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open preserve wv americorps service opportunities |
*Updated 9/3/2021 - The Preserve WV AmeriCorps program is currently accepting applications for AmeriCorps members to begin service in October 2021. Review the application process and AmeriCorps benefits here. A list of open service opportunities is provided below in alphabetical order. Scroll down to see complete details about each opportunity. In addition to individual AmeriCorps site responsibilities, members will have program expectations that will be explained during AmeriCorps on-boarding.
- Cockayne Farmstead, full-time
- Harrison County WV Historical Society, full-time
- Hinton Railroad Museum, full-time
- Kanawha Salines Foundation, part-time
- Main Street Point Pleasant, full-time
- Preservation Alliance of West Virginia, part-time
- Royce J. and Caroline B. Watts Museum, part-time
- Sutton Community Development Corporation, part-time
- Wetzel County Museum, part-time
- WVU BAD Buildings, full-time
Find Complete AmeriCorps Service Descriptions below
Cockayne Farmstead
Location: Glen Dale, Marshall County, West Virginia
Supervisor: Kara Gordon
Position Type: Full-time
The Cockayne Farmstead is a municipally owned historic house museum, heritage tourism site and educational center consisting of an historic, national register listed farmhouse, a prehistoric earthen mound, and a large collection of 19th Century family artifacts and an equally large collection of ephemera from the same era. The facility is operated by the Marshall County Historical Society and is run out of a circa-1850 residence, which was under a single family’s ownership for four generations from 1850 until 2001.
The site’s mission statement is “To develop an educational and cultural center from a unique historic property that will nurture individual creativity and artistic expression, encourage the development of leadership skills and community pride through education of the rich cultural heritage of West Virginia, and promote tourism and foster economic development for the betterment of the citizens of our State and our Nation.
The Preserve WV AmeriCorps will serve approximately 40 hours per week during museum operating hours throughout the week, sometimes on the weekend, and some evenings. The member will have an office space at the Visitor’s Center and will also serve at the Cockayne House. The members tasks will include:
Follow us: https://www.facebook.com/thecockaynefarmstead
Supervisor: Kara Gordon
Position Type: Full-time
The Cockayne Farmstead is a municipally owned historic house museum, heritage tourism site and educational center consisting of an historic, national register listed farmhouse, a prehistoric earthen mound, and a large collection of 19th Century family artifacts and an equally large collection of ephemera from the same era. The facility is operated by the Marshall County Historical Society and is run out of a circa-1850 residence, which was under a single family’s ownership for four generations from 1850 until 2001.
The site’s mission statement is “To develop an educational and cultural center from a unique historic property that will nurture individual creativity and artistic expression, encourage the development of leadership skills and community pride through education of the rich cultural heritage of West Virginia, and promote tourism and foster economic development for the betterment of the citizens of our State and our Nation.
The Preserve WV AmeriCorps will serve approximately 40 hours per week during museum operating hours throughout the week, sometimes on the weekend, and some evenings. The member will have an office space at the Visitor’s Center and will also serve at the Cockayne House. The members tasks will include:
- Increase community visibility and promote the image of the Farmstead to the local area, especially to the local school system
- Provide guided tours of the Farmstead to Visitors
- Promote the Farmstead as a heritage tourism venue
- Develop programming, especially for students
- Collection management: organization, classification, conservation, and storage of printed documents and objects
- Recruitment, training, and oversight of volunteers, and specialized training and oversight of volunteers in object conservation, the care of the collection, and the proper input of data into PastPerfect regarding the collection
- Assisting in the daily operation of the Cockayne Farmstead, as directed by site supervisor
- In conjunction with volunteers and other staff, the member may represent the Cockayne Farmstead at events, fairs and festivals, and similar programming
- Performing light conservation work at the Farmstead, to include replacement of damaged windowpanes and similar activities as needed. The member will be trained in these skills, as needed.
- Participating in volunteer meetings as scheduled and monthly board meetings.
