🟢 BOT’S PLACE — AMERICORPS VISTA CONCEPT PAPER 

Applicant Organization: Leatherwood MATTERS (501(c)(3))
Location: Greenville, South Carolina  

Strengthening communities by building sustainable systems that recover lost records, restore veteran recognition, and expand civic engagement in underserved populations.

Greenville, South Carolina (City of Greenville and Greenville County) will serve as the primary project area.

Implementation focus is Richland Cemetery and surrounding historically African American communities along the East Stone Avenue corridor. The project will serve low-income residents, descendants of those interred, and veterans and military families within the Upstate region of South Carolina. While the initial implementation is place-based, the system developed through this project is designed to be scalable and replicable across additional historic cemeteries throughout South Carolina and nationally, particularly in underserved communities where burial records have been lost or are incomplete.

Leatherwood MATTERS’ mission is to preserve community history, expand equitable access to historical records, and strengthen civic engagement in underserved communities.

The proposed VISTA project aligns with the Economic Opportunity and Veterans and Military Families focus areas.

The VISTA project will seek to design and implement a replicable system that reconstructs burial records and restores public access to historically underserved cemetery data, while identifying and documenting veterans and strengthening civic engagement, and expects to benefit low-income residents, descendants of those interred, and veterans and military families, including an estimated 1,000–1,200 individuals in the initial phase.

Two (2) VISTA members will contribute to the goals of the project by performing activities such as developing systems for grave mapping and site data collection, establishing archival and research standards, creating processes for record verification and data integration, and building digital access tools, partnerships, and volunteer engagement systems over the course of 36 months.

📌 NEED (PROBLEM)

Richland Cemetery holds over a century of African American history, yet a catastrophic fire destroyed the original burial records. Today, burial information is fragmented, graves are inconsistently mapped, and no unified system connects physical locations to verified records.

As a result:

• Families cannot reliably locate or confirm burial sites

• Community members lack access to ancestral and cultural history

• Historically underserved and low-income populations face barriers to identity, heritage, and recognition

This loss disproportionately impacts low-income communities, where families often lack access to private records, paid genealogical services, or legal documentation needed to verify burial sites and family history. Without a centralized and accessible system, these barriers persist across generations.

Greenville County is home to approximately 26,000–28,500 veterans, with more than 349,000 veterans residing across South Carolina. While veteran unemployment in South Carolina is relatively low, at approximately 1.7%, this indicates that employment is not the primary barrier. Instead, challenges related to access, documentation, and recognition persist, particularly for low-income and underserved populations. Veterans also represent approximately 12% of the homeless population in South Carolina, highlighting ongoing vulnerability among certain groups.

Despite this, no structured system exists to identify or document veterans buried in historic cemeteries such as Richland. Based on historical service patterns, it is estimated that 10–20% of individuals buried at Richland Cemetery may be veterans. Due to the loss of records, many remain unidentified, representing a significant gap in public recognition, historical documentation, and equitable access to legacy.

The lack of accessible and verified burial records has a direct impact on the local community, particularly for low-income residents and descendants who rely on public systems to access historical and legal information. Without reliable records, families are unable to confirm burial locations, preserve family history, or access documentation required for legal, financial, or veteran-related benefits. This contributes to reduced civic participation, loss of cultural identity, and limited access to resources that support long-term economic stability and community connection.

In Greenville, Black households have a median income of approximately $29,800, compared to over $68,000 for the broader population, reflecting a significant and persistent economic disparity. These disparities are linked to long-standing structural barriers that have limited access to resources, documentation, and institutional systems over time. The loss of burial records at Richland Cemetery further compounds these challenges, leaving many families without access to verified records, ancestral connections, or formal recognition of those interred.

Without accessible and verified records, low-income families face additional barriers to establishing identity, accessing benefits, preserving family history, and participating fully in civic life. It is estimated that Richland Cemetery contains approximately 1,500–2,000 graves, with a substantial portion remaining unverified and disconnected from accessible records, directly impacting an estimated 1,000+ individuals in the surrounding community.

Currently, no comprehensive, standardized, or scalable system exists to reconstruct burial records, verify identities, and connect individuals to confirmed grave locations. Without intervention, this gap will continue to limit equitable access to historical records, hinder veteran recognition, and prevent communities from preserving and engaging with their shared history.

