Sponsor a Preserve WV AmeriCorps Member
Updated 3/16/2022: PAWV is accepting site sponsor applications for the 2022-2023 program year to begin in August 2022. Application guidelines and an application form can be downloaded. Note that to participate in the 2022-2023 program year, sites must submit a letter of support by Wednesday, March 23, 2022 to Danielle Parker at dlapresta@pawv.org. Sample letters of support for new and returning sites can be downloaded also.
PROGRAM INFORMATION & SITE ELIGIBILITY
The Preserve WV AmeriCorps program is the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia’s (PAWV) statewide national service initiative where AmeriCorps members help main streets thrive, help communities capture their local history, and help preserve beloved West Virginia landmarks. Preserve WV AmeriCorps is part of AmeriCorps State and National - a National Service initiative founded in the same spirit as AmeriCorps VISTA, the Peace Corps, and other service programs. Preserve WV AmeriCorps is partially funded by an AmeriCorps grant from a state agency, Volunteer West Virginia, and a federal agency, the AmeriCorps Headquarters.
To be eligible to sponsor a Preserve WV AmeriCorps, sites must be under-resourced nonprofit organizations or government agencies with historic preservation and/or history-oriented missions. Types of current site sponsors include:
Through Preserve WV AmeriCorps, PAWV leads a consortium of nonprofit organizations and government agencies that are cultural heritage tourism sites and/or utilize historic preservation to revitalize their communities. AmeriCorps members are placed for one year at consortium sites, and their primary objective is to build the capacity of their sites and preserve West Virginia’s unique cultural heritage for the enjoyment and education of current and future generations.
To be eligible to sponsor a Preserve WV AmeriCorps, sites must be under-resourced nonprofit organizations or government agencies with historic preservation and/or history-oriented missions. Types of current site sponsors include:
- Educational institutions or universities,
- Heritage Areas,
- Municipalities,
- Museums,
- Historical societies,
- Cultural heritage sites,
- Statewide organizations and foundations,
- Libraries,
- State government agencies,
- Economic and community development authorities,
- Historical theaters,
- Historic Landmarks Commissions,
- Convention & Visitors Bureaus,
- County Commissions, and
- Main Street / OnTRAC organizations.
Through Preserve WV AmeriCorps, PAWV leads a consortium of nonprofit organizations and government agencies that are cultural heritage tourism sites and/or utilize historic preservation to revitalize their communities. AmeriCorps members are placed for one year at consortium sites, and their primary objective is to build the capacity of their sites and preserve West Virginia’s unique cultural heritage for the enjoyment and education of current and future generations.
APPLICATION PROCESS & KEY DATES
Wednesday, March 23rd - Letters of Support Due
A letter of support is required for sites wanting to apply to sponsor a Preserve WV AmeriCorps member to serve in the 2022-2023 program year. The letter should address the following points:
All letters should be on organizational letterhead.
Letters must be submitted in .pdf format to PAWV’s Executive Director, Danielle Parker, dlapresta@pawv.org.
Friday, May 27th - Site Sponsor Applications Due
Completed application forms must be submitted to PAWV’s Executive Director, Danielle Parker at dlapresta@pawv.org.
June - August- Site selection, Site Sponsor On-boarding & AmeriCorps Member Recruitment
PAWV will receive notice of funding for the 2022-2023 AmeriCorps program year on June 10, 2022. PAWV will notify sites of their site sponsorship status following the official grant award notification from Volunteer West Virginia. Assuming PAWV's grant award is renewed, PAWV plans to coordinate a virtual on-boarding session with site supervisors, essential site staff, and the sites' board of directors to discuss the Preserve WV program, its policies, site expectations, and member recruitment. The goal is for this session to occur in June 2022.
Following this webinar, PAWV will begin recruiting applicants. The recruitment process will take place until all slots are filled and may continue after the initial program start date. For recruitment, PAWV and site sponsors will review applications, interview applicants, select candidates for the service opportunities. PAWV will administer criminal background checks.
Monday, August 29, 2022 - (Tentative) Start of Service Year with Mandatory Orientation
PAWV has scheduled a tentative start date of August 29, 2022 for the upcoming program year. PAWV is considering a later start date of mid-September and will notify program applicants in June as to the exact start date timeline. All site supervisors and members are expected to attend one virtual orientation to be determined. (If a member has not been assigned to your site by this date, a separate orientation will be scheduled when the member starts and will likely occur at your site.)
A letter of support is required for sites wanting to apply to sponsor a Preserve WV AmeriCorps member to serve in the 2022-2023 program year. The letter should address the following points:
- Organization’s mission,
- How many and type of AmeriCorps members you plan to request,
- Your organizational and/or community need, and
- Description of the projects the potential AmeriCorps would do and how these projects respond to your organizational/community need, as well as how the project will help to preserve West Virginia’s unique cultural heritage.
All letters should be on organizational letterhead.
Letters must be submitted in .pdf format to PAWV’s Executive Director, Danielle Parker, dlapresta@pawv.org.
Friday, May 27th - Site Sponsor Applications Due
Completed application forms must be submitted to PAWV’s Executive Director, Danielle Parker at dlapresta@pawv.org.
June - August- Site selection, Site Sponsor On-boarding & AmeriCorps Member Recruitment
PAWV will receive notice of funding for the 2022-2023 AmeriCorps program year on June 10, 2022. PAWV will notify sites of their site sponsorship status following the official grant award notification from Volunteer West Virginia. Assuming PAWV's grant award is renewed, PAWV plans to coordinate a virtual on-boarding session with site supervisors, essential site staff, and the sites' board of directors to discuss the Preserve WV program, its policies, site expectations, and member recruitment. The goal is for this session to occur in June 2022.
Following this webinar, PAWV will begin recruiting applicants. The recruitment process will take place until all slots are filled and may continue after the initial program start date. For recruitment, PAWV and site sponsors will review applications, interview applicants, select candidates for the service opportunities. PAWV will administer criminal background checks.
Monday, August 29, 2022 - (Tentative) Start of Service Year with Mandatory Orientation
PAWV has scheduled a tentative start date of August 29, 2022 for the upcoming program year. PAWV is considering a later start date of mid-September and will notify program applicants in June as to the exact start date timeline. All site supervisors and members are expected to attend one virtual orientation to be determined. (If a member has not been assigned to your site by this date, a separate orientation will be scheduled when the member starts and will likely occur at your site.)
