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Economic Development

AmeriCorps VISTA

Gain Experience. Get Paid. Serve Your Community. Enjoy Sunny San Diego.

AmeriCorps VISTA group photo

Are you or have you been looking for an opportunity gain relevant work experience, elevate your community and make some wonderful connections? If so, then consider becoming an Americorps VISTA and work toward the advancement of multicultural neighborhoods in historically underserved communities in Southeastern San Diego. During this year of service, you will have the opportunity to build career skills, gain experience working with local government, and partner alongside local non-profits and community-based organizations, all while getting paid for it! We currently partner with over 80 organizations.  

Americorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) is a national program that works to alleviate poverty nationwide. The City of San Diego is looking for enthusiastic and creative candidates to serve with the San Diego Promise Zone, a place-based community development program. The Promise Zone directs investment to some of the most vibrant communities in San Diego, from Bario Logan to Encanto.

The VISTA position is a full-time, one year commitment. It includes a modest living allowance, a financial education award upon completion, professional development, experience working with local government, and more! View more details about the VISTA program. The City of San Diego also offers a free library card, bus/trolley pass, Perkspot discounts, and free LinkedIn Learning classes for VISTA members.

VISTA/ Internship Positions Available

San Diego Promise Zone - Operations Associate: (Available Summer 2024)

This VISTA will lead or assist with the planning, management, workflow development, and coordination of activities; support methods of data collection and evaluation for activities and events; maintain contact lists and respective information distribution lists of partners, and update the database as needed; build custom reports in salesforce; analyze existing processes and make recommendations for systems improvement; develop workflows for working group activities; provide support for the working groups, including meeting convening, space reservations, creating agendas, and recording meeting notes; and represent the SDPZ at community meetings and events as needed. Click here to view the VAD.

More details about the San Diego Promise Zone - Operations Associate

San Diego Promise Zone - Civic Engagement VISTA Associate: (Available Fall 2024)

The Civic Engagement VISTA will help foster alignment around the needs of Promise Zone communities among internal and external stakeholders and build capacity for the Promise Zone Steering Committee and partners throughout the year of service. This will result in increased progress with the long-term planning and sustainability of the initiative during and after the designation. With the City of San Diego serving as the lead organization, SDPZ has an operations team that convenes and coordinates meetings and activities with more than 80 partners, including nonprofits, community organizations, government agencies, and businesses, while actively engaging residents. Click here to view the VAD.

If you’d like to hear directly from one of our current VISTA members who moved to San Diego from Maryland, feel free to connect with Bryan Villegas at bvillegas@sandiego.gov. We look forward to hearing from you and creating a positive change together!

More details about the San Diego Promise Zone - Civic Engagement VISTA Associate

San Diego Promise Zone - Grants & Research Associate: (Available Summer 2025)

This VISTA will support the development of the Promise Zone by recruiting and evaluating new partners for the initiative, meeting with partner organizations to identify collaborative opportunities, identifying organizational strengths and needs, arranging capacity-building trainings as appropriate, identifying grant opportunities, and writing letters of support. The VISTA supports the Promise Zone team and the HUD liaison by managing the review process for preference point certifications and tracks grant activity in the Promise Zone. Click here to view the VAD.

More details about the San Diego Promise Zone - Grants & Research Associate

San Diego Promise Zone VISTA Communications Associate: (Available Summer 2025)

This VISTA will support the development of the partnership by recruiting and evaluating new partners for the Initiative, meeting with partner organizations to identify collaborative opportunities, identifying organizational strengths and needs, and arranging capacity-building trainings as appropriate. The VISTA supports the Promise Zone team and the HUD liaison by managing the review process for preference point certifications and tracks grant activity in the Promise Zone. Click here to view the VAD.

More details about the San Diego Promise Zone VISTA Communications Associate

San Diego Promise Zone - Leader: (Available April/May 2025)

The VISTA Leader will act as the team leader for the VISTA members. They will support the expansion of the partnership by meeting with partner organizations to identify collaborative opportunities, identify organizational strengths and needs, and arrange capacity building trainings as appropriate. The VISTA Leader will support the San Diego Promise Zone team by overseeing the VISTA members, working closely with the Working Group co-chairs, support the coordination and monitoring of coalition grants. Click here to view the VAD. 

More details about the San Diego Promise Zone - Leader position

San Diego Promise Zone Internship: (Available January 2025)

The City of San Diego is responsible for numerous programs and services, some of which provide revenue to the City while others use this revenue to help develop the community. Looking to learn more about how the City helps fund the San Diego community? Paid business and finance internships will give you the opportunity to learn how a vast organization like the City of San Diego manages its financial commitments and more.

More details about the San Diego Promise Zone Internship

Email your questions to promisezone@sandiego.gov or rooseveltw@sandiego.gov.

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