North Carolina State University
North Carolina
Remote
2021-12-23
Food-Inspired Resilience & Equity (FIRE) Internship
$15 an hour
4.2
Posting Number
PG192184TM
Position Number
11ASO1839
Position Type
Temporary
Essential Job Duties
The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) in partnership with the North Carolina Local Food Council (NCLFC) and Community Food Strategies, is seeking highly-motivated students from a variety of backgrounds to participate in a primarily remote internship program. Intern appointments are for approximately 12 weeks. See descriptions below for specific information on each position. We encourage you to reach out to either Dallas Goodnight (dlgoodni@ncsu.edu) or Joyce Yao (jyao8@ncsu.edu) to hear more about the internship and ask any questions you may have to decide if this is a good fit for you.
Brief Program Overview:
During the 12 weeks, the intern will have the opportunity to support local food councils’ community and equity work through projects based on council needs, like research, meeting facilitation, logistical support, and communications. Food council host sites have outlined their intern projects and responsibilities below.
Brief Program Overview:
During the 12 weeks, the intern will have the opportunity to support local food councils’ community and equity work through projects based on council needs, like research, meeting facilitation, logistical support, and communications. Food council host sites have outlined their intern projects and responsibilities below.
The internship will be primarily remote with opportunities for site visitations dependent on the food council host and the intern.
The internship also offers monthly virtual professional development and educational opportunities for interns through CEFS’ agriculture education programming.
Intern Duration and Work Environment:
- All interns have an anticipated start date of 02/14/2022
- All interns will be expected to work up to 15 hours per week
- All internships will last until the end of the spring semester 2022 (approximately early May), with the possibility of extending into the summer
Up to 6 Available Spring Semester Internship Opportunities:
1 – Alamance Food Collaborative (AFC)
Project Overview:
- AFC is focused on creating infrastructure to Alamance County’s food system that will have a lasting impact and influence the health of the community and economic viability.
- AFC is looking for an intern to coordinate monthly food council meetings (develop agenda, meeting minutes, sending reminders). With the support of an intern supervisor, the intern will build relationships with local food system stakeholders in Alamance and deepen council member engagement to further the mission of AFC.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Project management and coalition facilitation experience
- In-depth knowledge and understanding of the local Alamance food system
- Awareness of local food policy and systems that advance/create barriers to food justice
- Relationships with community members and organizations that contribute to the local food system
Desired Skills:
- An interest in food system work, social justice, and community building in rural communities
- Ideally able to work in-person, but open to remote interns as well
- Ability to participate in in-person community engagement events and council meetings as much as possible
- Self-motivated individual comfortable completing multiple tasks/ projects on their own as well as with a team
- Excellent organizational skills including the ability to coordinate program details and organize events
- Ability to craft messages and tell the stories of food system work and projects for increased community engagement.
2 – Cape Fear Food Council
Project Overview:
- The Cape Fear Food Council (CFFC) is a collaboration of individuals and organizations with shared interest in supporting and strengthening the local food system. We work together to coordinate our collective efforts and advocate for system-wide change on issues such as supporting local family farms, combating food insecurity, and reducing food waste.
- The intern position will primarily assist with a community needs assessment (using current data), help identify and apply for new grant funding, and coordinate local monthly meetings (develop agenda, meeting minutes, sending reminders). This position will also work with programs such as the Cape Fear Crop Mob and disaster preparedness coordination, communications and outreach, and maintaining partner relationships. This position can be virtual, in-person, or a combination of both.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Committee management: Support committee leadership in coordinating meetings, agenda development, internal and external communications, planning, evaluation
- Programming coordination: Cape Fear Crop Mob, disaster preparedness coordination
- Communications & outreach: social media, website management, media relations, special events
- Resource development: Funder/donor relations, grant research and writing
- Attending NC Local Food Council Meetings & other relevant community meetings to represent Feast Down East and CFFC
- Expand access by reaching and engaging diverse audiences and ensuring full access to programs, facilities, and educational services
- Partner with volunteers, Feast Down East, NC Cooperative Extension, and other community partners to support food system initiatives
- Develop and maintain respectful working relationships
- As needed, update local food guides and assist with data collection
- And other duties as assigned
Desired Skills:
- Excellent organizational skills including the ability to coordinate program details and organize events
- Ability to work in a context of individual and cultural differences
- Ability to communicate ideas effectively verbally, in writing, and through educational technology
- Able to manage multiple tasks/projects in an efficient manner
- Ability to work effectively, independently and within a team
- Graduate level or higher students preferred
- Familiar with the New Hanover food systems preferred, but not required
3 – Charlotte-Mecklenburg Food Policy Council (CMFPC)
Project Overview:
- The intern will primarily support CMFPC with administrative assistance and communications efforts. In the first half of the internship, the council can use support with meetings (note taking, scheduling, email reminders, etc.) and research of projects, programs, and events happening within the local community that CMFPC can be involved with. In the second half of the internship, the council can use support in promoting SNAP/Double Bucks at Farmer’s Markets as the market season ramps up (April-May). This support may include attending community partner events to distribute promotional materials, developing promotional materials for social media, and supporting updates to our website.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Gain in-depth knowledge and understanding of the local Charlotte food system
- Gain awareness of local food policy and systems that advance/create barriers to food access, food security
- Strengthen relationships with community members and organizations that contribute to the local food system
- Become a SNAP liaison for SNAP/EBT beneficiaries
Desired Skills:
- Effective organizational and communication skills
- Curiosity and interest in learning about food systems, equitable food access, local business and agriculture support and community organizing
- Willingness to look for and share new community engagement opportunities
4 – Men and Women United for Youth and Families (MWUYF)
Project Overview:
- Men and Women United for Youth & Families (MWUYF) is a registered 501 © 3 nonprofit organization that has been in existence since 2006. Located in Delco NC, MWUYF provides support services to families who reside in Bladen, Brunswick and Columbus Counties. The mission is Empowering People and Strengthening Families through community cooperation.
