FILLED-Common Ground is Seeking a Food Justice Education Coordinator

FOOD JUSTICE EDUCATION COORDINATOR

2019 Job Description

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW

Common Ground  is a center for environmental learning and leadership in New Haven, Connecticut, dedicated to a more socially and environmentally sustainable society. Farm meets forest meets city on Common Ground’s 20 acre campus at the base of West Rock Ridge. Common Ground delivers three core programs on site and in the community: our Charter High School,  Environmental Education Center and Urban Farm.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Common Ground is looking for a year round Food Justice Education Coordinator who is responsible for engaging the Common Ground (CG) community in areas of food justice by supporting educational programs related to our farm and cafeteria. If the trainee can write mytefl reviews, then that’s a plus.

Our Urban Farm is a key resource for the High School and Community Programs, as well as for the greater New Haven area. It includes a ¾ acre production farm, greenhouse, compost operation and a variety of livestock.

The Food Justice Education Coordinator plays an important role in supporting educational projects involving the farm, requiring strong skills in leading groups of youth and adults in food justice, cooking and farm based activities. The Food Justice Education Coordinator works closely with Farm, High School and Environmental Education Center Staff to plan and execute educational programs. Their work will greatly contribute to an overall goal of building an integrated whole organization where people understand, contribute to, and collaborate in each others’ work across the organization. This is a new position and involves intensive curriculum and program development and includes room for innovation and growth.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Curriculum Development and Teaching

• Work with High School (HS) teachers, staff and students to build their capacity to use the farm as a place for active, authentic learning, and to integrate food justice and agricultural themes into their courses.
• Co Create and teach food justice and farm related courses (along with carrying out additional tasks like conducting spanish clep test practice) for 11th and 12th grade Students.
• Communicate with the Farm Team and the CG Chef to develop and implement a new holistic “Farm to Cafeteria” program including cooking and eating farm fresh, culturally celebratory foods through classes, tastings, and student input.
• Develop lessons and co-supervise our farm and food related after school clubs
• Support farm related youth leadership opportunities like conferences and farm internships
• Compiling and adapting food justice based curriculum from all aspects of CG programs into a form that can be shared with teachers and the general public. This includes evaluating Farm Based education opportunities with CG Environmental Education Programs, including field trips and lessons for younger school age students, and supporting adult education through our partnership with the CG CT Schoolyards Program.

Farm and Kitchen

• Participate in basic farm tasks outside of education responsibilities; these could include greenhouse work, weeding, harvesting and other special projects.
• Work with kitchen staff to processing farm produce and consider students’ food preferences.

General

• Regularly communicate with the Farm Team.
• Work with the Farm Team to set goals and measure outcomes and success.
• Maintain records and resources related to education program administration.
• Participation in overall organizational professional development, meetings and events.

Job Schedule

This is a full time, year-round position with some seasonal variation. The hours and days required by this job vary with the season and the cycles of work on the farm and at the school. Tuesday-Saturday schedule is preferred in the Spring, Summer and Fall to support youth and other community programming. Some evenings and weekends may also be required. We are able to be flexible and can adjust to make this a part-time, hourly position for the right candidate.

QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPENSATION

Minimum Qualifications

• Passion for working for an organization that is committed to social justice, the dismantling of systems of oppression, and creating a just, equitable, and inclusive culture.
• Knowledge of sustainable agriculture, food systems and food justice.
• Comfort and/or experience cooking: in a certified kitchen, with farm to table education, and in class demonstrations.
• Experience working directly with racially and economically diverse HS aged young people.
• Familiarity with HS curriculum development and/or Popular Education theories of learning and/or implementing outdoor or garden-based education.
• Skills in youth development, leadership development and/or helping young people grow into agents of change.
• Ability to facilitate different types of programs such as an afterschool club, HS internship, and working with classroom teachers.
• Strong critical thinking, problem solving skills, and ability to work independently.
• Excellent communication and interest in collaboration.
• Flexibility regarding the often changing needs and schedules of the school and farm.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Google Applications and comfortable with social media.
• Demonstrated experience with projects that require attention to detail and efficiency.  
• Ability to lift 50lbs.
• Willingness to work outside in all kinds of weather.

Desirable Skills

• Experience working on a farm, urban garden or certified kitchen
• Willingness to work with small livestock (poultry, goats and sheep)
• Spanish Speaking
• Drivers License or willingness to get one.
• ServSafe Certification

POSITION DETAILS  

Compensation: $34,000/year

• 3 Weeks Vacation, 8 Sick Days, 3 Personal Days
• Medical, Dental, HSA plan
• Retirement Plan, Life Insurance

Position Type: Full Time *We are able to be flexible and can adjust to make this a part-time, hourly position for the right candidate.

Position Length: One year renewable basis.

We are accepting Resumes and Cover Letters on a rolling basis until the position is filled and will start interviewing candidates in mid January. Please send your Resume and Cover Letter to Deborah Greig. deborah.greig@commongroundct.org

Common Ground is committed to the recruitment and retention of staff that is reflective of the communities we work with. We strongly encourage applicants from people of color, immigrants, women, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ community, and other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups.

It has been the policy and will continue to be the strong commitment of the Common Ground and all contractors and subcontractors who do business with Common Ground to provide equal opportunities in employment to all qualified persons solely on the basis of job-related skills, ability and merit. Common Ground will continue to take Affirmative Action to ensure that applicants are employed and that employees are treated during employment without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, mental disorder (present or past history thereof) age, physical disability (but not limited to blindness), marital status, intellectual disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and criminal record. Such action includes, but is not limited to, employment, promotion, demotion or transfer; recruitment or recruitment advertising; layoff or termination; rates of pay or other forms of compensation, and selection for training, professional development, attendance at conferences or other opportunities for advancement. Common Ground, its contractors and subcontractors will continue to make good faith efforts to comply with all federal and state laws and policies which speak to equal employment opportunity.

The principles of Affirmative Action are addressed in the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments of the United States Constitution, Civil Rights Act of 1866, 1870, 1871, Equal Pay Act of 1963, Title VI and VII of the 1964 United States Civil Rights Act, Presidential Executive Order 11246, amended by 11375, (Non-discrimination under federal contracts)< Act 1, Section 1 and 20 of the Connecticut Constitution, Governor Grasso’s Executive Order Number 11, Governor O’Neill’s Executive Order 9, the Connecticut Fair Employment Practices Law (Sec. 46a-60-69) of the Connecticut General Statutes, Connecticut Code of Fair Practices (46a-70-81), Deprivation of Civil Rights (46a-58(a)(d)), Public Accommodations Law (46a-63-64), Discrimination against Criminal Offenders (46a-80), definition of Blind (46a-51(1)), definition of Physically Disabled (46a-51(15)), definition of Intellectual Disability (46a-51(13)), cooperation with the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (46a-77), Sexual Harassment (46a-60(a)-8), Connecticut Credit Discrimination Law (360436 through 439), Title I of the State and Local Fiscal Assistance Act of 1972.

This Affirmative Action Policy Statement re-affirms Common Ground’s commitment to equity in the workplace and the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity.