Food System Change Intern

FOOD SYSTEM CHANGE INTERN (updated 3/31/2010)

Interns for the Food System Change Initiative work at multiple sites to support Collective Roots in the engagement of an entire community in creating a food system that is focused on health and environmental outcomes. Food System Change Interns work primarily on implementing innovative programs and activities designed to increase food access, improve health outcomes, and engage local community members in advocating for positive change in both of these areas. Activities include:

1)    supporting a backyard gardener network in East Palo Alto;

• visiting community members to interview gardeners, profile them on website;
• recruiting members to join, organizing programming (guest speakers, seed exchanges, social events);
• contributing content to a website that supports the network;
• facilitating the selling and exchange of gardener produce;
• designing the infrastructure to support the new backyard gardener network;
• obtaining materials and supplies to support the development of new backyard gardens;
• providing gardening assistance and mentoring to members;
• attending community events and delivering community presentations to promote the network; and
• reaching out to partner organizations, groups and residents to establish points of collaboration.

2)    supporting the development of emerging programs, including a community supported agriculture (CSA) program and free cooking classes for low-income families.

This internship involves extensive out-of-office field work in the community and interaction with local residents. Interns will find language skills (Spanish, Tongan and/or Samoan) to be helpful. Potential interns with an interest in community organizing, interpersonal communication, agriculture, and food security will find this experience to be a rewarding one.

Please note that this internship is unpaid. Collective Roots is pleased to work with interns and their educational institutions to obtain academic credit.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Interested individuals should submit a cover letter, resume and two references to: david@collectiveroots.org.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Collective Roots is an Equal Opportunity Employer and as such we value diversity and actively solicit qualified applicants from all ethnic and racial backgrounds. Our board-adopted policy prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, age, disability, veteran status, political affiliation or belief, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or family status, or any other basis prohibited by law.