Just Food – Member Assignment Description

Deadline: May 23/ Start Date: June 24, 2008

AmeriCorps* VISTA Position/ Malcolm X Boulevard Community Farmers Market Coordinator

Background :
Just Food is a NYC non-profit organization that addresses regional farm and food issues. We work to build a more just food system. This means, for example, that family farmers make a fair profit for their efforts, and all people have access to affordable, healthy, culturally appropriate food. It also means that farming and gardening techniques focus on the ecological methods that protect nature's resources, as well as the urban and rural people who live off them. Just Food fosters new marketing and food-growing opportunities that address the needs of regional family farms, NYC urban gardeners, and NYC neighborhoods. Through training, leadership development and organizing efforts, we build diverse partnerships to advance dialogue and action on farming, hunger and nutrition.

Just Food is offering this VISTA position in partnership with Brooklyn Rescue Mission Inc (BRM). BRM is a community-based organization in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn that develops creative solutions to food justice, community health and the economic challenges our community endures on a daily basis. In 2005, BRM created partnerships with New York City environmental and food justice organizations to break ground on an abandoned lot behind the Mission in order to grow fruits and vegetables for pantry recipients. The farm has become a community gathering space and a classroom to teach neighborhood youth about food growing and community service. In 2008, BRM is partnering with Just Food to start Malcolm X Blvd Community Farmers Market, where they will sell produce from BRM Farm, Phoenix Garden and from regional farmers. The market will provide the neighborhood with a much-needed source of fresh, local, affordable fruit and vegetables.

We are seeking a full-time VISTA Member to work under the direction of the City Farms Program Manager and the Directors of Brooklyn Rescue Mission to engage in the following activities around the organization of the Malcolm X Blvd Community Farmers Market:

• Help run the Malcolm X Blvd Community Farmers Market—be involved with all levels of market operations
• Work with the Brooklyn Rescue Mission Farm and Phoenix Garden to create a plan for supplying the market with produce
• Promote and conduct outreach for the market, specifically to promote the use of the Farmers Market Nutrition Program Coupons and Food Stamps/EBT
• Coordinate and help train volunteers and youth interns; recruit volunteers and interns as necessary
• Coordinate and recruit vendors
• Set up and maintain a system for keeping records for the farmers market
• Develop a business plan and help the Malcolm X Blvd Community Farmers Market analyze the 2008 season
• Work with the Malcolm X Blvd Community Farmers Market to ensure that the market will run successfully in future years

Skills and Expectations:

• Farming and marketing experience a plus
• Loves working with people (and bugs)
• Experience coordinating diverse groups of people
• Experience working with youth
• Enthusiasm for working with low-income community members
• Works well independently
• Highly organized
• Exhibit self motivation and direction
• Good practical math and writing skills
• Confident running a cash box and keeping track of sales
• Dedicated worker
• Loves gardening and food production and has an interest in health and nutrition
• Flexibility required, usually Monday-Friday; sometimes Tuesday-Saturday
• Valid Drivers License and responsible driving skills a plus

To apply: Qualified candidates should go to www.americorps.org to apply AND send a cover letter and resume to charlotte@justfood.org. For more information, call: 212-645-9880x238 or email charlotte@justfood.org .