Behind Elon's "It Takes A Village Project" are two AmeriCorps VISTAs and recent Elon graduates who work to maintain the success of the program.
AmeriCorps VISTAs (Volunteers in Service to America) Sydney Gilbert ’24 and Keely Platts ’25 help power the “It Takes a Village” Project, a program dedicated to supporting students and families at Title I Alamance-Burlington Elementary Schools. From data-driven impact to creative storytelling, their work showcases the teamwork, dedication, and community that keeps the Village thriving.
The “It Takes a Village” Project was built on the foundation of increasing literacy in underrepresented backgrounds, starting by providing free afterschool tutoring for Title I Alamance-Burlington schools. Since its initial launch in 2008, the Village has expanded beyond its initial vision, serving more than 1,000 students each year with a variety of programming offered. Extending its impact beyond the classroom, parent workshops and weekly ESL classes are also available to support the families of Village students.
However, it takes a village to run programming at “It Takes a Village” Project.
In collaboration with North Carolina Campus Engagement (NCCE), AmeriCorps VISTAs serve full-time for one year to help educational and nonprofit programs strengthen their capacity for long-term sustainability. Behind the Village Project there are two AmeriCorps VISTAs who work to maintain the success of the program. Sydney Gilbert and Keely Platts are both recent graduates of Elon University and the AmeriCorps VISTAs at the Village Project site.
Gilbert, a 2024 Elon graduate with a degree in public health studies, is now in her second year as a VISTA with the Village Project. Her work focuses on program evaluation and data collection, both areas essential to the Village’s ongoing success. Over the past year, Gilbert has helped secure five grants totaling $25,000, expanded partnerships with community organizations, and implemented new systems to track student and volunteer outcomes.
“Being a VISTA has given me the opportunity to grow in my professional skills, evaluate my career interests, and connect with my community and other like-minded service members, all while contributing to a cause I am deeply passionate about.” said Gilbert. “It solidified my interest in public health and program evaluation.”
Platts joined the Village in 2025 and has worked to apply Gilbert’s data into storytelling. As a 2025 Elon graduate with a degree in journalism and cinema and television arts, Platts has focused her work on marketing and volunteer recruitment efforts. Since beginning her term, Platts has brought in more than 140 volunteers, including Elon students and local high schoolers, and launched a new social media strategy to showcase the program’s impact.
For Laura Clemmons, “It Takes a Village” project’s program lead, the VISTAs have served as a vital piece to daily operations.
“Sydney and Keely have been truly invaluable to the Village Project,” said Clemmons. “Sydney’s data-driven approach has helped us better understand and share our impact, secure important funding and strengthen partnerships across the community. Keely’s creativity and communication skills have brought our story to life, inspiring new volunteers and highlighting the heart of our mission. Together, they’ve not only supported the day-to-day operations of the Village, but helped us grow and reach more students and families than ever before. Their dedication, professionalism, and genuine passion for service make them an essential part of what makes the Village thrive.”
This past September, both VISTAs were able to showcase their work to their cohort at the NCCE AmeriCorps VISTA Retreat. This event provided a chance for the Village Project VISTAs to lead a workshop on Data and Storytelling, conveying the importance of turning numbers into narratives to their peers. Within her first year of service, Sydney has participated in a variety of similar gatherings, such as NCCE’s annual PACE conference, to share her skills and help other organizations support funding, advocacy, and community engagement. These opportunities allow the VISTAs to expand their network and further develop presentation skills with professional audiences.
The dedication to “It Takes a Village” Project continues as the VISTAs approach the halfway point of their fall programming. Whether it is working onsite at partner schools, or in their office planning future endeavors, the efforts of AmeriCorps VISTAs make it possible for “It Takes a Village” Project to run as efficiently as possible. With hundreds of people involved in programming, the VISTAs are a consistent source of support behind the scenes so that volunteers and teachers can focus their efforts into successfully tutoring students.
