
local youth programs like Jogs, Gear Up, and CORE were forced to (440) 366-4729 • mjones@lorainccc.edu
close down. This has left a huge gap in services for at-risk Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Director:
populations and for untold numbers of children who rely on free or Lesha Farias (740) 587-8571 • lfarias@ohiocampuscompact.org
reduced-price lunches during the school year and face hunger during www.ohiocampuscompact.org
the summer months.
Ohio Campus Compact and Lorain County Community College
worked together to place a Summer Associate VISTA Corps
member with Save Our Children, a faith-based nonprofit organization
in Elyria which provides enriching summer programs for youth from
first grade through high school. VISTA Summer Associate Nahteesha
Charles helped the Save Our Children staff to develop curriculum
and provide education to all the teens in the Teen Youth Council and
in the 1st and 2nd class. Focusing primarily on nutrition education,
Nahteesha and her students explored the cultural , religious and
historic importance of certain foods. The small garden plot and
partnerships with the locally-grown produce cooperative, City Fresh, !
provided interesting—and delicious—tools to teach the youth about
healthy eating and food production.
Teen Youth Council reading books to the
COMMUNITY IMPACT 1st and 2nd graders at Save Our Children
Thanks in part to the work of the VISTA Summer Associate
program, Save Our Children was able to provide exciting, engaging !
and life-changing programs to Elyria children. The summer program
offered important life lessons about respect for themselves and
others, empowerment, culture and domestic violence. Teen Youth
Council provided a service-learning experience for the participants
who learned about respect, empowerment, team work, leadership,
equality, and people skills. Field trips to Cleveland-area colleges
enabled teens to better understand and explore possible options for
college and various career paths. The dynamic summer programming
led by Nahteesha Charles also engaged the youth in direct service to
the community. For example, the teens volunteered at the Salvation AmeriCorps VISTA member Nahteesha Charles
Army to bag free grocery for low income families. The experience teaches 1st and 2nd graders about food and
sparked deeper conversations among the group as to the various nutrition in the Save Our Children vegetable
economic and social challenges their neighborhoods face, and an
(continued on reverse)
garden
!
9

12. exploration as to how they believe the community can be made a The VISTA IMPACT
better place to live. !
By the numbers:
The students completed a total of 10-12 hours of community service
!
over the course of the eight week program. The group also worked Engaged youth: 10
with the Boys and Girls Club and was able to use their recording
studio to record a teen talk show to discuss what they learned that !
Service Learning Partners: 5
week. The teens discussed healthy versus unhealthy relationships,
what it means to empower, how to work together, why it is !!
important to have a goal and how to start it, what to do to follow Field Trips: 5
through with it and the importance of education. !!
Total number of service hours per
At the conclusion of the eight-week summer program, led by Ohio student: 10-12
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Campus Compact Summer Associate VISTA Nahteesha Charles at
Save Our Children, the Teen Youth Council outlined the following
achievements:
About Ohio Campus Compact
• Learned how to create goals and how to follow through AmeriCorps*VISTA
• Learned how to work in harmony with their team
• Explored Cleveland State University and the opportunities Ohio Campus compact is a statewide nonprofit
higher education offers coalition of colleges and university presidents and
• Developed philanthropic skills and learned about importance their campuses working to promote the civic
purposes of higher education. Ohio Campus
of giving, volunteering and helping the less unfortunate.
Compact provides resources, services &
• Improved behavior and respect for self and others partnerships to help Ohio campuses deepen their
• Improved problem-solving skills ability to educate students for civic and social
• Experience teaching and reading to 1st and 2nd (reading responsibility and to improve community life.
buddies)
• Increased awareness of community needs and challenges AmeriCorps*VISTA is the national service program
designed specifically to fight poverty. Founded as
Volunteers in Service to America in 1965 and
CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FUTURE incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of
Save Our Children received positive feedback about the project over programs in 1993, VISTA has been on the front
the eight weeks. The greatest challenges to the program were lines in the fight against poverty in America for
coordinating transportation and communicating with many different more than 40 years.
organizations. They are many opportunities to continue partnerships
The Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA
with organizations like Boys and Girls Scout, Boys and Girls Club,
Program places and supports VISTAs who create
Salvation Army, and City Fresh, however. Opportunities for future and expand programs designed to bring individuals
growth will depend continued VISTA involvement or additional and communities out of poverty. VISTAs serve in
outside funding to enable increased outreach to the community in the poorest areas of their communities to tackle
order to enroll larger numbers of participants and to coordinate poverty-related problems such as hunger and
additional fieldtrips, an important component to the program. homelessness, financial literacy, veteran student
services, public health and college access. More
information at www.ohiocampuscompact.org.
