520 N. Main Street, Meadville, PA 16335, US

814-332-4703

814-332-4703

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    • Home
    • About Us
    • Apply
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  • About Us
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  • What is VISTA?
  • Service Benefits
  • Info for Host Sites

Lake Effect Leaders

Lake Effect Leaders Lake Effect Leaders Lake Effect Leaders

AmeriCorps VISTA Project in Erie, PA

AmeriCorps VISTA Project in Erie, PAAmeriCorps VISTA Project in Erie, PA

About Us

Children And Youth VISTA Project

Project Beginning

In 2003, the Lake Effect Leaders project began as The Children & Youth AmeriCorps VISTA Project of Northwestern Pennsylvania. As a collaborative effort of Allegheny College, Edinboro University, Gannon University and Mercyhurst college, the project was built to serve nonprofit agencies addressing the needs of under-served children and youth living in Erie and Crawford counties. Three years later, the project transformed into The Lake Effect Leaders AmeriCorps VISTA project in 2006.

Project Now

Today, the Lake Effect Leaders is a multi-county intermediary AmeriCorps VISTA Program Grant that serves as a pipeline for nonprofit leadership development. Led by a partnership consisting of Allegheny College, Gannon University, Mercyhurst University and Penn State Behrend, the program professionally equips VISTA members to serve critical capacity-building functions in nonprofit organizations in order to eliminate poverty. 20 VISTA members and 1 VISTA Leader are currently serving with the project. 

Project Future

Lake Effect Leaders is building the next generation of community leaders by harnessing the skills and passions of service members, as well as training and mentoring in best practices of capacity building and sustainability.  

Meet the VISTAs

Pearl Patterson

Site: Erie’s Food Policy Advisory Council (FPAC)

    Lake Effect Leadership

    Eva Thomas

    Colin Hurley

    Colin Hurley

    Lake Effect Leaders AmeriCorps VISTA

    Project Director

    Coordinating Commitee

    Colin Hurley

    Colin Hurley

    Colin Hurley

    Associate Dean and Director of Community Engagement at Allegheny College

    Coordinating Committee Member

    Chris Fox

    Colin Hurley

    Chris Fox

    Assistant Director of Civic Engagement and the Smith Chapel at Penn State Behrend

    Coordinating Committee Member

    Kate Scanlon

    Erika Ramalho

    Erika Ramalho

    Portfolio Manager

    AmeriCorps Mid-Atlantic Region 

    Office: Philadelphia

    Erika Ramalho

    Erika Ramalho

    Erika Ramalho

    Director of Community and Government Relations at Gannon University

    Coordinating Committee Member

    Claire Ciezki

    Erika Ramalho

    Claire Ciezki

    VISTA Leader


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