Become an Ambassador
Black Authors Festival Ambassador Program
Serve With Distinction. Represent With Excellence
The Black Authors Festival @SagHarbor invites poised, service-driven individuals to apply for our curated Festival Ambassador Program.
This is not a general volunteer opportunity. Our Ambassadors serve as the face and standard of a refined cultural institution dedicated to literary excellence, intellectual freedom, and community impact. Each Ambassador plays a critical role in delivering an intentional, seamless, and elevated guest experience.
Ambassador Responsibilities
Ambassadors may be assigned to one of the following curated teams:
Guest Experience & Registration Concierge
• Welcome and check in attendees
• Oversee VIP credentials and access control
• Maintain a calm, polished front-of-house presence
Media & Press Liaison Support
• Assist credentialed media
• Coordinate designated interview areas
• Protect author and VIP boundaries
Production & Event Installation Team
• Assist with staging, signage, program materials
• Support vendor coordination
• Ensure aesthetic standards are maintained
• Participate in post-event breakdown with professionalism
Guest Safety & Access Support
(Security Support Team)
• Monitor entry points
• Maintain VIP boundaries
• Escalate concerns through chain of command
Culinary & Reception Support
(Food & Beverage Team)
• Assist with curated food service areas
• Maintain presentation standards
• Support private VIP and artist receptions
Author & Honoree Hospitality
• Escort authors and honorees
• Ensure green room readiness
• Manage book signing flow
• Serve as cultural stewards of guest experience
Private Artist Showing Support
• Monitor curated exhibition spaces
• Guide VIP guests through viewing areas
Digital & Social Media Team
• Capture approved behind-the-scenes content
• Assist with real-time story coverage
• Support branded graphics distribution
• Coordinate with official media team
Fundraising & Paddle Raise Support
• Assist donor check-in
• Track pledges
• Support patron relations
Commitment Expectations
This is an all-day experience requiring dedication and stamina.
Ambassadors must:
• Have reliable personal transportation
• Arrive early for final briefing and preparation
• Remain on site for the full duration of the Festival
• Stay for structured breakdown if assigned
• Attend mandatory orientation (virtual or in person)
• Complete the online application and screening process
This is a selective placement opportunity
Dress Code & Uniform
• Official Festival Ambassador T-shirt (provided)
• Black tailored trousers or skirt (no denim)
• Closed-toe professional shoes
• Polished grooming and presentation
• Visible credential badge at all times
Our Ambassadors reflect the elegance of the Hamptons and the excellence of our mission.
Ambassador Perks & Benefits
While this is an unpaid volunteer opportunity, the experience is intentionally enriching and professionally rewarding.
Ambassadors receive:
• Direct networking access with authors, public figures, and cultural leaders
• Exposure to high-level event production and nonprofit leadership
• Community service verification (college credits available upon request)
• Professional letter of recommendation (upon successful completion)
• Ambassador certificate of service
• Access to select sessions (schedule permitting)
• Exclusive post-event appreciation reception
• Priority consideration for future leadership roles within the Festival
Why Serve?
The Black Authors Festival is more than an event, it is a movement anchored in this year’s theme: The Right To Write
By serving as an Ambassador, you become part of a living legacy that uplifts literacy equity, protects First Amendment rights, and advances cultural excellence.
This is an opportunity to contribute meaningfully while building professional capital within an upscale, mission-driven environment.
How to Apply
All prospective Ambassadors must complete the official application below. Due to the curated nature of the program, placements are limited.
Selected applicants will be contacted for next steps.
This is a curated Ambassador experience. Due to the nature of the Festival, Ambassador placement is selective and aligned with the mission, professionalism, and excellence of the event.
Please, No Phone Calls. Please do not apply more than once or your application will be denied.
Applications close on Friday, June 20th
Ambassadors MUST be available for ALL Orientations and Meetings
Become An Intern
NextGen Leadership & Fellowship Program
Where Talent Meets Opportunity Program Overview
The Black Authors Festival NextGen Leadership & Fellowship Program is a high-level experiential opportunity designed for ambitious juniors, seniors, graduate students, and select advanced high school students seeking more than a traditional internship.
