Improving Lives and Communities: 

Perspectives on 40 Years 

of VISTA Service 

April 2008 
T

N

his 

atio

report was prepared for the Corporation for 

nal and Community Service under Contract 

Number ABT03T002 with Abt Associates Inc. The 

views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the positions or policies of the Corporation 

for National and Community Service. No official 

endorsement by the Corporation for National and 

Community Service is intended or should be 

inferred. 

Corporation for National and Community 

Service 

Office of Research and Policy Development 

April 2008 

Created in 1993, the Corporation for National and 

Community Service improves lives, strengthens 

communities, and fosters civic engagement 

through service and volunteering. Each year the 

Corporation engages more than four million 

Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service 

to improve communities and meet national, state, 

and local needs through: 

Senior Corps, the network of programs that 

helps Americans age 55 and older use their skills 

and experience in service opportunities that 

address the needs of their communities. Senior 

Corps includes the RSVP, Foster Grandparent 

Program, and Senior Companion Program; 

AmeriCorps, whose members serve with local 

and national organizations to meet community 

needs, mobilize volunteers, and build the capacity 

of nonprofit organizations to address today’s most 

pressing challenges; 

Learn and Serve America, which helps link 

community service and learning objectives for 

youth from kindergarten through college as well 

as youth in community-based organizations. 

This report is in the public domain. Authorization 

to reproduce it in whole or in part is granted. The 

suggested citation is: Corporation for National 

and Community Service, Office of Research and 

Policy Development; Improving Lives and 

Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA 

Service, Washington, DC, 2008. 

Upon request, this material will be made available 

in alternative formats for people with disabilities. 

This report is also available on the Corporation's 

website at: http://www.nationalservice.gov. 

Prepared for 

Corporation for National and Community Service 

1201 New York Avenue, NW 

Washington, DC 20525 

Prepared by 

Carrie Markovitz, Project Director 

Glen Schneider 

JoAnn Jastrzab 

Abt Associates Inc. 

and 

Peter Frumkin, University of Texas at Austin 
Contents 

O verview of Findings..................................................................................................................1
 

Key Findings......................................................................................................................1
 

Chapter 1: Study O verview.........................................................................................................3
 

VISTA: Celebrating Over Forty Years of Service..................................................................3
 

The Corporation and VISTA................................................................................................3
 

Study Design ......................................................................................................................4
 

Research Questions and Analytic Approach ................................................................4
 

Formation of Generations for the 1965–1993 Period....................................................5
 

Organization of this Report..................................................................................................5
 

Chapter 2: The Evolution of VISTA: Programmatic Changes O ver Time..................................7
 

Defining the Generations between 1965 and 1993 .......................................................7
 

VISTA Policies and Procedures ...........................................................................................8
 

Overview of VISTA Members...........................................................................................10
 

Demographic Characteristics of VISTA Members.....................................................10
 

Reasons for Joining or Leaving VISTA.....................................................................11
 

The First Generation (1965–1972): The Early Years............................................................12
 

The Second Generation: The Transitional Years (1973–1980)..............................................13
 

The Third Generation: A More Recent VISTA Program (1981–1993)..................................14
 

VISTA Today: The Current VISTA Program (1994–2007)..................................................14
 

Chapter 3: The VISTA Experience...........................................................................................17
 

Training ...........................................................................................................................17
 

Placement in VISTA Service.............................................................................................18
 

The VISTA Service Experience.........................................................................................19
 

Insights from In-Person Interviews.....................................................................................20
 

Chapter 4: The Effects of VISTA Participation ........................................................................29
 

Method Used to Analyze Results........................................................................................29
 

Outcomes for VISTA Members .........................................................................................31
 

Civic Engagement...................................................................................................31
 

Education ...............................................................................................................37
 

Employment ...........................................................................................................41
 

Transfer of Values...................................................................................................45
 

Subgroup Effects.....................................................................................................50
 

Chapter 5: Conclusions.............................................................................................................51
 

Summary and Conclusions by Outcome Area......................................................................51
 

Civic Engagement...................................................................................................51
 

Education ...............................................................................................................51
 

Employment ...........................................................................................................52
 

Intergenerational Transfer of Values.........................................................................52
 

Conclusions on Outcomes of VISTA..................................................................................53
 

Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service i 
ii Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service

Appendices to this report are found in a separate volume, Improving Lives and Communities:

Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service: Appendices to Final Report:

Appendix A: Detailed Description of Study Methodology

Appendix B: Detailed Results for All Respondents

Appendix C: Detailed Results for First Generation Respondents

Appendix D: Detailed Results for Second Generation Respondents

Appendix E: Detailed Results forThird Generation Respondents

Appendix F: Telephone Survey

Appendix G: In-Person InterviewProtocol
Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service 1

Overview of Findings

Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service provides insight into

the experience of VISTA members starting with the program’s inception in 1965 until 1993 when

VISTA merged with AmeriCorps and becamethe AmeriCorps VISTA program. In addition to

participants’ experiences, the study focuses particular attention on the long-term effects of VISTA on

members’ civic engagement, education, employment, and the intergenerationaltransfer of values.

Most ofthe outcomes are assessed using inputs gathered from two sources: 1) a telephone survey

administered to 1,539 respondents designed to provide information on the breadth of VISTA’s

effects; and 2) a series of 64 in-depth personal interviews providing highly detailed insights into the

experiences of a much smaller sample. Both data collection components were structured to gather

feedback from three distinct generations of members defined by major program and policy shifts that

have shaped the evolution of VISTA over its 40-year history. To provide a point of reference, the

experiences and outcomes of VISTA members were compared to those of similar individuals who

applied for VISTA, completed a portion of thetraining, but ultimately did not serve.

The study was conducted by Abt Associates Inc., an independent social policy and research firm,

under contract to the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Key Findings

This study includes positive findings on the effect ofthe VISTA program on VISTA members who

served over athree-decade span of the program’s existence. Based on the findings and some

encouraging results in each of the four major outcome areas, there is select evidence that the VISTA

program has long-term, life-changing effects on its members.

In both thetelephone survey and in-person interviews, VISTA members reported positive, lifechanging experiences while serving in VISTA, and many individuals were able to connect their life

choices to their VISTA service. Importantly, large majorities of VISTA members felt challenged by

their VISTA service, believed that they made a contribution, and felt like part of a community. When

asked to describe the effect that VISTA had on them, many respondents felt that VISTA either

changed them in important ways or helped reinforce their values and beliefs. Some additional VISTA

members even said that their service experience fundamentally transformed them. Response patterns

were similarly positive across the three generations of VISTA members.

In the examination of effects on civic engagement, we found positive results on a number of items,

such as voting behavior, volunteering, and community leadership. Differences were found between

VISTA members and the comparison group in their levels of engagement in the political process. In

addition, VISTA members reported higher levels of voting and volunteer participation than the

general U.S. population. Results on other outcome measures, such as personal effectiveness of

community service, community leadership, and connection to community showed little or no

differences.
2 Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service

Differences between VISTA members and those in the comparison group suggest that the

perseverance that kept members in the VISTA program initially may have also influenced their postprogram educational outcomes. The majority of VISTA members and their counterparts in the

comparison group cameto VISTA with similarly strong educational credentials. However, even

though the pursuit of post-VISTA education was slightly stronger among those in the comparison

group, in part because they had an additional year of available timeto continue their education,

VISTA members were more likely to have pursued a Master’s Degreethan a Bachelor’s Degree and

tended to completetheir degree programs with more consistency than those in the comparison group.

The employment outcomes overall show stable employment patterns characterized by extended

employment duration and limited job changes. A solid majority of both VISTA members and

respondents in the comparison group were employed at thetime of the follow-up survey.

Nonetheless, it appears that VISTA members were consistently more likely to be employed than their

counterparts in the comparison group. Despite the difference in current employment rates, both

VISTA members and the comparison group have exhibited consistent patterns of labor market and

career choices. This is most in evidence in their choice of full- or part-time work and sectoral

preferences (public, private, nonprofit employment) as well as their actual fields of employment,

which emphasize the teaching profession and to a lesser extent, social and community work. Despite

these similarities, however, VISTA members reported a higher current income profilethan their

counterparts in the comparison group.

VISTA members demonstrate greater intergenerational transfer of values by making more efforts to

introduce and encourage their children to engage in volunteer activities compared to those in the

comparison group. Most telling is the higher percentage of VISTA members who reported that their

children accompanied them on volunteer activities “regularly” compared to respondents in the

comparison group. In contrast, respondents in the comparison group were much more likely than

VISTA members to report that they have never had their children accompany them on volunteer

activities. Consistent with these findings, VISTA members were more likely than their counterparts in

the comparison group to report that their children regularly participated in volunteer activities on their

own.

African-American and Hispanic respondents were much more likely than whites to report that their

VISTA experience has strongly influenced the amount or kind of volunteering they have performed

since leaving VISTA. Chief among the findings on civic engagement were the effect of VISTA on the

voting participation of minority participants. African-American and Hispanic VISTA members were

more likely to have ever voted in a presidential election, more likely to have ever voted in a state or

local election, and more likely to have voted in an election 10 years after departing VISTA compared

with the voting histories of African-Americans and Hispanics in the comparison group.
Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service 3

Chapter 1:

Study Overview

VISTA: Celebrating Over Forty Years of Service

VISTA recently celebrated the 40th anniversary of America’s longest-running national domestic

service program, Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA). Throughout over 40 years of service,

VISTA has pursued its mission to support low-income communities by strengthening local agencies

and organizations that serve those communities; encouraging volunteer service; and generating the

commitment of private sector resources. Currently, VISTA continues to provide members an

opportunity to serve in nonprofit, faith-based and other community organizations and public agencies

across the nation to create and expand programs that bring low-income individuals and communities

out of poverty.

VISTA builds on our country’s long history of citizens engaged in volunteerism and service to their

community, starting with Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps ofthe 1930s and early

1940s. Influenced by President Kennedy’s establishment of the Peace Corps in the 1960s, VISTA was

later created as part of President Johnson’s War on Poverty and the Economic Opportunity Act of

1964. The Office of Economic Opportunity oversaw VISTA and several other domestic anti-poverty

programs until 1971, when the ACTION agency was created and given responsibility for

administering VISTA, Peace Corps, and other national service programs.The Corporation for

National and Community Service was created in 1993 to overseethe newly formed AmeriCorps

program. VISTA joined two other new programs under the AmeriCorps umbrella, the AmeriCorps

State and National and AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) Programs.

Not only has the federal agency responsible for administering the program changed over VISTA’s

history, but VISTA policies and procedures have also evolved over time. Changes include the length

and nature of training provided to VISTA members, the decentralization of recruitment efforts

between national and local organizations, the nature of services delivered by VISTA members, and

the populations targeted to participate in the program. While some programmatic features have been

changed to reflect fluctuations in funding levels and political support, VISTA’s mission to serve lowincome communities has remained constant throughout its history.

The Corporation and VISTA

The Corporation for National and Community Service (the Corporation) is an independent

government agency that administers VISTA. VISTA was originally created in 1964 by the Economic

Opportunity Act, and, in 1973, the program was reauthorized with the passage of the Domestic

Volunteer Service Act (DVSA), and became part of a new federal agency called ACTION, the

Federal Domestic Volunteer Agency. In 1993, the National Service Trust Act was passed which

created the new AmeriCorps program and combined ACTION with the Commission on National and

Community Service forming a new federal agency, the Corporation for National & Community

Service. The Corporation’s mission is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic

engagement through service and volunteering. In particular, focus is directed towards addressing the
4 Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service

education, public safety, human, and environmental needs of American communities through its

major programs. More importantly, the Corporation programs AmeriCorps NCCC, AmeriCorps State

and National, Senior Corps, and Learn and Serve America offer millions of individuals an

opportunity to volunteer in their communities.

Since 1965, more than 140,000 Americans have served through VISTA. Today, nearly 6,000

AmeriCorps VISTA members servethroughout the country—working to fight illiteracy, improve

health services, create businesses, increase housing opportunities, bridge the digital divide, and

strengthen the capacity of community organizations.

Study Design

Research Questions and Analytic Approach

The central purpose of this study is to explorethe life decisions and outcomes of VISTA participants,

in comparison with similar individuals who were “near members,” to answer the following research

questions: (1) What are the effects of VISTA on its members? and (2) How have the behaviors and

attitudes of VISTA members changed over time? Outcomes of interest1include:

 Civic engagement;

 Educational choices and opportunities;

 Career and employment choices; and

 The intergenerational transfer of values.

This study of VISTA relies on a retrospective research design to explorethe long-term attitudes and

behaviors experienced by both VISTA members and similar individuals in a comparison group.2In

exploring the broad outcomes noted above, the study examined such issues as community and

political activity, educational attainment and focus, employment patterns and choices, and sustained

commitment to volunteering. A comparison group was selected for this study from individuals who

applied for entry into VISTA and completed some training or service for a very short period of time.3

This approach uses two data collection methods: a telephone survey and in-person interviews. Both

methods captured information from VISTA members and those in a comparison group comprising

1 Outcome areas were specified by the Corporation with input from project staff and the Technical Working

Group assembled to advise the study.

2

To provide a point of reference, the experiences and outcomes of VISTA members were compared to those

of similar individuals who applied for VISTA, completed a portion of the pre-service training, but

ultimately did not serve.

3

In order to identify outcomes, the study relied on comparisons in results between individuals who served in

VISTA and a comparison group of similar individuals. Due to the challenges associated with surveying

individuals who served in VISTA during the last 40 years, it was determined that differences in response

patterns between VISTA and the comparison group was more suitable then conducting significance testing.

See Appendix A for more detail.
Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service 5

individuals who either completed some or all of the pre-VISTA training but did not serve.4 The inperson interviews supplemented the survey data with guided conversations about the information

revealed in the survey. In-person interviews were completed with both VISTA members and

individuals in the comparison group who previously responded to the telephone survey and agreed to

participate in a longer in-person interview

Formation of Generations for the 1965–1993 Period

Reflecting social and programmatic changes that occurred during the long history of the VISTA

program, the sample of respondents was organized into three distinct groups that we refer to as

“generations,” based on when they served in VISTA.The generations forthe VISTA study were

defined taking into consideration the broad societal context in which the program was operating along

with the nature of VISTA’s operational and programmatic policies in place at the national level. As a

result of these discussions, the study sample was organized into three distinct generations:

 The first generation: individuals from the initial years of VISTA starting in 1965 and

continuing up until 1972;

 The second generation: individuals participating in VISTA in the 1973 through 1980

period; and

 The third generation: a more recent generation of persons enrolling in VISTA from 1981

through 1993.