Follow us: https://www.facebook.com/thecockaynefarmstead
Harrison County WV Historical Society
Location: Clarksburg, Harrison County, West Virginia
Supervisor: Sherri Heavner
Position Type: Full-time
The Harrison County WV Historical Society (HCWVHS) is a volunteer-based nonprofit organization that engages with its community by preserving, collecting, educating, and demonstrating the history and culture of Harrison County and North-Central West Virginia. The mission of HCWVHS is to raise awareness of Harrison County’s contribution to the history and culture of West Virginia and the United States, and to preserve artifacts and sites pertaining to its history and culture.
The member will serve from the Neff-Hardesty Memorial Archives in downtown Clarksburg with some service at the Stealey-Goff-Vance House. The member will serve approximately 40 hours per week during the week with some service requirements during the evenings and weekends. Member’s tasks will include:
Supervisor: Sherri Heavner
Position Type: Full-time
The Harrison County WV Historical Society (HCWVHS) is a volunteer-based nonprofit organization that engages with its community by preserving, collecting, educating, and demonstrating the history and culture of Harrison County and North-Central West Virginia. The mission of HCWVHS is to raise awareness of Harrison County’s contribution to the history and culture of West Virginia and the United States, and to preserve artifacts and sites pertaining to its history and culture.
The member will serve from the Neff-Hardesty Memorial Archives in downtown Clarksburg with some service at the Stealey-Goff-Vance House. The member will serve approximately 40 hours per week during the week with some service requirements during the evenings and weekends. Member’s tasks will include:
- Continuing the on-going accessioning and cataloging of the archive and artifact collection into Past Perfect under the collection management policy guidelines
- Searching for grants and writing proposals for preservation funding for the Stealey-Goff-Vance House preservation and for storing the archive and museum collection.
- Managing the organization’s website, email marketing, and social media
- Contributing and editing content for the society’s newsletter by utilizing the Weebly, Facebook, MailChimp, and Canva platforms.
- Organizing independent and/or coordinating with local partners for workshops and local history programming and events including online history content and webinars
- Coordinating volunteer training, management, and retention
Hinton Railroad Museum
Location: Hinton, Summers County
Supervisor: Cris Meadows
Position Type: Full-time
The Hinton Railroad Museum was established in 1991 and will take you back to the early days of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway with a variety of artifacts and memorabilia. The museum is owned and operated by the City of Hinton, and it is housed in a two-story, 7,000 square-foot historic building located in the National Historic District in downtown Hinton. The Preserve WV AmeriCorps member serving with the Hinton Railroad Museum will be expected to serve approximately 40 hours per week during the museum’s operating hours. The AmeriCorps member will do the following:
Supervisor: Cris Meadows
Position Type: Full-time
The Hinton Railroad Museum was established in 1991 and will take you back to the early days of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway with a variety of artifacts and memorabilia. The museum is owned and operated by the City of Hinton, and it is housed in a two-story, 7,000 square-foot historic building located in the National Historic District in downtown Hinton. The Preserve WV AmeriCorps member serving with the Hinton Railroad Museum will be expected to serve approximately 40 hours per week during the museum’s operating hours. The AmeriCorps member will do the following:
- Inventory and organize the museum collection,
- Provide tours at the museum to the public,
- Help to fundraise for the preservation of the museum building (within the guidelines of Preserve WV AmeriCorps).
- Promote the museum to increase visitation and attendance, and
- Recruit and manage a new generation of volunteers to keep the museum open regularly and provide tours.
Kanawha Salines Foundation
Location: Charleston (Malden), Kanawha County
Supervisor: Lewis Payne
Position Type: Part-time
The mission of The Kanawha Salines Foundation Inc. is to encourage and facilitate the preservation of the legacy of the Kanawha Valley salt industry. To further this mission, the Foundation will raise monies through grants and charitable donations to restore the Dickinson family salt office located on Kanawha Salines Drive in Malden, WV. By collecting photographs, relics, documents, artifacts and any remnants reflecting the history of the salt industry, the Foundation will turn the restored building into a museum and make it available to the public. It will be the practice of the Foundation to use the contents of the building as an educational tool for the larger community. By hosting school children and other civic groups, the Foundation will educate the public about the history of the Kanawha Valley salt industry and its social and economic impact upon the valley including the use of slave labor, its impact upon those enslaved people and society. The Foundation will work to help all who visit understand the importance that the salt industry played in the early development of the Kanawha Valley.
