Stewards Vista: Appalshop – Story Collection & Outreach Y1

Appalshop is seeking an AmeriCorps VISTA member in Whitesburg, KY, to enhance their story-gathering and outreach efforts. Responsibilities include researching past practices, creating documentation, and developing tools for future storytelling projects. The role aims to strengthen community engagement and partnerships. Benefits include training, health coverage, and an education award upon completion.
Position Overview


Appalshop is a nationally recognized nonprofit arts and media organization based in Whitesburg, Kentucky, dedicated to documenting, preserving, and amplifying Appalachian voices through film, radio, theater, music, archives, and community engagement. Since 1969, Appalshop has partnered with Appalachian communities to tell stories that reflect local experiences, history, culture, and resilience.


The AmeriCorps VISTA member will build organization-wide infrastructure for story-gathering, oral history, and community outreach efforts. The member may research past and current story-collection practices, develop documentation and planning resources, identify gaps in existing procedures, and develop templates, tools, and guidelines for staff that support future storytelling projects.


Member Duties



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

Program Benefits


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


*For details about AmeriCorps VISTA healthcare benefits, please visit https://americorpsvista.imglobal.com/.