10

13. Engaging campuses in service to the community.
Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Impact Report 2011: Marietta College
The Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA program strategically connects college resources with
communities in need. Corps members gain valuable experience and educational awards. Campuses
expand their civic outreach. And community partners receive critical support.
HISTORY AND BACKGROUND Poverty Alleviation Focus Area: Food insecurity
VISTA Corps member: Heather Stewart
Marietta College is located in Ohio’s southeast Appalachian Site Supervisor: Arielle Jennings
region in Washington County. The area has continued to 740-376-4561 • aj002@marietta.edu!
fight the battle against poverty since the downfall of the Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Sr. Program Director: Lesha
manufacturing industry that was once booming on the river. Farias • (740) 587-8571 • lfarias@ohiocampuscompact.org
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 14.7% of Washington www.ohiocampuscompact.org
County residents lived at or below the poverty level in 2009,
and the rate of unemployment was up to 8.5% in April of
2010. In addition to the high poverty and unemployment
rates, 14.7% of people in Washington County are considered
to be food insecure, meaning they struggle to put food on
the table for all three meals every day. Children are often
the ones most affected by these debilitating statistics, and
Morgan County, Washington’s neighbor has seen even
worse conditions.
Washington-Morgan Community Action (WMCAP) is a non-
profit community based organization that serves both
Washington and Morgan Counties. For over 40 years
WMCAP has been carrying out its commitment to help low-
income individuals and families achieve growth and success
through over 60 programs and a dedicated staff. What
began as the first family planning program in the state of
Ohio has grown to include programs ranging from healthcare Cindy Styer teaches the kids the importance
to delivery of meals and is a major employer and service of milk and dairy products in their diet.
provider to the local communities. After their second nutrition lesson they
learned how to follow a recipe to make
COMMUNITY IMPACT vanilla ice cream, the perfect ending to one
of the hottest days of the summer. Cindy
In 2009 Marietta College and Ohio Campus Compact
plans on returning to the site next year to
created an AmeriCorps VISTA position thru Washington
host more classes.
Morgan Community Action. This year the OCC VISTA was
responsible for creating a marketing plan to generate more
activity at the Senior Nutrition Program congregational site Pictured: Brian, Kaile, Arabella and Anthony
in Marietta as well as hosting the Summer Feeding Site in
New Matamoras, Washington County. The New Matamoras
unemployment rate was at 8.1% in March 2011 (continued
on reverse)
11

14. and 23.1% of the community was living at or below the The VISTA Impact
poverty level in 2009 so providing a hot and nutritious meal
by the numbers:
to the children in the area can do a lot to alleviate the
troubles some parents face over summer while their ! Summer Feeding New Matamoras
children are not in school. The two unique views of food
Meal Totals 2010-2011
insecurity provide insight to the core struggles many
community members face every day. 308!
COMMUNITY IMPACT 267!
Meals Ordered 2010!
The Summer Feeding site in New Matamoras provided over
300 hot and nutritious meals to local children this summer, Meals Ordered 2011!
fewer meals were leftover and less food was left untouched.
The children learned the importance of recycling the first
two weeks of the program with the start of a recycling
program to reduce waste. Cindy Styer from Ohio State
extension program visited the site twice to teach the kids
about the importance of fruits and vegetables where the
kids received bracelets to keep track of their daily servings 31!
and then about milk and dairy products where the children 20!
7! 3!
made ice cream from scratch.
Hot Meals! Cold Meals! Leftover Meals!
After a survey of the attendees at the Senior Nutrition
congregate site in Marietta it was clear to see what were the
driving factors that kept up the attendance. While the food !
received high ratings from those surveyed most in
attendance said they come in every day to spend time with About Ohio Campus Compact
their friends. As a result, the marketing plan, with the goal AmeriCorps*VISTA
of increasing meals served, focuses on the relationships
attendees have with the community. The CABEL bus line, Ohio Campus Compact is a statewide nonprofit
ran through Washington Morgan Community Action, will coalition of colleges and university presidents and their
support advertisements for the Senior Nutrition Program campuses working to promote the civic purposes of
and information about the program will be available at other higher education. Ohio Campus Compact provides
locations and programs current site attendees visit. resources, services & partnerships to help Ohio
campuses deepen their ability to educate students for
civic and social responsibility and to improve community
CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FUTURE life.