The generations were formed based on the criteria described above, leading to distinct periods that are

not divided into equal numbers of years: the first and second generations both cover 7-year periods

while thethird generation spans 12 years.5 Because the intent of the study was to examine the longterm effects of participating in VISTA,the study does not include individuals who enrolled in the

program after 1993.

Organization of this Report

This report is organized in four following chapters. Chapter 2 offers a history of the VISTA program

and descriptions of VISTA participants who served during the periods represented by the three

generations of program participants. Chapter 3 discusses the VISTA experience of VISTA members

who participated in the three generations with special emphasis on results from the in-person

interviews. Chapter 4 presents the effects of the VISTA program as determined from the results ofthe

telephone survey and in-person interviews. The descriptive findings ofthe survey are presented along

with testimonies from VISTA members as collected in the interviews. Finally, Chapter 5 offers

conclusions about the VISTA program and its effects on participants. Details on the study

methodology used, copies of the survey form and interview protocol, and detailed tables of results are

attached in separate appendixes to this report.

4 Due to shorter training periods during parts of the 1980s and 1990s, some members of the comparison

group served in VISTA for a few days or weeks.

5

The formation of the generations is discussed in more detail on page 11.

Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service 7

Chapter 2:

The Evolution of VISTA: Programmatic Changes

Over Time

While VISTA’s overall mission to serve low-income communities has endured throughout its history,

the program has experienced significant changes in policies, procedures, and service priorities to

accommodate funding levels and the administration priorities at the time. There were also differences

in the types of individuals who were targeted for participation as VISTA members.

Defining the Generations between 1965 and 19936

To provide an in-depth understanding of the VISTA program from 1965 to 1993, VISTA members

were separated into generations. As discussed in Chapter 1, we determined that in addition to

reporting results for the entire group, it was also appropriateto organize the program into distinct

enrollment groups or generations that can be characterized consistently with respect to their societal

and political backdrop as well as program priorities, policies and operational features:7

 The first generation: enrollment between 1965 and 1972

 The second generation: enrollment between 1973 and 1980

 The third generation: enrollment between 1981 and 1993

Each of the three generations is summarized in Exhibit 2.1 and described in the remainder of this

chapter.

6

It should be noted that the summary profiles by generation presented in this section are based on

information provided by respondents to the survey. As such, they may not be fully representative of the

entire population who enrolled in VISTA during these timeframes. Nonetheless, we feel that the

demographic information gathered from the survey is sufficient to broadly characterize the three

generations and will provide the reader with a useful frame of reference for interpreting and gauging

findings throughout the report. It should further be noted that, for the purpose of characterizing the three

generations in this chapter, we have combined the VISTA members and those in the comparison group into

a single population since their motivations and characteristics at program entry were comparable.

7

The generations were developed based on input from the Corporation, our Technical Working Group, and

VISTA program staff with solid historical knowledge of the program
8 Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service

Exhibit 2.1

Overview of Three Generations of VISTA Members

Generation Historical/Political Backdrop Significant Program Features

First  Many young people inspired tov olunteer by  Most VISTA members recruitedf rom

Generation assassination of President John Kennedy outside the communities being served by

(1965–1972)  Presidency of Ly ndon Johnson, War on the program

Pov erty and building the Great Society  Training is intense and lengthy, lasting 6

 Continuation of the Vietnam War weeks

Second  U.S. withdrawal f rom the Vietnam War  VISTA members recruited bothf rom within

Generation  Election and subsequent resignation of and outside the communities being serv ed

(1973–1980) President Richard Nixon  Duration of training varies ov er they ears

 Followed by presidencies of Ford and Carter from 4 weeks to as f ew as 2 days

Third  Presidencies of Ronald Reagan and George  VISTA members primarily recruited from

Generation H.W. Bush within the community being served by the

(1981–1993)  Iran-Contra affair program

 Worldwide economic crash of 1987  Length of training is generally 3 days

 Expulsion of Iraq from Kuwait accompanied by in-service training

VISTA Policies and Procedures

Throughout the last four decades, there has been a great deal oftransformation within the VISTA

program. Not only has responsibility for the administration ofthe program moved from one federal

agency to another, but key policies and procedures that shape the operation of VISTA have also

evolved. These changes include the balancing of recruitment efforts between national and

community-level volunteers, the length and nature oftraining for VISTA members, the nature of

services delivered by VISTA members, and the populations targeted to participate in the program.

An overview of these key program changes is presented below.

Recruitment strategies have changed significantly throughout VISTA’s 40-year history. During the

initial years ofthe program, volunteers were recruited on a national basis, relocated, and placed with

sponsoring organizations, similar to the Peace Corps model. In the 1970s, however,the proportion of

members who already resided in the communities in need of assistance began to rise to about half of

all volunteers. VISTA then utilized a mixed-mode approach where some members stayed and served

in their communities while others were nationally placed. In the 1980s, the feasibility ofthe national

recruitment component became severely limited by federal budget cuts, forcing the program to alter

its outreach strategy. Subsequently, recruitment was primarily conducted at the community level,

including an effort to recruit individuals on public assistance.This continued until the late 1980s

when VISTA was able to gradually return to the national recruitment model that was originally

employed. Currently, the VISTA program employs a balanced approach, recruiting both nationally

and from within local communities.

The intensity of training that VISTA members receive has also undergone significant changes. While

many of the changes were driven by the budgetary landscape, refinements were also made to ensure

that volunteers had the requisite skills and knowledge base needed to work effectively in highly
Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service 9

disadvantaged communities. Like the early recruitment system,training was modeled after the Peace

Corps. New VISTA members took part in a six-week regional training, usually held on university

campuses, before being placed at a service site. The length of training sessions was shortened to four

weeks in the early 1970s, and later cut drastically to as few as two or three days. A few years later,

the length oftraining increased to seven days.The early 1980s saw another cutback in the duration of

training when it decreased from approximately one week to less than two days. In the late 1980s,

VISTA established a training procedure that has continued to the present. The training is three days in

length and is accompanied by in-service training sessions over the course of the first months of

service. Finally, it should be noted that the setting as well as the individuals responsible for

facilitating training also underwent transformation throughout the 1980s. Specifically, individual

sponsoring agencies took over thetraining function from regional or state level entities that had

originally been responsible. Additionally, VISTA headquarters training specialists, rather than

contractors who specialized in group training facilitation, took on the responsibility of providing

training sessions.

VISTA has also seen some variation in the characteristics of volunteersthroughout the program’s

history. Given the specialized needs of each community served, VISTA has consistently put forth

efforts to recruit professionals, such as lawyers, doctors, and teachers. However, the interest and

availability of skilled professionals has fluctuated over time depending on the broader economic

conditions and employment opportunities as well as other external factors. Later, in the 1980s, a

greater effort was placed on recruiting welfare recipients in the program benefiting both the program

participants, by providing employment and job training, and the communities being served.
10 Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service

Overview of VISTA Members

Demographic Characteristics of VISTA Members

Throughout four decades of service, the

composition of VISTA members has

changed dramatically. The racial makeup of

VISTA members has gradually become

more diverse while an increasing

proportion of women began serving in the

VISTA program. The age of volunteers

during their service has shifted over time as

well, with an increasing number of older

adults belonging to the more recent third

generation. A large number of all three

generations of respondents were unmarried

while serving, yet this percentage decreased

overthe years as the average age of

members increased. Additionally, more

respondents who served in the third

generation reported having children at the

time of their enrollment compared to those

enrolled in the first and second generation.

Importantly, VISTA members and

respondents in the comparison group were

very similar in terms of demographic

characteristics.

In addition to providing a basic

demographic profile, the survey also

provided an opportunity to review the

various volunteer activities in which

respondents were engaged when they were

growing up. More than two-thirds of both

VISTA members (68%) and their

counterparts in the comparison group (69%) had been involved in volunteer activities as youth. As

shown in Exhibit 2.3, similar percentages of VISTA members and respondents in the comparison

group also participated in school activities in high school, such as student government, sports teams,

and special interest clubs. Exhibit 2.4 shows that similar percentages in both groups of respondents

also participated in non-school-related youth activities, including recreational activities, church youth

groups, and Scouts/4-H club. Therefore, self-reported levels of volunteer activities as youth were

similar between both groups before joining VISTA.

Exhibit 2.2

Demographic Profile at Enrollment of VISTA Members

Char acter istic

Fir st

Gener ation

(1965-1972)

Second

Gener ation

(1973-1980)

Third

Gener ation

(1981-1993)

Gender

Male 45% 36% 21%

Female 55 64 79

Race/Ethnicitya

Am. Ind./Alaskan Native 1% 1% 2%

Asian 1 1 2

African-American 5 7 17

Hawaiian/Pacific Island. 0 1 1

Hispanic/Latino 3 5 8

White 91 86 74

Mix ed 1 2 2

Other 1 3 3

Age at enrollment

18-25 93 76 43

26-30 5 15 12

31-40 2 6 22

41 and older 1 3 23

Education level

Less than Bachelor’s

Degree

57 41 55

Bachelor’s Degree or

higher

43 59 45

Marital status

Married 15 19 38

Single/Never married 83 72 42

Divorced/Widow/Other 2 9 20

a Multiple responses were allowed
Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service 11

Exhibit 2.3

School Activities in High School (All

Respondents)

Stude nt

government

Sports

Spe cial interest

clubs

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

VISTA members

Comparison gro up

Exhibit 2.4

Non-school Activities in High School (All

Respondents)

Recreational

activities

Churchyouth

groups

Scouts/4-H club

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Vista members

Comparison grou p

There were few differences in overall youth volunteering levels across the three generations of

VISTA participants. The second generation VISTA members had the highest percentage of

participation, with three-quarters reporting that they were involved in volunteer activities as youth

(73% compared to 65% of the first generation and 68% of thethird generation). VISTA members

who served in each ofthe three program generations and their counterparts in the comparison group

reported similar levels of volunteering as youth. These similarities between the VISTA members and

comparison group persisted for both school and non-school-related youth activities.

Reasons for Joining or Leaving VISTA

Most VISTA members across all three

generations reported joining for altruistic

reasons—to reduce inequality and to

promote social change.They also wanted to

do something out of the mainstream.

VISTA members reported several reasons

why they decided to enroll in the VISTA

program (see Exhibit 2.5). Respondents

who joined VISTA at around the same age

joined for very similar reasons. Most

volunteers in two distinct age groups (under

the age of 26 and between the ages of 41

and 60) were motivated to reduce social or

economic inequality. Approximately half of

all respondents 26 to 40 years of age

wanted to do something outside of the

mainstream. Also, more women than men

Exhibit 2.5

Primary Reasons for Enrollment for VISTA Members

(Percent Responding “Quite Relevant” or “Very

Relevant”)a

Reason Percent

Had a friend applying or already participated in VISTA 14%

Had a family member applying or already participated in

VISTA

4

Had a desire to participate in service to reduce social or

economic inequality

70

Wanted to spend time doing something outside

mainstream

61

Thought that VISTA would giveskills for school or job 42

Wanted to avoid draft 7

Wanted to bring about social change 67

Told you wouldcontinue public assistance 4

a Multiple responses were allowed
12 Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service

were motivated to apply to VISTA to gain skills for school or a job and felt that social change was a

very important reason to apply.8

VISTA members were also asked about

other options they were considering while

inquiring about VISTA. Not surprisingly,

college was a popular response among 18-

to 25-year-olds, while most respondents

between the ages of 21 and 25 were

considering graduate or professional

school. Approximately one-quarter of all

respondents, as well as more women than

men, were not considering any other

options during their time of enrollment.

Comparison group members were asked

why they left during their VISTA training

or in their initial phase of service. Exhibit

2.6 shows several reasons that were offered by respondents, including personal or health reasons and

dissatisfaction with the VISTA program.

The First Generation (1965–1972): The Early Years

The period from 1965 to 1972 overlapped with the presidential term of President Lyndon B. Johnson.

During this era, President Johnson focused his efforts on establishing the War on Poverty with new

agencies including the Office of Economic Opportunity, which initially administered the VISTA

program. His commitment to fighting domestic poverty and building the Great Society was

especially evident at a meeting ofthe President and the first VISTA members prior to the

commencement ofthe program in early 1965. He commended their shared allegiance to helping

Americans out of poverty, while acknowledging the difficult road ahead. Throughout the period when

the first VISTA members served, the country encountered a tumultuous sequence of events, including

the assassinations of Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther King, and Robert F. Kennedy, and the 1964

passage of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution that announced the United States’ involvement in Vietnam

and the subsequent worldwide opposition to the war.

Exhibit 2.7 summarizes the primary reasons for enrolling in VISTA across thethree generations. As

can be seen, enrollees during the first generation were heavily motivated by social and economic

concerns. Overthree-quarters cited their primary reason for enrolling in the program as either to

promote social change (75%) or reduce social or economic inequality (80%). Conversely, only one in

four (25%) viewed VISTA as an avenue for pursing a job or educationally related skills. Consistent

with the tenor of the times, nearly one in five (18%) acknowledged explicitly that their motivation

was to “avoid the draft.” One-fifth of respondents in this generation considered the Peace Corps or

another full-time service activity to be an option when deciding to join VISTA.

8 VISTA members and respondents in the comparison group reported similar reasons for enrolling in VISTA.

Exhibit 2.6

Primary Reasons for Not Servingain VISTA for

Comparison Group Respondentsb

Reason Percent

For personal reasons/health reasons 31%

Because of dissatisfaction with the program 26

To take a job 9

To enroll in school 4

For financial reasons 5

Because you were asked to leave 13

Other reasons 12

a Some individuals in the third generation comparison group did

serve in VISTA for a few days orweeks.

b Multiple responses were allowed
Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service 13

The first generation is particularly noteworthy for its gender balance and the young age of its

members. As can be seen in Exhibit 2.2, over 90 percent of the VISTA enrollees (including the

comparison group) reported that they were age 25 or younger at the time of enrollment. Given this

age profile it is not surprising that a majority of enrollees had not yet attained Bachelor’s Degrees.

During the early days of VISTA, it is clear that the program attracted a predominance of white

enrollees, with African-American and Hispanic enrollees comprising only 6 percent of the total.