The Preserve WV AmeriCorps member will serve approximately 20 hours per week on site and will be expected to serve mostly during the week with some weekend and evening hours for special events. The member’s tasks will include:
Supervisor: Lewis Payne
Position Type: Part-time
The mission of The Kanawha Salines Foundation Inc. is to encourage and facilitate the preservation of the legacy of the Kanawha Valley salt industry. To further this mission, the Foundation will raise monies through grants and charitable donations to restore the Dickinson family salt office located on Kanawha Salines Drive in Malden, WV. By collecting photographs, relics, documents, artifacts and any remnants reflecting the history of the salt industry, the Foundation will turn the restored building into a museum and make it available to the public. It will be the practice of the Foundation to use the contents of the building as an educational tool for the larger community. By hosting school children and other civic groups, the Foundation will educate the public about the history of the Kanawha Valley salt industry and its social and economic impact upon the valley including the use of slave labor, its impact upon those enslaved people and society. The Foundation will work to help all who visit understand the importance that the salt industry played in the early development of the Kanawha Valley.
The Preserve WV AmeriCorps member will serve approximately 20 hours per week on site and will be expected to serve mostly during the week with some weekend and evening hours for special events. The member’s tasks will include:
- Developing a long-term strategic plan to implement organizational goals and mission
- General marketing and developing social media presence for the organization
- Networking with other non-profits and educational entities including conducting outreach to schools
- Fundraising and grant writing to include identifying grants that would be available to the Foundation and beginning the application process when timely (within the constraints of PAWV policy).
- Organizing fundraising and crowdsourcing events ((within the constraints of PAWV policy)
- Creating educational materials and programming
- Continuing the digitization of the Foundations historic records
Main Street Point Pleasant
Location: Point Pleasant, Mason County
Supervisor: Chris Rizer
Position Type: Full-time
Supervisor: Chris Rizer
Position Type: Full-time
Main Street Point Pleasant is an affiliate member of Main Street America, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and stands by its Four Point Approach for downtown revitalization: organization, economic vitality, design, and promotion. Our broad and all-encompassing mission is to be a catalyst in the revitalization of Point Pleasant’s historic downtown by cultivating partnerships, creating a strong community foundation for our downtown district, guiding preservation-minded economic development, supporting businesses and encouraging entrepreneurs, enhancing the historic and natural features that make our city unique, and promoting Main Street as a fantastic place to visit, live, work, shop, dine, and play.
The Preserve WV AmeriCorps member will serve approximately 40 hours per week from the Main Street Point Pleasant office. The AmeriCorps member will serve mostly during the Main Street office hours with some evening and weekend expectations. The member will be expected to:
The Preserve WV AmeriCorps member will serve approximately 40 hours per week from the Main Street Point Pleasant office. The AmeriCorps member will serve mostly during the Main Street office hours with some evening and weekend expectations. The member will be expected to:
- Document and inventory downtown buildings and carry out historical research on those same buildings using deeds, newspapers, written sources, etc.
- Develop a self-guided walking tour of Main Street
- Build a Donor & Member Database
- Build a Volunteer Database
- Maintain a social media presence for the organization
- Archive and digitize Main Street’s records
Preservation Alliance of West Virginia
Location: Elkins, Randolph County
Site Supervisor: Danielle Parker
Position Type: Part-time
Founded in 1982, PAWV is the statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to historic preservation in West Virginia. Its mission is to preserve our unique cultural environment through education & outreach, advocacy, and technical assistance. PAWV administers the Preserve WV AmeriCorps program among other programs.
The Preserve WV AmeriCorps member serving with Preservation Alliance of West Virginia will serve approximately 20 hours per week in a hybrid remote/on-site position. The member will have an office space at the Darden House in downtown Elkins. Service activities should be done during normal business hours, 9am – 5pm, Monday – Friday. The Preserve WV AmeriCorps will help primarily with two things: Communications and the Preservation Trades Task Force. The member will do
Site Supervisor: Danielle Parker
Position Type: Part-time
Founded in 1982, PAWV is the statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to historic preservation in West Virginia. Its mission is to preserve our unique cultural environment through education & outreach, advocacy, and technical assistance. PAWV administers the Preserve WV AmeriCorps program among other programs.
