The Ohio History Connection is now accepting applications for AmeriCorps Members to serve in the Ohio History Service Corps in 2022-2023!
Established in 2010, Ohio History Service Corps (OHSC) members provide service to Ohioans and their local history communities through collections management projects, strategic planning, community engagement, historic site survey, programming, and other capacity-building initiatives. Members provide coaching, assistance, and help organizations become more effective and sustainable. With the assistance of Ohio History Service Corps members, organizations increase their knowledge of the public history and cultural heritage field standards and best practices by creating new programs, policies, and procedures that meet those standards. Members also assist communities take the first step in historic preservation through their completion of historic structure surveys. Since the start of the program, members have engaged more than 6,359 volunteers who contributed more than 56,912 volunteer hours. Members have also leveraged more than $291,317 of cash resources and upwards of $1.5 million of in-kind support for their projects. The Ohio History Service Corps is a hallmark program of the Ohio History Connection, the statewide history organization, and is one of only two history-related AmeriCorps programs in the country!
The Ohio History Service Corps program has two components. Click the links below for the full individual position descriptions or visit https://my.americorps.gov and search for “Ohio History Service Corps”:
Locations: The 2024-2025 program year begins in September with members serving in and around: Athens, Bowling Green, Canton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Lorain, Wilberforce, and Youngstown. The host sites are: Community Surveyors: City of Cincinnati and Cleveland Landmarks Commisson; Local History Members: Bowling Green State University (Bowling Green), Lorain Historical Society (Lorain), National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center (Wilberforce), The National First Ladies Library & Museum (Canton), Rickenbacker Woods Foundation and Learning Center (Columbus), Southeast Ohio History Center (Athens), University of Cincinnati (Cincinnati), and Youngstown State University (Youngstown).
Duration & Benefits: Members will serve one year in full time (35-40 hr/wk) capacity from September 16, 2024 to August 31, 2025. Throughout their term, AmeriCorps members will receive:
- Living allowance of $20,500*
- Health insurance
- Childcare assistance, if eligible
- Professional development
- Travel reimbursements
- Eligible for Eli Segal Education Award of $7,395 upon successful completion of 1700 hours of service
Members receive professional development opportunities through attendance at statewide conferences, in addition to training on topics including volunteer management, meeting facilitation, non-profit governance and administration, collections management and digitization, community engagement, cultural competency and humility, historic preservation, and heritage tourism/community-based partnership development.
Travel: Statewide and local travel is required. Members will travel to Columbus 5-6 times per year for training, as well as traveling to outreach or survey sites as often as several times per week. Members must be able to provide their own transportation. A valid driver’s license and reliable vehicle are highly recommended. All non-commute mileage will be reimbursed.
Qualifications: Members preferably have a college degree or similar level of experience and a passion for history, public history, museum studies, anthropology, other humanities, library sciences, historic preservation/architectural history, education, or related fields. Some event planning, community development, heritage tourism, and/or museums experience a plus but not required.
This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information and military service.
To Apply: Applications must be submitted through MyAmeriCorps (https://my.americorps.gov). Applicants will be required to set up a profile on the website. All fields are required. Paper or email applications will not be accepted. Applications are due by August 15, 2024 or until all positions are filled.
When completing the “Motivation” section, applicants should refine their entered response to describe their motivation for service, and why they wish to serve specifically in the OHSC. Applicants should take the same care in crafting their submission as they would a job application including structure for Experience = resume, Motivation = cover letter.
For more information: Visit the Ohio History Connection website www.ohiohistory.org/americorps to find out more. For questions, please contact us at americorps@ohiohistory.org