The Second Generation: The Transitional Years (1973–1980)

The beginning of the second generation saw the U.S. withdraw its troops from Vietnam in March

1973, marking the culmination ofthis divisive war. During this era, Richard Nixon was the first 20th

century president to resign from his position. Vice President Gerald Ford assumed the presidency but

lost the election in 1976 to Jimmy Carter.The country fell into a deep recession in 1979 with a major

energy crisis; it also witnessed the kidnapping of American hostages by Iran.

As can be seen in Exhibit 2.7, the second generation respondents began to reflect a slight decrease in

the proportion of enrollees who were motivated by a desire to bring about social change or reduce

social or economic inequality. While these factors remained influential (64% and 68%, respectively),

the importance of other factors began to emerge. Most notably, almost half of enrollees hoped that

VISTA would provide an opportunity to develop skills that would be useful in school or on the job.

The importance of this factor morethan doubled between those in the first and second generation.

Exhibit 2.7

Primary Reasons for Enrollment of VISTA Members by Generation

(Percent Responding “Quite Relevant” or “Very Relevant”)a

Reason

Fir st

Gener ation

(1965-1972)

Second

Gener ation

(1973-1980)

Third

Gener ation

(1981-1993)

Had a desire to participate in service to reduce social or economic inequality 80 68 60

Wanted to bring about social change 75 64 63

Wanted to spend time doing something outside mainstream 58 61 64

Thought that VISTA would giveskills for school or job 25 48 58

Had a friend applying or already participated in VISTA 13 12 17

Had a desire to volunteer as a means to serve others 9 7 11

Wanted to avoid draft 18 2 1

Interested in work you were doing/VISTA wasway to stay involved 3 11 10

Had a family member applying or already participated in VISTA 5 4 2

Wanted to travel 5 12 3

Told you wouldcontinue public assistance 1 3 11

Provided income and a way to get paid for volunteering 2 9 9

a Multiple responses were allowed
14 Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service

During this time frame, VISTA made a concerted effort to recruit slightly older, more educated

professionals who were placed both in local communities and nationally. The results of this targeting

can be seen clearly in Exhibit 2.2, where nearly 6 in 10 respondents from the second generation

reported that they had a Bachelor’s Degree or higher at the time of enrollment. Similarly, the

proportion of enrollees who were over 25 years of age had risen to nearly one-quarter. It should also

be noted that the second generation began to reflect the emergence of women dominating VISTA’s

gender mix.

The Third Generation: A More Recent VISTA Program (1981–1993)

VISTA members who enrolled during 1981 to 1993 witnessed the Iran-Contra affair, the worldwide

economic crash of 1987, and the expulsion of Iraq from Kuwait in the early 1990s. On the domestic

front, with the election of President Ronald Reagan, funding for social service programs, including

VISTA, was drastically cut. In 1989 President George H.W. Bush created the Office of National

Service in the White House and the Points of Light Foundation to foster volunteering.

The third generation continued to reflect an evolving shift in the factors motivating VISTA enrollees.

As summarized in Exhibit 2.7, the stated importance of social change and working to reduce social

and economic inequality continued to decline while more personal motivators such as the

development of job skills and the desire to do something out of the mainstream continued to grow. It

also appears that by the third generation there was an emerging social or community network that

generated additional interest in VISTA. Specifically, nearly one in five (17%) reported that they

enrolled because they had a friend who was applying or had previously participated in VISTA.

The third generation reflects VISTA’s increasing racial and ethnic diversity, with African-American

and Hispanic members growing to nearly one-quarter of the total. From a gender standpoint however,

the program continued to grow more homogeneous with nearly 8 in 10 of all enrollees being women.

In addition, close to half of third generation respondents (45%) were over the age of 30, which was

dramatically higher than the previous waves of enrollees.

VISTA Today: The Current VISTA Program (1994–2007)

Interest in volunteerism was further bolstered in the early 1990s with President Clinton’s formation of

the Corporation for National and Community Service, an independent government agency dedicated

to public service. In 1993, President Clinton signed the National and Community Service Trust Act,

making VISTA part of the new AmeriCorps program and housing it under a new federal agency, the

Corporation for National and Community Service. The Corporation was responsible for the newly

formed AmeriCorps Program, and, VISTA, while still operating under the authority ofthe Domestic

Volunteer Service Act, formally fell under the AmeriCorps umbrella and became known as

AmeriCorps VISTA. Despite administrative changes, VISTA programs continue to create a lasting

impact on communities across the country.

One of the most significant events witnessed by current VISTA members, was the September 11th

attacks in 2001. Following this unprecedented event in our nation’s history, President Bush issued his

call to service in early 2002. During his 2002 State ofthe Union Address, President Bush specifically
Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service 15

recognized the existing need to increase volunteerism in the United States by calling on all Americans

to devote at least two years over the course of their lifetimes in the service of others. President Bush

also recognized a specific and existing need to increase the capacity ofthe faith-based and community

organizations that have historically played a critical role in helping Americans in need.

Recent procedural changes to VISTA include, implementation of an online recruitment system to

increase community support and foster partnerships with a new generation of volunteers and

sponsors. In addition, current VISTA members are eligible for an education award of $4,725 to pay

for additional education or to pay off existing education debt. Since 2000, the number of members has

reached its highest level ever—about 6,000 serving annually.

The current generation of VISTA members (1994–2007) did not participate in this study.

Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service 17

Chapter 3:

The VISTA Experience

The Corporation provides opportunities for Americans of all ages and backgrounds to serve their

communities and country, while also working to build a culture of citizenship, service, and

responsibility in America.To this end, our survey included questions about the service experience of

VISTA members and their opinions on the influence of VISTA on their own lives. Respondents were

asked about their training experience, placement circumstances, and service experience. In addition,

members of the comparison group were asked why they did not complete their entireterm of VISTA

service. Whilethe ultimate effect of the work of VISTA members was often difficult to measure and

while the problems addressed were complex and longstanding in many cases, VISTA members left

their experiences feeling as though something was accomplished. It should be noted that these general

trends were consistently reported across all three generations.

Training

As discussed earlier, the length of training that new VISTA members receive has undergone

significant changes. Underthe early recruitment system established during the first generation, new

members generally took part in a lengthy six-week regional training. Later, when the second

generation served, the length of training varied as it was shortened twice and then lengthened again to

seven days. For the third generation, training was again cut back in duration until the late 1980s,

when training was maintained at three days combined with in-service training sessions throughout the

first months of service.

Exhibit 3.1

Duration of Training Reported

First Generation

(1965-1972)

>4 wee ks

45%

2 days or

less

1–4 4 %

weeks

3–6 days 4 5%

6%

Second Generation

(1973-1980)

1–4

weeks

43%

3–6 days

27% >4 we eks

5%

2 days o r

less

25 %

Third Generation

(1981-1993)

1–4

weeks

32%

3–6 days

27 %

>4 weeks

6%

2 days or

le ss

35%

When asked to reflect back on the quality of the training they received, most respondents described

their training as either very or somewhat effective (86%). A larger percentage of VISTA members

than comparison group members (across thethree generations combined) characterized their training

as very effective (44% and 38%, respectively), and almost twice the percentage ofthose in the

comparison group (19%) as VISTA members (11%) believed their training was not effective. There
18 Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service

was also some variation in satisfaction levels across generations, with a majority of third generation

respondents characterizing their training as very effective (55%) in contrast to the percentages who

served in the first and second generations (38% and 35%, respectively). These results could indicate

that an ineffective training experience may explain why some applicants left the VISTA program.

Placement in VISTA Service

VISTA members had somewhat different placement experiences depending on the generation in

which they served.9 Overall, a majority of respondents (54%) reported that they were relocated to

serve in a community far away from home; however,these percentages varied across generations.

Respondents who served in the first generation had the highest levels of placements far from their

home communities (87%), with this percentage decreasing substantially across generations (51% for

the second generation and 13% for the third generation). Consequently, the vast majority of

respondents who served in the third generation reported that they were placed in or neartheir home

community (87%). This pattern is not surprising as, during the later generations, the VISTA program

was more likely to recruit members from within the communities they served. Also, most respondents

were placed in urban (55%) or rural communities (34%) compared to suburban or mixed areas (11%),

with only modest differences across generations. Those who served more recently, in the second and

third generations, had the largest percentage reporting that they were placed in an urban area (57%

and 59%, respectively, compared to 50% of the first generation).

The living situations of VISTA members and those in the comparison group varied depending on the

generation during which they served. A majority of respondents who served in the first generation

reported that they lived with other VISTA members (59%), while far fewer respondents from the

second generation reported living with other VISTA members (31%). Members of thethird

generation were much more likely to live with their own parents (38%) and far less likely to live with

other VISTA members (3%), which is most likely due to the fact that these members tended to come

from the communities where they served. Very small percentages of members across all three

generations lived with a host family (between 5% in the first generation and 1% in the second and

third generations).

VISTA members and those in the comparison group who served in the second and third generations

reported similar living situations. However, living situations differed somewhat between VISTA

members and those in the comparison group who served in the first generation. For instance, higher

percentages of VISTA members in the first generation were placed with other VISTA members

(62%) or lived by themselves (21%) than comparison group members (49% lived with other VISTA

members and 12% lived by themselves). In addition, a third of comparison group members were

placed with a host family (36%) compared to a small percentage of VISTA members who were

placed with a host family (5%). Again, there were no major differences in living situations between

VISTA members and those in the comparison groups who served in the second and third generations.

9 Most comparison group members were not placed in a community. However, due to shorter training

periods during parts of the 1980s and 1990s, some members of the comparison group were placed in

communities and served in VISTA for a few days or weeks.
Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service 19

The VISTA Service Experience

VISTA members reported participating in

community service activities across all

generations. A majority of members were

sometimes or regularly engaged in

community development efforts targeting

specific social problems (89%) or worked

with a local or state government official to

address a social problem (60%). In addition

many VISTA members (67%) were

responsible forthe recruitment and training

of volunteers for the organization to which

they were assigned. VISTA members who

served in the third generation were

particularly likely to be engaged in

recruiting and training volunteers (85%)

relative to their counterparts in the first and

second generations (68% and 59% respectively). While participation in grant writing activities was

low (29%) across all generations, the third generation VISTA members were more likely to be

engaged in grant writing activities (42%) compared to those who served in the first and second

generations.

VISTA members encountered numerous positive experiences while they served in new and

unfamiliar settings. Four out of five members across thethree generations reported receiving help

from community members in adjusting to and dealing with their service experience. Moreover, onequarter of respondents had kept in contact with these community members, and almost half of

respondents reported staying in contact with other VISTA members. VISTA members who served in

the third generation were more likely to have kept in contact with community members than VISTA

members who served in other generations (34% compared to 28% of the first generation and 25% of

the second generation), possibly due to the fact that more third generation members already lived in

the communities wherethey served before joining VISTA.

The vast majority of VISTA members viewed their service experience as positive. Even though threequarters of members reported feeling emotionally challenged and one-third were physically

challenged by their assignments, nine out of ten respondents reported feeling appreciated by the

community members they served (95%), felt that they made a contribution (93%), and felt like part of

a community (88%). In addition, over 90 percent of VISTA members reported that they learned more

about the effects of poverty and social injustice (92%) and were exposed to new ideas and ways of

seeing the world (92%). Consequently, over three-quarters of members reported that their VISTA

experience made them re-examine their beliefs and attitudes about themselves. These high

percentages were maintained consistently across the three generations.

Exhibit 3.2

Service Activities of VISTA Members

Grant writing

Recruit/train

volunteers

Address social

issues

Community

development

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

First generation

Second generation

Third generation
20 Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service

Consequently, there is indication that

VISTA had a positive influence on the

members. When asked to describe the

effect that VISTA had on them, many

respondents felt that VISTA either changed

them in important ways (34%) or helped

reinforcetheir values and beliefs (40%). A

smaller percentage felt that their VISTA

experience fundamentally transformed

them (16%). Of those who reported that

VISTA changed or transformed them, most

said it transformed them both personally

and professionally. Over two-fifths of

respondents reported that the activities they

were involved in as a VISTA member were

related to their career goals at thetime they served, and one-quarter of VISTA members reported

having been hired by their VISTA programs after their service period was over.

At the time of the interview, a large majority of VISTA members said that they would join the

program again (87%). Responses were similarly positive across the three generations of VISTA

members.

As explained in Chapter 1,the comparison group for this study was created from individuals who

joined VISTA and then dropped out of the program either during or shortly after training.

Respondents in the comparison group were asked to identify the main reasons why they did not

complete their entire term of VISTA service. Several reasons were offered, including personal or

health reasons (31%) and dissatisfaction with the VISTA program (26%). One-fifth of respondents in

the first generation comparison group reported they ended their VISTA service because they were

asked to leave the program, compared to much smaller percentages in the second and third

generations (5% and 7%, respectively). Third generation respondents were more likely to report that

they left the VISTA program primarily because they took a job (19%) and less likely to report that

they left because they were dissatisfied with the program (13%).

Insights from In-Person Interviews

Although questions were asked on the telephone survey about the VISTA service experience and its

effect on VISTA members, more in-depth information was collected through the in-person

interviews. Interviews were conducted with a small sub-set of VISTA members (43) and those in the

comparison group (21) who had previously completed a telephone interview for the study. The

interviewees were geographically clustered around seven geographic areas: Boston, MA; Madison,

WI; Chicago, IL; San Diego, CA; Seattle, WA; Austin,TX, and Birmingham, AL. Issues related to

sample clustering necessitated that the in-person interviews be concentrated in metropolitan sites;

however, efforts were made to include a number of interviews in rural areas.

Many ofthe topics explored in the phone interview were discussed at greater depth in the in-person

interviews. New areas were also investigated, particularly related to the participants life course

Exhibit 3.3

Positive Effect of VISTA (VISTA Members Only)

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%

Changed me in Helped reinforce my Fundamentally

important ways values and beliefs transformed me
Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service 21

decisions. In discussing topics including employment, political participation, volunteering, family

formation, and other areas, we were able to examine how early service experience affects many of the

major decisions and choices that individuals make over their lifetimes. The protocol used by the field

researchers was designed to lead the conversation from an in-depth discussion of the actual VISTA

experience into all the broader topics involved in assessing life course choices. The interviews lasted

between one and three hours.

