Volunteer at the Freedom Center

Do you love the history of the Underground Railroad? As an Exhibit Interpreter, you can be involved with overall responsibility to help create an excellent visitor experience for Freedom Center guests by engaging in dialogue, participating in collaborative learning, and sharing the knowledge gained from a 10-week+ training program. This is a great opportunity for individuals who are looking for a continually meaningful volunteer experience. Opportunities available Tuesday-Sunday 11am to 5pm.

Are you excited by the chance to be an Exhibit Guide, but you work or go to school full time? No problem! The Freedom Center plays host to all sorts of groups during evening private events, and they often request that trained exhibit guides be on hand to interpret exhibits and enhance their experience. As a Special Event Guide, you'd be trained in Underground Railroad history, interpretive techniques, and more alongside other guides in our 10-week program and would then be available to work evening events. Opportunities available all evenings from 5 to 10pm (and beyond!)

Are you interested in history and genealogy? Want to learn more and help others track their family history? The Family Search Center provides free genealogy help to the public and is entirely run by volunteers. All you need is comfort with the computer, an ability to interact well with people, and an interest in genealogy-we'll train you in genealogy research techniques so you can help out effectively! Opportunities available Tuesday-Saturday 11am to 4pm.

The Gift Shop Associates staff the sales floor, providing customer service to our guests by helping them with their selections and answering questions about the merchandise and the Freedom Center in general. As a gift shop associate, you will also help restock merchandise in the store, straighten throughout the day, and help put together eye-catching displays. Opportunities available Tuesday-Sunday 11am to 5pm

Want to bring the Freedom Center to the community? Each year a group of talented individuals are trained to become official speakers for the Speakers Bureau, then visit groups in the community to talk about the Freedom Center's mission, exhibits and programs, and encourage community members to visit. This is a great opportunity to be an ambassador for the Freedom Center, with flexible hours and commitment levels

Love to sing? Want to contribute your voice to the cause of freedom? Join the Voices of Freedom Choir! Several performances are scheduled throughout the year at the Freedom Center and in the community. Rehearsals are every other Tuesday evening at the Freedom Center.

For those who are unavailable for or uninterested in the regular volunteer positions listed above, being an "on-call" volunteer is an opportunity get involved on an occasional basis. As an on-call volunteer, you'd receive biweekly Freedom Conductor email updates with, among other things, short-term or one-time opportunities to volunteer. If any of these interest you or fit your schedule, you are free to accept these opportunities. There are no expectations or requirements for regular hours. Short-term and one-time opportunities have in the past included greeting guests at special events, working an information booth for the Freedom Center, at-home data entry, clerical work, and helping to plan events and programs. As an on-call volunteer, you will also be informed of training and information sessions for regular volunteer positions, and are welcome at any time to "upgrade" to a more consistent position

Program Overview

The SmartSavers curriculum is composed of one (1) orientation workshop and a series nine (9) comprehensive financial education workshops that focus on various topics pertaining to personal financial management and economic education. These workshops provide participants with tools and techniques to control spending, increase savings, identify financial goals and become "smart consumers." Additional workshops provide critical information related to understanding credit, purchasing a home or automobile, and avoiding "rip-offs" and scams.

Arrangements will be made to provide UBS employees with SmartMoney Community Services' (SMCS) train-the-trainer curriculum. This will enable UBS workshop presenters the ability to teach any of the nine (9) workshop topics. All workshops will be conducted at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and will be scheduled the first Tuesday of each month from 3:30 pm –5:30 pm for the duration of the program. A member of SMCS staff will conduct the orientation workshop. Additionally, SMCS staff will provide ongoing program support to the UBS employees who facilitate workshops.

Position Description

We are seeking energetic individuals to present financial education workshops to diverse groups of Cincinnati Public School students from targeted neighborhoods in Over-the-Rhine, Walnut Hills, Avondale, Price Hill, Westwood, Fairmount, Coryville, Clifton, Winton Hills, Bond Hill, Evanston, Madisonville, Mt. Washington, Lincoln Heights and other communities in the public school district.

Workshops will include topics such as: Basic Budgeting; Money Management and Goal Setting; Basic Principles of Credit I; Banking and Financial Institutions; Basic Principles of Purchasing an Automobile; Avoiding Consumer Fraud, Rips and Scams; Basic Principles of Credit II; Introduction to Home ownership; and Principles of Employment and Career Development