Jen Dejmal Schmidt, an AmeriCorps volunteer, right, visits with Lori Johns, director of volunteer engagement for the United Way of Douglas County, at the United Way offices in Lawrence.

Cultivating a love of reading among elementary school children is no small task. Neither is providing the students of Douglas County with the educational resources to achieve. But this year, United Way of Douglas County has taken significant steps towards these goals with the addition of Jen Dejmal Schmidt, an AmeriCorps VISTA.

Volunteers in Service to America, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, is a national poverty fighting initiative. The program enlists the skills, dedication and knowledge of volunteers around the country to fortify organizations with a vision for combating the underlying causes of poverty. In making a one-year commitment, VISTAs often provide the manpower to fulfill understaffed projects in nonprofits.

“When you take on a role as a VISTA, you’re literally saying, ‘I’m willing to do these tasks that all these people who have been working here want to accomplish, but haven’t had the time or the resources to get it off the ground,'” Dejmal Schmidt said.

Because the United Way views education as the bridge to a better life for poverty-stricken citizens, Dejmal Schmidt focuses primarily on the education community goal for Douglas County. Her recent work has centered on amplifying volunteer engagement through the development of a guest readership program.

Coordinated in conjunction with Child Care Aware of Eastern Kansas, a nonprofit that works to improve the quality of early education experiences for children, the program aspires to bolster literacy among young students while facilitating volunteer opportunities for busy professionals.

“Sometimes the biggest challenge is finding a way to get the message across that even though it’s scary to make that commitment, it’s completely worth it,” Dejmal Schmidt said.

Jen Dejmal Schmidt, an AmeriCorps volunteer, right, visits with Lori Johns, director of volunteer engagement for the United Way of Douglas County, at the United Way offices in Lawrence.

Beyond the evolving guest readership initiative, Dejmal Schmidt also completes mini-projects, which range from writing program descriptions to creating service event guides for independent organizations. Now in her second term as a VISTA, Dejmal Schmidt frequently leverages her degree in public relations from Colorado State University to plan community events, communicate with local media outlets and brainstorm new promotional tactics for United Way’s commitment to education.

“The idea is that I will put processes in place that will allow (United Way of Douglas County) to continue progressing when I am gone,” Dejmal Schmidt said.

Those processes, such as the volunteer reader program, may be diverse, but each strives toward the common goal of ensuring that every elementary school student in Douglas County has the scholastic tools and support system to succeed. This overarching concept encompasses two of United Way’s main education strategies: fostering social development and general knowledge in kindergarteners so they enter school ready to succeed, and giving elementary students the added supports they need to be proficient in math and reading by fifth grade.

These ambitious goals are not without their challenges, but Dejmal Schmidt, in her role as an AmeriCorps VISTA, relishes the opportunity to enact long-term change in Douglas County.

“It can be a big responsibility, but it’s definitely worth it,” Dejmal Schmidt said. “Being able to make a difference is the greatest legacy you can leave your community.”