The Dirt

Overview

Sustainable Food Center (SFC) cultivates a healthy community by strengthening the local food system and improving access to nutritious, affordable food. SFC’s Grow Local program offers the resources and education to enable children and adults in Central Texas to develop skills in organic food production, as well as an understanding of the importance of local food production for the health and well-being of themselves, their families and community, and the environment. We are looking for a dynamic, English-Spanish bilingual, organized individual to coordinate Grow Local’s classes and trainings, manage the Citizen Gardener program, and provide support to new and existing community gardens.

Position Description

The Education & Community Garden Coordinator AmeriCorps*VISTA will oversee administration of Grow Local’s organic food gardening classes and garden leadership trainings, including the Citizen Gardener education and volunteering program. The VISTA will also share responsibility for coordinating SFC’s fiscal sponsorship of community gardens and offering support to new and existing community gardens in the Austin area. Additionally, the VISTA will help enhance and expand Grow Local’s class and outreach materials to make them more culturally relevant and appropriate for recent-immigrant and/or low-income Austin residents.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate scheduling and logistics for Basic Organic Gardening, Citizen Gardener, and specialized topic gardening classes and for School and Community Garden Leadership trainings
• Coordinate Basic Organic Gardening and Citizen Gardener teacher trainings
• Oversee and track Citizen Gardener volunteer hours
• Administrate Citizen Gardener Facebook page and newsletter
• Assist with planning and logistics of Citizen Gardener graduation events
• Conduct outreach, material preparation, and follow-up for all Grow Local classes
• Assist with enhancement and expansion of Grow Local class and outreach materials to improve cultural relevance and appropriateness for recent-immigrant and/or low-income Austin residents
• >Revise and update class materials in English and Spanish as needed
• Create and distribute Grow Local Gardening Information email
• Manage SFC community garden sponsorship
• Assist with development and implementation of expanded assistance protocol for community gardens

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Arts or Sciences or appropriate experience
• MUST be bilingual (English/Spanish). Excellent written and oral communication skills in both languages.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team>
• Strong time management and organizational skills with ability to manage multiple projects
• Strong fiscal management skills
• Computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office (proficiency in Adobe InDesign & web application is a plus)
• Knowledge and experience with food gardening, farm-to-school, and healthy cooking preferred
• Ability to work a flexible schedule
• Reliable transportation
• Dedicated team-player who is culturally sensitive
• Dynamic personality with good sense of humor and appreciation for healthy, local food.

Compensation: Sustainable Food Center is an equal opportunity employer; women and people of color are encouraged to apply. This is a full-time (40 hours per week), one-year position. Serving as an AmeriCorps*VISTA member, you are eligible for the following: living allowance of $11,136 per year, health insurance, childcare assistance, professional development opportunities, student loan deferment, assistance with relocation costs, and, upon completion of the program, a choice of a $5,550 education award or a $1,500 cash stipend.

To Apply:

Apply through AmeriCorps website: https://my.americorps.gov/ AND

Email resume, cover letter, three references, and a Spanish/English writing sample (1 page) to Sari Albornoz, Grow Local Director at sari AT sustainablefoodcenter DOT org.

No phone calls, por favor.

Applications accepted until May 20, 2013. Position begins August 13, 2013.

To learn more about Sustainable Food Center, go to: www.sustainablefoodcenter.org. To learn more about VISTA, go to http://www.americorps.gov/about/programs/vista.asp

SFC welcomes AmeriCorps*VISTA members Toi Scott and Vanessa Toro. Toi will work with the Sprouting Healthy Kids project, connecting school wellness leadership teams with SFC’s programs, such as school and community gardening, farm-to-school promotions, and healthy cooking classes. Toi has a masters in Health Advocacy and a strong background in community organizing, environmental justice, and diversity training. Vanessa will also work a portion of her time with Sprouting Healthy Kids, but will primarily focus on building capacity within the Grow Local program to refine and strengthen our Citizen Gardener trainings. Vanessa graduated with honors from Southwestern University in Environmental Studies and Biology, where she helped develop and expand the community garden and coordinated campus composting educational events.

Overview

Sustainable Food Center (SFC) cultivates a healthy community by strengthening the local food system and improving access to nutritious, affordable food. SFC’s Grow Local program offers the resources and education to enable children and adults in Central Texas to develop skills in organic food production, as well as an understanding of the importance of local food production for the health and well-being of themselves, their families and community, and the environment. SFC’s Sprouting Healthy Kids project is a farm-to-school and food systems education initiative that includes incorporation of locally grown fresh foods into school cafeterias, plus in-class and after-school gardening and cooking educational activities. We are looking for a dynamic, bilingual, relational individual to administer SFC’s train-the trainer Citizen Gardener gardening and volunteer program, and to organize community members in schools and neighborhoods for SFC’s Sprouting Healthy Kids middle school partners.