The Summer Feeding Site faces many challenges every year. AmeriCorps*VISTA is the national service program
The biggest concern is that funding may not be available to designed specifically to fight poverty. Founded as
support the program in the future. However, the Volunteers in Service to America in 1965 and
community knows the importance of the program to those incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of
it serves so there is hope that those at Washington Morgan programs in 1993, VISTA has been on the front lines in
Community Action will find the funds. Towards the end of the fight against poverty in America for more than 40
the program many children began to invite their friends to years.
lunch, significantly increasing the number of meals served so
there is an opportunity to grow with this concept when The Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps* VISTA
marketing the program next year. Continuing the recycling Program places and supports VISTAs who create and
program and possibly starting a composting program with expand programs designed to bring individuals and
the community garden for next year will increase awareness communities out of poverty. VISTAs serve in the
of the program in the local community. poorest areas of their communities to tackle poverty-
related problems such as hunger and homelessness,
The Senior Nutrition Program is facing low attendance at financial literacy, veteran student services, public health
and college access. More information at:
the Marietta congregate site but with the new marketing
www.ohiocampuscompact.org
plan many of their concerns will be lessened, giving them
more time to focus on improving the quality of the meals
served.
12

15. Engaging campuses in service to the community
Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Impact Report 2011: Marietta College!
The Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA program strategically connects college resources with
communities in need. Corps members gain valuable experience and educational awards. Campuses
expand their civic outreach. And community partners receive critical support.
!
HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The city of Marietta, located in Ohio’s southeast Poverty Alleviation Focus Area: Food insecurity
Appalachian region, struggles with poverty related VISTA Corps member: Sydney Maltese
issues despite its historic appeal. According to the U.S. Site Supervisor: Arielle Jennings
Census Bureau, 16.9% of Washington County residents 740-376-4561 • aj002@marietta.edu
lived at or below the poverty level in 2008. Food Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Sr. Program Director:
insecurity affects14.7% of people in Washington Lesha Farias (740) 587-8571 • lfarias@ohiocampuscompact.org
County, meaning 14.7% of the population struggles to www.ohiocampuscompact.org
put food on the table for all three meals. As reported !
by the Marietta Community Food Pantry, 7,665
Marietta-based clients were served in 2010 and 3,421 !
clients have already been served this year (as of June
30th, 2011). In addition, 73% of Washington County’s
low-income eligible students participated in a free or
reduced-price school lunch program, but only 14.3% of
eligible students participated in summer meal programs,
according to the Children’s Hunger Alliance
Washington County report.
!
In order to increase the number of eligible students
benefitting from summer meal programs, Ohio Campus
Compact and Marietta College created an AmeriCorps
VISTA Summer Associate position in 2010 to
collaborate with the Summer Food Service Program at Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA Summer
the Ely Chapman Education Foundation in Marietta. Associate Sydney Maltese (far left) instructs the junior high
Summer Food Service Programs provide children with class at Ely Chapman in how to make nutritious snacks.
free meals during the summer months, when they do Below, the class poses for a smile and a taste-test.
not have access to the free or reduced-price meal
programs that they normally receive during the school
year. The Ely Chapman Education Foundation, a non-
profit organization that serves to enrich the lives of
Marietta youth through education, acts as a host site for
the Summer Food Service Program. Ely Chapman
provides the venue for children from area summer
camps and the community to come in and receive a free
meal. One of the primary goals of this program is to
relieve some of the burden on Marietta area food
pantries and free meal kitchens. “This year we’ve had
more [children] than previous years simply because of
L&P Services and Eve, Inc. taking advantage of the free
lunch,” (continued on reverse)
13

16. reports Alice Chapman, chair and founder of Ely Chapman. “This is
important because the Washington County Children’s Services Prevention
Unit was terminated two years ago due to funding cuts, and they often brought
financially ‘at-risk’ clients to lunch.”
The VISTA Impact
COMMUNITY IMPACT by the numbers:
During the summer of 2011, Ely Chapman collaborated with AmeriCorps
Summer Associate Sydney Maltese to bring their Summer Food Service
Program to its fullest potential. Sydney worked with the staff of Ely 424 Free breakfasts served in June
Chapman to track the number of children receiving meals, chart the
amounts of milk waste and food waste during mealtimes, and to prepare
breakfast, lunch, and snack for the children. Additionally, Sydney also
335 Free breakfasts served in July
helped plan and coordinate a Nutrition Week at Ely Chapman, as well as
weekly, hands-on healthy snack lessons with the junior high class. During 2,369 Free lunches served in June
the course of her service, Sydney also worked to advertise the Summer
Food Service Program at area food pantries, and obtained donations of 2,049 Free lunches served in July
fresh produce to serve to all of the children attending the free meals. In
collaboration with the staff of Ely Chapman, Sydney also made small
revisions to the breakfast and lunch menus in order to cater more
toward the children’s needs.
