Public Humanities Fellow NEH, SNCC & Grassroots Organizing Discussion Project 

The Movement History Initiative, in collaboration with six historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and six African American museums, is organizing the “SNCC and Grassroots Organizing: Building a More Perfect Union” discussion series. The two-year project, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities will involve six multi-day community gatherings at HBCUs, as well as six museum workshops and six virtual community conversations, that examine central themes in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee’s (SNCC) grassroots organizing and their contemporary relevance to the ongoing project of building a more perfect union. 

The project will hire one full-time (30 hrs/wk) Public Humanities Fellow for a two-year appointment to organize and implement the discussion series, to deliver engaging public humanities programming, to connect with broad public audience from different geographies, and to build relationships with project partners and local communities. The position is based at the Franklin Humanities Institute (FHI) and is under the direct supervision of PI, Dr. Wesley Hogan, Research Professor at FHI and History. The person in this position will also be supported and mentored by a group of project partners, including the co-PIs, HBCU scholars, SNCC veterans, and Movement History members.

Job Duties 

The Public Humanities Fellow will work in close collaboration with the co-PIs, the Humanities Advisory Committee, HBCU partners, and museums to organize the six community gatherings, six museum workshops, and six virtual community conversations. They will assist in coordinating and organizing the day-to-day work of the project, including arranging event and travel logistics. The Public Humanities Fellow will co-facilitate the engaging and interactive Learning workshops and virtual community conversations with humanities scholars and SNCC veterans. They will support publicity and promotion for the series, connecting with and engaging local and virtual audiences, spearheading social media outreach, and building sustained relationships with audiences and groups throughout the duration of the project. Position responsibilities include the following:

• Collaborate with HBCU and museum partners to organize logistics of the community gatherings and workshops • Arrange travel for humanities presenters • Reserve space, coordinate technology, and provide logistical support for community gatherings and workshops • Support publicity and outreach efforts, • Coordinate evaluation of the programs • Participate in and support the Humanities Advisory Committee 

Deliver Public Programming (25%) 

• Prepare for Learning Toolkit workshops & virtual community conversation, including reviewing Toolkit materials, planning with co-facilitators, and other related tasks • Co-facilitate the Learning Toolkit workshops (6 at community gatherings and 6 museum workshops) and virtual community conversations (6 total) with SNCC veterans and humanities scholars • Guide participants through individual, small, and large group activities using the project’s Learning Toolkits, which contain primary source materials, questions, and activities that explore central themes in SNCC’s organizing • Lead virtual discussions of project themes and invite participants to reflect on themes and their continued relevance in small group discussions 

• Lead the social media marketing for the project and publicize the series using social media channels of the HBCU partners, museum partners, and the Movement History Initiative. • Work in close collaboration with HBCU scholar facilitators, museum partners, and marketing departments at partner institutions to publicize and promote the community gatherings and workshops in mediums such as emails, flyers, radio promotion, phone calls, etc. • Assist HBCU partners in local outreach efforts 

• Build trust and sustain relationships with HBCU and museum partners, organizations, institutions, and community members in local communities, and virtual partners and audiences

This position is fully funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). As required by the NEH, the Public Humanities Fellow must have received a M.A. or Ph.D. in a humanities discipline (including public history or museum studies) within the past 5 years.

Qualifications: 

• Knowledge of or interest in the history of the Black Freedom Struggle 

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail 

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate and build relationships with diverse stakeholders 

• Experience or interest in delivering interactive, discussion-based public programming 

• Confident, engaging speaking abilities 

• Demonstrated ability to handle multiple projects at one time, be flexible, and creatively adapt in a dynamic and complex work environment 

• Familiarity and experience with social media platforms 

• Willingness to travel and work some evenings and weekends