Food Access & Education AmeriCorps Fellow: Full-Time, 6 Month Commitment

Farm Fresh Rhode Island seeks a Food Access and Education AmeriCorps Direct Service member. This position will work with our Community Education and Food Access Teams to implement local food access and food system and nutrition program activities throughout Rhode Island.

The AmeriCorps member will work with the Community Education team to design and implement local food and nutrition education activities alongside staff and volunteers. They will ensure our education department works with community partners to extend greater access to nutritious, locally grown food across populations from pre-k to seniors. This includes supporting cooking classes, taste tests, farmers market programming, garden programs, in-school and after-school education program series, among other exciting opportunities, to bring local food and agriculture knowledge and access to the community.

The AmeriCorps member will also work with the Food Access team, implementing Farm Fresh RI’s Fresh Bucks initiative at local farmers markets; creating more jobs and healthier, more resilient communities. The AmeriCorps member will support market accounting and data management for our farmers market programming. They will ensure that our Farmers Markets team works with our community partners to extend greater access to locally grown food throughout the communities that are home to Farm Fresh RI markets.

Being an enthusiastic healthy food advocate is a must, and an understanding of growing and garden practices is preferred but not required. This position starts March 27, 2023 and ends September 24, 2023. Deadline to apply is 2/28/2023.

Primary Responsibilities (Community Ed)

  • Refine existing curriculum as needed, and develop new programming based on community and organizational needs.
  • Implement local food programming at various community sites including schools, after school programs, farmers markets, camps, and senior centers.
  • Establish meaningful relationships with partners and stakeholders including farmers, school professionals, community site leaders, students, and families.
  • Support data tracking and program performance measurement systems.
  • Support outreach to new sites and populations, and communications support.

Primary Responsibilities (Food Access)

  • Process credit, debit, and SNAP/EBT customer transactions at farmers markets.
  • Record customer transactions at farmers market welcome tables.
  • Assist in the assembly of statewide data about SNAP use at farmers markets.
  • Work with Farm Fresh staff to support preparation of materials to administer Farm Fresh’s Bonus Bucks for SNAP/EBT shoppers.
  • Support data tracking and program performance measurement systems.
  • Provide outreach to new farmers market sites and populations, and support organizational communication efforts.
  • Implement surveys to learn more about what programming local communities would like to see at farmers markets to make them a welcome grocery shopping location.

Essential Functions

  • Must have a high school diploma/GED. College degree or working toward one is preferred but not required.
  • Be at least 17 years old.
  • Must be a U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, or Permanent Resident and be able to provide documentation of citizenship.
  • Must be willing to undergo a National Criminal History Background Check.
  • Must be willing to work occasional nights and weekends; schedules are determined by program needs and will be worked out with the supervisor.
  • Must be able to build relationships with people from varied cultural, economic, educational, racial, and religious backgrounds.
  • Must uphold AmeriCorps state and national branding and uniform standards.
  • Be a self-starter and have the ability to maintain a self-motivating attitude.
  • Able to collaborate and work as part of a team.
  • Able to think, react, iterate, and redirect in a fast-paced environment.
  • Excellent professional communication skills (written and verbal).
  • Great attention to detail.
  • Excellent time-management skills.
  • Ability to prioritize and handle a variety of assignments simultaneously in a vibrant work environment.
  • Willingness to work hands-on in various environments (outdoors at markets, inside at the office).
  • Able to bend and lift loads up to 50 pounds.
  • Must have a valid driver’s license and access to personal reliable transportation — mileage reimbursement will be provided for personal vehicle use.

Non-Essential Skills

  • Experience with youth/youth development is preferred.
  • Experience in group facilitation, classroom and/or training is preferred.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Suite is preferred.
  • Spanish skills or other language skills are a plus.

Terms of Service and Hours Requirements
Members must commit to a full-time approx. 35 hours/week AmeriCorps service term from March 27, 2023 to September 24, 2023 — totaling 900 hours of service.

Members must have the ability to work early evenings or weekends, as needed, for certain farmers market days with advance notice. Member schedules can be flexible with prior approval by supervisors.

Members will be given the opportunity to fulfill all service hour requirements while also allowing for holidays and 50 hours of paid time off (PTO). Missed hours can be made up on- or off-site depending on supervisor approval. All Members must participate in AmeriCorps national, state, and local service projects as a part of their service term.

Orientation, Training, and Evaluation
Members will receive one-on-one training on AmeriCorps program impacts, history, and prohibited activities as well as orientation to the local food system and food justice topics addressed by Farm Fresh RI. Training will not exceed more than 20% of the Member’s total service hours completed.

All Members will have opportunities for weekly one-on-one check-ins with supervisors as well as end-of-service performance evaluation. Members will be responsible for submitting weekly timesheets and monthly program narrative reports.

AmeriCorps Member Benefits

  • $13,000 Living Stipend, divided and paid weekly (est. $200)
  • $3247.50 Segal Education Award (upon completion of 900 hours of service)
  • Student Loan Forbearance
  • Mileage Reimbursement
  • Professional Development Opportunities

To Apply
Members must commit to a 900 hour term of service, starting on March 27, 2023. Deadline to apply is February 28, 2023. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

About AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps is a network of national service programs, made up of three primary programs that each take a different approach to improving lives and fostering civic engagement. Members commit their time to address critical community needs like increasing academic achievement, mentoring youth, and fighting poverty. Members commit to a fixed term of service and receive a living allowance and end of service education award.

About Farm Fresh RI
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 New England 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 eaters with thousands of local farmers.

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

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

Farm Fresh Rhode Island is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in employment for all employees. We encourage enquiries from candidates who will enrich and contribute to the cultural and ethnic diversity of our organization. Farm Fresh RI does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, creed, color, religion, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status, national origin, or disability status in employment or programming. Farm Fresh Rhode Island is an Equal Opportunity Employer.