Position Summary

Latinos  in Heritage Conservation (LHC) seeks a Community Engagement &  Preservation Scholar to support the Colorado Statewide Latino Heritage  Strategic Plan, a statewide initiative developed in partnership with the  Colorado State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).

The ideal scholar will be from Colorado and work  closely with LHC staff to support community engagement, outreach,  cultural asset mapping, research, and documentation efforts designed to identify, elevate, and preserve Latinx heritage across Colorado.

This position offers hands-on experience in community-centered preservation practices and will provide exposure to public history, cultural heritage  planning, facilitation, oral history methodologies, and statewide  preservation initiatives.

The scholar will participate in weekly project meetings and regular check-ins with LHC staff and will assist with the implementation and documentation of community engagement activities occurring throughout Fall 2026. The fellowship begins in early September with paid orientation and training in LHC’s facilitation methodology and data capture tools, ahead of the September regional sessions.

This position will report directly to LHC's Historic Preservation Officer.

This fellowship is approximately 3.5 months long.

Fellowship Responsabilities:

The Colorado Semillas Scholar will assist with:

Community Outreach & Engagement

• Supporting  outreach to community leaders, scholars, culture bearers, students, and  preservation practitioners throughout Colorado

• Assisting with event coordination and participant communications

• Supporting registration, logistics, and follow-up for community engagement activities

• Helping develop bilingual outreach materials and communications

Community Listening Sessions

• Participating in regional community listening sessions

• Assisting with facilitation support and note-taking

• Supporting community asset mapping activities

• Support LHC’s data capture system, including structured worksheets and end-of session output collection

• Documenting community feedback and emerging themes with consent-aware practices

• Assisting with participant surveys and data collection

Research & Documentation

• Conducting background research on Colorado Latinx heritage

• Assisting with site identification and cultural asset documentation

• Supporting qualitative and quantitative data organization, including structured datasets for delivery to SHPO

• Assisting with development of summaries, reports, and presentation materials

Preservation Planning Support

• Assist with reviewing, organizing, and analyzing community-generated and crowd-sourced information collected throughout the project.

• Support  the development of project deliverables, including reports, summaries,  presentations, and community engagement materials.

• Organize and synthesize community-generated recommendations, priorities, and themes emerging from engagement activities.

• Assist with the creation of Community Engagement Toolkits and other educational resources for partners and stakeholders.

• Support cultural asset mapping efforts by organizing site nominations, community stories, and place-based data.

• Assist with documenting project outcomes, lessons learned, and best practices to inform future statewide preservation initiatives.

• Help prepare meeting notes, data summaries, and materials for project partners, funders, and stakeholders.

• Contribute to the final Colorado Statewide Latino Heritage Strategic Plan by supporting data organization, analysis, and report development.

Community Outreach Events

The scholar will be expected to assist with planning, outreach, logistics, documentation, and in-person participation in the following project activities:

September 2026

• Denver Metro Regional Community Listening Session
  Denver Metro Area

• Southern Colorado Regional Community Listening Session
  Alamosa Area

October 2026

• Western Colorado Regional Community Listening Session
  Montrose Area

November–December 2026

• Statewide Virtual Community Informational Session

Additional project meetings and community engagement opportunities may be added throughout the fellowship period.

Travel & Availability Requirements

1. A valid driver's license and access to a reliable personal vehicle are desirable; the scholar will drive to regional sessions, with mileage/gas reimbursed by LHC

2. Availability during the weeks of September 8 and October 19, 2026, is required — please confirm in your cover letter

Desired Skills, Knowledge, and Education

Preferred qualifications include:

• Knowledge of Colorado history

• Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from an accredited college or university

• Background  in historic preservation, planning, geography, anthropology, sociology,  architecture, museum studies, ethnic studies, Latinx studies,  Indigenous studies, community development, or related fields

• Interest in community-centered preservation and cultural heritage

• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively

• Experience with community engagement, research, facilitation, or event coordination is a plus

• Familiarity with Colorado communities and histories is preferred

• Spanish language skills are desirable but not required

Technology and Equipment Requirements

• Personal computer (no tablet)

• Reliable high-speed internet connection

• Ability to participate in virtual meetings via Zoom or Microsoft Teams

What You Will Learn

By the end of the fellowship, the scholar will:

• Gain experience in working with historic Latinx communities

• Participate in statewide preservation planning

• Learn community-centered engagement methodologies and LHC event playbook

• Build facilitation and outreach skills

• Gain experience with cultural asset mapping and qualitative research

• Develop a deeper understanding of Latinx heritage in Colorado

• Build relationships with preservation professionals, scholars, and community leaders throughout the state

How to Apply

• Please submit by July 31, Midnight CT with the following materials as a single PDF to info@latinoheritage.us with the subject line:

Colorado Semillas Scholar_[YOUR NAME]

Application materials should include:

• Resume or CV

• Cover Letter (maximum 2 pages)

• Brief writing sample (3–5 pages maximum)

Cover Letter Prompt

LHC believes preservation should strengthen communities and support cultural continuity.

In  500 words or less, tell us about a place, community, tradition, or  story that matters to you. Why is it important, and what role do you  think preservation can play in ensuring its future?

Selection Process and Timeline

• Applications Open: July 2026

• Application Deadline: July 31, Midnight CT (no late applications will be accepted)

• Interviews: Week of August 3, 2026

• Offer Extended: By August 7, 2026

• Fellowship Begins: September 1st, 2026

• Fellowship Concludes: Early December 2026

We will remain in communication with applicants throughout the process and will provide updates regarding application status and timelines.