Nourish Iowa: Iowa Farm to School and Early Care VISTA

Hello! Thank you for your interest in this AmeriCorps position. PLEASE APPLY TO THIS POSITION AT https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?fromSearch=true&id=116311 IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED!! We will contact you upon receiving your application through AmeriCorps. We look forward to hearing from you!

During your service with the Iowa Farm to School and Early Care Coalition, you will become well-versed in the national and state landscape of policies and key actors affecting local food, hunger, nutrition, and education. You will strengthen communication procedures and foster a network of partners, becoming proficient in engaging diverse stakeholders through social media, newsletters, and a variety of in-person events. You will also co-lead two Iowa Food System Coalition Priority Teams focusing on 1) Networks and Community Organizing, and 2) Local Food Procurement. This element of your service will develop your experience in planning, meeting facilitation, and collaboration. You should work well alongside diverse groups of people with accountability & compassion; be eager to establish & maintain positive working relationships; & have an equity centered mindset, excellent communication, & interpersonal & organizational skills.

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION

You will earn a biweekly living allowance totaling $22,800 over the entire year, and will be eligible for a post-service benefit of either the Segal education award (Currently $7,395 - equal to the value of a full semester Pell Grant) or a cash alternative ($1,800).

VISTAs are also eligible for over $9,000 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 VISTA Program, this position follows a monthly schedule of start dates, and we accept applications year-round until a position is filled. Please reach out by email for the most up-to-date openings.

You should work well alongside diverse groups of people with accountability and compassion; be eager to establish and maintain positive working relationships; and have an equity centered mindset, excellent communication, and interpersonal and organizational skills.

About Our Organization

Nourish Iowa VISTA Project:

As a Nourish Iowa VISTA member, you will serve among a cohort of members whose service is building a more equitable food system in Iowa. You will have frequent opportunities to share knowledge within this community through cohort-wide meetings & site visits. In addition to all standard VISTA benefits, you will engage regularly with leaders in food systems via local, statewide, and national coalitions and associations, in addition to professional development opportunities coordinated by a VISTA Leader in your cohort. Nourish Iowa members are also eligible for free enrollment in Iowa State University's Local Food Leader certification course. Please visit our website for more openings and information about current living allowance rates and benefits.

Host Site: Farm Food and Enterprise Development

As a project of Iowa State University’s Farm, Food and Enterprise Development program, the mission of the Iowa Farm to School and Early Care Coalition is to increase access to locally-grown food and food education for children and families by building cross-sector partnerships to advance programs and policies in schools, early care settings, and the food system. As a partner in this work, your service will support statewide network communication, partnership, and collaborative event planning. The coalition seeks increased capacity and system development around several communication platforms, including social media, monthly newsletters, and storytelling. In addition to these areas, you will play a crucial role in planning the annual Iowa Farm to School and Early Care Conference (hosted in June) and developing farm to early care and education training (mainly virtual).