New Roots Healthy Futures AmeriCorps

Job Description

Background: New Roots Charlottesville supports refugee food security and aids in their transition to the community through gardening, nutrition education, local food access initiatives, and small-scale farming.

Scope of Work: The Healthy Futures AmeriCorps Member provides hands–on and administrative support to the New Roots Food and Agriculture Program including outreach, education, research, marketing, record keeping, and event planning.

Responsibilities:

•Develop New Roots’ role in cultural orientation for Refugees and New Americans by adapting and implementing nutrition education and grocery store orientation programs

•Support New Roots gardeners in accessing produce markets and customer relations (farmers market, restaurants, wholesale markets)

•Coordinate annual data collection, analysis, and visualization activities including participant surveys and household food security assessments

•Assist with developing educational materials and workshops on agriculture and food safety topics

•Coordinate internal and external communications through a variety of platforms to reach an audience of New Roots gardeners and the broader community

•Assist current and future New Roots gardeners with the annual garden application process

•Visit garden sites regularly to provide support to gardeners and volunteers (update community announcements boards, monitor/address site maintenance needs)

•Maintain and update detailed maps of each garden and farm location

•Assist with sourcing garden tools, supplies, and seeds through partnerships, donations, and purchasing

•Assist with administrative tasks including record keeping in the IRC case management system

•Collaborate with partner organizations to support holistic food security and equity in the broader Charlottesville region

•Record hours and submit a timesheet

Qualifications

•Strong organizational skills, motivated, and able to work independently and in a team

•Reliable, responsible, punctual and professional

•Flexible, able to work in a fast-paced environment, including weekend and evening work

•Experience managing public communications platforms (social media, newsletters, and outreach activities)

•Willingness to perform manual labor outdoors in all weather conditions, farm or garden experience a plus

•Experience teaching, leading workshops, and/or facilitating meetings

•Comfortable working in a multicultural setting

•Fluent in English, ability to communicate with limited English speakers, experience working with diverse populations a plus

•Bilingual skills in a language relevant to Charlottesville refugee populations is a plus

•Proficient user of Microsoft Suite

•Valid driver’s license, active insurance policy, and access to reliable transportation

Upon completion of service, AmeriCorps member will be eligible for an education award of approx. $6,895.

Proposed activities will be supported, in part, with federal funds from the AmeriCorps State program subgranted through the Commonwealth of Virginia, Virginia Department of Social Services. Activities are contingent upon funding availability and award from AmeriCorps.