29% Decrease in the amount of milk
Nutrition Week wasted from beginning of program to end
The pinnacle of Sydney Maltese’s collaboration with Ely Chapman was
Nutrition Week, which was organized for all of the students in Ely 29% Decrease in number of meals
Chapman’s Sensational Summer Camp, and all of the students in the wasted from beginning of program to end
Marietta Family YMCA’s Camp WILD. Highlights of the week include
taste-testing a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, learning about My
Plate as a food group visual, and making homemade applesauce and
strawberry-banana soymilk smoothies. One of the primary goals of !
Nutrition Week was to allow the students to form a relationship with
healthy food, beginning with an introduction to fresh produce “from seed
to table.” Presenters from the OSU Extension Agency and the Food 4 About Ohio Campus Compact
Less Community Gardens contributed to the activities.
AmeriCorps*VISTA
CAMPUS IMPACT Ohio Campus Compact is a statewide nonprofit
By stationing an AmeriCorps Summer Associate at Ely Chapman coalition of colleges and university presidents and
Education Foundation, Marietta College continues to foster and build their campuses working to promote the civic
upon an undeniably strong relationship with nonprofit organizations in purposes of higher education. Ohio Campus
the surrounding community. Already, the College provides Ely Chapman Compact provides resources, services &
with a number of work study positions and student volunteers who partnerships to help Ohio campuses deepen their
provide both assistance and resources to the many programs at the ability to educate students for civic and social
foundation. Furthermore, Marietta College students who are involved at responsibility and to improve community life.
Ely Chapman gain an invaluable inside understanding of the way in which AmeriCorps*VISTA is the national service program
a nonprofit organization functions, and are able to contribute designed specifically to fight poverty. Founded as
substantially to their community as a result. Because of the positive Volunteers in Service to America in 1965 and
impact of the work of Marietta College students at Ely Chapman, incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of
including the work of AmeriCorps*VISTAs, the College intends to programs in 1993, VISTA has been on the front
continue building upon its relationship with the nonprofit in the future. lines in the fight against poverty in America for
more than 40 years.
KEEPING THE PARTNERSHIP STRONG: OPPORTUNITIES FOR The Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*
VISTA Program places and supports VISTAs who
THE FUTURE create and expand programs designed to bring
Ely Chapman’s Summer Food Service Program, while successful, still has individuals and communities out of poverty. VISTAs
plenty of room to grow. Previous AmeriCorps Summer Associates have serve in the poorest areas of their communities to
laid the groundwork for the Foundation to begin collaborating with the tackle poverty-related problems such as hunger and
College to start a gardening and compost program, budgeting for homelessness, financial literacy, veteran student
healthier snack-making, and revising the camp menu to include more services, public health and college access. More
fresh, natural food. The goal of sustainability will provide an exciting and information at: www.ohiocampuscompact.org
interesting challenge for the program in the future.
14

17. !
Engaging campuses in service to the community.
Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Impact Report 2011:
Oberlin College
The Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA program strategically connects college resources with
communities in need. Corps members gain valuable experience and educational awards. Campuses
expand their civic outreach. And community partners receive critical support.
!
HISTORY & BACKGROUND Poverty Alleviation Focus Area: Food insecurity and education
Northeast Ohio and Lorain County have been VISTA Corps members: Rafe Scobey-Thal & Erica Turett
epicenters to food inequality and insecurity. With Site Supervisor: Dr. Beth Blissman • beth.blissman@oberlin.edu
almost 30% of families qualifying as low-income, Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Sr. Program Director:
Lesha Farias (740) 587-8571 • lfarias@ohiocampuscompact.org
families’ abilities to eat is already in question let alone
www.ohiocampuscompact.org
to eat healthily, locally and responsibly. OCC !
AmeriCorps Summer Associate VISTA members !
Erica Turett and Rafe Scobey-Thal, two Oberlin
College students, under the guidance of Sandy Jordan
and the New Agrarian Center planned and ran the
third year of the George Jones Discovery Camp. A
week long camp centered around educating and
engaging disadvantaged youth in sustainable
agriculture, healthy eating habits and experiencing
nature. In it’s third year the camp was at a turning
point in its identity and how the New Agrarian
Center, the overseeing organization, wanted it to
impact the community. Turett and Scobey-Thal
were brought on to coordinate outreach to a larger
group of children and to restructure it to be more of
a foundational food and nature experience; the camp
is meant to literally allow children to ‘discover’ the
principles behind eating, cooking and farming.
Left-Right: Ja’mel Currie, Sky Barlow, Shane Henderson, Erica
“Wow! I never knew this is what a squash plant looked Turett, Heaven Harrington, Lydia Lee-Mosley; Top: Rafe Scobel-
like. Why don’t the supermarket’s vegetables look and Thal
taste like this?”
