Local Food System Education and Outreach VISTA

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Recruiting Organization: Community Food Security VISTA Project in Iowa

As a Local Food System Education and Outreach VISTA with Field to Family, your service will build capacity by enhancing the organization’s educational programming through coalition building, community organizing, resource sharing, outreach and promotion.

With staff guidance, you will lead the development and implementation of a Farm to School education plan, including a portfolio of content for producers and schools intended to be accessible to farmers, school administration, educators, families, and children in Johnson, Linn, and neighboring counties. This will include expanding on an existing Farm to Classroom portal and connecting students’ learning with current and future school gardens and other interactive experiences.

The Local Food System Education and Outreach VISTA will earn a biweekly living allowance totaling $17,600 over the entire year, and is eligible for a post-service benefit of either the Segal education award (Currently $6,895 - equal to the value of a full semester Pell Grant) or a cash alternative ($1,800).

VISTAs are also eligible for over $8,000 in supplemental medical benefits, a childcare subsidy, paid sick and vacation days, and Noncompetitive Eligibility when applying for federal employment for 1 year after completing service.

As a CFS VISTA member, you will serve among a cohort of Community Food Security (CFS) VISTA members throughout Iowa, sponsored by the Center for Energy & Environmental Education at the University of Northern Iowa, and will have frequent opportunities to share knowledge within this community through regular cohort-wide meetings and site visits.

In addition to all standard AmeriCorps VISTA benefits, you will engage regularly with thought leaders in local food via the Cedar Valley Regional Food & Farm Network and Regional Food Systems Working Group, in addition to being invited to professional development opportunities coordinated by a VISTA Leader in your cohort.

In this position, you will be placed with Field to Family in Iowa City, a mission-driven nonprofit that provides food system education; supports a shared vision of a community food system that enhances our economic, environmental and community health; and expands access to locally grown and produced food to all citizens in the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids region.

Field to Family works to increase access to local food in Iowa so more people in institutions such as schools, retirement communities, colleges, universities, and hospitals can enjoy meals grown by farmers a few miles away everyday. We envision a strong and community-based Eastern Iowa local food system with infrastructure to support a thriving wholesale market for foods from the region that are high quality, fairly priced, and sustainably produced. Your service will contribute to greater equity in Iowa City’s local food system for farmers and residents considered Socially Disadvantaged by the USDA.

Rolling Start Dates

This position will remain open until filled. As a VISTA Program, this position follows a monthly schedule of start dates. Please apply 1 month or farther in advance of any of the following start dates for priority consideration:

January 17th

February 13th

March 13th

April 10th

May 8th

June 5th & 20th

July 17th and 31st

August 14th and 28th

Stipend ProvidedFalse

Training ProvidedFalse

Housing AvailableFalse

Language/Cultral Support AvailableFalse

Wheelchair AccessibleFalse

Fee RequiredFalse

Fee Amount: None

This opportunity is recurring