01 Jul 2 AmeriCorps VISTA Openings at SFC

 Sustainable Food Center

Sprouting Healthy Communities Project

Americorps*VISTA Position

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 three (3) individuals through the Americorps*VISTA program of the Corporation for National and Community Service to organize school-based teams to 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.  Marathon Kids is a free six-month endurance building running/walking and nutrition program for K-5^th 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.  Monthly living allowance and end-of-service stipend or education award provided through the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Position Description

The VISTA will work through underserved middle and elementary schools in Austin to develop, support, and facilitate school wellness teams consisting of parents, teachers, and community leaders. VISTA will lead the teams in the planning and implementation 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. 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 community organizing skills, a familiarity with school settings, 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. 

Primary Functions

·         Meet with potential leaders from among school stakeholders (current district and school program leaders, teachers, parents, neighbors, pastors, homeowner association members, other community organizations, etc.) to identify those who will lead the nutrition/fitness program that includes elements of Marathon Kids and Sprouting Healthy Communities.

·         Organize planning and training sessions with wellness teams on healthy food efforts, local food systems projects and physical activity programs.

·         Applying SFC resources to provide support and monitoring for school and community programming activities.

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, email resume, cover letter, three references, and a Spanish/English writing sample (1 page) to Andrew W. Smiley, Projects Director, andrew@sustainablefoodcenter.org.  Interested applicants MUST also apply through AmeriCorps at https://my.americorps.gov/.

Resumes accepted until July 16, 2010.  Position begins August 2, 2010.

Additional organization info: www.MarathonKids.org and www.sustainablefoodcenter.org

Americorps VISTA info:http://www.americorps.gov/about/programs/vista.asp

Grow Local Education Coordinator

AmeriCorps*VISTA Position

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, bilingual individual to help SFC incorporate the Citizen Gardener gardening and volunteer program and create a train-the-trainer educational program that will enable us to provide more Basic Organic Gardening classes (in English and Spanish), Community Garden Leadership trainings, and School Garden Leadership trainings in low income communities and throughout Austin.

Position Description

The Grow Local Education Coordinator AmeriCorps*VISTA will create a class management system that integrates Citizen Gardener trainings and restructures SFC’s existing classes into a train-the-trainer program. The VISTA will also assist with implementation and administration of these classes and trainings, as well as assist with the development and implementation of trainings for class facilitators. 

Key Responsibilities

·         Conduct recruitment and registration of participants, including outreach to low-income communities

·         Carry out translation of class materials into Spanish

·         Create and implement system to track volunteer hours for Citizen Gardener program

·         Assist instructors during classes and trainings

·         Process class surveys and carry out other class follow-up activities

·         Organize graduation events

·         Assist with development of facilitator trainings and materials

·         Develop and implement system to recruit and retain facilitators

·         Assist newly-trained facilitators with completion of apprenticeships

·         Assist with delivery of gardening resources to Grow Local program participants

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Arts or Sciences
• MUST be bilingual (English/Spanish)
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in both English and Spanish
• Ability to work effectively with diverse populations
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Must be organized and detail oriented
• Computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office
• Knowledge and experience with food gardening preferred
• Ability to work a flexible schedule

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, student loan deferment, and, upon completion of the program, a choice of a $4,725 education award or a $1,200 cash stipend.

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 July 16, 2010. Position begins August 2, 2010.

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.