As shown in Exhibit 3.4, the individuals

interviewed for this study tended to be

similar to the sample of respondents who

participated in the telephone survey and to

the overall population of VISTA program

participants. Interviewees who served in the

first and second generations tended to be

white and under the age of 25 when they

joined VISTA, while those who served in

the third generation tended to be more

racially diverse and older. Also,the two

later generations (second and third) tended

to include more female participants, while

those who served in the first generation

were more evenly divided between men

and women.

When considering the differences in the

stories we heard from those who completed

VISTA and those in the comparison group,

a couple of themes emerged. VISTA

members believed that they had to

demonstrate a certain amount of

perseverance and tolerance of ambiguity in

completing their assignments.Thus, it is

not surprising that the few stories of

struggle and disappointment were

concentrated in the accounts given by those who did not complete the program, the comparison

group. While those who completed VISTA also faced moments of confusion and uncertainty about

their work and their decisions to join,these doubts tended to dissipate as they built deeper

relationships within the community. On the other hand, while many did achieve significant career

success, there were a striking number of VISTA members who never married or divorced young and

lived alone for many years.

The reasons given for joining VISTA ranged greatly, from a desire to “find oneself,” explore different

career options, and to confront and address poverty. No matter the reason given, VISTA almost

always turned out to be something quite different from what was expected. Very few volunteers

reported an experience that matched what they believed in advance the program would be like. For

Exhibit 3.4

Demographic Profile of In-person Intervieweesa

Char acteristic

Fir st

Gener ation

(1965-

1972)

Second

Gener ation

(1973-

1980)

Third

Gener ation

(1981-

1993)

Total Number of Interviewees 27 23 14

Response Group

VISTA members 17 14 12

Comparison group 10 9 2

Gender

Male 15 8 0

Female 12 15 14

Race/Ethnicity

White 25 20 9

African-American 0 0 3

Hispanic 2 3 2

Other 1 3 2

Age at enrollment in VISTA

Under 25 27 22 3

25 and older 0 1 11

Marital status

Married 10 14 5

Single/Never married 7 4 1

Divorced,/ Widowed/ Other 10 5 8

a Totals may vary due to nonresponse
22 Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service

many, there were wonderful surprises and moments of great personal growth. For others, there were

frustrating and painful memories associated with their experiences.

For other interviewees, VISTA was simply seen as a valuable experience, but not transformative. In

these instances those interviewed had not done much subsequent volunteering and had chosen

traditional career paths. Forthis group, VISTA was an enlarging experience but onethat did not

appear to exert a strong influence on later choices. For others who did volunteer after VISTA,

subsequent volunteer work ranged from participation in homeowners associations to tutoring youth in

disadvantaged circumstances to helping on political campaigns.

The interviews also illuminated a connection between the age at service and the way the VISTA

experience was conceptualized. For those who participated in VISTA later in life,the program

represented something quite unique. VISTA was a resource for reconnecting with the community for

older participants and a way to reenterthe work force, sometimes after decades of absence related to

parenting. Increased job skills or greater civic engagement were neitherthe goals nor the result of

VISTA participation for this group. Instead, the program was a bridge leading to new experiences and

an important change of pace for adults who sought a change of direction.

In addition, we learned from some of the interviewees how VISTA shaped parenting choices and

practices. After seeing people in poverty, several volunteers reported that they made efforts to expose

their children to the fact that not all Americans live comfortably. In addition, several ofthe volunteers

began families with strong collective commitments to social action.

In trying to sort out the fundamental differences between the VISTA members and comparison group

interviewees, the most consistent factor appeared to be life satisfaction and career success. Those who

dropped out of VISTA were less successful in their personal and professional lives. Those who

completed VISTA were consistently higher achieving and more satisfied with their professional

careers. However, it is not possible to know exactly how much the VISTA experience explains this

difference.

In this section we present specific results from the in-person interviews with special focus on the

VISTA experience and the effects ofthe program on those who served.

The communities where VISTA members lived and served provided unique opportunities to observe

and learn. One interviewee described developing a desire to assist those in need through his work

with VISTA. One of the most memorable aspects of the experience related to the family that hosted

him during his VISTA experience.

It was a husband and wife. The husband was a disabled miner who was retarded, and the

wife was almost kind of like his caretaker.... They had no running water. It froze. You woke

up and had to sort of break the ice to get at the dishes. It was just—a coal stove. It was

really cold, but that provided some heat...But they were very interested in us, and they

wanted to take us to church and meet their friends. It was probably my first case, because

they had absolutely no income...And I helped him get his disability benefits. We traveled

three hours to get a doctor at the [hospital] to examine him, and that’s how we found out he

[had a disability]....We were successful in getting him his benefits despite a very difficult
Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service 23

case because he was deprived in so many ways but he had no clear impairment that was

disabling.

First Generation VISTA Member

(1965-1972)

The community where another VISTA member served influenced his life significantly. He developed

a passion for working with communities during his time in VISTA, serving as an architect for a

housing development organization in upstate New York. By his own account, he learned an important

lesson for his future career: the need to build what is useful to the people who will live in a home, not

necessarily what the architect thinks is interesting.

I really wanted to find a way of finding out how can I best believe that I’m giving them what

they will want when all is said and done. I really wanted to find out from them what they

wanted.... I just never quite believed I was doing the right thing. And I tried to read from

their own houses how they lived ... but we were giving them [something] so different from

what they had that it was hard to translate. And all that tempered by trying to help them not

waste money on things that I thought would not be useful. For example, one of the walls in

the living room, nice big blank wall. And of course, you make a small room look bigger by

making it look simple. Well, this family had chosen a kind of finish plywood and it was this

bold, black and white zebra stripe wood. It made the room look half the size it was. I can tell

you make a room seem bigger. But no, you like this thing and I can’t say that [looks bad]. It

was more a matter of not trusting my own instincts apart from things like sound building. I

think [other VISTAs] had the same problem.

First Generation VISTA Member

(1965-1972)

When discussing their VISTA service, several interviewees had mixed feelings about the skills and

experience they gained. Some found the opportunities to work independently in areas with great

needs as an opportunity to learn, while others were frustrated by the lack of direction they received.

One interviewee described his experience as not particularly centralized and without much

programmatic coordination. However, in his opinion,this led to a fair amount of autonomy and gave

VISTA members multiple opportunities to learn how to organize and build projects from the ground

up.

I think that the thing that was made clear was that we were not to make ourselves

indispensable, that we were supposed to set up things and work with people, and not define

what those things were. And yet on one hand we were trained in certain categories, you

know? Co-op organizing and advocacy and tenants’ rights and maybe one or two other

things. So it wasn’t just generalized approaches to organizing. We were given tools; we

were given handbooks and things like that. So we tended to gravitate towards there and if

there was, you know, a meeting of 30 people and four of them said they wanted to do a food

Co-op, oh, yeah, we can do that. That kind of thing happened, you know? But there wasn’t a

plan in advance to have pre-order co-ops everywhere and then have a central warehouse.

And the fact that the sites and the downtown office let that happen, I think, was good.

First Generation VISTA Member

(1965-1972)
24 Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service

On the other hand, another VISTA member interviewed for this study found the lack of direction she

received frustrating. Though involved in launching a Head Start program and other community

programs, she did not find a coherent strategy behind the work, nor the opportunity to really make a

lasting difference.

The job was not clearly defined.... I think it became clear that it was hard to have a goal that

was realistic. To think that I was going to be there for one year and make a difference in

somebody’s life, even one person’s life.... I didn’t really remember what we did on a daily

basis but I do remember feeling under-utilized and it wasn’t really worth anything. We were

just kind of showing up. I thinkmy goal was a few months into it was to get through the year

and stick it out because I did want to stay for the year.

First Generation VISTA Member

(1965-1972)

One VISTA member interviewed forthis study described her VISTA assignment to develop a

program that assisted low-income families in obtaining federally funded Section 8 housing. As with

other interviewees, she had little experience or assistance, but the work taught her some important

lessons that she believes were applicable to jobs she held later in life.

It was Section 8 rental assistance, so it’s federal funding so it’s kind of two-fold: one, you

have to find the clients on assistance or Social Security. You have to qualify them then,

second, you had to convince the landlord to accept the money directly, which wasn’t easy

because [many] really didn’t [sic] like the government. So I would drive around and find

these people and then I had to look for the places.... I had to be really organized. I had to

learn how to do paperwork, which in any social service job you have to get the paperwork

done. And I learned ... how to work within the bureaucracy because it’s what’s required and

how far are you willing to stretch the roles to make it work. I’ve had to do that in every job

I’ve had ... not violate the rules but [learn] how to make it work. I had to do a lot of

networking which you have to do as a social worker on the job, figuring out where to find

your clients and explain your program to them...it was definitely a career booster for me.

Third Generation VISTA Member

(1981-1993)

While some VISTA members reflected on their experience primarily in terms of what they were able

to accomplish for others, some subjects saw a clear link between their experience and the way they

understood the world later in life. Opportunities to address social injustice were a part of many

VISTA members’ experiences while serving. Several VISTA members interviewed for this study

cited examples of how they were able to achieve results by helping others gain justice. For one

VISTA member, the program represented an opportunity to right an old wrong. Still uncomfortable

with the treatment of her childhood housekeeper, who was African-American, VISTA gave this

young lawyer a chance to correct symbolically a very old wrong.

There was a housekeeper that I felt that was always unfairly treated.... I recognized at an

early age that there was something wrong with, you know, everybody that I knew being white

and people who were their servants being not white...Then, early in my VISTA career ... I

represented a women in a social security [dispute] who had been a housekeeper all her life
Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service 25

and she got turned down because ... she didn’t have the records. I realized that people could

work all their lives and not have social security because she was working as a housekeeper.

My parents probably didn’t pay social security for [our housekeeper] but it would never have

dawned on me when I was growing up that they should have. And, so, it was only with

hindsight and looking at this woman who was applying for social security and getting turned

down, I realized that the injustice of working all your life and then having no retirement.

Ultimately I got her benefits off of her deceased husband’s record, not off of her own working

record.

Second Generation VISTA member

(1973-1980)

One interviewee joined VISTA after law school and was placed with a local law firm. She did

whatever was needed from organizing a library of law materials, to questioning defendants. As an

African-American herself, her most memorable experience as a VISTA member was seeing the racial

disparities in the criminal justice system. After serving in VISTA, she came to realizethat the

economic structure contributes to the situation.

It made an impact on me to see ... the large number of ... blacks, African-Americans that

were caught up in the legal system. But even though we were still not in great numbers you

had more out of proportion, as a disproportionate coming into the legal system. So that was

a little disheartening because you just wonder, you know ... and I still ask that question today

because now I work in child welfare and I see a disproportionate amount of AfricanAmerican kids coming into the child welfare system. And I asked that same question.... But

overall, just seeing how the system seemed to catch people up or people didn’t have hope.

And, so, they made bad choices that kept getting them in the system made me think that that

was an area where I could really work at.

First Generation VISTA Member

(1965-1972)

Many VISTA experiences were shaped by the political and cultural context in which they occurred.

In the case of one VISTA member, his service assignment was nearthe apex of social and racial

tensions, and the experience affected his outlook on social responsibility.

In 1967 the biggest race riot in Milwaukee occurred and it was the summer. I worked for the

Department of Corrections and I would go to all the kids who were at foster care, someone

from the state had to go to all the doctors appointments with them, to buy clothing,

everything, and I was a student intern, I guess it was called.... I was in the inner city all day

long and then there was a curfew at five o’clock and I had to make sure and be out but I

never was concerned aboutmy safety or anything. There was a lot of tension, a lot of stress

in the community and of course it didn’t help people who had prejudice. My parents just

were not happy that I was doing this. I really felt strongly about that our generation was

responsible for helping to turn things around, that it was not, that things weren’t going to

change unless we took responsibility for it.

First Generation VISTA Member

(1965-1972)
26 Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service

Many VISTA members felt that they had achieved real accomplishmentsthrough their service, and

those interviewed for this study were able to offer concrete examples of how their service benefited

others. Working with low-income populations left a real impression on one VISTA member

interviewed for this study. Helping children with emotional needs was a compelling experience

because the stakes were high and the results noticeable.

There were two young boys that will never go away from my mind. One of them was a little

boy whose Mom was in prison and his grandmother used to drive him to school every day.

She was quite elderly and they had a very struggling relationship and he would come into the

classroom every day and if I wasn’t right there to greet him, ... he would walk into the room

and put his hand out and just take every single thing that was on the shelf and knock it off and

we went through this little routine of kind of behavior modification of trying to get that to

change. Itmade you feel like you had some positive impact for him.

First Generation VISTA Member

(1965-1972)

Serving in the 1960s, another VISTA member worked in New York City for a year and a half. His

task was to improve a low-income community, and set up a health clinicthere. VISTA turned out to

be an eye-opening experience. He was given the complex and difficult task of understanding what

kind of health care immigrants in the neighborhood needed and howto best establish the services that

they needed. He spoke with great pride about this work since the health care clinic is still there to this

day.

And your job was to understand the position of poor people in that situation and figure out

what can be done to help them and their situation. And so what remains is the sense that

people’s positions in society condition both their opportunities and their attitudes both

towards this society, and what their roles in that society are.... You have to understand where

people are coming from and the sense of that history. And to see what the society’s role is in

providing something that approaches equal opportunity, given the social, class and racial

distinctions everywhere.... The situations that people were born into produce certain bias. In

order to approach them as a democratic society, ... society should act to eliminate those

biases.

First Generation VISTA Member

(1965-1972)

As a part of his VISTA work after law school, one VISTA member would go to court and try to assist

those with little means and few advocates. In addition, he kept up an extensive correspondence with

incarcerated men. The simple act of listening and of writing a letter allowed this volunteer to play a

role in the lives of people he knew he would never meet.

[One] thing I would do, which was really incredibly moving to me, was get letters from

people in prison, all around the country. We put out a newsletter, and people heard about

the organization. Some of them would get the newsletter in prison. They would write to us.

They were suffering in prison, issues of brutality, things they wanted to let us know, just a

voice to share their stories with. Letters from prison are censored, but letters to lawyers are

not. So basically, I held a correspondence with hundreds of inmates around the nation,
Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service 27

advised them as I could about their rights, listened to their stories, shared their stories when

possible.

Second Generation VISTA member

(1973-1980)

For many interviewees, VISTA was a life-changing event that changed their general outlook for the

rest of their lives. For one interviewee, VISTA was an opportunity to act on his values and to grow

personally.The program brought him into contact with the “real world.”

