"We Are Colorado" Somos Colorado Volunteer

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Are you passionate about empowering members of local communities to see themselves as creators/makers of history? Do you care deeply about your own community’s story and how it is being told? Do you want to ensure that community stories are being told in a way that is authentic? And, would you like to be part of process of community engagement that uplifts, encourages and esteems community identity, worth and agency?

History Colorado is seeking volunteers to engage in a large scale community outreach initiative entitled "We Are Colorado" Somos Colorado --aimed to reach Coloradan diverse communities. The initiative will begin within the Hispano/Latino community conducting outreach to Hispano-Coloradans and aiming to engage in one oral history project alongside a Hispanic community located in one Denver neighborhood.

Somos volunteers will work directly with the Director of Community Outreach and alongside History Colorado staff and community advisory boards to both strengthen History Colorado’s welcome to Latino audiences while also connecting outside the museum with programming and events aimed to meet communities where they are.

Somos volunteers work to establish a presence within community through outreach events, media efforts and establishing community partnerships. Somos volunteers will be trained in oral history methodology that engages community with intentional memory work and collecting efforts. Somos volunteers may also act as information conduits providing key feedback to programming and exhibits’ staff regarding inclusivity work at the museum. Finally, Somos volunteers may aid in facilitating object/artifact donation process to HC.

What is involved? Somos volunteers will:

• Be a presence on behalf of HC in Hispanic/Latino communities that have been underrepresented and with whom HC is seeking to establish stronger relationships.
• Work to incorporate Latino audiences’ voices, interpretation and contributions into museum exhibits and programming.
• Be committed to serving as a liaison between the museum and the Hispanic community, work to seek new partnerships within community and help maintain those relationships through strong communication between staff, volunteers and community members.
• Be available for volunteer training, oral history training and a commitment to volunteer for at least 6 months. Volunteer position may include evening and weekends.
• Be available to pick up outreach materials, be trained in specific outreach tasks such as collection or photography and be willing to send in outreach materials when finished.
• Provide updates for staff, volunteers and community members.
• Give media updates regarding outreach initiatives.
• Connect with curators when donation within community arises.

The benefits of being a Somos volunteer include:

• Dynamic opportunity to be on the ground and connected to history as it happens; Fantastic gratification in bringing invisible stories to light.
• Training in community outreach and oral history work.
• Announcement of your role in HC volunteer newsletter, blog and highlights of efforts in enews and other media efforts.
• Opportunity to provide feedback for HC staff regarding programming and exhibits at HC
• Support from HC staff.
• Opportunity to establish deep community connections and see a program through from inception to evaluation.
• Sharing information with other Somos volunteers and HC staff.
• Free admission to History Colorado museums.

Commitment Expected

6 months’ time commitment with varying levels of commitment. Summer months may entail tabling outreach events 1-2x’s per month for 4 hours at a time. Feedback for exhibits may include a monthly meeting at HCC. Intentional community oral history project work will mean more intense community engagement during the Fall and Winter months and possibly up to 6 hours weekly.

Training

Volunteer will receive a general training from Volunteer Management regarding HCC and the general functions of volunteering at HCC. Additional training from supervisor will be pertinent to outreach and community oral history work.

Age Requirement: Over 18

Dress Code: Business Casual

Development opportunities include staff training, access to programming and community museums, reduced parking fees.

Direct supervisor is Director for Community Outreach.