The Saint Paul VISTA Program is a core strategy of the City of Saint Paul to empower community organizations and schools to create sustainable programs that use education as a tool to bring people in Saint Paul out of poverty. Mayor Coleman believes that: “All children must receive high-quality education from birth through college. It’s that simple. That means high-quality learning for all children — early learning that prepares kids for kindergarten, after-school and summer learning programs that keep them engaged, and excellent college readiness programs.”

AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) is a member of the AmeriCorps family of national service programs, administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service. VISTA members are charged with erasing poverty by building capacity within their host organizations. Saint Paul VISTA members work specifically to close the education opportunity gap and support the education goals of the City of Saint Paul.