Sustainable Agriculture Collaboration Coordinator in MA

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Regional Sustainable Agriculture Collaboration Coordinator TerraCorps Position with CISA in South Deerfield, MA – 2020-21

Community Involved In Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) will host a Regional Sustainable Agriculture Collaboration Coordinator for the 2020-21 service year through the TerraCorps AmeriCorps Program. Information about all TerraCorps positions is available at terracorps.org, and more information is provided below.

Community Involved In Sustaining Agriculture (CISA)
1 Sugarloaf Street
South Deerfield, MA 01373
buylocalfood.org

Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) is a non-profit organization that strengthens farms and engages the community to build the local food economy. Our programs include the Be a Local Hero, Buy Locally Grown® business membership and marketing campaign, educational activities for the public, technical assistance trainings and workshops for farmers. These programs, in addition to others, are focused on expanding market options for farmers and increasing access to local food for all communities in our region.

CISA staff work collaboratively within the organization as well as outside the organization to educate partners and community members about the importance of local agriculture in our local food system.

Regional Collaboration Coordinators (RCC) build the long-term capacity of their Service Sites by assessing community needs related to land conservation and land access and then organizing collaborative community projects to help meet these needs. They convene and coordinate municipal boards, all-volunteer local land trusts, planning agencies, academic institutions, nonprofits, government agencies, neighborhood groups, community housing associations, and local businesses to build regional networks, and organize collaborative cross-sector working groups to initiate new projects around community needs. By educating landowners, farmers, and community groups and organizing multi-stakeholder projects that increase access to funding, RCCs empower diverse people to create healthy, vibrant communities.

TerraCorps is an AmeriCorps affiliated start-up environmental non-profit preparing and mobilizing emerging leaders to help communities gain access to and conserve land for people and nature. Working at the intersection of the land conservation and urban agriculture movements, our vision is to create a future where land is the foundation of health and well-being for ALL people in EVERY community.

This year’s TerraCorps program will support up to eighty-eight full-time AmeriCorps Members across three states (MA, RI, and CT), serving in one of five positions: Land Stewardship Coordinator (LSC), Regional Collaboration Coordinator (RCC), Community Engagement Coordinator (CEC), Youth Education Coordinator (YEC), or Sustainable Agriculture Coordinator (SAC). Members will serve in full-time, 11-month terms (August 31st, 2020-July 30, 2021) in which they complete at least 1,700 hours of service with one of our partner organizations. Members receive a living allowance, education award, and additional AmeriCorps benefits (see full list at end of announcement).

TerraCorps members engage with their supervisors to develop and carry out three or more capacity building projects over the course of the service year. Some of these projects will involve recruiting, training, and/or managing community volunteers.

CISA has proposed the following potential projects for their Regional Sustainable Agriculture Collaboration Coordinator:

1. CISA intends to help build sales at farmers’ markets, through the Healthy Incentive Program (HIP). It is our goal to bring non-traditional shoppers to the market to increase their access to local, fresh food and expand the market for market venders. CISA’s TerraCorps Member will collaborate with farmers’ market venders and managers, as well as partner organizations to create training materials that can be used to educate families about SNAP/HIP acceptance at markets.

2. The TerraCorps Member will focus heavily on building strong relationships with partner organizations that have direct relationships with low-income residents. The goal of this project is to educate communities about the use of SNAP and HIP at farmers’ markets to ensure they know how they can receive the most out of the program. HIP makes markets more accessible to the broader community and currently we know that many families are not aware of how to use/access this benefit. A volunteer training program will be established with the assistance of the TerraCorps member to train volunteers that can then table at markets to answer questions related to SNAP/HIP and local agriculture. Volunteers will also be able to attend partner agency meetings to educate their staff on all the rules pertaining to HIP, where and how to use it. The member will be responsible for recruiting, promoting, and training new volunteers while working with CISA and farmers’ market managers throughout the Pioneer Valley.

3. Another priority for TerraCorps RCC will be to make markets more welcoming for new shoppers and non-English speakers. By expanding the potential customer base for area farmers’ markets the Member will help farms sell more to more people strengthening the markets’ viability. By creating informational tours at farmers’ markets, the Member will enable shoppers to learn ‘how’ to maneuver around the market, give an opportunity to ask questions and get comfortable with how markets operate, making it a more welcoming place.

Development of these and other projects will occur during the first two months of service and consider the member’s interests and skills.