These needs remain unmet due to the absence of a coordinated, system-based approach that combines historical research, data standardization, and community engagement. Existing efforts are fragmented, resource-limited, and not designed for long-term scalability or public access. Local institutions and community organizations have knowledge and interest but lack the infrastructure, staffing capacity, and standardized systems needed to address the problem comprehensively. AmeriCorps VISTA resources are uniquely suited to address this gap by building the systems, partnerships, and volunteer infrastructure necessary to create a sustainable and scalable solution.

This project aligns with the AmeriCorps VISTA focus area of Veterans and Military Families by addressing the lack of identification, documentation, and recognition of veterans buried in historically underserved cemeteries. Although the project operates outside traditional service areas such as employment, education, or health, it addresses a critical gap in access to records that disproportionately affects low-income veteran families. By developing systems to identify and document veterans, the project expands equitable access to records, supports recognition and connection for veteran families, and addresses long-standing gaps in documentation that limit participation in civic and support systems.

The scope and complexity of this problem require a phased, multi-year approach:

• Year 1 – Take Flight  

• Year 2 – System Integration  

• Year 3 – Polish and Handoff to the City of Greenville

Bot’s Place will implement a structured, repeatable system to reconstruct burial records, restore public access to historical data, and strengthen long-term community capacity in underserved areas.

The project will actively engage low-income community members, descendants, and local stakeholders in both the development and implementation of the system. Engagement will be centered through partnerships with local churches and ministers, including Mattoon Presbyterian Church, a historic African-American institution founded in 1878 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with formal recognition by the City of Greenville for its historical significance. As a long-standing center for education, community support, and cultural preservation, Mattoon Presbyterian Church and similar institutions hold deep knowledge of families and community members. These trusted institutions will help guide data collection priorities, support record verification through shared knowledge, and connect descendants to the project.

Community members will also participate through volunteer engagement efforts, contributing local knowledge, supporting data validation, and helping ensure that records accurately reflect community history. This approach ensures that the project is community-informed, locally grounded, and supported by those it is intended to benefit.

This community engagement approach is supported by clearly defined roles across project staff and VISTA members.

Frontline community engagement activities, including family interviews and oral history collection, will be conducted by trained historians and project staff. VISTA members will not perform frontline or direct service activities; instead, they will focus on developing the systems, tools, and processes that support and expand this work. This distinction ensures compliance with AmeriCorps VISTA requirements while building long-term organizational capacity.

The VISTA project will focus on building sustainable infrastructure rather than providing direct service. VISTA members will develop systems for grave mapping and site data collection, establish archival and genealogical research frameworks, create standardized processes for record verification and data integration, and design structured digital profiles. VISTA members will also build QR-linked access systems and develop partnerships and volunteer engagement systems to support ongoing participation.

A centralized database with defined documentation standards will ensure accuracy, consistency, and long-term usability. Each grave will be digitally linked to a verified record accessible on-site through QR codes, online through a public-facing platform, and in formats compatible with municipal and institutional systems.

The project will also establish systems to identify and document veterans, including partnerships with organizations such as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and regional veteran-serving organizations. These systems will support long-term recognition and documentation efforts.

Sustainability is built into the project through standardized systems, institutional partnerships, and ongoing community engagement. The project is supported by active collaboration with the City of Greenville’s Richland Cemetery Advisory Committee, ensuring alignment with long-term preservation efforts and integration into existing community and municipal structures.

Partnerships with local churches, volunteers, and community stakeholders will support continued data collection, record verification, and participation beyond the VISTA term. By establishing clear documentation standards, scalable database infrastructure, and volunteer engagement systems, the project ensures that the work will continue without reliance on VISTA resources. These efforts create a sustainable model that supports long-term preservation, public access, and community stewardship.

The project will produce measurable outputs and outcomes, including:

Outputs:

• Mapping and documentation of approximately 1,500–2,000 graves

• Identification and verification of 150–300 veterans

• Development of one centralized, publicly accessible database system

• Establishment of 5–8 community and institutional partnerships

• Engagement of 25–50 community volunteers in data collection and validation

Outcomes:

• Increased access to verified burial records for 1,000+ individuals

• Improved identification and recognition of veterans in historically underserved communities

• Strengthened community capacity to maintain and expand records through volunteer and partner systems

• Creation of a replicable model for expansion to additional cemetery sites

In Greenville, African-American households have a median income of approximately $29,800, compared to over $68,000 for the broader population, reflecting a significant economic disparity. These disparities are linked to long-standing barriers that have limited access to resources, documentation, and institutional systems over time. The loss of burial records at Richland Cemetery further compounds these challenges, leaving many families without access to verified records, ancestral connections, or formal recognition.

