Black History Interpreters

Conservation Legacy Program: Southeast Conservation Corps  

Site Location: Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

Address: 91 Bartlett Park Road, Middlesboro, KY  40965

Position Available: 2 

Housing: Available (must pay rent out of monthly stipend)

Terms of Service: 48 Weeks (45 Weeks of Service, 16 PTO days)

Start Date: 05/12/25 

End Date: 04/03/26 

AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1700 hr 

Purpose: 

Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC) is a non-profit, AmeriCorps-affiliated organization. This individual placement is in partnership with the National Park Service and is an AmeriCorps Position.  SECC empowers young adults to cultivate compassion, responsibility, and grit through community service, and environmental stewardship. SECC selects young adults, ages 18-30, to complete conservation projects on public lands throughout the Southeast. SECC programs encourage environmental stewardship, foster community partnerships, and emphasize experiential learning. SECC serves a diverse population that is representative of the Southeast, including youth, graduates, veterans, and a cross-section of ethnicities and income levels. 

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park preserves the historic Cumberland Gap, a key point for crossing the Appalachians that became known as the First Gateway to the West. Located where Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia meet, the park’s 24,000 acres includes over 80 miles of hiking trails, front and backcountry camping, a historic Appalachian settlement, cave and rock formations, and 14,000 acres of managed wilderness.

The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The National Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.

Position Overview:

The individual placements will play a leading role in incorporating information from a new Black History Study and other sources into park brochures, wayside exhibits, digital media, and other programs. Their service will benefit the community and the organization by enriching the visitor experience; helping preserve and present a more complete, balanced, and accurate site history; and enhancing programs to better connect with and engage audiences across a spectrum of generations, backgrounds, and perspectives. The individual placements will collaborate with African American community partners to identify priorities and co-create ways to interpret and share the park’s African American history from that community’s perspective.

The individual placements will help develop new programs, exhibits, digital content, or other products; boost park relevance to and engagement with new, diverse, and younger audiences; and support park efforts to ensure all visitors feel welcome. Their service will help uncover and shine a light on new and lesser-known stories of people and places associated with the site; bring greater dimension and depth to the stories already told by the park; and significantly contribute to the park’s mission to tell the whole story of Cumberland Gap.

Description of Duties: 

Research primary and secondary sources; compile Black history information.

• Research, document, compile, and organize information related to Black History of Cumberland Gap from primary and secondary sources.

Collaborate with staff, Black in Appalachia, and other partners to identify priority information.

• Meet with Black in Appalachia and other partners to share information and invite input on priority histories and information to incorporate into park programming.
• Report and discuss research and partner input with park team members.

Review and assess existing products in the visitor center, along trails, in other areas, and on the website. Identify information gaps, errors, biased language, and changes needed. Develop and present recommendations for corrections or modifications.

• Examine and evaluate Black History information and content for existing products at the visitor center and on the website.
• Locate, examine, and evaluate Black History information and content for existing waysides and other products along trails, at historic sites, and in other areas of the park.
• For each product, record the location/link, title/description, product type, changes/corrections needed, and priority of need. Take photos.
• Consult with others to develop recommendations for any changes needed to existing products and present recommendations to park team members.

Potential environmental/human risk involved with the above service: Hiking several miles in remote and mountainous terrain, serving outdoors in hot, humid, cold, rain, snow, or other conditions, potential exposure to ticks, mosquitoes, black bears, snakes, and other wildlife, and operating government vehicles

Collaborate with others to identify locations and develop ideas for new products. Service with GIS staff to create spreadsheets and maps of existing and potential new products. Develop and submit proposals for one or more new products.

• Explore and identify locations where a new wayside or other interpretive product should be placed.
• Serve with GIS and other staff to create spreadsheets and maps of existing products that need changes or corrections and sites for potential new products.
• Identify and prioritize potential locations for new products and develop ideas for one or more new products.

Potential environmental/human risk involved with the above service: Hiking several miles in remote and mountainous terrain, serving outdoors in hot, humid, cold, rain, snow, or other conditions, potential exposure to ticks, mosquitoes, black bears, snakes, and other wildlife, and operating government vehicles

Write and submit a report and recommendations to park leadership and partners. Serve with others to create, promote, and present at least one new, approved product.

• Write a report that lists existing products that need corrections and describes potential new products.
• Create a PowerPoint presentation summarizing this information and present it to park leadership and project partners.
• Serve with others to develop and create at least one new, approved product.
• Create digital and/or other interpretive content to promote the new product.
• Serve with others to develop and present a public program using the new product.

Assist with educational programs, interpretive programs, and special events including but not limited to activities for Juneteenth and Black History Month.

• Create weekly social media posts.
• Assist with Junior Ranger and other education programs as assigned.
• Assist with Furnace Fridays and other interpretive programs as assigned.
• Assist with Juneteenth, Black History Month, A250, and other special events as assigned.

Assist at the visitor center, do roving interpretation, and other interpretive duties as assigned.

• Greet and welcome visitors, providing information and answering questions.
• Staff the visitor center and help ensure exhibits, films, and other operations run smoothly.
• Rove trails, campground, and other areas to provide visitor information and assistance.

Potential environmental/human risk involved with the above service: Hiking several miles in remote and mountainous terrain, serving outdoors in hot, humid, cold, rain, snow, or other conditions, potential exposure to ticks, mosquitoes, black bears, snakes, and other wildlife, and operating government vehicles

Qualifications: 

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• At least 18 years of age
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of elementary or secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant, and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check
• Valid Driver’s License

 Preferred Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in African American studies, history, archaeology, anthropology, or a related field; individual placement may be a junior or senior in college as well.
• Strong applicants will have experience in one or more of the following: African American history and culture, Civil Rights history, southern history and culture, public history, museums and archives, or archaeology. Successful applicants will also have experience serving with museum collections, the ability to produce engaging and creative written content, and a passion for public-facing historical research.

Transportation: 

A personal vehicle is required due to the limited public transportation and rural character of this location. NPS vehicles will be provided for transportation only for park capacity. The Individual Placement will be a driver. 

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 8 am until 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, 40 hours per week – but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service. 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.
• Training in use of GPS, park radio and digital camera
• Consultation with park and regional resources
• Microsoft Excel and GIS mapping
• Interpretive product design and development
• Graphic design, web design/CMS, and/or interpretive techniques
• Public speaking, event planning and outdoor education
• Customer service, public history and defensive driving
• Park staff will also provide individual training on division vehicles

Benefits: 

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award: $7,395.00
• Living Allowance: $650 per week.
• Additional Benefit: $200 for boot stipend.
• Possible student loan forbearance.
• Member Assistance Program – 3 free sessions of support with a counseling or service-life balance specialist.
• Uniform shirts
• Professional development opportunities (mentorship, resume support, etc.) and exposure to natural resource career paths.

Evaluation and Reporting: 

As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, 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
• Monthly Accomplishment Report
• Narrative Monthly Report.
• Bi-Monthly Check-Ins
• Midterm and Final Evals
• Exiting Task

Substance Free: 

In accordance with a drug-free environment, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.  

If you have questions about the position, please contact: 

Jody Mays

Supervisory Park Ranger

Cumberland Gap National Historic Park

jody_mays@nps.gov  

If you have questions about the application process, please contact: 

Ray Wilson 

Individual Placement Coordinator 

Southeast Conservation Corps 

rwilson@conservationlegacy.org 

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply. 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. Where a significant portion of the population