HEAVEN HARRINGTON-AGE 10, ELYRIA, OHIO
COMMUNITY IMPACT Counselors Rafe-Scobey-Thal and Erica Turett on the
George Jones Memorial Farm with campers and a
The George Jones Discovery Camp, organized
through the George Jones Farm and the New counselor (far right) from Save Our Children in
Elyria, Ohio. Several sessions of a week long camp
Agrarian Center involved a total of 30 campers in the
bring city kids and local food together as the campers
course of three consecutive weeks. Coming from all
areas of Lorain County, camp attendees included a are given the chance for hands-on work in learning
where food comes from. Partnership with the farm
mix of rural and urban campers that ranged from the
ages of 7-12. Many of the campers were members of allows the campers their very own food garden that
the Oberlin (continued on reverse) they learn to create and take care of.
15

18. community who came to the camp individually and 17 campers
came with either The Boys and Girls Club of Oberlin or a Left-Right:
program called Save Our Children, located 20 minutes away in Campers
Elyria. Scholarship money was provided for any student whose Ja’mel Currie
family wanted or needed it in any quantity necessary. Rafe and Shane
Scobey-Thal and Erica Turett were the counselors who ran the Henderson
camp. They intended for the camp to cater to all ages and levels make
of knowledge about farming, nature, and arts and crafts. Among ‘Memory
many things, the campers learned how to plant seedlings and Keepers’
beans, how to effectively water plants, how to weed and with yarn
complete general maintenance on a garden, to identify trees and and sticks in
leaves and edible berries, to practice art using only sticks and the farm’s
yarn and make acorn mobiles. They learned about the way food Straw-Bale
in this country is grown (on large, non-organic, non-local farms) Building!
and why these methods are not healthy and not environmentally
sustainable. They learned about the things that make a farm
healthy and desirable and that all people deserve to eat in that
! way. Most importantly, the campers learned where in their
communities these opportunities were available. About Ohio Campus Compact
AmeriCorps*VISTA
As a result of Farm and Discovery Camp, the children were able
to experience farm work, walks in the woods, farm animals, Ohio Campus Compact is a statewide
fresh, local, organic food, interactions with farmers, the growth nonprofit coalition of colleges and university
of their own vegetable garden and tending to it each day. Many of presidents and their campuses working to
the campers at Discovery Camp had not previously been on a promote the civic purposes of higher
farm or walked in the woods. The camp, as it is in its early years, education. Ohio Campus Compact
was a huge success in creating fun, educational programming for provides resources, services & partnerships
kids of different backgrounds within Lorain County. to help Ohio campuses deepen their ability
to educate students for civic and social
CAMPUS IMPACT responsibility and to improve community
On the Oberlin College campus, Rafe Scobey-Thal and Erica life.
Turett have worked to pave the road for future Discovery Camp
counselors that are interested in the intersection between food, AmeriCorps*VISTA is the national service
cooking, nature, and art. As a final project, they will be creating a program designed specifically to fight
manual for future counselors and programmers of the camp that poverty. Founded as Volunteers in Service
list contacts with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Oberlin, Elyria, and to America in 1965 and incorporated into
Lorain, Save Our Children, and House of Healing, both located in the AmeriCorps network of programs in
Elyria. The manual will also include a list of indoor and outdoor 1993, VISTA has been on the front lines in
games that are appropriate for different ages, different lessons the fight against poverty in America for
that pertain to things on the farm, and a suggested schedule for more than 40 years.
the camp. This manual will be a solid starting point for future
years of camp. The Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*
VISTA Program places and supports VISTAs
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FUTURE: who create and expand programs designed
to bring individuals and communities out of
KEEPING THE PARTNERSHIP STRONG: poverty. VISTAs serve in the poorest areas
Opportunities for future program growth include offering of their communities to tackle poverty-
Oberlin college students the opportunity to continue and add to related problems such as hunger and
the work of this year’s summer associates. The partnerships with homelessness, financial literacy, veteran
The George Jones Memorial Farm and The New Agrarian student services, public health and college
Center, as well as with The Boys and Girls Club and Save Our access. More information at:
Children will continue to grow and will help to strengthen and www.ohiocampuscompact.org
expand the Discovery Camp for kids.
16

19. !
Engaging campuses in service to the community.
Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Impact Report 2011:
Shawnee State University
The Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA program strategically connects college resources
with communities in need. Corps members gain valuable experience and educational awards.
Campuses expand their civic outreach. And community partners receive critical support.
