Historic Richland Cemetery Project

ABOUT THE PROJECT Imagine helping bring a place filled with 140+ years of African American history back into community life. Historic Richland Cemetery, established in 1884 in Greenville, SC, is the final resting place of 2,800+ people—but incomplete records and records lost to fire have made many of their stories difficult to find and share. Leatherwood MATTERS is building something new at Richland, and you can help build the community around it.

MEMBER DUTIESAs the Partnerships & Volunteer Systems VISTA, you will help turn Richland into a hub for community participation. Build partnerships with churches, veterans groups, families, businesses, nonprofits, universities, and community organizations. Help develop Friends of Richland into a sustainable volunteer and stewardship system. Create ways to recruit, train, engage, recognize, and retain volunteers. Take Richland's story into the community through presentations, talks, digital outreach, training, and events.

Most importantly, build the processes, tools, partnerships, and training that allow this work to grow and continue after your service year.

SERVICE ENVIRONMENT This isn't a desk-only VISTA position. Serve at the cemetery and in the community; meet with partners; participate in volunteer activities, presentations, trainings, and events; work at the host site; and use approved teleservice.

SKILLS DESIRED Community engagement; partnership development; volunteer management; communications; public speaking; training; database/CRM tools; project management.

EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE Associate degree + 2 years of work experience.

NATIONAL IMPACT Help prove the model  systems developed here will be documented so other communities can adapt them to engage people, strengthen stewardship, and preserve African American cemeteries.

As the Partnerships & Volunteer Systems VISTA, you will build the community network that helps bring Richland Cemetery back into community life. You will develop relationships with churches, veterans groups, families, businesses, nonprofits, universities, and community organizations, then turn those relationships into partnerships, resources, training, and participation. You will help build Friends of Richland into a sustainable volunteer and stewardship system and create ways to recruit, train, engage, and recognize volunteers.

You will share Richland's story through presentations, community talks, digital outreach, and events. You will document the systems and processes so the work can grow beyond your service year. Service includes cemetery and community activities, partner meetings, host-site work, and approved teleservice.

• Childcare assistance if eligible
• Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend
• Education award upon successful completion of service
• Health Coverage*
• Living Allowance
• Relocation Allowance
• Training

• Car recommended
• Permits attendance at school during off hours
• Permits working at another job during off hours

• Community Outreach
• Entrepreneur/Business
• Technology
• Veterans

• Business/Entrepreneur
• Community Organization
• Computers/Technology
• Leadership
• Public Speaking
• Writing/Editing
• Veterans