Become a memory keeper for your community! The Community Archivist Fellowship Program at the ASU Library seeks to inspire community college students to become professionally trained archivists or librarians. Students will be introduced to community-driven archives and work closely with archivists and staff from the Community-Driven Archives (CDA) Initiative and the Labriola National American Indian Data Center.
Applications for the Aug. 2023 through May 2024 program are due July 7, 2023.
This grant-funded project is made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The Community Archivist Fellowship program is for community college and Tribal college students in Arizona from underserved and underrepresented communities.
Ah’sha Notah is the program coordinator for the IMLS grant, titled Centering BIPOC Memory Keepers and Advancing Equity and Inclusion, and is helping to recruit this year’s first cohort of students.
“We are excited to share our newly established opportunity for local community college students,” said Notah. “No prior experience in libraries or archives is needed to apply. In addition, fellows will receive a $10,000 stipend after completing the program.”
In 2015, a survey conducted by the Society of American Archivists showed that 86% of archivists are white, 2.34% Latino, 2.26% Black, 0.69% Native American, 0.27% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander and 1.52% Asian and East Asian. "We want to increase the low percentage rates of library professionals from underrepresented communities by introducing BIPOC students to archives at a community college level," added Notah.
The CDA Initiative works to introduce archives and community archiving to students, helping them realize that these professions can be a career path. An archive is a time capsule and active space where past and present merge and it contains primary resources that preserve the history of several generations.
“Archiving is storytelling and anyone can be a community archivist,” said Notah. “After learning the basics of archiving, students will then learn to use their gained skills and knowledge to serve their local communities. This will include tailoring their newly obtained archiving skills to meet the cultural customs of their local community.”
Students majoring in Black Studies, American Indian/Indigenous Studies, Mexican American Studies, and Ethnic Studies are highly encouraged to apply.
Community college students can submit applications at links.asu.edu/CDAMemoryKeepers.
- The hybrid program (virtual and in-person) will be from Aug. 2023 to May 2024 (30 weeks; 15 weeks each semester).
- Fellows will be expected to dedicate at least 4 hours per week to their Service Learning Project.
- Fellows will be supported with professional development and travel funds.
- Fellows will receive a $10,000 stipend after completing the program. This amount can cover almost a full year’s tuition at ASU.
For any questions, contact Ah’sha Notah at anotah@asu.edu.