AmeriCorps VISTA 2016 Positions
To apply:
We are currently accepting applications for two AmeriCorps VISTA positions.
Applications for both positions are available online through the VISTA portal (see links for respective assignments below).
Global Gardens VISTA assignment: Position has been filled for 2016
Capital City Public Market assignment: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=59539&fromSearch=true
Applications for both positions are available online through the VISTA portal (see links for respective assignments below).
Global Gardens VISTA assignment: Position has been filled for 2016
Capital City Public Market assignment: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=59539&fromSearch=true
VISTA assignment #1: Global Gardens VISTA
FILLED for 2016
This VISTA will work with the Global Gardens program to meet our goals of improving refugee health, nutrition, and economic opportunity through growing, eating and selling vegetables. The VISTA will work with farmers in our Farmer Entrepreneur Program and with partner organizations and volunteers who provide more than 200 community garden spaces for refugee growers. Tasks will include:
- Improving refugee earnings by improving our wholesale marketing program. Recruit wholesale customers, determine need for specific products, assist refugee growers with using the existing Idaho's Bounty online marketplace or with communicating with wholesale customers in another way.
- Improving refugee earnings by growing our CSA program. Recruit CSA members, conduct outreach to potential EBT (food stamps) CSA customers, develop training tools for growers to improve quality of produce harvested, assist refugees in providing good customer service, assist experienced growers who are offering their own CSA pickup for the first time.
- Assist with fundraising, grant writing, and social enterprise feasibility and methodology for future Global Gardens funding. Assist with record keeping for matching requirements on our grants.
- Recruit and manage volunteers who assist farmer entrepreneurs.
- Provide support and training to community volunteers and church groups who manage refugee community gardens.
- Assist with infrastructure development at a new incubator farm site, including storage, greenhouse, and washing facilities.
- Research social enterprise methodology and feasibility for long-term financial sustainability for Global Gardens.
- Research locations for land for lease for refugee farmers.
This position has been filled for 2016.
VISTA assignement #2: Capital City Public Market VISTA
FILLED FOR 2016
This VISTA will be housed at the Capital City Public Market and will work to make the market more accessible for refugee vendors, as well as others who may speak English as a second language or have other barriers to participation in the market. Duties may include:
- Develop a strategy to register refugee vendors for market, including completing an online application process.
- Develop a refugee vendor training guide and make vendor training accessible to refugee growers by including interpreters and assisting with logistics.
- Organize training and assistance for refugee vendors to develop effective farm names, high quality signage and booth displays, pricing strategies, to provide effective customer service, and to pass health department inspections.
- Improve tools for farmers' record keeping of market income and expenses. Evaluate whether tools are effective and being used by farmers.
- Assist with market EBT/SNAP/Food Stamps program including managing volunteers who scan EBT cards at the market, and improve EBT outreach to increase the number of EBT customers attending market.
- Research and expand market opportunities for refugee growers, which may include expanding to farm stands at additional locations, or wholesaling to businesses near the market's downtown location.
- Assist with logistics for farm stand at St. Luke's Hospital location and other future locations.
- Fundraise for future market activities.
Follow the link below to apply:
https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=59539&fromSearch=true
Qualifications for both positions:
- Strong cross-cultural skills.
- Ability to work with interpreters.
- Self-motivation as well as ability to work as part of a team.
- Basic computer literacy, including Word and Excel, some basic website management and social media.
- Ability and interest in outdoor and physical work. Basic construction or irrigation skills a plus.
- Knowledge of agriculture, local food systems, and marketing.
- College degree in a related field preferred.
