Youth Food Justice Intern

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Background: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and gain control of their future. IRC teams provide health, infrastructure, learning and economic support to people in 40 countries worldwide. The IRC also provides support to thousands of refugees resettling in 27 U.S. cities each year through initial housing assistance; case management and referral services; job readiness and placement; community and cultural orientation; health and wellness programs; immigration services; and youth programs.

Scope of Volunteer Work: The New Roots Program enables refugees to celebrate their heritage and nourish themselves and their neighbors by planting strong roots-literally-in their new communities. Currently, over 150 families are gardening in three different New Roots sites in Tukwila and Kent, growing food to improve the health and wellbeing of their families and their communities. The Youth Food Justice (YFJ) program that focuses on empowering high school students to be advocates for food justice and beyond. This is done through a hands-on learning approach where the students interact with their local food systems through gardening, cooking and learning from community food leaders. The YFJ intern is responsible for helping assist with planning and teaching curricula, with supervision from the New Roots team. This role will assist with coordination of various community partners and will keep thorough and accurate records of tasks and participants. Interns can expect to work alongside staff and high school students in the community garden, encouraging learning around food injustice, health and food systems.

Location: IRC SeaTac Office and Tukwila. Home office location: 1200 S. 192nd Street, Suite 101, SeaTac WA 98148.

Time Commitment: Start Date: Mid-June, 2020. Minimum 3 month time commitment. 6 months preferred. 15-20 hours/week. Schedule: Wednesday, Tuesday & Thursday 12-5pm.

Essential Position Functions:

• Assist with development and implementation of food justice curricula. Gather and prepare daily schedules. Organize logistics for daily flow of YFJ programming.
• Coordinate with community leaders at student worksites. Call and e-mail businesses and community members to follow up about trips and presentations. Work alongside IRC staff, interns and volunteers.
• Keep thorough and accurate records of all tasks, participants, and finances.
• Engage with high-school-aged students about food injustice, health disparities, and culturally-relevant food systems. Encourage students to advocate for food system change. Connect students to community leaders with diverse backgrounds.
• Research entrepreneurial opportunities for the New Roots program. Analyze available resources and capabilities.
• Other educational, logistical, and garden maintenance duties as needed

Requirements:

• This internship is for undergraduate students, graduate students, or recent college graduates
• Must be culturally sensitive, respectful of diverse backgrounds and willing to work with English language learners; prior experience working with refugee and immigrant communities and/or pre-literate populations in non-traditional settings preferred
• Experience or demonstrated interest in food systems, gardening, nutrition, food security issues, food justice, youth development and/or public health, preferably in a multicultural context
• Highly organized with great attention to detail and great flexibility
• Strong leadership and communication abilities
• Highly enthusiastic and passionate about empowering youth
• Creativity and initiative to follow through on projects and ability to work independently
• Strong working knowledge of and interest in the use of social media as an effective tool for outreach, exposure and marketing
• Willingness to adhere to IRC volunteer and workplace policies
• Nepali, Burmese, Somali, Dari or Arabic language skills highly preferred
• Applicants preferred who have valid driver’s license, vehicle, auto insurance and a clean driving record
• Must be available for all time commitments