Stewards VISTA: Appalshop – Roadside Theater Cultural Network

position Title: Stewards VISTA: Appalshop – Roadside Theater Cultural Network

jobshiringnearme.org 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)

Purpose:

Appalshop’s AmeriCorps Program advances community development in Whitesburg, Kentucky, and throughout Central Appalachia by using arts, storytelling, and performance to strengthen community connections, preserve regional culture, and support civic participation. Serving local residents, artists, and community organizations, the program works through initiatives like Roadside Theater to create spaces for dialogue, shared cultural expression, and collaboration. Guided by principles of cultural preservation, community engagement, relationship-building, and sustainability, the program fosters long-term connections between people, organizations, and creative resources.

In this AmeriCorps Position, the member will document and map community assets, partnerships, and engagement opportunities while developing systems to track relationships, organize materials, and support outreach efforts. The member will create tools such as databases, outreach calendars, and communication resources that strengthen staff capacity for partnership development and public engagement. This role enhances organizational infrastructure and directly supports the mission of this AmeriCorps Program by improving availability to information, expanding community connections, and supporting the long-term impact of Roadside Theater.

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

description of Duties:

Member duties include:

• Research historical and community assets
• Create a database for staff to track relationships with local artists and organizations
• Research potential new partners
• Develop a plan for staff to organize materials from Roadside’s prior digital archive and website to make them more accessible
• 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
• College graduate
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check

Physical Requirements:

jobshiringnearme.org 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 

jobshiringnearme.org 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.