Nourish Iowa: Local Food Development Coordinator Vista

Nourish Iowa: Local Food Development Coordinator VISTA

(Please note: this position is filled for August 2023-2024, however we will gladly review applications at any time from those who wish to apply prior to it reopening). As a Nourish Iowa VISTA member, you will serve among a cohort of members throughout Iowa, sponsored by the Center for Energy & Environmental Education at the University of Northern Iowa, & will have frequent opportunities to share knowledge within this community through regular cohort-wide meetings & site visits. In addition to all standard AmeriCorps VISTA benefits, you will engage regularly with thought leaders in local food via statewide professional associations, in addition to being invited to professional development opportunities coordinated by a VISTA Leader in your cohort.

Nourish Iowa members are also eligible for free enrollment in Iowa State University's Local Food Leader certification course. As a VISTA member serving with with Iowa Valley Resource Conservation & Development (IVRC&D), your service will center racial equity and food sovereignty across all facets of the Grow: Johnson County program's efforts.

You will build on the research and programming of prior VISTAs to conduct research into best practices in advancing racial equity and implement those practices in the form of racial equity policies, a Community Advisory Board (CAB), and farm-based educational programming for BIPOC youth. The CAB will include people receiving food from Grow Johnson County who are experts in this work in our community and who will help guide program decision making. Iowa Valley RC&D is leading exciting new projects through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the United States Department of Agriculture.

As an AmeriCorps VISTA hosted at Iowa Valley RC&D, you will learn about local farming and food businesses, develop a deeper understanding of food insecurity and hunger in Iowa and will learn about a broad range of solutions to challenges facing local food value chains. Further help on this page can be found by clicking here.

Member Duties : You will work with diverse local producers in our region & across the state to strengthen the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program & Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program projects, collaborating with staff & community partners; research best practices & work within a racial equity framework; develop educational resources; & improve technical assistance resources & strategies to help local producers strengthen their businesses & sell to new markets. You will thrive as a critical & innovative thinking self-starter who works alongside diverse groups of people with accountability & compassion; eager to establish & maintain positive working relationships internally & externally; & having an equity centered mindset, excellent communication, interpersonal & organizational skills with interest in community development projects. Strong computer skills, with ability to learn & use new programs, & experience overcoming adversity are desired.

Program Benefits : Health Coverage* , Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend , Training , Education award upon successful completion of service , Living Allowance , Childcare assistance if eligible , Relocation Allowance .

Terms :

Permits attendance at school during off hours , Car recommended , Permits working at another job during off hours .

Service Areas :

Neighborhood Revitalization , Community and Economic Development , Environment , Entrepreneur/Business , Education , Technology , Children/Youth , Health , Hunger , Community Outreach .

Skills :

Team Work , Social Services , Public Speaking , Counseling , Leadership , General Skills , Teaching/Tutoring , Recruitment , Non-Profit Management , Community Organization , Environment , Urban Planning , Medicine , Conflict Resolution , Education , Public Health , Business/Entrepreneur , Fund raising/Grant Writing , Computers/Technology , Writing/Editing , Communications , Law , Youth Development .