Philadelphia — More than 100 new AmeriCorps*VISTA members and their supervisors, representing numerous faith-based and small community-based organizations, will gather in Philadelphia Nov. 17 through 21 as the first step in their commitment to serving people facing life challenges in many of the nation's disadvantaged communities. Participating organizations include AMACHI, Big Brothers Big Sisters, U.S. Dream Academy, People to People, Mississippi Faith-Based Coalition for Community, East of the River Clergy Police & Community, and other agencies and organizations from around the country.

"Faith-based and community organizations are on the frontlines addressing our most difficult social problems," explained David Caprara, director of AmeriCorps*VISTA. "The AmeriCorps*VISTA program has been providing vital support to these groups for nearly four decades by recruiting volunteers to reach at-risk populations. This newest group of AmeriCorps*VISTA members will continue in that tradition." More than 20 percent of AmeriCorps*VISTA members serve with faith-based organizations.

Keynote speaker Rev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode, Sr., one of the founders of AMACHI, a program dedicated to mentoring children whose parents are imprisoned, credits AmeriCorps*VISTA with allowing AMACHI to grow. "AmeriCorps*VISTA members allow us to be more effective in Philadelphia where we started three years ago, and to get the program started in cities across the country so we can expand the volunteer base and the number of children served," he said. Mentoring children of incarcerated parents is a domestic policy goal of the Bush administration because these children are at high risk of dropping out of school, committing crimes, and ending up in jail themselves.

AmeriCorps engages Americans in innovative, intensive service to meet community needs in education, the environment, public safety, homeland security, and other areas. Members serve with national non-profit organizations, as well as with hundreds of smaller community organizations, both secular and faith-based. AmeriCorps is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, and is part of USA Freedom Corps, a White House initiative to foster a culture of citizenship, service, and responsibility, and help all Americans answer the President's Call to Service.

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