The Preserve WV AmeriCorps member serving with Preservation Alliance of West Virginia will serve approximately 20 hours per week in a hybrid remote/on-site position. The member will have an office space at the Darden House in downtown Elkins. Service activities should be done during normal business hours, 9am – 5pm, Monday – Friday. The Preserve WV AmeriCorps will help primarily with two things: Communications and the Preservation Trades Task Force. The member will do
- Communications outreach and content development for PAWV’s enewsletter, social media accounts, quarterly printed newsletter, and website. The member must be familiar with the online graphic design service, Canva, or show the ability to learn how to use it.
- Coordinate Preservation Trades Task Force meetings and take notes at meetings.
- Implement suggestions and action items from the Preservation Trades Task Force (within the guidelines of Preserve WV AmeriCorps).
- Plan and implement a coordinated Preservation Trades educational presentation series and marketing campaign targeting young people to encourage them to go into preservation trades careers.
- Assist with planning and coordinating preservation trades workshops for young people and existing construction professionals.
Royce J. and Caroline B. Watts Museum
Location: Morgantown, Monongalia County
Supervisor: Danielle Petrak
Position Type: Part-time
Supervisor: Danielle Petrak
Position Type: Part-time
Since the 1930s, West Virginia University has collected historical artifacts and archival materials from the mining and petroleum industries. The collecting began within the University’s School of Mines, which was later named the College of Mineral and Energy Resources (COMER). A museum, known as the COMER Museum, was formally organized in the mid-1980s, and the construction of a dedicated museum space was approved. The West Virginia Coal Mining Institute endowed the COMER Museum with a substantial pledge in 2005. As part of the endowment agreement, the Institute was given the opportunity to rename the Museum. The Institute requested that the Museum be renamed The Royce J. and Caroline B. Watts Museum in honor of “two individuals who have tirelessly supported its mission through both financial support and other resources.”
Royce J. Watts, a WVU faculty member for over sixty years, and his wife, Caroline B. Watts, are long time supporters of the Museum and the state of West Virginia’s mining heritage. The Royce J. and Caroline B. Watts Museum reflects, supports and preserves Royce and Caroline Watts’ dedication to West Virginia’s mining industries and their devotion to West Virginia University.
The Preserve WV AmeriCorps member serving with the Watts Museum will serve approximately 20 hours per week at the museum and during museum operating hours. The member will be expected to assist with the following:
Royce J. Watts, a WVU faculty member for over sixty years, and his wife, Caroline B. Watts, are long time supporters of the Museum and the state of West Virginia’s mining heritage. The Royce J. and Caroline B. Watts Museum reflects, supports and preserves Royce and Caroline Watts’ dedication to West Virginia’s mining industries and their devotion to West Virginia University.
The Preserve WV AmeriCorps member serving with the Watts Museum will serve approximately 20 hours per week at the museum and during museum operating hours. The member will be expected to assist with the following:
- Management of the museum’s collections, including conducting spot inventories, entering and updating collections management database records, documenting artifact loans and gifts, and improving the storage and organization of artifacts.
- Preparation and execution of museum exhibits, including research, writing, design, and installation.
- Planning and implementing traveling exhibitions and displays for presentation at off-site venues.
- Public relations and marketing strategies and outreach, including drafting and distributing press releases and creating social media posts.
- Planning and execution of museum events and programs (depending upon COVID-related restrictions)
- Responding to general inquiries from the public pertaining to the museum and its collections, exhibitions, and events.
Sutton Community Development Corporation
Location: Sutton, Braxton County
Supervisor: Dot Gioulis
Position Type: Part-time
Supervisor: Dot Gioulis
Position Type: Part-time
The Sutton Community Development Corporation (SCDC) is a nonprofit organization and is an ONTRAC community through the West Virginia Main Street program. The organization works closely with the Town of Sutton and other community organizations such as the Landmark Studio for the Arts and the Sutton library, to create an inviting vibrant downtown where traditions and new ideas unite focusing on the arts, recreation and history to create a sense of community pride with opportunity for everyone.