HISTORY & BACKGROUND
Poverty Alleviation Focus Area: Food insecurity
Kelly Hatas, former OCC AmeriCorps VISTA and graduate of
VISTA Corps members: Danielle Boyles & Dot Flanagan
Shawnee State University, founded the Portsmouth Pantry Site Supervisor: Nikki Karabinis
Garden (PPG) in 2007. It was originally located on a small plot in (740)351-3572 • nkarabinis@shawnee.edu
Shawnee State Forest by their Nature Center. The first growing Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Sr. Program Director:
season was a success. In 2008 Hatas, and fellow OCC Lesha Farias (740) 587-8571 • lfarias@ohiocampuscompact.org
AmeriCorps VISTA, Sarah Lowe, expanded their gardening www.ohiocampuscompact.org
efforts. During the second summer of PPG, 2008, they added a
small plot at All Saints Episcopal Church. Hatas and Lowe began to
bring in community partners to help sustain the garden. Scioto !
Christian Ministries and their volunteers were key players in
bringing the garden in the city and making it accessible for all.
In 2009 the City of Portsmouth allowed PPG and newly founded
Portsmouth Community Garden nearly an acre of land to expand
the garden and it’s capacity for outreach. The plot is located at
Doyle’s Landing boarding the Ohio River.
Portsmouth Community Garden was formed by a small group of
Pantry Garden volunteers who where interested in tending their
own garden space. The plot at Doyle’s landing was shared
between the two gardening efforts.
In 2010 Hatas and Lowe received funding from Ohio Campus
Compact to hire three Summer VISTAs to carry on their mission.
Mason Bradbury, Josh Aeh, and Sarah Bachman worked full time
at Doyle’s Landing during the summer of 2010 and they were able
to raise and donate approximately 2000 pounds of food to give to
Salvation Army’s pantry and God’s Pantry at Second Presbyterian
Church.
“The dedication of the our current Summer
VISTAs, Dot and Danielle, is tremendous. The
community that is built around this garden is a
wonderful thing for Portsmouth.”
Sarah Lowe, !"#$%&&%'()*&%+',$-.$#/'0%"#+')12')3'24%'5)62+7)124'5"#26*'
Former OCC AmeriCorps VISTA 8"69%#:';4$-4';"+'&"2%6'96),,%9')33'"2')#%')3'24%'&)-"&',"#26$%+<'
17

20. ! COMMUNITY IMPACT
Participating Service Providers:
!!
The Portsmouth Pantry Garden is a place of natural beauty and The VISTA Impact
learning opportunities for community members to visit. This is a by the numbers:
great opportunity for community members who are interested in Total Pantries Approximately
having their own garden but might not have the resources to get Served:
started. The Portsmouth Pantry Garden enables people to learn 15
more about gardening and different gardening techniques. PPG
Total Estimated Volunteers:
sponsored a Children’s Day at the Garden, where the VISTAs
120
teamed up with the Counseling Center Summer Outreach Program
and brought children to enjoy a fun filled learning experience. This Total Estimated Pounds of Donated
event enabled children of the community to share laughter, learn Fresh Fruits & Vegetables:
about gardening, and to experience the unique feeling of helping 2,000
others. Activities included a rock-painting contest for row markers
Estimated Number of Families
in the garden and the biggest weed pulling challenge. Projects like
Helped:
these help these children understand that they are a part of a
1,250
community and they should invest their time into their community
to make it better. Money Raised:
$1,100
CAMPUS IMPACT
This year’s VISTAs wanted to keep up the partnership between
Shawnee State University and the garden strong as ever. By
working with Nikki Karabinis, who coordinates most of the
school’s volunteering and community service efforts, they were About Ohio Campus Compact
able to do just that. More than 75 students of various ages and AmeriCorps*VISTA
majors have been able to volunteer time with the pantry garden. Ohio Campus Compact is a statewide
Community service is considered as an important factor in every nonprofit coalition of colleges and university
student’s career at Shawnee and is often highly recommended by presidents and their campuses working to
the faculty and administration. To continue the purpose of the promote the civic purposes of higher
garden, the VISTAs have been able to work out a plan with education. Ohio Campus Compact provides
Karabinis so that the students will be able to continue volunteering resources, services & partnerships to help
and working in the garden this fall, well after the VISTAs’ eight Ohio campuses deepen their ability to educate
week term of service is over. students for civic and social responsibility and
to improve community life.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FUTURE; KEEPING THE
AmeriCorps*VISTA is the national service
PARTNERSHIP STRONG program designed specifically to fight poverty.
