Please note: In addition to extending the deadline for the previously posted Youth & Education Coordinator position to begin in February 07, we are also bringing on a Volunteer Coordinator at that time (our current volunteer coordinator, Karen, will have completed her 12 month term of service then). Please forward along, and if you are considering applying, please get in touch right away and let us know your intentions!
National Service AmeriCorps*VISTA Positions
At Growing Hope in Ypsilanti, Michigan
Make a difference in your community through community & school gardening
POSITION OVERVIEW:
Growing Hope is currently recruiting a Youth & Education Coordinator and a Volunteer Coordinator VISTA positions for 12-month terms of service, to begin in February 2007 and serve until February 2008. Growing Hope is a community-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to help people improve their lives and communities through gardening. Through a community capacity-building approach, we work in partnership with low-income schools, community groups, and agencies to help people gain the skills, resources, and support needed to develop and sustain school & community gardens and garden-based programming. Application deadline has been extended to December 1, but submissions and inquiries right away are strongly encouraged!
All VISTA members at Growing Hope work to help to enhance local environments by strengthening food security, improving health & nutrition, and providing educational opportunities to low-income community members throughout Washtenaw County through different roles in the organization. VISTA members will work to increase Growing Hope's organizational capacity by developing program models, partnerships, training, and resources that support school & community gardening.
Currently, we are recruiting VISTA members for the following areas of focus: Youth & Education and Volunteer Coordination. Please specify which position or positions you wish to be considered for, based on the specific job descriptions that follow, citing both what skills you would bring to the entire Growing Hope team, and specific qualifications for each position you wish to be considered for.
Qualified candidates for any of our positions will exhibit the following:
O Desire and experience in effectively communicating with all types of individuals and groups.
O Experience or desire to gain knowledge of-and assist in disseminating information about organic gardening, nutrition, sustainability, and community food systems.
O Desire to encourage local community members to share ideas, talents and resources.
O Excellent verbal and written communication skills
O Strong organizational and management skills, including excellent follow-through.
O Willingness to know more about and respond to needs of communities and schools.
O Flexibility to work non-traditional hours, including some evening and weekends as scheduled
O Desire and ability to work both as part of a team and individually.
O Experience in coordinating and leading teams.
O Willingness to see projects through—from developing to implementing to evaluating.
O Ability to juggle multiple projects simultaneously
O Comfort in use of computers and technology on a daily basis
O Willingness to adapt to changing organizational conditions and extremely limited resources.
O Creativity, flexibility, resourcefulness and positive thinking.
TO APPLY:
Please submit a resume, 1-2 page letter describing your interests and qualifications, and contact information for 3 references to be received by December 1, 2006. Electronic applications encouraged; please email (as attachments) to Executive Director Amanda Edmonds at amanda@growinghope.net. If mailing, please send materials to Amanda Edmonds, Growing Hope, PO BOX 980129, Ypsilanti, MI, 48198, or drop off at our office at 32 North Washington, Suite 11, Ypsilanti, MI 48197. After receiving materials, applicants may be asked to complete additional application materials and be available for interviewing. We are on a tight hiring timeline & encourage applications & inquiries as soon as possible. Please read on for position descriptions.
POSITION DESCRIPTIONS:
Youth/Education/Outreach. Working directly with schools throughout Washtenaw County to develop and maintain greenhouses and/or school gardens, this VISTA volunteer will facilitate classroom involvement, support after-school activities, and help build the partnerships and teams in the schools to sustain these structures over the long term. S/he will also play a leadership role in organizing the Washtenaw School Gardens Network and developing trainings & resources for school gardens throughout the county. This VISTA volunteer will also coordinate Roots & Shoots, after-school and summer entrepreneurial garden program for youth, including developing relationships with youth-serving organizations to become program partners. This VISTA volunteer should have a love for and experience working with youth and youth-serving adults in a variety of settings (including public schools), and a working knowledge of gardening and/or greenhouse production skills.
Responsibilities include:
· Work directly with teachers, administrators, students and high school interns in garden & greenhouse development and maintenance planning
· At some sites, help to assemble and maintain diverse school teams including parents, teachers, volunteers, and administrators
· Organize, facilitate, and evaluate garden/greenhouse programs
· Identify training and support needed among school and youth populations;
· Teach skills in gardening, greenhouses, food systems and related topics to youth & youth-serving adults
· Identify and work with partner organizations serving youth and schools; design and facilitate garden-based program models (after-school and summer) with these partners.
· Assist in development of school and youth garden resource guide and lending library materials
· Assist in development of youth volunteer opportunities and internship program
· Help facilitate regional & statewide networks of school gardens
· Assist in documenting and evaluating programs
· Assist in fundraising
Volunteer Coordination. This VISTA member will work to build the capacity of Growing Hope to further its mission through the support of volunteers in all areas of programs and organizational activity. S/he will recruit volunteers, coordinate and implement volunteer training and management programs, develop/coordinate corporate and group volunteer opportunities, oversee volunteers at workdays and during programs, maintain volunteer database, and represent the organization in the community. This VISTA member must have excellent people skills, superb organizational and follow up skills, and be excited about communicating the work of the organization to the public.
Responsibilities include:
· Coordinate volunteer recruitment and training;
· Maintain and manage volunteers and volunteer program
· Develop and oversee organizational calendar of workdays and programs, including Growing Hope website calendar
· Coordinate on-site garden education as well as other educational programs during volunteer sessions
· Expand and utilize database for volunteer management and tracking
· Assist in creating and fundraising for community garden development/training model
· Help coordinate existing community garden volunteer leadership
· Supervise volunteer interns, as appropriate
· Represent the organization to community groups, other organizations, & businesses
· Develop and maintain partnerships with other organizations
· Assist in documenting and evaluating programs
· Assist in grant writing and fundraising
BENEFITS FOR ALL VISTA MEMBERS
O Monthly Stipend of $883.00
O Medical Insurance
O Child care assistance, if needed
O Educational ($4,725) or cash award ($1,200) at end of term
O Training before and during service term; Opportunities to build resume
EXPECTATION OF SERVICE
AmeriCorps*VISTA members serve full-time, for one year with varying work schedules. Educational award is only available to those who complete their term, unless extenuating circumstances exist. VISTA members are not allowed to be in school or have other employment during their term of service. VISTA members may be eligible for Food Stamps or other forms of public assistance.
QUESTIONS?
More information about Growing Hope is available at www.growinghope.net. More information about VISTA and other Corporation for National and Community Service programs, see http://www.cns.gov/. Additional questions about Growing Hope or these positions, please call us at 734-786-8401 or email Amanda Edmonds at amanda@growinghope.net.
VISTAatGrowingHopeFeb07.doc
