Paid Summer Fellowships this Summer

 COMMUNITY HERITAGE AND TECHNOLOGY FELLOWSHIP (part-time, paid, remote-option)

LCHP is looking for community members and students to apply to a fellowship program organized by the Lakeland Community Heritage Project. These part-time paid fellowships run from late May to early August 2024. Additionally, fellows will have the opportunity to showcase their project outcomes at a final public event, which will be scheduled during orientation for the fellows. Fellows are anticipated to dedicate 10-12 hours each week to their fellowship. We offer flexible scheduling, allowing fellows to coordinate their specific working hours directly with their mentors and supervisor for mutual convenience.

Tasks, projects, and responsibilities – Fellows will make significant contributions to the Lakeland Digital Archive project by helping to capture memories and testimonies about the history of this African American community. They will also connect residents, families, students, and researchers to community heritage materials by organizing information about the collection, making information easier to find, and showcasing special items through exhibits and presentations.

+ Organize interviews with community members in order to elicit information about Lakeland’s heritage

+ Update and expand information about items in the Lakeland Digital Archive collection

+ Evaluate how well the description and organization of information about collection items such as photographs, documents, and oral histories helps visitors to the Lakeland Digital Archive find and use materials

Learning opportunities

Fellows will have the opportunity to learn:

+ Professional techniques for saving and organizing digitized family history and heritage materials

+ Common tools and workflows for organizing and publishing information about heritage collections

+ General purpose internet publishing, communication, and research skills

Mentorship and Support – Every fellow will be paired with two mentors from the project team, and potentially from other local partners. Fellows will meet with their mentors weekly for personalized support and guidance throughout the project and will also engage in larger project meetings on a regular basis. Mentorship sessions are designed to enhance learning, offer valuable insights into the fields of community heritage and technology, and support the fellow’s personal goals.

Required qualifications – We welcome applications from individuals who have completed 11th grade or higher, all the way through to graduates holding BA, BS, or Master’s degrees, including currently enrolled students.

We also ask that candidates be able to demonstrate familiarity with African American history and have some kind of experience conducting research, whether academic, genealogical, or driven by personal interest or a hobby.

Additional skills and qualifications We are looking for candidates with excellent independent problem-solving abilities and a proactive attitude to tackling projects. Strong attention to detail will be important for the successful candidate.

Individuals interested in or involved in careers in journalism, community organizing, public policy, Black Studies, American Studies, Public History, digital humanities, data science, or roles in libraries, museums, or archives will find this opportunity particularly enriching. For current students, this may function as an internship if prior arrangement is made with your institution or program but this is not required.

While not a mandatory part of your application, we invite you to share any experiences where you learned new tools or technologies, as this reflects your adaptability and eagerness to learn. We also value prior experience in professional communication, whether it be through email, report writing, or presentations. If you have such experiences, please make sure to mention them in your application.

Compensation – This is a paid fellowship. Fellows will be paid a stipend of $2,800 for the summer, which is equivalent to $20 per hour based on the number of hours fellows are expected to work. The stipend will be paid every two weeks. Additionally, fellows will receive financial support to help cover some travel expenses to College Park for the project’s concluding public event if fellows choose to come.

How to apply – Please submit a brief video or written introduction (less than 350 words/ 1 page) where you share a bit about yourself and describe how this fellowship aligns with your interests. Along with the video or written introduction, include a short professional resume, limited to 1-2 pages. Send all application materials to lakelandcollegepark+fellowship@gmail.com, ensuring your name is clearly included on each item.

We will review applications on a rolling basis starting April 22, 2024, or until all fellowship positions are filled. We have multiple positions to fill and we encourage early submissions to ensure your application is considered. Please feel welcome to reach out if you have any questions about your application.