Opportunities for future program growth include moving the Founded as Volunteers in Service to America
garden and expanding the garden into an actual farm so that it in 1965 and incorporated into the AmeriCorps
includes even more fruits and vegetables, and even animals such as network of programs in 1993, VISTA has been
chickens, cows, and goats. Although this is more like a long term on the front lines in the fight against poverty in
goal of this year’s VISTAs, this would create more opportunities for America for more than 40 years.
the program to reach out to more of those in need. And with
Scioto county being in one of ten counties in Ohio recorded as The Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*
being under the poverty level, this would prove to be vital toward VISTA Program places and supports VISTAs
sustaining efforts that would help the community to build a more who create and expand programs designed to
self-reliant society once again. However, we would like to continue bring individuals and communities out of
partnering with the Portsmouth Community Garden and work on poverty. VISTAs serve in the poorest areas of
building a stronger relationship with more pantries in the near their communities to tackle poverty-related
future. problems such as hunger and homelessness,
financial literacy, veteran student services,
public health and college access. More
information at:
www.ohiocampuscompact.org
!
"#$%!&'!($!)&*+,-!.$%!/.01+((23!
4(-)'*(&)5!4.$)-6!7.-%1$!
18

21. !
Engaging campuses in service to the community.
Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Impact Report 2011:
University of Cincinnati
The Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA program strategically connects college resources with
communities in need. Corps members gain valuable experience and educational awards. Campuses
expand their civic outreach. And community partners receive critical support.
!
HISTORY & BACKGROUND Poverty Alleviation Focus Area: Food insecurity and hunger
Even before the current economic downturn, child VISTA Corps members: Kelley O’Brien and Rick Samu
hunger in the Cincinnati community has been a serious Site Supervisor:
problem. Ohio, “the heart of it all,” has the 14th highest Kathy Dick (513) 556-6109 • kathy.dick@uc.edu
Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Sr. Program Director:
population of food insecure children in the nation, ranking
Lesha Farias (740) 587-8571 • lfarias@ohiocampuscompact.org
3rd in the Midwest. In Hamilton County, there are many
www.ohiocampuscompact.org
families that are unable to provide enough healthy food
!
for everyone, as there is an estimate 20.5% of children
under the age of 18 live in poverty.
In an effort to build awareness of hunger issues in the UC
community OCC VISTA Corps members, Kelley O’Brien
and Rick Samu, initiated the development of an urban
community garden on the university’s campus. Together
with Kathy Dick and Fran Larkin, Director and Program
Coordinator of the Center for Community Engagement
at UC, inspiration for a youth garden mentorship !
program was sprouted in order to create direct linkages
between urban food production, low-income children,
and the University of Cincinnati community. Enthusiasm
for this youth mentorship spread and a partnership took
root between the Civic Garden Center of Greater
COMMUNITY IMPACT
Participating Service Providers:
As a result of collaboration between the Civic Garden Rick Samu, Ohio Campus Compact VISTA, watering raised
beds at the Race St. Children’s Garden sponsored by the
Center’s Youth Education Coordinator, Madeline Dorger,
Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati
and VISTA Corps members, the youth garden mentorship
program was defined. Playfully dubbed GardenPals, the VISTA corps members from the University of
yearlong program will take place afterschool once-a-week, Cincinnati’s Center for Community Engagement
wherein students from UC would be paired with a child supported the Civic Garden Center of Greater
experiencing hardship and from the Cincinnati community. Cincinnati’s Race St. Children’s Garden in an effort
During the fall and spring growing seasons, the Pal Pairs to attract more local children to the garden which
will meet weekly at the Civic Garden Center’s Race Street serves as a safe drop-in site. Children are invited
Children’s Garden and will be taught skills such as planting, to engage in education activities and offered a
watering, weeding, harvesting, and other valuable healthy snack.
techniques. In the winter, students will meet indoors, and
an emphasis will be placed on how to cook, choose the
right foods, and live healthily through exercise.
19

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Upon conclusion of the program, any food harvested that is not
directly given back to the children participating will be donated to /($0123&"#$%%$&!'()*+$,!
the community through food distribution centers. This will allow &!
for a greater range of indirect influence of our program. !"#%&4('%-'5*0&(6&'#5+&7,())8-5'9&
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GardenPals as a whole will be created with an emphasis placed on '#5+&/500&#*<%&(-&'#%&,())8-5'9&/500&
education and exploration, as most of the children involved may =%&5))%*+8$*=0%;3&"-*.,!/.*0+,!
never get a chance to leave an urban environment. The goal of &
GardenPals is to lay the foundations upon which the children can !>&?@@@@@@AB&)8123&"!12324!.5$!6!
build for the rest of their lives, in such a way that benefits both !
themselves and the rest of the world.
!
Applications will soon be available for students interested in The VISTA Impact
becoming a GardenPals mentor. GardenPals will be advertised at by the numbers:
an upcoming Community Service Fair hosted by the University of
Cincinnati’s Center for Community Engagement.
