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Harmony/VISTA
What is VISTA?
Since 1964, Volunteers in Service To America (VISTA) has worked with communities across the country to develop sustainable programs with the specific goal of alleviating poverty. VISTA members serve from one to three years, and with a modest living stipend, they live and work in the communities they serve. At the end of their term of service, VISTA volunteers receive either an Education Award of $4725 or a cash stipend of $1200. Thousands of VISTA members serve in hundreds of VISTA projects nationwide.

Indiana Overview and History
The Indiana Harmony VISTA Service Learning Demonstration Project has worked with high schools primarily in Indianapolis and Bloomington since 2001 to design and implement sustainable youth leadership and service learning programs. VISTA members collaborate with teachers, district staff, students, and parents to develop student leadership opportunities, professional learning communities, partnerships between schools and community organizations, and youth voice in school reform. The work of VISTA members is unique based on the needs of each school but it centers around the following:
To find out about how the Harmony VISTA Project impacts Indiana high schools click on the links above. As of July 2005, our funding as a VISTA project will end. Our work over the last year was largely supported by the University of Indianapolis' Center for Excellence in Leadership of Learning (CELL), the intermediary for the Gates Foundation grant in Indianapolis. We currently are developing ways to continue this important work in Indianapolis schools.
Indiana Schools
Arlington HS, Indianapolis, IN
Arsenal Technical HS, Indianapolis, IN
Broad Ripple HS, Indianapolis, IN
Emmerich Manual HS, Indianapolis, IN
Harmony School, Bloomington, IN
Key Learning Community, Indianapolis, IN
New Beginnings HS, Indianapolis IN
Northwest HS, Indianapolis, IN
George Washington Community School, Indianapolis, IN

Highlights from Individual Schools

  • Manual High School students who had designed and painted a school mural worked with their Harmony VISTA member to receive a $10,000 grant from the Annie E. Casey Founda tion to participate in a community mural project in Texas. The students want to use their artistic talents to beautify the local community around their school.
  • At the Key Learning Community, Harmony VISTA members helped create opportunities for the entire high school (130 students) to organize and carry out service learning projects in the community two times per month for the entire school year.
  • The VISTA memberat Harmony School helped design and coordinate a summer biking program in which ten middle school students engaged in service projects while biking around the city and learning about bike maintenance. Students organized a community bike ride at the end of the program in which close to 100 community members participated.
  • Students from five Indianapolis public high schools initiated and designed a TV show to help the community, parents, teachers, and other students understand the current school reform work. This idea originated at a Harmony VISTA Project summer leadership training.
  • The Harmony VISTA member at Broad Ripple High School organized a student interactive theatre group that helps students discuss sensitive issues and solve problems. This group travels to high schools across Indiana.
  • The Harmony VISTA Project received a $9,100 from the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) and $7000 from What Kids Can Do for students to conduct research in their schools on youth civic engagement in school reform.
  • Supported by their Harmony VISTA member, Northwest High School, students wrote and received a grant to host a cultural fair and dance to increase cultural awareness through food and music.
  • At Arsenal Technical High School, VISTAs support students who founded a leadership and service club called Students Come Alive. They received a grant from Youth as Resources to do a community based art project. A Harmony VISTA member helped these students create their vision and continues to support their work.
  • At Arlington High School, VISTAs support upperclassmen in their design and coordination of an ongoing freshman mentoring program. A Harmony VISTA member serves as their adult sponsor.
  • At George Washington Community School, the Harmony VISTA member helped start the school's first student council. The group focuses on peace and anti-violence in the school community.

 

Community Impact
The Harmony VISTA Project in Indiana has partnered with over 70 community organizations and businesses.
In 2004, Indiana Harmony VISTA Volunteers:
  • Engaged hundreds of students, parents, and teachers in over 48,500 hours of service learning, youth leadership, and community engagement activities.
  • Raised over $170,000 in grants, in-kind donations, and fundraisers for youth leadership, service learning, and parent engagement projects and programs.

Testimonials:

"[VISTA] helped me care about people more. It's helped me do some of the things I have wanted to do and become a better leader."

"I have had a ch ance to help people which isn't something I get to do at home."

"It has benefited me to be a youth leader because I feel as if I am changing my future and that I have a say so in what my future looks like."

--Students, Arsenal Technical High School

"I feel like I'm a leader now. I now know that I can make a difference by helping my community...I'm a great leader in my eyes."

--Student, Manual High School
Harmony VISTA in the News:
Student researchers wrote and received a $7000 grant from What Kids Can Do to fund their research on student engagement in school reform. WKCD gave the researchers $2500 more than they asked for to create a high-quality documentary on their research. Click here. (2004)
From the Indianapolis Public Schools website about the student research grant. Click here. (2004)
Luke Kashman, a student researcher at Arsenal Technical High School, was quoted in an article from the George Lucas Educational Foundation's Edutopia Magazine called "High School's New Face" (November 2004). Click here for the article and scroll down to the sidebar. (2004)
In December 2003 the Harmony VISTA member at Manual High School worked with special education students to design teambuilding activities for middle school students. The money they raised from the event helped a Manual family in need. Click here.
Harmony VISTA members at Northwest High School worked with the Parent Teacher Student Association to involve Hispanic parents in the school. Click here. (2003)
DiversARTic, a summer theatre and creative writing program, is highlighted in this article from the Indianapolis Eye. Click here. (2003)
Students from the Key Learning Community made oral history quilts with the senior center at Southeast Community Services. Click here. (December 2002)
Resources
AmeriCorps
Youth As Resources
Indiana Partnership Center
What Kids Can Do
Sound Out
CIRCLE

 





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harmony Education Center
PO Box 1787 Bloomington Indiana 47402 • 812.330.2702
nsrf@harmonyschool.org • fax 812.333.3435
Comments: webmaster@harmonyschool.org
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