This program places participants at the center of nationally recognized cultural and technology institutions, where they gain meaningful, hands-on experience alongside bestselling authors, media professionals, nonprofit executives, and public leaders.
This is not observational. This is immersive, responsibility-driven experience designed to accelerate professional growth.
Why a Fellowship?
This program is intentionally structured as a Fellowship-level internship experience.
A fellowship represents:
• a selective and prestigious opportunity
• a focus on leadership, development, and impact
• an environment where participants are invested in, not simply assigned tasks
• access to high-level exposure, mentorship, and influence
While traditional internships are often task-oriented, this program is designed to position participants as emerging professionals, individuals being developed, not just utilized.
In essence:
An internship offers experience
A fellowship offers elevation, access, and trajectory
What Fellows Will Experience
Participants will be embedded within key operational areas of the festival, including:
Media & Public Relations
• Assist with press outreach and media coordination
• Support interviews with authors, honorees, and special guests
Event Production
• Support event logistics, scheduling, and guest flow
• Assist with backstage coordination and live programming execution
Author & Talent Relations
• Work directly with authors and speakers
• Coordinate book signings and hospitality experiences
Marketing & Digital Media
• Capture content, interviews, and behind-the-scenes moments
• Support social media strategy and digital storytelling
Community Engagement
• Assist with audience engagement and outreach
• Support partnerships with local organizations and attendees
Why Participate
Fellows gain more than experience—they gain positioning
Career Advantage
• Real-world experience with a nationally recognized cultural institution
• Exposure to media, publishing, nonprofit, and leadership environments
Professional Access
• Direct interaction with industry professionals and decision-makers
• Networking with authors, media leaders, and cultural influencers
Portfolio Development
• Tangible, resume-worthy work with measurable outcomes
• Content and project experience that can be presented to future employers
Long-Term Opportunity
• Priority consideration for future paid roles
• Letters of recommendation and professional endorsements
• Increased confidence, clarity, and career direction
Understanding the Value
While this program may not initially offer monetary compensation, it provides something significantly more valuable:
Access! Exposure! Acceleration!
Participants gain:
• experience that typically takes years to acquire
• proximity to high-level professionals
• the ability to command higher value in future roles
This is not simply participation, it is an investment in long-term earning potential, leadership development, and professional positioning
Academic Alignment
This program may be structured as:
• an experiential learning opportunity
• eligible for academic credit (where applicable)
• aligned with university career readiness initiatives
Eligibility & Application
• Must be currently enrolled in high school, college, or university
• Juniors, seniors, and graduate students strongly encouraged to apply
• Placement is based on organizational needs and applicant strengths
• Applicants may not be assigned to their first-choice area
Timeline
• Applications: Ongoing (Sag Harbor & Atlanta)
• Orientation: Mandatory for all selected participants
• Selected candidates will be contacted directly
Important Notes
• All participants must attend required orientation sessions
• Professional conduct and active participation are expected
• No phone inquiries, please
Final Positioning
This is not simply an internship
It is a launchpad for emerging leaders
A space where talent is refined, access is granted, and individuals are positioned to lead, before entering the marketplace
The Invitation
If you are ready to move beyond theory and step into real-world impact, we invite you to apply.
Press/Media Registration
Media & Press Inquiries
The Black Authors Festival at Sag Harbor welcomes thoughtful, professional media coverage that uplifts Black literature, cultural leadership, and intellectual freedom.
As a platform dedicated to preserving Black stories and protecting First Amendment rights, we are committed to partnering with media professionals who approach their work with integrity, cultural awareness, and journalistic excellence.
All members of the press must be credentialed in advance. Due to the high-profile nature of our honorees and featured authors, interviews are scheduled at the discretion of the Festival’s Media Relations Team.
All press inquiries must be submitted via the media form below. Submissions will be reviewed, and we will only contact approved media partners.
We look forward to collaborating with media partners who value narrative preservation, literary excellence, and cultural impact.
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