OPRD release – SALEM, Oregon – Heritage organizations statewide are now eligible to apply for free technical assistance from the Oregon Heritage MentorCorps. Organizations applying to this program will work on their proposed projects alongside volunteer professionals with backgrounds in museums and collections management, curatorship, archives, preservation, heritage interpretation, volunteer coordination, non-profit management, disaster preparedness, and more. The role of MentorCorps is to assist with projects that challenge the expertise of staff and volunteers at applicant organizations during one-on-one sessions over a period of nine months. Common requests for assistance include guidance in work planning, grant reviews, collections assessments, policy development or simply prioritization of work when applicants can’t identify the most pressing need. Fielding a cadre of mentors that are geographically and technically diverse, there are very few projects that MentorCorps cannot assist with in some way. “MentorCorps’ goal is to support organizations in achieving as close to best practices as possible,” says Cam Amabile, Technical Resources Coordinator for Oregon Heritage. “Mentors are technical guides to resources, helping create a pathway to fully implemented plans or actions. We most often assist small, volunteer-run organizations with limited capacities in meeting their mission without being as overwhelmed. Mentors also get the added benefit of honing their skills, creating a network of support, and doing professional development.” MentorCorps began as a pilot program funded the Institute of Museum and Library Services nearly a decade ago. Ten years on, it is a fully actualized technical assistance program of the Oregon Heritage Commission that supports the “Pursue Best Practices” goal of the 2020-2025 Oregon Heritage Plan. This service is offered free to any heritage organization operating within the state of Oregon, but primarily serves museums, libraries, archives, and cultural institutions. Applications open July 1, 2024 and close on August 15, 2024 for the 2024-2025 assistance year. Organizations can reach out to Oregon Heritage Technical Resources Coordinator, Cam Amabile with questions about projects or applications at 971-720-8998 or cam.amabile@oprd.oregon.gov.
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