Historic Athens is searching for a new staff position. The application process is now open for a Director of Engagement and African American Heritage. Tommy Valentine is Executive Director of Historic Athens.
“We have really been working to improve our approach to preservation and to make it more equitable, and as part of that, we have really been focused on African American Heritage in virtually all of our initiatives,” according to Valentine. “From our educational public programming, to our advocacy, which projects we focused on, our Places in Peril list and so on.”
Valentine says the position will help the organization better represent all of Athens.
“Athens is a community that is 40 percent people of color. Those folks have not felt reflected, and we’ve heard it again and again, in our work.”
He says they are looking for a variety of characteristics for the job.
“Cultural competency, an intimate understanding of African American heritage and the African American experience, we’re also looking for all the abilities that are going to contribute to this position being effectively, the deputy executive director.”
The full-time position is made possible as a result of a $60,000 grant from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, which is under the National Trust of Historic Preservation. For more information, visit Historic Athens Facebook and Twitter pages or call 706-296-3583. The deadline to apply is October 23rd.