The Preserve WV AmeriCorps will serve approximately 20 hours per week during normal business hours with some evening and weekend commitments. The member will have an office space in downtown Sutton. Their tasks will include:
The Preserve WV AmeriCorps will serve approximately 20 hours per week during normal business hours with some evening and weekend commitments. The member will have an office space in downtown Sutton. Their tasks will include:
- Developing "We Are Sutton" program.
- Conducting outreach for the project through social media posts, news articles as well as building partnerships and one on one contacts
- Interviewing Sutton residents, now or past, concerning family and place as well as recording and transcribing these interview
- Collecting and scanning copies of photographs pertaining to interviews and exhibiting photos in public places
- Develop videos for projects
- Using the media collected and developed (such videos and photos) to promote Sutton
- Display and organize information in the town's permanent exhibit area
- Researching buildings in the Downtown Historic District in order to design informational plaques and creating systems to access information using a mobile device
- Conducting outreach for the project through social media posts, news articles as well as building partnerships and one on one contacts
- Supporting the Sutton Community Park and seasonal Community Garden and Farmers Market.
- Writing and submitting news articles, creating social media posts and developing new partnerships
- Continuing to recruit and organize volunteers
- Continuing to coordinate advertising ads for Market
- Writing and submitting grant applications or fund requests based on research and recorded donor list (fundraising will be limited to 10% of service time)
- Conducting public relation activities such as public speaking events and radio announcements
- Writing and submitting news articles, creating social media posts and developing new partnerships
WETZEL COUNTY MUSEUM
Location: New Martinsville, Wetzel County
Supervisor: Holly Morgan
Position Type: Part-time
The Wetzel County Convention and Visitors Bureau operates the Wetzel County Museum, which is located in downtown New Martinsville. The mission statement of the Wetzel County CVB is to represent the area’s common interest and to encourage increased economic activity and development in order to further the general welfare and prosperity of the greater Wetzel County area. In specific regards to the Wetzel County Museum their goal is to honor and promote the history of Wetzel County for both residents and tourists.
The Preserve WV AmeriCorps member will be expected to serve about 20 hours per week at the museum while it is open. The member will be expected to do the following tasks:
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WetzelCountyMuseum
Supervisor: Holly Morgan
Position Type: Part-time
The Wetzel County Convention and Visitors Bureau operates the Wetzel County Museum, which is located in downtown New Martinsville. The mission statement of the Wetzel County CVB is to represent the area’s common interest and to encourage increased economic activity and development in order to further the general welfare and prosperity of the greater Wetzel County area. In specific regards to the Wetzel County Museum their goal is to honor and promote the history of Wetzel County for both residents and tourists.
The Preserve WV AmeriCorps member will be expected to serve about 20 hours per week at the museum while it is open. The member will be expected to do the following tasks:
- Complete the accession of the Museum’s collection and entering items into Past Perfect Software
- Archive the general museum collection
- Digitize the museum’s collection of pictures and paper documents for addition to the museums website
- Archive paper documents after digitizing using appropriate preservation techniques and materials
- Update organizational/site policies for collections management including guidelines for accepting or denying docations, accession, and artifact storage
- Provide site tours to the public as part of the Smithsonian Museums on Main Street project
- Create accompanying materials for the Smithsonian Museums on Main Street Project as needed
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WetzelCountyMuseum
WVU BAD Buildings
Location: Morgantown, Monogalia County
Supervisor: Ray Moeller
Position Type: Full-time
WVU Brownfields, Abandoned, & Dilapidated Buildings is a program within West Virginia University's Northern WV Brownfields Assistance Center. The WVU BAD Buildings program provides technical assistance, research, and other resources to rural communities to address abandoned and dilapidated properties. WVU BAD Buildings guides community-driven, volunteer-led teams to identify and prioritize blighted properties, helps create redevelopment plans for priority projects, and works with community leaders to pursue resources to rehabilitate, demolish, and redevelop abandoned structures.
