Sites of Civil Rights and Research Lead - Program Intern

Position: Sites of Civil Rights and Resistance Research Lead - Program Intern

Location: Virtual/Remote

Position Description:

The U.S. Forest Service goal is to promote and maintain a diverse and inclusive workforce that thrives in an environment accessible to all. The USFS Enterprise Program provides an opportunity for interested students from all diverse backgrounds, including women, minorities, and other underrepresented populations to gain valuable experience leading to a career in the National Forests. We work remotely so the Enterprise Program allows you to stay and live in your local community, while being able to travel and explore the country and its majestic National Forests. Sites of Civil Rights and Resistance (SCRR) is an award-winning recreation and heritage based civil rights program within the Enterprise Program of the US Forest Service. In its pilot phase, SCRR has focused on underrepresented historical and archaeological sites and narratives of American history existing on public lands. These sites and narratives include resistance in 18th and 19th century African American settlements and communities, 20th century black churches and resort communities, the Underground Railroad, and much more. SCRR works with Forest Service units in the Southern (R8) and Eastern (R9) regions (or the eastern United States) to:

Develop increased and diversified recreation opportunities, based on historically significant sites/histories

Identify, research, interpret, preserve sites and histories. Share stories internally and externally

Positively impact Forest Service Agency culture

Use existing & new platforms to share/interpret sites and histories.

SCRR intern(s) would serve on the SCRR team and support core staff on researching and developing project proposals for several sites in R09.

Duties:

Work with teammates to develop proposals for sites and projects

Research historical documents and develop narratives of underrepresented communities and sites

Work with teammates to developing National Register nominations or Heritage Management Plans

Collect oral histories from descendants and local residents

Survey and document historic sites

Provide administrative support for event planning or community consultation meetings

Support community consultation meetings

Work collaboratively with program staff on objectives and goals

We are fully committed to providing unparalleled training/mentoring opportunities to interns. We have multiple projects nationwide this summer which would provide exposure to many landscapes, in addition to excellent networking opportunities. The skills and knowledge learned from this opportunity include but are not limited to developing equity-driven and community-based projects, research, professionalism, leadership, independence, and networking. Interns will also learn how to work as a team, how to communicate project results to others, and how to develop a career in public lands management.

Qualifications:

Applicants should have research and writing skills and background or interest in African American history or Africana Studies; experience or interest with primary and secondary resource research and collecting oral histories, standards for historic research and documentation.

Familiarity with community-centered decision-making and the design/planning workshop process; or interest in learning those skills. Experience or interest in site documentation via photo, audio, video, written; archeological field survey; ability to work in a fast-paced environment with multiple partners; ability to self-supervise and direct; and high degree of comfort working with diverse communities are all pluses. Students should possess an interest in history, social justice, environmental justice, and community centered work.

Graduate level M.A. or M.S. preferred, but B.A./B.S. candidates will be considered. Students should have an interest or a background in: Agriculture, Cultural Resource Management, Anthropology, Africana or African American Studies, Communications, Environmental Justice, History, Landscape Architecture, Historic Preservation, Management, Political Science, Public Administration, Recreation Planning, Social Justice, Social Sciences, or Interpretive Planning.

Benefits:

$650/week salary

$1,000/month Housing Stipend

Up to $2,750 available for Forest Service work travel, orientation, trainings, professional development opportunities that align with RA role and goals

Direct Hire Authority Eligibility - after completing minimum of 960 hours, DHA status provides special non-competitive hiring status when applying for Forest Service positions

Option for health insurance coverage during full-term

Questions? Email Adam King at (url removed)