The Presbyterian Hunger Program – PCUSA is looking to hire 12 full-time Anti-Hunger Opportunity Corps VISTA volunteers starting February, 2014.
Are you passionate about supporting community-driven solutions to injustices in the food system, locally and nationally?
If selected, you will work with a team of VISTAs in one of three cities – Louisville, Cincinnati or Indianapolis, to build capacity and work with them to build the power of the grassroots toward positive change. Preference given to people from and planning to stay in those areas. Candidates should send resumes and cover letters by Friday, November 29.
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Presbyterian Hunger Program (PHP) – Jobs Announcement
PHP plans to host 10-12 full-time Anti-Hunger Empowerment Corps VISTA volunteers for 12 months starting Feb. 2014. Four people will be based out of the PCUSA national offices in Louisville, Kentucky, and the others will be deployed as teams in Indianapolis and Cincinnati.
Visit the AmeriCorps*VISTA website for more information about the VISTA program. Visit pcusa.org/hunger for more info about the Hunger Program.
1) AmeriCorps*VISTA Community Food Justice Cultivator (6-10 positions)
Scope: Under the supervision of the National Associate for PHP, the AmeriCorps*VISTA will assist congregations, neighborhoods and organizations in one of three cities in outreach for SNAP, WIC and Senior Nutrition Programs, and in connecting people and communities struggling against poverty to locally-grown, healthy foods through these programs and other grassroots initiatives.
Responsibilities:
– Develop great working relations with congregations, neighborhood leaders, community-based groups, feeding programs, refugee communities, schools and institutions, and food justice organizations in the wider metro area, as well as with farmers, farmers market associations, and related producer/distributor groups.
– Work collaboratively with community and faith groups to develop volunteer, outreach and marketing plans for USDA nutritional programs and local food initiatives, including programs which increase local and healthy options for those lacking access to affordable good food.
– Organize, carry out trainings, and develop leaders to continue training programs.
– Support groups in identifying funding sources for related initiatives; occasional fundraising for local partners possible.
– Increase SNAP and nutrition program benefits use at farmers markets and other markets, and support gardening, farm and nutrition education.
– Assist with other areas of PHP work, especially on social media, story-telling and writing on food justice and related areas, making connections between local and global.
Requirements:
1. Desire and ability to work with a diverse group of people. Must possess cultural competency skills to work with people of many different backgrounds.
2. Ability to motivate oneself and work independently as well as in a team environment.
3. University degree or equivalent life experience preferred.
4. Great phone, face-to-face and written communication skills.
5. Strong interest in community organizing, food justice, social justice, and refugee/immigrant concerns.
6. Must be proactive, innovative, reliable, and detail-oriented (report writing is part of being a VISTA).
7. Fluency in English and one of the following languages preferred: Spanish, French, Creole, Nepali, Burmese, Lingala, Kituba or Somali.
8. Understanding of how congregations and faith-based agencies work, or willingness to learn.
9. Flexibility about work hours and willingness to work evening and weekend hours.
10. Must be willing to commit to one year as a full-time worker with AmeriCorps*VISTA and PHP. VISTA requires that applicants have no outside professional or educational commitments.
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2) AmeriCorps*VISTA National Food Justice Coordinator (2 positions)
Scope: Under the supervision of the National Associate for PHP, the AmeriCorps*VISTA will inspire, equip and connect congregations and organizations in several USDA target states around the United States in methods and best practices for outreach on SNAP, WIC and Senior Nutrition Programs, local food economy building, volunteer recruitment and management, fundraising, and in supporting people and communities struggling against poverty to strengthen their voices and increase access to locally-grown, healthy food.
Responsibilities:
– Develop great relationships with people, congregations, interfaith hunger ministries, PHP grantee and other organizations in the target states, as well as with local producer/distributor and food justice groups in those areas.
– Work collaboratively with community and faith groups to develop volunteer, outreach and marketing plans for USDA nutritional programs and local food initiatives, including programs which increase local and healthy options for those lacking access to affordable good food.
– Help facilitate the development and implementation of training programs.
– Support groups in finding funding sources for related initiatives; occasional fundraising for food justice partners possible.
– Assist groups and congregations in increasing SNAP and nutrition program benefits use at farmers markets and other markets, and support gardening, farm and nutrition education.
– Assist with other areas of PHP work, including global food and land issues, writing for PHP blogs and PHP Post, etc.
Requirements:
1. Desire and ability to work with diverse groups and individuals. Must possess cultural competency skills to communicate with and work with people of different backgrounds.
2. Ability to motivate oneself and work independently as well as in a team environment.
3. University degree or equivalent life experience preferred.
4. Excellent phone, face-to-face and written communication skills; strong computer, social media and presentation skills.
5. Strong interest in community organizing, food justice, social justice, and refugee/immigrant concerns.
6. Must be proactive, innovative, reliable, and detail-oriented (report writing is part of being a VISTA).
7. Fluency in Spanish a plus.
8. Understanding of how congregations and faith-based agencies work, or willingness to learn.
9. Willingness to work some evening and weekend hours; willingness to do some travel.
10. Must be willing to commit to one year as a full-time worker with AmeriCorps*VISTA and PHP. VISTA requires that applicants have no outside professional or educational commitments.
To apply for this position, please email a cover letter and resume to Andrew by November 29, 2013.
Go to their website to learn more about AmeriCorps*VISTA.
For more information, call Andrew Kang Bartlett at (502) 569-5388.
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The following simulation games are helpful for understanding hunger better. They give us a glimpse into what it may feel like when life-giving food is unfairly distributed. They can be used by youth, young adults, and adults. The Coffee Break simulation can be done in 15-30 minutes; the other three are done over a mealtime…. Read more »
A big thank you to Adam Liebowitz at North Star Fund, a fellow member of the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders, for this great collection of news on all things food and farming.
