Community Farmer and Food Organizer Job in Maryland, 2013
COMMUNITY FARMER/FOOD ORGANIZER JOB (CFFO) FROM ECOFARM AT AUTUMN WOODS APARTMEMTS (AW) IN MARYLAND, 2013
ECO City Farm’s community farmer/food organizer (CFFO) will work with a team to build the nation’s first Urban Residential Farm at a low-income subsidized housing complex. ECO City Farms in Bladensburg at the Autumn Woods Apartments will model, promote and educate about sustainable food systems, environmental stewardship, community development and access to good food for all. The position requires practical knowledge of agricultural skills and farming experience, combined with strong community organizing, outreach and networking skills, a broad understanding of community food security and a passionate commitment to food justice, community farming and social change. The CFFO focuses on food insecurity, the health consequences of lack of access to healthy food and an inactive lifestyle, and the community, family and individual benefits of healthy eating, active living alternatives.
JOB DESCRIPTION
- A primary responsibility of this position is to develop and maintain sustained and strategic community engagement around food access issues for Bladensburg residents, particularly those who live in and around the food desert where Autumn Woods Apartments is situated.
- The CFFO will work in and around the Autumn Woods Apartments with a small team to address the diet-related health inequities of the resident community by creating programs, strategies and campaigns that increase the awareness of the need for, and the access to, healthy foods.
- CFFO is a member of a collaborative team and part of a community-wide effort to generate a collective and sustained movement that promotes and generates community wellness and healthy food access for all.
- The CFFO also serves as liaison between other organizations within the community that share similar goals. (S)he will connect community members through the creation and delivery of a range of educational programming, from concept and design through implementation and evaluation.
- The CFFO will help design, build and support a number of food production projects and facilities, from community gardens to hoop house farm replicating our Edmonston farm at AW.
QUALIFICATIONS & ABILITIES
- Earned college degree or high school diploma with some post-secondary education or equivalent learning/training experience;
- At least 2 years experience in some combination of gardening and/or farming education, outreach/education program development, teaching and/or community- based communications, and/or leadership development;
- Knowledge of the Port Towns, Prince George’s County, its people, and the surrounding area;
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills—listening, writing, speaking, emailing, selling, strategic thinking;
- Valid MD Driver’s License and regular access to reliable transportation;
- Fluency in another language in addition to English a plus – particularly Spanish
VALUABLE SKILLS:
- Sensitivity to racial, ethnic, class, cultural as well as other differences;
- Understanding of how to empower people to work together for the good of the community;
- Able to communicate community organizing values and practices to team members and incorporate them into program efforts.
- Capacity to be tough-minded optimist, creatively solving problem with the energy and humor, working well in-groups and on one’s own.
COMPENSATION: Salary depending on experience.
HOW TO APPLY: We are currently accepting applications for this position. To apply, send a resume and cover letter to Viviana Lindo, Education Coordinator, at lindo@ecocityfarms.org. Interviews will take place beginning in December. The start date for this position is January 7h.
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