Story Researcher Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Description
Position Title: Stewards VISTA: Appalshop - Story Collection & Outreach- AmeriCorps
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)
Please apply here AND at this link in order to be considered My AmeriCorps - Home Page
Purpose:
As an AmeriCorps 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 AmeriCorps 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 AmeriCorps VISTA member will build capacity and develop sustainable solutions to alleviate poverty in underserved communities.
Description of Duties:
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
Qualifications:
• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• Must be 18 years of age
• High School graduate or GED
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check
Physical Requirements:
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.
Time Requirements
• 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.
Orientation and Training:
• Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• Member will receive a Virtual Member Orientation (VMO) from VISTA on their first day of service.
Benefits:
• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award* of $7,395.00
o 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 AmeriCorps VISTA healthcare benefits, please visit http://www.vistacampus.gov/healthcare.
*For more information regarding the AmeriCorps VISTA Childcare benefit, please visit https://americorpschildcare.com/.
*For details about Non-Competitive Eligibility, please visit https://my.americorps.gov/trust/help/member_portal/non_competitive_eligibility_overview.htm.
Evaluation and Reporting:
As an AmeriCorps 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 performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.
Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets, accomplishment tracking, and quarterly reporting.
Supervisor Name and Contact Information:
For VISTA related information, contact Addie Gilkerson, agilkerson@conservationlegacy.org
For site related information, contact Chad Hunter, chad@appalshop.org
Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.