I learned about poverty; I learned about different cultures; I learned how to deal with the

problems of people, whether VISTA volunteers or staff people or neighborhood people or

teenagers. I learned a lot about group dynamics, how to interact, and how to deal with

personal problems and work with these problems. I was thrust out of ... the cocoon.... I was

all of a sudden completely free. I didn’t have parents; I didn’t have friends who would lead

me in certain directions or who would intimidate me.... It was a fresh start for me.

First Generation VISTA Member

(1965-1972)

The VISTA experience gave another VISTA member interviewed for this study a new perspective on

inequality. Participation rendered poverty and need more real and its causes were shown to be more

complex.

When people would talk to me, I think about economic issues and I have something to say

because I had experiences that other peoplemight not have had. I was enriched, I think, with

that experience. I hear ignorant things like ‘people make their own choices’ and ‘they do this

to themselves’ and yes sometimes that is true but sometimes they are the children of a crack

addict in the inner city, and they do not do that to themselves.

Third Generation VISTA Member

(1981-1993)

Throughout many of the interviews, we noted a strong emotional connection to the VISTA experience.

As interviewees reflected on their lives and the critical junctures in it, VISTA almost always figured

prominently as a turning point, along side marriage, divorce, promotions, deaths in the family, relocations

and other major events. Yet the VISTA experience still emerged as a formative moment for many, leading

them into helping professions and work focused on social justice. For those who felt less strongly about

the long-term effect of VISTA on their life course,there was still an acknowledgement that the program

opened their eyes and broadened their perspectives.

Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service 29

Chapter 4:

The Effects of VISTA Participation

As discussed in Chapter 1, the purpose ofthis study was (1) to identify the effects of VISTA on its

members; and (2)to investigate how the behaviors and attitudes of VISTA members have changed

overtime in the areas of civic engagement, education, employment, and the intergenerational transfer

of values. The central hypothesis associated with this examination is that participation in the VISTA

program leads to positive, lifelong effects on individual participants. This study used self-reported

data to explore the effects of participation on these four general areas of interest, as listed in Exhibit

4.1.The use of a comparison group was necessary to learn how measured results for VISTA members

contrast with those for individuals who are similar to VISTA members, but did not serve in the

program.

Method Used to Analyze Results

The data analysis for this study synthesized the information from the telephone surveys and in-person

interviews to describe VISTA’s influence on participants. Data collected in the phone survey was

utilized to broadly assess the effects of VISTA participation, while the information from the in-person

interviews provided highlights of findings to enhance emerging themes. Analyses of the telephone

data were conducted using simple descriptive techniques. The descriptive analyses provide an

understanding of the information at hand through comparisons across and within generations.

Particular attention was paid to differences in results reported by various demographic groups.

The effects of the VISTA program were quantified by comparing outcomes of VISTA members with

those of near members in the comparison group for the study sample as a whole and for each of the

three generations. The overall analysis estimated the aggregate effects of the VISTA program on all

respondents who enrolled in the 1965–1993 period, being careful to note programmatic differences

that might explain any variation in outcomes across generations. The within-generation analysis

allowed for the isolation of effects within a given generation. Specifically, the within-generation

analysis isolated time period-specific elements, such as the broad societal context in which the

program was operating and the nature of the operational and programmatic policies in place at the

national level.

The analysis of the in-person interview data began with an examination ofthe major themes and

issues that emerged from the fieldwork. In examining the interviews, we looked for representative

quotes and observations that illustrated these themes and used quotes to enhance the broader narrative

about the interplay of service and personal development. As shown in Exhibit 4.1, the outcomes

measured fell into four broad categories and include both behavioral and attitudinal items.
30 Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service

Exhibit 4.1

Outcomes Assessed

Civic Engagement-Related Outcomes

Engagement in the Political Process (Behavior) provides respondent’s reports of the frequency with which he/she

participates in activities intrinsic to the political process, including contributions to candidatesand voting in national and

local elections.

Volunteer Participation (Behavior) indicates whether the respondent has served as a volunteer at any point since

participation in VISTA and describes the frequency and type of volunteering.

Personal Effectiveness of Community Service (Attitude) represents the respondent’s opinion about the effects of his/her

prior volunteer activities during VISTA with respect to making a difference.

Community Leadership (Behavior) represents the respondent’s participation in community or volunteer leadership roles.

Connection to Community (Attitude) represents the respondent’s opinion about the strength of his/her connection to the

community, as represented by the amount of interaction with neighbors and strength of feelings toward the community.

Education-Related Outcomes

Educational Pursuits (Behavior) indicates the type of additional education pursued after VISTA participation.

Educational Attainment (Behavior) indicates the level of education attained after VISTA participation.

Field of Study (Behavior) provides the respondent’s predominant field of study pursued after VISTA participation.

Employment-Related Outcomes

Labor Force Status (Behavior) consists of an examination of the labor force attachment of the respondent.

Employment Status (Behavior) represents the employment status of the respondent and a review of their employment

choices.

Employment and Career Stability (Behavior) is a holistic examination of respondent’s employment and career patterns

through their entire employment history.

Field of Employment (Behavior) provides the respondent’s current career choice.

Outcomes Related to the Intergenerational Transfer of Values

Family and Children’s Service Participation (Behavior) provides an examination of the volunteer participation of the

respondent’s family, including his/her parents and children.

Joint Participation in Volunteer Activities (Behavior) provides the respondent’s report of the frequency with which he/she

participate in volunteer activities with their children and have their children accompany them when participating in civic

responsibilities such as voting.

Views on Children’s Service and Community involvement (Attitude) provide the respondent’s report of the values he/she

hopes to instill in their children in terms of community involvement and helping others.
Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service 31

Outcomes for VISTA Members

In this section we present the findings by individual outcome measure, organized by the four outcome

groups, beginning with civic engagement. For each outcome measure, findings are reported overall,

comparing all VISTA members against the entire comparison group. Results are also presented by

generation, comparing the results for VISTA members who served during each of the three

generations against their counterparts in the comparison group. Also, where applicable, results are

compared across the three generations to understand how outcomes for VISTA members have

changed over time. Finally, it should be noted that outcomes are selectively presented across key

demographic characteristics in instances where the findings substantially enhance our understanding

of core findings.

Civic Engagement

It is important to understand that the civic engagement of

VISTA members was not explicitly part of the purpose of

VISTA until it joined AmeriCorps in 1993 with the

formation of the Corporation for National and Community

Service. Because of the importance of civic engagement to

the Corporation’s mission, however, many of the outcome

measures in this study focus on this objective.10 Outcome

measures addressed in this section include engagement in

the political process, volunteer participation, personal effectiveness of community service, connection

to community, and community leadership.

Differences were found between VISTA members and the comparison group in their levels of

engagement in the political process, especially in the voting behavior of African-American and

Hispanic respondents. In addition, VISTA members reported higher levels of voting and volunteer

participation than the general U.S. population. Results on other outcome measures, such as personal

effectiveness of community service, community leadership, and connection to community showed

little or no differences.11

Next we present the detailed results on outcomes relating to civic engagement.

Engagement in the political process is measured through several types of political behaviors. It

represents the frequency with which the respondent currently participates in activities related to the

10 Promoting civic engagement is a primary goal for all of the Corporation’s programs, including VISTA.

Furthermore, the promotion of civic engagement is one of the Corporation’s ten guiding principles, as

detailed in its Strategic Plan for 2006–2010; programs are encouraged to “ use service-learning principles to

put volunteer and service activities into an appropriate context that stimulates lifelong civic engagement.”

11 Although we identified some differences on outcomes of civic engagement, it is important to note that both

VISTA members and respondents in the comparison group are likely to have demonstrated high levels of

civic engagement before participation in VISTA as confirmed by their knowledge of, and interest in

joining, the program.

Outcome Measures for Civic

Engagement:

 Engagement in the political process

 Volunteer participation

 Personal effectiv eness of community

serv ice

 Community leadership

 Connection to community
32 Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service

political process, including voting in local and national elections, contributing money to a candidate

or political party, and engaging others in discussions on political issues.

Several survey questions asked respondents about their post-VISTA voting behavior in both

presidential and state/local elections. Specifically, these questions addressed whether or not the

respondent:

 Has ever voted since leaving VISTA

 Voted in the 2004 election

 Voted in the first election since leaving VISTA

Overall, post-VISTA voting behavior was very strong for both groups of respondents. The vast

majority (96%) of both VISTA members and their counterparts in the comparison group reported that

they have voted in a presidential election or in a state or local election since leaving VISTA. This

strong commitment to participating in the electoral process includes highly active participation in the

2004 elections, in which over 96 percent of both VISTA members and the comparison group reported

voting in both the presidential and state/local elections.

While commitment to voting has been historically

strong, VISTA members appearto have been more

inclined to actively engage in the electoral process

immediately upon their program departure.

Specifically, VISTA members were more likely

than their counterparts to vote in the first

presidential election (95% versus 87%) as well as

the first state or local election (93% versus 86%)

following their departure from VISTA (Exhibit

4.2).

Additional analysis was also conducted to explore

whether voting behavior differed within subgroups

defined by racial/ethnic status. The low levels of

civic participation among minorities has continued

to be a topic of interest among researchers and a concern for policymakers. Consequently, the civic

ngagement of minorities is also a focus of the Corporation’s programs.

12

e

Exhibit 4.2

Voted in First Election After VISTA (All

Generations)

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Presidential election State/local election

VISTA memb ers Comp arison

12 Schlozman, K.L., Verba, S., and Brady, H.E. 1999. “ Civic Participation and the Equality Problem,” in

Civic Engagement in American Democracy, eds. Theda Skocpol and Morris P. Fiorina. Washington, DC:

Brookings Press.

Cohen, C.J. and M.C. Dawson. 1993. “ Neighborhood Poverty and African-American Politics,” American

Political Science Review. Volume 87, pp.286-302.
Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service 33

Important differences were observed in the

voting patterns of African-American and

Hispanic VISTA members compared to their

counterparts in the comparison group, with the

VISTA members generally reporting higher

levels of voting behavior. As shown in Exhibit

4.3, African-American and Hispanic VISTA

members were considerably more likely to have

ever voted in a presidential election since

departing VISTA than their counterparts in the

comparison group. Additionally, AfricanAmerican VISTA members were more likely to

have ever voted in a state or local election since

departing VISTA than their counterparts in the

comparison group (93% of African-American VISTA members compared to 85% of AfricanAmericans in the comparison group). Despite this difference, similar percentages of AfricanAmerican and Hispanic VISTA members and those in the comparison group were likely to vote in a

state or local election. Analysis on other racial/ethnic groups was not possible due to small numbers

of respondents in these other categories.

As these results imply, VISTA can influence member’s political awareness and voting behavior. This

possibility is supported by the story of one VISTA member interviewed for this study who first

became aware of VISTA through a college professor she had at a Midwestern university. She joined

VISTA after graduating because she was looking for a way to help out in her community while

earning some money. She was not politically active before going to college, but became slowly more

familiar with current events in the 1970s:

I don’t know if I was voting before VISTA.... I don’t think I was politically aligned with a

party. I wasn’t doing anything actively in party politics during that year, that time. Since

that time ... I have been more involved in it than any other time. During my VISTA days

there was a social consciousness ... there were still some demonstrations going on. There

was apartheid going on. So those kinds of things I was aware of. I did some support things,

but that was not a party affiliation. It was kind of bigger than that.

First Generation VISTA Member

(1965-1972)

As part of our examination of voting behavior, we also collected information on national levels of

voting behavior and compared them to the voting levels of study respondents. Information on voting

behavior was obtained from the 2004 Current Population Survey13 and is based on self-reported

voting behavior from the 2004 presidential election.14 According to the 2004 Current Population

Survey, 64 percent of U.S. citizens voted in the 2004 presidential election. When compared to the

13 The Current Population Survey is a monthly survey of about 60,000 households that obtains information on

employment and unemployment among the nation’s population 12 years of age and older.

14 There are no national estimates of voting rates in state and local elections because voting participation

varies by location.

Exhibit 4.3

Voted in a Presidential Election Since Leaving

VISTA (All Generations)

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

African

American

Hispanic

Wh ite

Comparison VISTA
34 Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service

voting rates of VISTA members and their counterparts in the comparison group for the 2004

presidential election (96% and 98%, respectively), the study participants appear to be far more

politically engaged than the general U.S. population. Also, the voting rates of VISTA members and

those in the comparison group continue to be high even compared to the voting rate of all registered

U.S. voters, 89 percent of whom reported voting in the 2004 presidential election.

When examining the 2004 voting levels by

racial/ethnic group,the differences are even

more apparent. Voting rates among U.S.

citizens were 67 percent for whites

compared to 99 percent reported by white

VISTA members, 60 percent for AfricanAmerican citizens compared to 95 percent

of African-American VISTA members, and

47 percent for Hispanic citizens compared

to 40 percent of Hispanic VISTA members. Voting levels among respondents in the comparison

group were generally lower than those of VISTA members, but still remained higher than those of the

general U.S. population for white and African-American voters. However, Hispanic respondents in

the comparison group reported voting at a lower rate compared to the national Hispanic population.

In addition to voting behavior, monetary

ontributions to the political process were

ore common among VISTA members

han their counterparts in the comparison

roup. As can be seen in Exhibit 4.5, a

lightly higher percentage of VISTA

embers contributed money to a candidate

41%) or to a political party (38%)

ompared to those in the comparison group

31% contributed money to a candidate and

0% contributed to a political party). In

ontrast, VISTA members were similarly

s likely as respondents in the comparison

roup to discuss community politics and

ommunity affairs with others. Only small

c

m

t

g

s

m

(

c

(

3

c

a

g

c

percentages of both VISTA members and their counterparts in the comparison group reported that

they never discuss community politics and affairs.

One of the VISTA members interviewed for this study credited her time in VISTA with activating her

lifetime political engagement. Working with the poor and getting a start as a social worker led to a

social awareness that she has continued ever since:

I saw a lot of poverty and people living on the edge. Those people’s lives, it’s kind of hard to

forget that, living your little middle class life. But I have to say how it’s changed me. I’m

much more politically involved and probably aware and vocal than I ever was in VISTA.

