Job Opportunity - Youth Culinary Education AmeriCorps VISTA

[Land Jobs Stuff – RI + MA + CT ag]

Organization Information

Begun in 2004 as a student thesis project at Brown University, Farm Fresh Rhode Island has grown briskly to capture the public interest in locally grown food and translate it into sales for RI farmers and producers. Strongly mission-driven, Farm Fresh RI achieved 501c3 status in 2007, and has since implemented a variety of programs to enhance the local food system of the Rhode Island region, with particular attention to farm viability and low-income access to fresh food. Farm Fresh RI operates a wide range of marketplace programs (retail, wholesale, processing) that engage and connect tens of thousands of RI, MA and CT eaters with thousands of RI, MA and CT farmers.

Mission: Farm Fresh RI is growing a local food system that values the environment, health and quality of life of RI farmers and eaters.

Vision: A New England abundant with diverse family farms and fertile soils, with locally and honestly produced foods and flavors at the heart of every dinner table.

Position Description

Farm Fresh Rhode Island seeks an outgoing and energetic Youth Culinary Education AmeriCorps VISTA member with demonstrated initiative and clear organizational communication skills to build capacity for Farm Fresh RI’s Harvest Kitchen program. Harvest Kitchen is a 15-week culinary and job-readiness training program for youth involved with the Department of Children Youth and Families (DCYF). Our youth trainees create a line of high-quality preserved foods using ingredients sourced from local farms, while building a stable foundation to maintain employment beyond their time with Harvest Kitchen. This position offers a unique opportunity to support existing trainees through curriculum enhancement and evaluation, develop partnerships with local social service agencies, and assist Harvest Kitchen program staff in referring and supporting youth trainees to additional programs beyond the Harvest Kitchen program. Position to begin in July 2019.

Primary Responsibilities

• Refine existing Harvest Kitchen training curriculum to deepen activities around food security, farming, and community economic development .
• Refine existing trainee tracking and program performance measurement systems.
• Research current and past Harvest Kitchen internship partners to identify relationship status.
• Streamline internal Harvest Kitchen internship referral process.
• Cultivate relationships with potential new internship sites.
• Seek opportunities for collaboration between Harvest Kitchen trainees and outside organization programs and services.

Required Skills

• Excellent professional communication skills (written and verbal)
• Great attention to detail
• Self starter and ability to maintain a self-motivating attitude
• Ability to collaborate and work as part of a team
• Excellent time-management skills
• Ability to think, react, iterate, and redirect in a fast-paced environment
• Proficient with Microsoft Office suite
• Ability to prioritize and handle a variety of assignments simultaneously in a vibrant work environment
• Ability to lift 50 lb.
• Spanish skills or other language skills a plus

To Apply

1. Please review the information about becoming an AmeriCorps VISTA member at: http://www.americorps.gov/about/programs/vista.asp
2. Next, go to https://my.americorps.gov/mp/login.do and click "Search Listings."
3. For the search, select the “Rhode Island” and “AmeriCorps VISTA” options. Scroll until you find this position, click on it, and choose “Apply Now.”
4. Submit your application including two (2) references. Note: Applications must be submitted through this AmeriCorps VISTA process; Farm Fresh Rhode Island cannot accept applications directly.