Position Description

The Education Coordinator & Community Health Organizer AmeriCorps*VISTA will oversee administration of Citizen Gardener classes and teacher trainings, as well as assist with administration of other Grow Local classes and trainings. Assistance will also be provided for Grow Local’s Spread the Harvest gardening and food-sharing program. The VISTA will also work through underserved middle schools in Austin to develop, support, and facilitate school wellness teams consisting of parents, teachers, and community leaders, and will connect these wellness teams to SFC’s Sprouting Healthy Kids programs and services.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate scheduling and logistics of Citizen Gardener classes and teacher trainings
• Prepare teacher materials and carry out Citizen Gardener class follow-up activities
• Oversee and track Citizen Gardener volunteer hours
• Assist with planning and logistics of Citizen Gardener graduation events
• Conduct outreach, material preparation, and follow-up for other Grow Local classes
• Manage Spread the Harvest participant database & assist with planning of resource give-away events
• Translate Grow Local class materials into Spanish as needed
• Assist middle school wellness teams with growing their stakeholder participation
• Provide support to wellness teams by assisting with school and community programming activities and connecting to SFC resources

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Arts or Sciences or appropriate experience
• MUST be bilingual (English/Spanish)
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in both English and Spanish
• Ability to relate to and connect with individuals and groups in low-income communities
• Must have community organizing skills and a familiarity with school settings
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Must be organized and detail oriented
• Computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office (proficiency in Adobe InDesign & web application is a plus)
• Knowledge and experience with food gardening, farm-to-school, and healthy cooking preferred
• Ability to work a flexible schedule
• Reliable transportation

Compensation

Sustainable Food Center is an equal opportunity employer; women and people of color are encouraged to apply. This is a full-time (40 hours per week), one-year position. Serving as an AmeriCorps*VISTA member, you are eligible for the following: living allowance of $11,232 per year, health insurance, childcare assistance, professional development opportunities, student loan deferment, and, upon completion of the program, a choice of a $4,725 education award or a $1,200 cash stipend.

Application Instructions

To apply, email resume, cover letter, three references, and a Spanish/English writing sample (1 page) to Sari Albornoz, Grow Local Co-Director, at sari at sustainablefoodcenter dot org. Interested applicants MUST also apply through AmeriCorps at https://my.americorps.gov/.

No phone calls, por favor.

Resumes accepted until May 25, 2012. Position begins July 17, 2012.

To learn more about Sustainable Food Center, go to: www.sustainablefoodcenter.org. To learn more about VISTA, go to www.americorps.org/about/programs/vista.asp.

Overview

Sustainable Food Center (SFC) cultivates a healthy community by strengthening the local food system and improving access to nutritious, affordable food. Sustainable Food Center is hiring an individual through the Americorps*VISTA program of the Corporation for National and Community Service to organize school-based wellness teams that will plan and implement comprehensive health programming. SFC’s Sprouting Healthy Kids project is a farm-to-school and food-systems education initiative that includes incorporation of locally grown fresh foods into school cafeterias, plus in-class and after-school gardening and cooking educational activities. SFC partners with Marathon Kids, a free six-month endurance building running/walking and nutrition program for K-5th public, private and home-schooled children and their families. We are looking for a dynamic, bilingual, relational individual to organize community members in schools and neighborhoods for a Sustainable Food Center/Marathon Kids partnership project and provide capacity building support of SFC’s other program areas. Monthly living allowance and end-of-service stipend or education award provided through the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Position Description

The AmeriCorps*VISTA member will work through under-served middle and elementary schools in Austin to develop, support, and facilitate school wellness teams consisting of parents, teachers, and community leaders. VISTA will support the teams through the planning, implementation, and leadership development phases of a comprehensive school and community-based nutrition program, with a focus on local food systems efforts such as local food in cafeterias, community and school gardening, healthy cooking classes, and the Marathon Kids physical activity program. The AmeriCorps*VISTA member will also work with SFC Farmers’ Market staff to improve the capacity of the markets to serve lower-income clients and to meet environmental sustainability goals. Candidate must be fluent in Spanish and pass a written and oral fluency interview.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have an ability to relate to and connect with individuals and groups within the communities in which the work will be done. Candidate must be fluent in both English and Spanish, and must be able to commit to the Americorps*VISTA terms of service. The ideal candidate will have extensive community organizing skills and experience, a familiarity with both school settings and farmers’ markets, and knowledge of farm-to-school, community gardening, and healthy cooking. Bachelors degree preferred, but appropriate experience may be substituted. Applicants must be able to inspire school, neighborhood, and parent stakeholders to commit to building a program that addresses the fitness and nutrition needs of the community. Candidate must have their own transportation.

Primary Functions

• Identify and meet with potential leaders from among school stakeholders (current district and school program leaders, teachers, parents, neighbors, other community organizations) to identify those who will lead the nutrition/fitness program that includes elements of Marathon Kids and Sustainable Food Center’s Cultivating Healthy Communities initiative.
• Organize planning and training sessions with wellness teams on healthy food efforts, local food systems projects and physical activity programs.
• Connect wellness teams with SFC resources and other community resources to provide support and monitoring for school and neighborhood programming activities.
• Assist in the development and delivery of both formal and informal team leadership development training for wellness team members.
• Assist market staff with improving connections between SFC Farmers’ Market efforts and traditional underserved customers.
• Review current farmers’ market operations and develop recommendations for environmental sustainability.

Compensation

Sustainable Food Center is an equal opportunity employer; women and people of color are encouraged to apply. This is a full-time (40 hours per week), one-year position. Members of AmeriCorps*VISTA are eligible for a: living allowance of $11,232 per year, health insurance, childcare assistance, student loan deferment, and, upon completion of the program, a choice of a $4,725 education award or a $1,200 cash stipend.

Application Instructions

To apply, send by email a cover letter, resume, three references, and Spanish and English writing samples (1 page each) to Andrew W. Smiley, Projects Director, andrew@sustainablefoodcenter.org.

Interested applicants MUST also apply through AmeriCorps at https://my.americorps.gov

Applications accepted until May 25, 2012. Position begins July 17, 2012.

To learn more about Sustainable Food Center, go to: www.sustainablefoodcenter.org. To learn more about VISTA, go to www.americorps.org/about/programs/vista.asp.