VISTA started the process. I think it was already there for me but it sort of confirmed for me

Exhibit 4.4

Voting Rates of U.S. Citizens, VISTA Members, and the

Comparison Group (2004 Presidential Election)

Race/Ethnicity U.S. Citizens

VISTA

Member s

Compar ison

Gr oup

White 67% 99% 99%

African-American 60 95 87

Hispanic 47 40 29

Exhibit 4.5

Contributed Money to a Candidate or Political Party (All

Generations)

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Candidate Political party

VISTA memb ers Comp arison
Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service 35

that there’s just a lot of social injustice in our country. You have to work in small ways to try

to correct that [and do] whatever you can do.

Third Generation VISTA Member

(1981-1993)

To measure the outcomes of VISTA associated with lifelong civic engagement, respondents also were

asked questions about their volunteer participation.

Respondents were asked whether their VISTA

experience influenced the amount or kind of

volunteering they have performed since leaving

the program. As anticipated, higher

percentages of VISTA members than

comparison group members reported that their

VISTA experience influenced their

volunteering activities (43% and 26%,

respectively). However, the most interesting

findings emerged when examining the results

by demographic subgroups. For example,

African-American and Hispanic respondents

(52% and 51%, respectively) were much more

likely than whites (35%) to report that their

VISTA experience has strongly influenced the

amount or nature of their volunteering since leaving the VISTA program. In addition, women (38%)

were similarly likely compared to men (36%) to say that their VISTA experience has strongly

influenced the amount or kind of volunteering they have performed since leaving VISTA.

In the interviews with VISTA members, one respondent discussed her current involvement in

volunteer activities. She went on to be involved in the schools her children attended, including the

PTA. Work in VISTA oriented her toward those less well off and led her to reach out to try to help

the children who were struggling in school:

I saw that in schools, too, where there was a group, even though in the elementary school my

kids attended, there was a group of children that lived in subsidized housing and we tried to

help those kids, pull those kids up. And we offered tutoring. These kids moved every couple

of months. It’s sad and some of the parents got angry with us for offering to help. It was

their business and they would help the kids. But they didn’t. And that really, how could they

not want help for their kids but it was like we were intruding. And it wasn’t just the white

parents and the black parents. But I guess they thought we were judging them and we

weren’t. We were just trying to help.... I think I learned that at VISTA too.

Third Generation VISTA Member

(1981-1993)

Respondents also were asked to describe their volunteer activities since participation in VISTA,

including whether they have been active in politics, served on a local board or council, joined a

neighborhood association, or volunteered with a religious organization.The number of volunteer

Exhibit 4.6

VISTA Experience Influenced Respondents’

Volunteer Participation (All Respondents)

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Women

Men

Hispanic

African-American

White
36 Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service

activities was averaged and compared between VISTA members and the comparison group. Results

were similar for the two groups with VISTA members and non-members both volunteering on

average in 1.6 activities during the year following their departure from VISTA. When asked in which

volunteer activities respondents had participated in the past 12 months, this average remained the

same at 1.6 activities for both VISTA members and non-members. However, when the national rate

of volunteering is compared to the rate of reported volunteering of respondents, we find that the study

participants have a much higher level of volunteering than the general population.

National statistics on volunteering were obtained and compared to the self-reported volunteering rates

of both VISTA members and their counterparts in the comparison group. These national statistics

were obtained from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics based on a 2006 survey, Volunteering in the

United States.15 The results showed that 61.2 million Americans volunteered in some capacity

between September 2005 and September 2006, a rate of 26.7 percent of the population. In contrast, a

very high percentage of the VISTA members and those in the comparison group reported

participating in one or more volunteer activities in the last year (95% and 94% respectively). These

results indicate that both groups of respondents demonstrate a higher level of volunteer participation

than the general population.

Personal effectiveness of community service

represents respondents’ opinions about the

effect of their current volunteer activities with

respect to making a difference. Respondents

were asked how much of a difference they

think people like themselves can have in

making their community better. Similar

percentages of respondents thought that they

could make a big or moderate difference in

their community (88% of VISTA members and

86% of the comparison group).

Connection to community includes measures

of the strength of respondents’ connection to

their community, as indicated by the number

of years they have lived in their community and the amount of interaction and strength of connection

they feel toward their neighbors.

In most cases, there were no differences in responses between VISTA members and their counterparts

in the comparison group. A high percentage of most survey respondents have long-term connections

to their communities, having lived there for five or more years (87%);16 most VISTA members (75%)

and their counterparts in the comparison group (73%) said that they talk with their neighbors

regularly (i.e., several times a month, week, or every day); and two-thirds (64%) of respondents

reportedly believe that they can trust their neighbors a lot. Furthermore, when asked in general

15 Volunteering in the United States is a supplement to the September 2005 Current Population Survey.

16 The number of respondents who lived in their community for five or more years may be high due to the

fact that those who are less transient were easier to locate for this survey.

Exhibit 4.7

VISTA Members’ Opinions on the Effect of Volunteer

Activities on Their Community

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%

First Second Third

Generation Generation Generation

Small or no effect Moderate effect Big effect
Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service 37

whether people can be trusted, similar percentages of VISTA members and those in the comparison

group said that people can be trusted (74% and 71%, respectively).

Community leadership was measured by

respondents’ reported participation in community

or volunteer leadership roles. A slightly higher

percentage of VISTA members have volunteered

on a governmental board or council when compared

to their counterparts in the comparison group (31%

and 27%, respectively). In addition, a slightly

higher percentage of VISTA members (40%) than

respondents in the comparison group (37%) have

served as a leader or coach in a non-educational

organization (such as Girl Scouts, 4-H, or a sports

team).

Differences across Generations

In general, high levels of voting behavior were reported across the three generations. However, the

most noticeable differences between VISTA members and their counterparts in the comparison group

were identified among third generation respondents.Third generation VISTA members were slightly

more likely to vote in the first presidential election (93%) after departing from VISTA than

comparison group members in the third generation (90%), and also were more likely to have ever

voted in a state/local election (95%)than their comparison group counterparts in the third generation

(88%). In contrast, higher percentages of those in the third generation reported that they never discuss

community politics and community affairs (14%) compared to the other generations (5% of the first

generation and 6% of the second generation).

In addition, differences in monetary contributions to the political process between VISTA members

and respondents in the comparison group remained relatively constant among respondents in each of

the three generations. Yet respondents who served in the first and second generations were more

likely than those in the third generation to contribute money to either a candidate for office or a

political party.

Although all three generations demonstrated strong and lasting connections to their communities,

VISTA members who served in the third generation were more likely to respond that they trusted

their neighbors a lot (58%) when compared with their counterparts in the comparison group in the

third generation (48%). When asked in general whether people can be trusted, large majorities of

respondents across all three generations agreed with this statement. However, a smaller percentage of

third generation respondents said people can be trusted (62%) compared to the other generations

(79% of the first generation and 75% of the second generation).

Exhibit 4.8

Participate on a Government Board or Council

or as a Leader or Coach (All Generations)

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Board/council Leader/coach

VIST A members Comparison

Education

The majority of both VISTA members and applicants who comprise the comparison group were

between the ages of 21 and 26 when they initially applied and/or served in the VISTA program.
38 Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service

While there is some variation across generations, the vast majority had completed high school before

VISTA and were in the formative stages of making choices that would shape a career path. An

examination of post-VISTA educational pursuits is important in understanding their educational

choices. On the one hand, it is conceivable that the VISTA experience could provide a career step that

would, in some instances, limit members’ pursuit of more formal degree or certification programs. On

the other hand, it can also be hypothesized that the VISTA program would serve as a catalyst to

further education.17

In exploring these dynamics the evaluation examined the

pursuit and emphasis of degree-granting programs

undertaken by both VISTA members and their counterparts

in the comparison group. This includes a review of the type

of educational program, success in attaining the degree, and

the field of study that was pursued. Major findings included that VISTA members were more likely to

have pursued a Master’s Degree than a Bachelor’s Degree and tended to complete their degree

programs with more consistency than those in the comparison group.

The following discussion presents the results of our analysis of educational outcomes.

Educational pursuits examine the level of education attained after exiting the VISTA program.The

pursuit of post-VISTA degree-awarding programs partly reflects respondents’ levels of education at

the time of enrollment. As discussed in Chapter 2, approximately 51 percent ofthe VISTA members

and 44 percent ofthe comparison group had attained a Bachelor’s Degree or higher at the time of

enrollment. Despite this rather strong educational background, approximately six in ten of all survey

respondents reported having enrolled in a degree-awarding educational program since exiting VISTA.

The rate of degree pursuit was slightly lower among VISTA members (59% versus 64%), which may

reflect the likelihood that some portion of VISTA members may have made an immediate“trade-off”

between the time invested in the program and the time that would have been invested in a degreeawarding program.

17 Currently VISTA members who complete a year of full-time service are eligible for an education award.

The award can be used for education or training with qualified institutions, or to repay qualified student

loans for a period of seven years after completing service. Although the current education award was not

available to study participants after they completed their service with VISTA, it is an indication of the

Corporation’s commitment to advancing the educational prospects of members. Clearly, education is an

outcome of interest to the Corporation.

Outcome Measures for Education:

 Educational pursuits

 Educational attainment

 Field of study
Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service 39

As can be seen in Exhibit 4.9, VISTA participants

are more likely to have pursued a Master’s Degree

than a Bachelor’s Degree while the reverse pattern

applies to those in the comparison group. In part,

this reflects the varying educational profiles

characterizing the two groups at program entry.

VISTA members were more likely to have enrolled

in the program with a Bachelor’s Degreethan their

counterparts in the comparison group. As a result, a

larger proportion of the VISTA members pursued a

Master’s Degree as their first post-program

educational initiative while those in the comparison

group were more likely to pursue a Bachelor’s

Degree.

Approximately 26 percent of respondents (23% of VISTA members and 31% of the comparison

group) pursued a second degree-awarding program after they left VISTA. Consistent with trends

noted in our examination of first degree programs, the incidence of second degree programs was

larger among the comparison group since, forthe most part,their educational level upon enrollment

was slightly lower than the VISTA members.

The educational attainment of VISTA members

and the comparison group was also compared. Over

three-quarters of those enrolled in a first postVISTA educational program attained their degree.

VISTA members appeared to achievethis

educational milestone somewhat more consistently

than the comparison group. Respondents who were

21 to 25 at the time of enrollment also attained their

degrees more consistently than younger

respondents (81% versus 73% for those under 21).

Rates of degree attainment tailed off slightly among

those who pursued a second post-VISTA

educational program. This percentage was similar

for both the VISTA members and the comparison

group although slightly lower for women.

Exhibit 4.9

Most Common Degree-Awarding Pursuits (All

Generations)

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

VISTA members Comparison

Bachelor's Degree Master's Degree

Exhibit 4.10

Incidence of Attainment of First and Second

Post-VISTA Degrees (All Generations)

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

First post-VISTA degree Seco nd post-VISTA

degree

VISTA members Comparison
40 Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service

The most predominant field of study in

respondents’ first degree program was education.

As shown in Exhibit 4.11, approximately one in

five members of the comparison group pursued this

field of study compared to approximately 16

percent of VISTA participants. The next most

prevalent first field of study was social work,

which attracted 12 percent of the VISTA

respondents and 10 percent of the comparison

group. This was followed by pre-law and

psychology, both of which were equally prevalent

educational pursuits among VISTA participants

and the comparison group.

Differences across Generations

As discussed above, high percentages of both VISTA members and their counterparts in the

comparison group had attained a Bachelor’s Degree or higher at the time of enrollment. These levels

of prior educational achievement were highest among those in the second generation, with well over

half (58% of VISTA members and 62% of those in the comparison group) entering VISTA with a

Bachelor’s Degree or higher.

As can be seen in Exhibit 4.12, first generation

VISTA and comparison group members were the

most active in pursuing post-VISTA education,

with over two-thirds of the VISTA members and

three-quarters of the comparison group having

enrolled in a degree-awarding program. This in part

reflects the relatively younger age composition of

this generation.

Both treatment and comparison groups in the

second generation reported somewhat lower levels

of degree-awarding educational pursuits. Within

this generation the educational experiences of

VISTA members and their counterparts in the

comparison group were quite similar, with VISTA

members reporting a slightly higher incidence of participation in post-VISTA degree-awarding

education.

Both VISTA members and their counterparts who served in the third generation were comparatively

less likely to have pursued an educational degree since leaving the program. Two factors may, in part,

help to explain this dynamic. First, this generation has had the shortest timeframe within which to

pursue further education. It also should be noted that the comparatively low levels of educational

pursuits may be due to the emphasis on recruiting local community residents with lower levels of

education who may simply be disinclined towards formal education.

Exhibit 4.11

Predominant Fields of Study in First DegreeAwarding Program (All Generations)

Rating

VISTA

Member s Compar ison

Education (including

physical education)

16% 20%

Social work 12 10

Law/Prelaw 7 7

Psychology 7 7

Exhibit 4.12

Enrolled in Degree-Awarding Program Since

VISTA (All Generations)

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

First

Generation

Second

Generation

Third

Generation

VISTA memb ers Comp arison
Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service 41

In terms of degree completion, VISTA members from the first and second generation attained their

degrees at rates (over 80%) at least ten percentage points higher than their counterparts in the

comparison groups (72% and 71%, respectively). The pattern is reversed among those who served in

the third generation, with 80 percent of the comparison group completing their first post-VISTA

degree program compared to 69 percent ofthe VISTA members.

While similar fields of study were popular across the three generations, those who served in the third

generation were comparatively less likely (13%)to study education than those in the first generation

(19%) and second generation (17%). In addition, social work was a particularly popular choice of

study among those who served in the second generation, with slightly over 13 percent pursuing a

degree in this field.

Employment

The VISTA program experience itself combines elements of both an employment and educational

experience. As a one-year commitment the program has the structure and length of a graduate course

or internship and requires the commitment and responsibility of a full-time job. As such,this

experience can potentially serve to shape an individual’s future career by enhancing employability as

well as by potentially shaping their choices about the types of jobs they take and the professional

commitments they are willing to make. At the sametime, it should be noted that the VISTA

experience and its one-year commitment may delay (or interrupt) some participants’ integration into

the workforce relative to those individuals in the comparison group.

