Stewards VISTA: Appalshop - Story Collection & Outreach- AmeriCorps

Overview

Position Title: Stewards VISTA:
Appalshop - Story Collection & Outreach
- Ameri Corps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements, East

Site

Location:

Appalshop

City, State or Full Address: 9404 HWY 805, STE B (Upstairs), Jenkins, KY 41537

Terms Of Service

Start Date: September 8, 2026

End Date: September 7, 2027

Must serve a 365-day (1 year) service term

Living Allowance: $68.39/day ($24,962.35/year)

As an Ameri Corps Program, Appalshop works to document, preserve, and amplify the voices, histories, and cultural expressions of Appalachian communities while fostering ethical, community-centered storytelling practices and long-term regional partnerships. The program serves unique Appalachian residents—including elders, youth, cultural practitioners, and community organizations—by promoting representation, mutual respect, and collaboration, guided by values of cultural preservation, community empowerment, authenticity, and shared stewardship of local narratives.

As an Ameri Corps Position, the member will build organizational infrastructure for story-gathering, oral history, and community outreach by researching existing practices, developing tools and guidelines, and identifying gaps in current systems. The member will also create planning resources for storytelling activities and support partnership development through research on potential collaborators. This role strengthens Appalshop’s internal capacity and supports sustainable, community-driven storytelling efforts across the organization.

The Ameri Corps VISTA member will build capacity and develop sustainable solutions to alleviate poverty in underserved communities.

Member duties include:

• Research Appalshop's past oral history and story-gathering practices
• Identify existing best practices and gaps
• Map potential host organizations and partnerships
• Create templates for future story-collection projects
• Develop a tool-kit for staff on how to conduct and coordinate oral histories and story-telling with partners
• Research potential new partners
• Research past and potential funding sources that Appalshop can pursue
• Research new community and national partnerships that strengthen the program with new opportunities

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• Must be 18 years of age
• College graduate
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.

Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

• Typically, this position is expected to serve full-time (35-40 hours), but exact schedules may vary.
• Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

• Member will receive an orientation that includes training on Ameri Corps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• Member will receive a Virtual Member Orientation (VMO) from VISTA on their first day of service.

• Segal Ameri Corps Education Award
  * of $7,395.00
• or choice of cash stipend of ~$1,800.00
• Living Allowance of $68.39 per day, disbursed every 2 weeks
• Cellphone stipend
• Relocation Allowance ($750) if Eligible
• Healthcare Coverage
  * if Eligible
• Childcare Coverage
  * if Eligible
• Loan forbearance if Eligible
• Interest Payments if Eligible
• Training and Professional Development Opportunities
• Employee Wellness Program (access to a licensed, professional counselor and 24/7 support)
• Non-Competitive Eligibility* (NCE) status upon successful completion of the term
• Networking and Mentorship
• For more information regarding the Segal Education Award, check out this link as well as alternative uses for the award here.
• For details about Ameri Corps VISTA healthcare benefits, please visit http://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..
• For more information regarding the Ameri Corps VISTA Childcare benefit, please visit
• For details about Non-Competitive Eligibility, please visit .

As an Ameri Corps VISTA member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed their required year of service; the member has satisfactorily completed assignments; and if the member has met other…