The Preserve WV AmeriCorps member serving with the WVU BAD Buildings program will serve approximately 40 hours per week while the Center is open. The member will serve from the Northern Brownfields Assistance Center Office located at the Evansdale Campus of West Virginia University. The member will complete the following tasks:
Supervisor: Ray Moeller
Position Type: Full-time
WVU Brownfields, Abandoned, & Dilapidated Buildings is a program within West Virginia University's Northern WV Brownfields Assistance Center. The WVU BAD Buildings program provides technical assistance, research, and other resources to rural communities to address abandoned and dilapidated properties. WVU BAD Buildings guides community-driven, volunteer-led teams to identify and prioritize blighted properties, helps create redevelopment plans for priority projects, and works with community leaders to pursue resources to rehabilitate, demolish, and redevelop abandoned structures.
The Preserve WV AmeriCorps member serving with the WVU BAD Buildings program will serve approximately 40 hours per week while the Center is open. The member will serve from the Northern Brownfields Assistance Center Office located at the Evansdale Campus of West Virginia University. The member will complete the following tasks:
- Work within selected BAD Buildings communities to assess place and asset-based economic development opportunities and implement redevelopment-associated activities throughout the service year
- Develop and maintain Northern WV Brownfields Assistance Center (NBAC) & BAD Building program resource files
- Assist with implementation of outreach plan to build and communicate with constituencies in the Abandoned Properties Coalition, WVU BAD Buildings, Downtown Appalachia, and the NBAC
- Assist with project communications on historic projects, include coordinating team meetings, providing meeting notes, and drafting and sharing action plans
- Assist with volunteer management and implementation regarding BAD Buildings and NBAC events, including education and outreach related to historic rehabilitation/restoration
- Provide the social media accounts and website with redevelopment related news and updates.
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ADDITIONAL PROGRAM EXPECTATIONS
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APPLICATION STEPS
Step 1: Submit an application on My AmeriCorps - Create a profile on the official My AmeriCorps website: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/recruit/registration.do Once a profile is completed, view Preserve WV’s program listing, by simply searching “Preserve WV” in the Program Name Field of the Quick Search Box found on the AmeriCorps Search page: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/publicRequestSearch.do Apply using the “Apply Now!” button found on the Preserve WV program listing. Step 2: Send in a Cover Letter - Submit a written cover letter to dlapresta@pawv.org. The letter should directly reference the description of the position the applicant is applying to and speak to how the applicant's interests, experience, and career goals are a good match for that particular service opportunity. Position descriptions for all available service opportunities can be found below. If interested, applicants may use the cover letter to apply for more than one position. Applicants are also strongly encouraged to send a formal CV or resume to accompany their cover letter. |
*COVID-19 ACCOMMODATIONS - Preserve WV AmeriCorps program and sites are making accommodations to keep members and communities safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on public health guidance, sites may be closed for a time, events canceled, and some members telework from home. Service activities may be modified to respect social distancing, limiting group size for events, and provide virtual programming instead of in-person. Some members are also providing relief service activities, in addition to their usual assignments. Preserve WV AmeriCorps intends to continue providing service. We will do all we can to continue serving our communities, while staying safe.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY NOTICE
Participation in the Preserve WV AmeriCorps (or any other CNCS) program is based on merit and equal opportunity for all, without regard to factors such as race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, political affiliation, marital or parental status, military service, or religious, community, or social affiliations. You have a right to reasonable accommodation for disabilities. Programs must furnish reasonable accommodations for the known physical and mental limitations of qualified AmeriCorps members.
If you believe your rights have been violated, you may report such violations to the directors of your program of whom must establish and maintain a procedure for filing and adjudicating certain grievances. You may also file discrimination-related grievances with the Equal Opportunity Counselor of AmeriCorps at (202) 606-5000, ext. 312 (voice), or 1 (800) 942-2677.
Participation in the Preserve WV AmeriCorps (or any other CNCS) program is based on merit and equal opportunity for all, without regard to factors such as race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, political affiliation, marital or parental status, military service, or religious, community, or social affiliations. You have a right to reasonable accommodation for disabilities. Programs must furnish reasonable accommodations for the known physical and mental limitations of qualified AmeriCorps members.
If you believe your rights have been violated, you may report such violations to the directors of your program of whom must establish and maintain a procedure for filing and adjudicating certain grievances. You may also file discrimination-related grievances with the Equal Opportunity Counselor of AmeriCorps at (202) 606-5000, ext. 312 (voice), or 1 (800) 942-2677.