This project addresses these poverty-related barriers by expanding access to historical records and identity verification through a centralized system. The approach builds on prior AmeriCorps VISTA experience demonstrating that structured systems and community-based engagement lead to measurable improvements in access, participation, and long-term outcomes.

Ultimately, the project strengthens the community by restoring access to historical identity, enabling recognition of veterans, and creating a sustainable system that supports ongoing preservation, engagement, and equitable access to public historical resources.

Leatherwood MATTERS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to preserving community history, expanding equitable access to historical records, and strengthening civic engagement in underserved communities. The organization specializes in building sustainable systems that restore and amplify historically underrepresented community narratives, addressing barriers faced by low-income populations through improved access to records, identity verification, and community-based resources that support long-term civic and economic participation.

The organization has demonstrated the capacity to design, implement, and manage multi-member AmeriCorps VISTA projects that produce measurable, system-level outcomes.

Leatherwood MATTERS has prior experience managing a national AmeriCorps VISTA program consisting of eight members. Through this program, the organization established structured systems for supervision, reporting, compliance, and performance management, demonstrating the ability to effectively oversee multi-member VISTA projects and achieve measurable outcomes.

Prior VISTA Impact & Demonstrated Results

Leatherwood MATTERS has a proven track record of deploying VISTA members to build systems that produce measurable, sustainable community impact. In a prior initiative serving foster and at-risk minority youth, the organization implemented a structured 1:1 mentorship model serving approximately 10 participants annually over a three-year period.

AmeriCorps VISTA members strengthened organizational infrastructure and improved service delivery through:

• Redesigning individualized support systems aligned with educational standards

• Developing a structured conflict resolution framework for high-risk populations

• Establishing data tracking and intervention systems to monitor progress and inform decision-making

These improvements resulted in measurable outcomes:

• Suspension rates decreased from approximately 70% to less than 10%

• Participants improved from an average of two grade levels behind to meeting or exceeding grade-level performance

• Participants demonstrated increased stability, engagement, and readiness for structured environments

The program received recognition from the Kansas City School District and the Missouri foster care system for its effectiveness in improving outcomes for high-need populations. These results demonstrate the organization’s ability to leverage VISTA resources to build durable systems that generate long-term impact.

Organizational leadership has also received state-level recognition, including the Service Firm of the Year award from the Governor of Missouri for excellence in delivering high-impact services. Additionally, expertise connected to the U.S. Department of Education’s Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) framework has informed program design and system development, strengthening the organization’s capacity for structured, compliant, and scalable implementation.

Project Leadership

The project will be supervised by Ms. Bessie Johnson, Chief Archivist, who brings expertise in archival research, historical documentation, and community-based preservation. She will provide supervision, onboarding, training, and ongoing performance management to ensure effective implementation and alignment with project goals.

VISTA Structure (2 Members)

To ensure both depth and continuity, the project will be supported by two VISTA members with distinct roles:

Data Systems & Research VISTA

• Develop and manage digital database systems

• Establish documentation and archival standards

• Conduct record verification and historical data integration

• Lead grave mapping system design and site data collection

Partnerships & Volunteer Systems VISTA

• Build and manage community partnerships

• Develop volunteer engagement systems

• Lead outreach and community participation strategies

• Coordinate volunteer-supported data collection and documentation

This dual-member structure ensures continuity, reduces project risk, and supports simultaneous development of both technical infrastructure and community engagement systems.

Systems & Supervision

Leatherwood MATTERS maintains structured systems for VISTA management, including:

• Weekly one-on-one supervision meetings

• Monthly performance evaluations

• Standardized reporting and data tracking processes

• Clear work plans aligned with project outputs and outcomes

These systems ensure accountability, consistency, and measurable progress while supporting VISTA member development and retention.

Partnerships & Resources

The organization is developing partnerships with libraries, archival institutions, preservation groups, veteran-serving organizations, and public-sector stakeholders to support archival access, training, data collection, and community engagement.

VISTA members will gain workforce-ready skills in data systems development, archival research, and community collaboration. Training opportunities will include participation in the South Carolina Historic Preservation Conference and the Preserving Historic Cemeteries Workshop.

Leatherwood MATTERS will provide VISTA members with dedicated workspace, technology, and tools, including cameras, GPS-enabled devices, and access to archival systems. Additional support will include staff coordination, trained volunteers, and university student researchers contributing to data validation and system development.

The project will also establish systems for capturing and preserving oral histories, with documentation aligned for potential submission to national archival institutions where appropriate.

Cost-Sharing
Leatherwood MATTERS does not plan to provide cost-sharing support at this time.