In exploring this set of dynamics we examined respondents’

current labor force and employment status, their

employment and career permanence, which is the extent to

which they have experienced comparatively stable

employment, and their commitment to a particular field of

employment.The findings showed that VISTA members

were more likely to be employed and had a slightly stronger income profile than those in the

omparison group. Other measures, such as the current field in which respondents were working,

ere similar across both groups.

ext, we present the results from our examination of employment-related outcomes.

s part of this examination of employment outcomes, the current labor force status of VISTA

embers was compared to that of the respondents in the comparison group. While a solid majority of

ll respondents were working at the time they were surveyed, VISTA members were somewhat more

ikely to be employed than those in the comparison group. It should also be noted that very low

eported levels of unemployment further support this solid pattern of current employment.

pecifically, only 2 percent of VISTA members and 3 percent of the comparison group reported that

hey were unemployed or laid off and “actively seeking work.”

ollowing on VISTA members’ strong labor force participation is a closer look at respondents’

urrent employment status, which provides insight into the culmination of several decades of

c

w

N

A

m

a

l

r

S

t

F

c

Outcome Measures for Employment:

 Labor f orce status

 Employ ment status

 Employ ment and career stability

 Field of employment
42 Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service

educational, career and personal choices. Regardless of differences in the employment rates of

VISTA members and the comparison group, of those currently in the labor force, approximately 80

percent of both groups are currently working in a full-time position. However, despite similar current

employment status, VISTA participants reported a slightly stronger income profilethan those in the

comparison group. Approximately 56 percent reported an annual income in excess of $60,000 per

year, with only 13 percent earning less than $20,000. The comparison group was somewhat different,

with 49 percent earning morethan $60,000 and 17 percent earning less than $20,000. Approximately

one-third of both VISTA members and the comparison group reported an annual income between

$20,000 and $60,000.

An examination of respondents’ current

field of employment reveals consistent

patterns of career choice between VISTA

members and their counterparts in the

comparison group. Particularly noteworthy

is the clustering of employment choices

among a very targeted set of fields. As can

be seen in Exhibit 4.13, over 70 percent of

both the VISTA members and the

comparison group reported that they were

currently employed in one of five

occupational fields. While minor variations

can be seen, the overall pattern of current

employment choices remains quite

consistent between thetwo groups with an emphasis on social work, law, business, and health

professions. The exhibit further highlights the frequency with which both VISTA members and the

comparison group chose the teaching profession (children and adults); teaching attracted over one in

five of those currently employed.

The survey data also revealed a consistent pattern among VISTA members and their counterparts

with respect to their choice of employment sectors. Approximately 20 percent of both groups were

working in the nonprofit sector (at the time ofthe survey) with the remainder evenly split between the

private sector and public sector.

In analyzing the in-person interviews, we found that service in VISTA sometimes influenced

participants’ employment choices. For one VISTA member interviewed, an initial VISTA placement

in a youth service agency for juvenile delinquents led to a successful, lifelong career in the nonprofit

sector.

I walked in there and I thought I was going to learn about hard core drugs [and] how I could

help these kids in the youth program. I sat down and did a personality analysis, and talked to

somebody, and really looked at my life...And I’m like, I’m messed up! And I really was,

because I had dropped out of college because of drugs, and I had only a few people in my life

who really [knew] how messed up I was. I’ve been with [this organization] ever since, and

I’ve gone from that to the executive director of the program, internationally responsible for

Exhibit 4.13

Current Job by Field of Employment (All Generations)

VISTA Member s Compar ison

Field (%) (%)

Teaching children/adults 21% 22%

Social/community work 13 12

Law 10 7

Business 14 16

Health-related 14 17

All others a 28 28

a Includes computer/technical/scientific, environmental,public

safety, agriculture, military, arts, trades, customerservice/retail,

food service, athletics/recreation, religious.
Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service 43

like 50 centers around the world. [This is] over a 30-year history of working with this

program, but that’s where that started. And that was because of VISTA.

Second Generation VISTA member

(1973-1980)

In addition to its focus on current labor market activity, we conducted an examination of employment

and career stability.The overwhelming majority of both VISTA members (94%) and comparison

group counterparts (92%) have engaged in full-time employment for some period oftime during the

post-VISTA time frame. In addition, both the VISTA members and their counterparts in the

comparison group exhibit high levels of employment stability. Since leaving the program,the VISTA

members have been employed on a full-time basis in an average of 2.9 jobs versus 3.2 jobs for the

comparison group.

While instances of job changes were

minimal over the post-VISTA period,

nearly two-thirds of both VISTA members

and those in the comparison group reported

switching at least once across the public,

private or nonprofit sectors of the economy

(64% and 61%, respectively). One-quarter

of respondents (24% of VISTA members

and 25% of the comparison group) made

only one switch in their major field of

employment.

This general pattern is shown from a different perspective in Exhibit 4.15, which compares the

employment field of respondents’ first post-VISTA job and their current full-time position. The data

reveal an interest in five major fields that account forthe majority of all full-time jobs held (teaching,

social/community work, law, business, and health). For both groups there appears to be some degree

of movement towards teaching over time. At the sametime, VISTA members’ interest in social and

community work dropped noticeably while the respondents in the comparison group sustained their

emphasis in this area. Other movements into and away from specific employment choices are

generally quite minor.

Exhibit 4.14

Sectoral Stability (All Generations)

Switched

Sector s

Never Switched Sectors

Public

Only

Pr ivate Nonprofit

Only Only

VISTA

Members

Comparison

Group

64%

61

13%

5

13%

19

10%

5

Exhibit 4.15

Career Permanence (All Generations)

Field of Employment VIST

Fir st Post-VISTA Job Curr ent Job

A Member s Compar ison VISTA Member s Compar ison

Teaching children/adults 16% 17% 21% 22%

Social/community work 23 13 13 12

Law 8 7 10 7

Business 9 13 14 16

Health-related 11 11 13 17

All othersa 33 40 28 28

a Includes computer/technical/scientific, environmental,public safety, agriculture, military, arts,trades, customer service/retail,

food service, athletics/recreation, religious.
44 Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service

Differences across Generations

In all three generations VISTA members

were more likely to be employed than their

counterparts in the comparison group. As

can be seen in Exhibit 4.16, a pattern of

strong labor force attachment and

employment is consistently observed

among VISTA members in both the first

and second generations. The third

generation presents a somewhat different

picture of labor force attachment with a

considerably lower proportion of

respondents currently employed. However,

VISTA members remained more likely to

be employed than their counterparts in the

comparison group.

Despitetheir generally younger age profile,

the third generation is disproportionately comprised of women, whose rates of labor force

participation have historically been lower than men. This dynamic is seen in the higher proportion of

respondents who report being “out of the labor force.” Most of the difference appears to be due to a

comparatively larger proportion of respondents who are“keeping house” (12% of the third generation

versus 3% and 4% of the first and second generations, respectively). Also, although high percentages

of those in the first and second generations reported engaging in full-time employment since leaving

VISTA (over 90%),those in the third generation, with the shortest post-VISTA follow-up period,

were less likely to report having held a full-time job for an extended period of time since leaving

VISTA (83%).

As can be seen in Exhibit 4.17, differences also were observed in the income profiles of respondents

across generations. In fact,the strength of the income profile decreases across generations, with only

29 percent of those who served in thethird generation reporting an income in excess of $60,000

compared to 64 percent and 59 percent of the first and second generations.This difference may reflect

the broad ages and work experiences across thethree generations.

The overall income advantage, noted earlier, that is experienced by VISTA members (relative to the

comparison group) is consistent within each generation. However, an edge in income profile is

particularly notable in the second generation where nearly two-thirds (63%) of VISTA members

report a current income over $60,000 (compared to 50% ofthe comparison group) and only 9 percent

report an income of less than $20,000 (compared to 20% of the comparison group). Similar

percentages of VISTA members (28%) and those in the comparison group (30%) reported incomes

between $20,000 and $60,000. It appears that the strong educational foundation characterizing the

second generation and the VISTA experience itself may generate an advantage in the labor market.

Exhibit 4.16

Currently Employed at Time of Survey

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Overall

First Generation (1965-1972)

Second Generation (1973-1980)

Third Generation (1981-1993)

Comparison group VISTA members
Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service 45

Exhibit 4.17

Current Income

Less than $20,000/year Over $60,000/year

100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Overall Sample

First Generation

(1965-1972)

Second Generation

(1973-1980)

Third Generation

(1981-1992)

Comparison group VISTA members

100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Overall Sample

First Generation

(1965-1972)

Second Generation

(1973-1980)

Third Generation

(1981-1992)

Comparison group VISTA members

In our examination of current field of employment, members of all three generations demonstrated a

strong and consistent interest in working in the teaching and health fields. Relative to the othertwo

generations, however, respondents from the third generation showed a stronger inclination for social

and community work. Conversely, the first and second generations showed more inclination towards

employment in law. This general pattern reflects the community connectedness of the third generation

recruits as well as the emphasis on higher education that characterized the second generation.

Transfer of Values

Several outcome measures assess whether the VISTA experience had an intergenerational effect on

members by helping to shape the values and service habits of their children. Compared to youth with

no family members who volunteer, youth from families where at least one parent volunteers are

almost twice as likely to volunteer themselves, and nearly three times more likely to volunteer on a

regular basis. Also, according to research by Independent Sector, those who began volunteering as

youth are twice as likely to volunteer as adults compared to those who did not volunteer when they

were younger18 Because respondents in this study served in VISTA up to 40 years ago, it is possible

to examine how VISTA members applied the values they gained from their participation in VISTA to

their parenting behavior and whether there were positive effects on the civic engagement of their

children.

To establish some context with which to interpret the results of these outcomes, it may be helpful to

understand the typical family structure of survey respondents. First, about three-quarters of all

respondents have children; virtually all respondents with children had a child five years or older at the

time of the survey; and nearly 90 percent had children older than 18 years. These percentages were

18 Corporation for National and Community Service. Building Active Citizens: The Role of Social Institutions

in Teen Volunteering. Brief 1 in the Youth Helping America series. Washington, DC. November 2005.

Independent Sector. Engaging Youth in Lifelong Service. Washington, DC. 2002.
46 Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service

similar among VISTA members and their counterparts in the comparison group as well as for

respondents who served in all three generations.

To assess the intergenerational transfer of values, we

asked respondents about family conversations about

and participation in service and respondents’ views on

children’s service and community involvement. Major

findings included that VISTA members were more

likely to report that their children accompany them on

volunteer activities and that their children regularly participate in volunteer activities than those in the

omparison group. Higher percentages of VISTA members also reported that their children

ccompanied them when voting.

he following provides the results of our analysis of the intergenerational transfer of values.

o identify and understand a generational link in the level of civic engagement among participants in

he VISTA program, questions were asked about the family and children’s service participation of

ISTA members and those in the comparison group. The service and volunteer backgrounds of both

ISTA members and their counterparts in the comparison group were quite similar. As first discussed

n Chapter 2, similar percentages of VISTA members and those in the comparison group reported

eing involved in volunteer activities as youth and participating in school activities in high school,

uch as student government, sports teams, and special interest clubs.

c

a

T

T

t

V

V

i

b

s

Outcome Measures for Transfer of Values:

 Family and children’s service participation

 Joint participation inv olunteer activities

 Views on children’s serv ice and community

inv olvement

In addition to their own volunteer activitie

as youth, respondents were asked about

their parents’ level of involvement in

various local organizations. There were

only minor differences in the level of

involvement of VISTA members’ parents

and the parents of respondents in the

comparison group. About one-third of

respondents said their parents were leaders

or coaches in Scouts or 4-H; more than hal

of respondents reported that their parents

belonged to a parents’ association; twothirds of respondents reported that their

parents belonged to a religious

organization; and about one-quarter

s

f

reported that their parents were active in politics. Again, the level of engagement of the parents of

VISTA members and those in the comparison group were similar even when examined by generation.

This finding indicates that both VISTA members and those in the comparison group received similar

levels of exposure to volunteering in their youth and through their parents.

Thus, upon application to the VISTA program, both VISTA members and those in the comparison

group had similar backgrounds in terms of their personal volunteer behavior and the level of

volunteer activity shown by their parents.

Exhibit 4.18

Parents’ Volunteer Activities (All Respondents)

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Scouts/4-H Parents'

association

Religious

organizations

First Generation (1965-1972)

Second Generation (1973-1980)

Third Generation (1981-1993)
Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service 47

A key pathway for transferring the values of civic engagement from parent to child is through joint

participation in volunteer activities. As a result, respondents were asked several questions about their

volunteering activities with their children. Despite respondents’ similar levels of civic engagement as

youth, some differences were found between VISTA members and their counterparts in the

comparison group in the degree to which they engage in volunteer activities with their own children.

Nearly 80 percent of all respondents with children reported that their children accompanied them on

volunteer activities when their children were school age. A higher percentage of VISTA members

(43%) reported that their children accompanied them on volunteer activities regularly (i.e., more than

once a year) than respondents in the comparison group (35%). Moreover, respondents in the

comparison group were much more likely than VISTA members to report that they have never had

their children accompany them on volunteer activities (24%). Close to two-thirds of respondents also

reported that their children accompanied them when voting.

Large majorities of both VISTA and comparison group respondents reported that their children

attended community-sponsored (88%) and school-sponsored (93%) events with them when their

children were school age. Moreover, eight out of ten respondents stated that their school-age children

attended community-sponsored and school-sponsored events alone.

Exhibit 4.19

Children of Respondents Accompany Them on Volunteer Activities (All Generations)

VISTA

Regularly

43%

Rarely

39%

Never

18%

Comparison

Rarely

41%

Never

24%

Regularly

35%

Respondents also were asked whether their children participated in volunteer events on their own

when they were school age. Overall VISTA members were more likely (51%) than their counterparts

in the comparison group (41%) to report that their children regularly participated in volunteer

activities. Likewise, those in the comparison group were more likely than VISTA members to report

that their children never participate in volunteer events alone (19% and 14%, respectively).

Another straightforward measure of the transfer of values from VISTA members to their children is

the degree to which their children choose to serve in a similar capacity. Therefore, respondents with

children over 18 were asked to report whether any of their children have volunteered for VISTA, the

Peace Corps, Teach for America, AmeriCorps, or the U.S. Armed Services. Some respondents

reported that their children participated in one or more of these programs (13%) with respondents

from thethird generation (28%) demonstrating the highest rate of participation in these programs. In
48 Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service

addition, higher percentages of VISTA members reported that their children participated in one or

more non-military programs, such as the Peace Corps (8% of VISTA members compared to 3% of the

comparison),Teach for America (4% of VISTA members compared to 1% of the comparison), and

AmeriCorps (17% of VISTA members compared to 13% of the comparison).