Community Gardens Visited: 15
CAMPUS IMPACT Produce Harvested: ~200 lb
Urban agriculture has been shown to drastically improve the
quality of life for all involved. Whether through decentralization of Community Partners: 6
produce or through increased access to community gardens, the
overall security of the food supply is strengthened.
Future Number of GardenPals: 40
As such, VISTA Corps members envisioned a University of
Weeds Pulled: ~1,000,000,000,000*
Cincinnati Urban Community Garden to create a place where UC
students gather to grow food and plants together; promote 7*895:!$;<+=.<$!
organic and sustainable gardening practices, good health, and
nutrition; and to create a growing movement to incorporate
healthy nutritious food into the needs of the surrounding About Ohio Campus Compact
communities. AmeriCorps*VISTA
On a land-locked urban campus, however, locating a site for an Ohio Campus Compact is a statewide nonprofit
urban community garden was not an easy task. An abundance of coalition of colleges and university presidents and
time went into exploring community gardens throughout the their campuses working to promote the civic
Greater Cincinnati Area through volunteer work and proposal purposes of higher education. Ohio Campus
Compact provides resources, services &
writing. Thankfully hard work was paid off when a parcel of land
partnerships to help Ohio campuses deepen their
was granted to the VISTA members for the sole purpose of
ability to educate students for civic and social
developing a community garden.
responsibility and to improve community life.
UC community participation will be invited through an “Adopt-a- AmeriCorps*VISTA is the national service program
Garden” program, in which UC organizations will commit to the designed specifically to fight poverty. Founded as
maintenance of a raised garden bed. Leadership of the garden will Volunteers in Service to America in 1965 and
be appointed to a student committee who has demonstrated incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of
interest in organic and sustainable gardening practices. programs in 1993, VISTA has been on the front
The creation of a vibrant social space as a vehicle to bring a lines in the fight against poverty in America for
community together is in the making. more than 40 years.
The Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FUTURE: VISTA Program places and supports VISTAs who
KEEPING THE PARTNERSHIP STRONG: create and expand programs designed to bring
Opportunities for future program growth include the individuals and communities out of poverty. VISTAs
implementation and construction of the University of Cincinnati serve in the poorest areas of their communities to
Urban Community Garden. Student garden leaders will complete tackle poverty-related problems such as hunger and
a Community Garden Development Training Program put on this homelessness, financial literacy, veteran student
fall by the Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati. services, public health and college access. More
information at: www.ohiocampuscompact.org
20

23. Engaging campuses in service to the community.
Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Impact Report 2011:
Wittenberg University
The Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA program strategically connects college resources with
communities in need. Corps members gain valuable experience and educational awards. Campuses
expand their civic outreach. And community partners receive critical support.
!
HISTORY & BACKGROUND Poverty Alleviation Focus Area: Food insecurity
Springfield is in the middle of a revitalization effort in VISTA Corps member: Katie Minter
which many community members are working to Site Supervisor: Kristen Collier
renew the downtown area that was once a bustling kcollier@wittenberg.edu 937-327-7523
industrial city. There are many non-profit organizations Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Sr. Program Director:
collaborating with the city to make Springfield a place Lesha Farias (740) 587-8571 • lfarias@ohiocampuscompact.org
where people want to live, work and play. The www.ohiocampuscompact.org
Springfield Promise Neighborhood is an organization !
that has emerged in within the past year with the
purpose of creating engagement within the community
through the children and schools. The neighborhood
lies in the south side of the city where the majority of
residents are transient with over 50% of the residents
renting. The neighborhood is also located in a food
dessert, where local produce is non-existent; instead
there is an abundant of fast food restaurants and
corner stores that offer unhealthy food that lacks
nutritional value. This results in a multitude of health
concerns for the community, especially the children.
This Springfield Promise Parent Association has turned
their concern into a community garden community at
Lincoln Elementary School. The hopes of the
neighborhood are that the garden will not only provide
fresh produce for the community but become an The mural was created during The Springfield Promise
educational tool for the students and teachers. Neighborhood Summer Arts Camp.
The week-long art camp was run by Project Jericho in
conjunction with The Springfield Promise
Neighborhood where over 60 children were able to
attend and learn about art and music, and showcase
“Positive change occurs when all people (including youth) are
their talents at the end of the week to their parents
viewed as resources and assets. Everyone has gifts that they can and community. The mural was created to represent
contribute to the success of children. Promise work encourages the growth of the community and was placed next to
communities to discover the gifts its residents and youth have to the community garden on the school’s property.
offer, and then to create opportunities for these gifts to be
unleashed.”
-The Springfield Promise Neighborhood
21