- The project intern will work with MWYUF staff and collaborative partner Communities Connected 4 Success (CC4S) Collective in the goal of creating a multi-county non-profit organization which will address the social drivers of health in Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus and surrounding Counties. The project intern will also work closely with the Youth Led Food Policy Council and staff in identifying policy issues, providing support to the CC4S Collective, coordinating outreach to youth and families, creating public speaking opportunities and advocating for youth as a CC4S partner.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Must have grassroots organizing experience or a willingness to support grassroots projects
- Computer and social media experience
- Drivers License and reliable transportation
- Open minded and willing to work with diverse populations
- Knowledge of Social Drivers or Social Determinants of Health
- Knowledge of and interest in Rural Economic Development
- Experience working with youth and families
Desired Skills:
- Good listener
- Willingness to work alongside youth and families
- Social media technology
- Ability to coordinate and facilitate meetings
- Ability to work with a team
- Majors: Agriculture related, Agriculture Business, Public Administration, Recreation, Social Work, Political Science, Health, Criminal Justice
5 – Rutherford
Project Overview:
- The Rutherford County Food Network is currently undergoing a strategic visioning and planning process. We are a relatively new council that is multi-organizational and we are working through our missioning and visioning process in 2021. For 2022, we are looking to focus on community engagement and educational outreach about the food system through activities such as listening sessions, surveys and educational presentations across Rutherford County. Throughout and from this process, we hope to determine our strategic priorities for our council, create subsequent working groups and formalize the structure of our council as we engage with our community and determine our priorities for 2022 and beyond. We currently have two co-facilitators whom the intern would be working with on these efforts.
- This intern will assist the council primarily with monthly council meetings and associated administrative tasks, the coordination and facilitation of community engagement activities (mentioned above), and identifying and applying for grant funding to further the outreach and impact of the council’s efforts for 2022. This position would ideally be in-person, but we are open to remote and hybrid interns as well.
Primary Responsibilities:
- An understanding of rural food systems and how to create change within them
- Awareness of local food policy and systems that advance/create barriers to food access, food security
- Relationships with community members and organizations that contribute to the local food system
- Experience with coalition facilitation and community engagement events (planning/facilitation assistance)
Desired Skills:
- An interest in food system work, social justice, and community building in rural communities
- Ability to participate in in-person community engagement events and council meetings as much as possible
- Self-motivated individual comfortable completing projects on their own as well as with a team
- Ability to craft messages and tell the stories of food system work and projects
- Ability to research and apply for relevant grant funding opportunities
6 – Watauga Food Council
Project Overview:
- The intern will help build the Watauga Food Council’s online presence through social media marketing strategies and minor website maintenance. At the instruction of the food council co-coordinators, the intern will create marketing materials, including stock social media posts, highlighting the council and its partners. Specifically, the intern will assist in the promotion of the High Country Grown initiative, special events, and food access and security resources.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Gain in-depth knowledge of the High Country food system and its stakeholders
- Experience marketing for a nonprofit organization
- Project management experience
- Build a portfolio of completed social media projects and/or marketing campaigns
Desired Skills:
- An interest in food system work, social justice, and community building
- The ability to attend monthly meetings for the Watauga Food Council’s two focus groups (approx 2hrs per month)
- Self-motivated individual comfortable completing projects with minimal supervision
- Marketing and communications experience preferred
- The position is remote with the option for occasional in-person tasks, if geographically feasible
Is Time Limited
No
If Yes, Appointment Length
Job City & State
Department
CEFS
Classification Title
Temporary-Technical/Paraprofessional
Working Title
Food-Inspired Resilience & Equity (FIRE) Internship