In addition to volunteer participation and behavior, respondents were also asked about thetype and

frequency of conversations about service that respondents have with their children. These questions

were designed to more accurately assess thetypes of interactions respondents have with their children

in regards to civic engagement. The results showed that close to nine out of ten respondents (with

children over five years old) discuss politics with their children at least occasionally (87%).

Respondents were also asked about their views on children’s service and community involvement.

Questions were asked to learn about the values respondents hopeto instill in their children. Overall,

morethan half of all respondents felt that it was very important for their children to be actively

involved in their community. Although similar percentages of VISTA members (57%) and their

counterparts in the comparison group (56%) report that their children’s involvement in their

community was very important, higher percentages of those in the comparison group (8%) felt that

their children’s community involvement was not important at all (compared to 4% of VISTA

members).

Respondents also were asked to select (from a list) the most important lesson for a child to learn to

prepare him or her for later life. Forthe most part, VISTA members and their counterparts in the

comparison group tended to agreethat the most important lesson for a child to learn to prepare for life

is “to think for him/herself” (63% of VISTA members compared to 66% of the comparison). In

addition, about one-fifth of respondents considered “to help others when they need it” as the most

important lesson a child should learn to prepare for life. Only small percentages of respondents

selected “to obey” or“to work hard” as the most important lessons to learn. Moreover, close to half of

all respondents ranked “to help others when they need it” as the second most important lesson for a

child to learn to prepare him/her for life (46% of VISTA members compared to 48% of the

comparison). No differences in response patterns were observed among VISTA members versus

respondents in the comparison group.

For one VISTA respondent interviewed for this study, a critical effect of the program turned out to be

related to how she raised her own children. She describes taking her children on volunteer projects

with her and the influence she thinks this experience had on them. Even though she tried to steer her

children away from helping careers, they followed her to a great extent into service aimed at helping

people:

My daughter has gone with me, you know to do community stuff, give something back. Those

kind of things are important and if I can look back and see wow. When my daughters went to

school I always encouraged them, “Don’t go into social service. Don’t be a social worker!”

My oldest one ... has her degree in ... psychology or something dealing with testing and job

satisfaction, that kind of stuff. My middle one got her degree in political science and criminal

justice. She didn’t even know thatmine was in political science and communications. And

then my youngest daughter has decided for today that she is going to go into education.

First Generation VISTA Member

(1965-1972)
Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service 49

Differences across Generations

The difference in the percentages of VISTA members and those in the comparison group who

reported that their children accompanied them on volunteer activities regularly was especially

prominent among those who served in thethird generation, where more than half of the VISTA

members (56%) reported that their children regularly accompanied them on volunteer activities

compared to only athird of the comparison group. Moreover, thethird generation VISTA members

were much less likely than those in the third generation comparison group to report that they have

never had their children accompany them on volunteer activities (16% of VISTA members in contrast

to 28% of the comparison).

Exhibit 4.20

Children of Third Generation Respondents Accompany Them on Volunteer Activities

VISTA

Regularly

56%

Rarely

28%

Never

16%

Comparison

Rarely

35%

Never

28%

Regularly

37%

Also, the difference observed between VISTA members and those in the comparison group in the

rates of volunteer participation by their children was most apparent in the third generation, where

twice the percentage of comparison respondents as VISTA members reported a lack of volunteer

participation by their children (16% and 32%, respectively).

There were some differences in the percentage of those reporting that their children accompanied

them when voting. Among first generation respondents, no difference was observed between VISTA

members and their counterparts in the comparison group (62% of VISTA members and 61% of the

comparison group); however, considerable differences were observed in the responses given by those

who served in the second and third generations. In the second generation close to half ofthe

respondents in the comparison group (45%) reported that their children never accompanied them to

vote compared to only a third of the VISTA members (33%). This difference narrowed somewhat in

the third generation, yet the distinction remained with a higher percentage of the comparison group

(53% versus 44% of VISTA members) reporting that their children never accompanied them when

voting.

As noted above, morethan half of all respondents felt that it was very important for their children to

be actively involved in their community. Again, this difference was especially prevalent among those

who served in the third generation, where more than twice the percentage of respondents in the
50 Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service

comparison group (10%) said that their children’s involvement in their community was not importan

(compared to 4% of VISTA members).

When respondents were asked to identify the most important lesson for a child to learn to prepare hi

or her for later life, “to think for him/herself” was the most popular response among all generations.

However, those from the first generation were most likely (70%) to cite this lesson as important for

their children and those from the third generation were least likely (56%)to cite it. Other responses

were equally popular across generations, including “to help others when they need it,” “to obey,” or

“to work hard.”

t

m

Exhibit 4.21

Most Important Lesson for a Child to Learn (All Respondents)

First Generation

(1965-1972)

To thin k

fo r self

70%

To help

others

21%

To obey

1%

To work

hard

8 %

Second Generation

(1973-1980)

To th ink

for self

64%

To help

others

2 2%

To obe y

2%

To wo rk

hard

12%

Third Generation

(1981-1993)

To think

for self

To he lp

othe rs

24%

To obey

7%

To work

hard

13%

56%

Subgroup Effects

The overall effects presented in the sections above were similar across VISTA member subgroups,

except where noted. In addition to the analysis conducted by generation and demographic subgroups,

as described throughout this chapter, a broader analysis was conducted to explore whether the effect

of VISTA service differs across other, more meaningful subgroups. This analysis looked at the

following subgroups:

 Motives for joining VISTA: Those joining for altruistic reasons versus for selfenrichment (i.e., employment and education benefits);

 Types of Placement: VISTA members who served locally or were placed in communities

far from home;

 Age at service: Those who served at a younger age (21 and younger) compared to those

who served over the age of 21;

Analysis was conducted on the major outcomes of interest, including civic engagement, education,

employment, and intergenerationaltransfer of values. The subgroup analysis yielded no major

differences.These results may indicate that the effects of VISTA participation are not concentrated in

particular subgroups, but are experienced by members of all types.
Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service 51

Chapter 5:

Conclusions

The central purpose of this study was to explore the life decisions and outcomes achieved by VISTA

participants by comparing their life experiences to those of a similar group of individuals to answer

the following research questions: (1) What are the effects of VISTA on its members? and (2) How

have the behaviors and attitudes of VISTA members changed over time? Outcomes of interest

included civic engagement, educational choices and opportunities, career and employment choices,

and the intergenerational transfer of values.

Summary and Conclusions by Outcome Area

Civic Engagement

In the examination of effects on civic engagement, we found several positive results on items, such as

voting behavior and community leadership. However, on other measures, including connection to

community, personal effectiveness of community service, and volunteer participation, little or no

difference was found between those who served in VISTA and those in the comparison group.

Chief among the findings on civic engagement were the effects of VISTA on the voting participation

of minority participants. African-American and Hispanic VISTA members were more likely to vote

in presidential elections, more likely to vote in state or local elections and more likely to vote in an

election more than 10 years after departing VISTA compared with the voting histories of AfricanAmericans and Hispanics in the comparison group.

Education

The majority of VISTA members and their counterparts in the comparison group came to VISTA

with strong educational credentials. This was particularly pronounced in the second generation where

nearly six out of ten had attained a Bachelor’s Degree at thetime of enrollment. Despite the strong

educational platform, the majority of the first and second generations have enrolled in at least one

degree-awarding program since VISTA. Overall,the pursuit of post-VISTA education was slightly

stronger among those in the comparison group, in part because they had an additional year of

available time while their counterparts were in VISTA.

While the overall pursuit of post-VISTA education was strong across the board, the varying dynamics

across thethree generations were also noteworthy. Respondents in the first generation reported the

highest level of degree-awarding educational pursuits, in part because they had the longest time

available. The active recruitment of more highly educated enrollees in the second generation appeared

to generate additional educational momentum, particularly among VISTA members. Specifically,

VISTA members were considerably more inclined to pursue a Master’s Degree than their

counterparts in the comparison group despite the fact that fewer had Bachelor’s Degrees when they

enrolled. This suggests that the VISTA experience itself in the second generation continued to

motivate members.
52 Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service

VISTA members from the first and second generations were also more successful in attaining the

degrees they pursued than their counterparts. This suggests that the perseverance that kept them in the

VISTA program initially may have subsequently influenced their post-program educational pursuits.

Employment

The overall pattern that appears to emerge is largely one of employment and career stability

characterized by extended employment duration and limited number of job changes. A solid majority

of all respondents were employed at the follow-up survey. Nonetheless, it appears that VISTA

members across all three generations were consistently more likely to be employed than their

counterparts in the comparison group. The strong levels of employment in the first and second

generations are particularly noteworthy since many have reached or are close to atraditional

retirement age. Despite their younger age profile, rates of employment are lower in the third

generation. This reflects this generation’s gender composition, which heavily favors women who are

less likely to participate in the labor force. Both VISTA members and their counterparts report low

incidence of unemployment.

Despitethe differential in current employment rates, both VISTA members and the comparison group

have exhibited consistent patterns of labor market and career choices. This is most in evidence in their

choice of full- or part-time work and sectoral preferences (public, private, nonprofit employment), as

well as their actual fields of employment, which emphasize the teaching profession. While their

general labor market and employment trends have been largely consistent, VISTA members have

generated a stronger current income profile than their counterparts in the comparison group.This is

particularly prevalent in the second generation where VISTA members appear to have an edge in

income relative to the comparison group. This may reflect a combination of their educational

foundation and motivation as well as the value of the VISTA experience itself.

All three generations exhibited rather stable patterns of employment. On average respondents

changed jobs fewer than three times. While there was considerable migration across major sectors of

the economy (when change did occur), respondents for the most part maintained their focus on a

constrained set of occupational choices that emphasized teaching, social and community work. and

health-related occupations.

Intergenerational Transfer of Values

Finally, the results demonstrate evidence for the intergenerational transfer of values from members to

their children. Because VISTA members and those in the comparison group reported similar levels of

involvement in volunteering activities as youth, and because the level of civic engagement of the

parents of both groups of respondents also appear to be similar, it is reasonable to conclude that the

VISTA members and their counterparts in the comparison group had similar levels of exposure to

volunteering previous to joining the VISTA program. Only small differences were observed between

generations, with VISTA members and the comparison group within each generation demonstrating

similar levels of early volunteer involvement and parental participation. Even though little difference

was found in the level of volunteering among the parents of respondents, VISTA members appear to

have made a greater effort to introduce and encourage their children to volunteer compared to those in

the comparison group. In addition, of those who reported that their children were serving in program

similar to VISTA, eitherthe Peace Corps or a domestic service program such as Teach For America
Improving Lives and Communities: Perspectives on 40 Years of VISTA Service 53

or AmeriCorps, a large majority of the respondents were VISTA members. VISTA members also

were less likely to report little or no interest in the community involvement of their children.

Respondents who served in the third generation were more likely to report that their children served

in one or more of these functions than those in the first and second generations.

Conclusions on Outcomes of VISTA

This study yields select positive findings on the outcomes of the VISTA program based on selfreports from former VISTA members who served over athree-decade span of the program’s

existence. In both the telephone survey and in-person interviews, VISTA members reported positive,

life-changing experiences while serving in VISTA, and many individuals were able to connect their

life choices to their VISTA service. Importantly, large majorities of VISTA members felt challenged

by their VISTA service, believed that they made a contribution, and felt like part of a community.

Moreover, three-quarters of VISTA members reported that their VISTA experience made them reexamine their beliefs and attitudes about themselves. When asked to describe the effect that VISTA

had on them, many respondents felt that VISTA either changed them in important ways or helped

reinforcetheir values and beliefs. Additional VISTA members said that their service experience

fundamentally transformed them. Importantly, a large majority of VISTA members said that they

would join the program again. Response patterns were similarly positive across the three generations

of VISTA members.

Interestingly, African-American and Hispanic respondents were much more likely than whites to

report that their VISTA experience has strongly influenced the amount or kind of volunteering they

have performed since leaving VISTA. In addition, women were also more likely than men to say that

their VISTA experience has strongly influenced the amount or kind of volunteering they have

performed since leaving VISTA.

Based on these findings and some encouraging results in each of the four major outcome areas, there

is select evidence that the VISTA program has long-term, life-changing effects on its members.

Furthermore, some findings were especially pronounced among certain minority groups and

respondents who served in the third generation,the most recent generation in the study and the group

experiencing the VISTA program design closest to the current program. However, we recognize the

need for a study of the current VISTA program in order to draw conclusions about the program’s

effects on recent VISTA members.
VISTA Timeline

The timeline below reflects events in the United States during the span of VISTA’s 40 year history. Along side these

events are snapshots of program policy at certain points in the VISTA Program.

VISTA Organization Program Features/Policies Social/Political Presidents

President Lyndon B.

Johnson

(1963-1969)

The VISTA Program

is formed in 1965

under the Office of

Economic Opportunity

VISTA provided funding through

grants to national and local

sponsoring agencies

Membership recruitment takes

place on a national scale with

extended residential training

lasting 5-6 weeks

1965 War on Poverty and Great Society

Programs

Escalation of Vietnam War

Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy

and Martin Luther King

Election of President

Richard M. Nixon

(1969-1974)

VISTA members’ placement

focuses on local and county

government as well as non-profit

agencies

1970

Resignation of President Nixon

Restrictions established on national grants and involvement

in voter registration and union

organizing

Transfer of VISTA to newly formed

ACTION agency emphasizing

volunteerism

Election of President

Gerald Ford

(1974-1977)

VISTA focuses on recruiting

volunteers with professional

backgrounds

Resumption of national grants

1975 End of Vietnam War

Election of President

Jimmy Carter

(1977-1981)

VISTA utilizes a balance of national and local member recruitment

and placement efforts

Energy “crisis” and return of

American hostages held in Iran

Significant funding cuts resulting

in reduced preservice training

VISTA utilizes membership

recruitment and placement

exclusively at the community level

1980 Introduction of IBM PC Election of President

Ronald Reagan

(1981-1989)

VISTA service emphasizes adult

education and literacy

Increase in VISTA volunteer training to 3 days plus some

“in-service” activities during

first month

1985 Iran-Contra Affair

NASA Challenger disaster

Economic “crash” of 1987

Fall of Berlin Wall

Election of President

George H. W. Bush

(1989-1993)

VISTA becomes part of

the new AmeriCorps

program and is

housed under a new

federal agency, the

Corporation for

National and

Community Service

1990 Election of President

William Clinton

(1993-2001)
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