Required AmeriCorps Qualifications

• A US citizen, US national, or Lawful Permanent Resident Alien of the U.S.
• At least 18 years old
• A minimum of a high school diploma or GED
• No more than three previous terms as an AmeriCorps member
• Pass a criminal history background check, including an FBI check

Desired Qualifications

• Strong writing and verbal communication skills
• Able to serve both independently and as a member of a team
• Comfort navigating computer software programs (i.e. Microsoft Office, Airtable, Constant Contact, WordPress, Survey Monkey)
• Training and experience pertinent to the Regional Collaboration Coordinator position and projects listed above
• Experience training and educating community members and volunteers
• Spanish proficiency preferred
• Comfortable engaging with people of various backgrounds including government agency staff, farmers, farmers’ market managers, business owners, and community members
• Comfortable speaking on the telephone

For questions about CISA’s service positions, contact Devon Whitney-Deal, Devon@buylocalfood.org, 413-665-7100 x22.

AmeriCorps Member Eligibility Requirements
This year’s TerraCorps members will serve from August 31st, 2020-July 30th, 2021. All members are expected to serve full-time, commit to serve for the entire 11-month term, and complete at least 1,700 hours of service, including time spent in trainings and service with the full TerraCorps team. Weekly service averages 38 hours and commonly includes some night and/or weekend activities.

AmeriCorps programs provide equal opportunities. TerraCorps will recruit and select persons in all positions to ensure a diverse and inclusive climate without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, color, political affiliation, creed, national origin, marital status, or any other status as protected by federal, state, and local laws. We encourage applications from individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations for interviews and service upon request.

Member Compensation and Benefits
• TerraCorps members will receive a living allowance of up to $15,200 (pre-tax) over the 11-month term of service, which is $633.33 (pre-tax) per 24 biweekly pay periods.
• TerraCorps assists members in obtaining health insurance coverage. Reimbursement of costs may be available.
• Childcare assistance may be provided in cases of financial need.
• Upon successful completion of a term of service, AmeriCorps members receive a taxable $6,195 education award that can be used for future education or to pay off existing school loans. See nationalservice.gov/resources/edaward for info and restrictions.
• TerraCorps members are eligible for forbearance of most federally-guaranteed student loans, as well as payment of interest accrued during service.
• TerraCorps members will receive mentorship, training, and career development opportunities while serving directly with community-based nonprofits.
• TerraCorps members experience the personal rewards of national service
and community engagement.
Note: TerraCorps members are responsible for their own housing and must have access to reliable transportation.

How to Apply for the Regional Sustainable Agriculture Collaboration Coordinator Position with CISA

2020-2021 Service Site organizations, service positions, and application procedures are described at terracorps.org.

A complete member application includes a 1-page cover letter, a resume, two references, and an application form. Member application and detailed instructions can be found at https://terracorps.org/apply/.

Member applications will be collected by TerraCorps and shared with Service Sites. Do not send applications directly to a Service Site.

We strongly encourage interested individuals to apply as soon as possible once applications are posted mid-April. Position offers and acceptances will be made on a rolling basis. The program aims to fill all positions by late June, but Service Sites will continue interviews as needed until all positions are filled.

For questions about TerraCorps, contact Hanna Mogensen, who manages TerraCorps’ recruitment process. Email admin@terracorps.org or call 978-364-9770 x2.

Additional Information About this Program
TerraCorps seeks to create change by achieving a broader, more authentic engagement of the diverse peoples living in our communities. When we do this, resources will grow, access to land will increase, the pace of land conservation will accelerate, and whole communities will achieve more resilient futures. To learn more about TerraCorps, visit: terracorps.org.

AmeriCorps engages more than 75,000 people in intensive service each year through more than 15,000 nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith-based groups across the country. AmeriCorps members help communities tackle pressing problems and also leverage their service by mobilizing volunteers to help address community needs for environmental stewardship, health, education, economic opportunity, disaster services, and support to veterans and military families. To learn more about AmeriCorps, visit americorps.gov.
TerraCorps is a grant program contingent upon renewal of federal funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). TerraCorps is also supported in part by the Massachusetts Service Alliance in MA.

 

• Learn more about farming and food jobs and internships, or learn how to post a job, internship, or apprenticeship opportunity on beginningfarmers.org by going to https://www.beginningfarmers.org/internship-and-employment-opportunities/