Maine Food Justice Initiative AmeriCorps VISTA Position - Cumberland County ​Food Security Council

Description:

Cumberland County Food Security Council’s (CCFSC) mission is to increase food access for vulnerable people in our County by working together to initiate, strategize and innovate solutions to hunger by advocating, sharing information and resources, and taking collective action. CCFSC’s focus is to build food security with economically disadvantaged people with limited access to healthy food. This includes children, seniors, under and unemployed, disabled, refugees, and immigrants among others. USDA research reports that 13.6 percent of Maine households are food insecure – a rate significantly higher than the national average of 11.7 percent. (Sept. 2019) Maine ranked 16th in the nation for child food insecurity with one in five Maine kids food insecure and an 18 percent child poverty rate. This data does not account for disruptions in the food system by the pandemic.

CCFSC  is providing three opportunities to do meaningful work in Maine’s food system.

Our Local Food Coordinator VISTA manages a portfolio of interesting projects including the Cumberland County Gleaning Initiative .

Our Food Fuels Learning  Coordinator VISTA works with Portland Public Schools to implement our innovative whole school food system project.

Our Maine Food Justice Initiative VISTA will be coordinating the development of a new network working toward racial justice in Maine’s food system. 

All our VISTAs will contribute toward our statewide effort to End Hunger in Maine by 2030.

These are all great opportunities for professional development while becoming integral to healing our food system in beautiful Maine.

Member Duties : This project’s goal is to establish infrastructure that supports more nutritious food being available to people vulnerable to food insecurity and more people participating in solving hunger. The VISTA will coordinate efforts to bridge the gap between consumers with limited resources and locally produced nutritious food. The VISTA will develop production, processing and distribution systems. The AmeriCorps VISTA member will build the capacity of local organizations to support an empowerment network that will elevate the voices of people with direct experiences of poverty to promote solutions. The VISTA will promote local food through events including processing and community meals. The VISTA will collect data for a report on disparities in food access for BIPOC Mainers. The VISTA will implement online infrastructure including a web page and social media.
Program Benefits : Relocation Allowance ,  Health Coverage* ,  Living Allowance ,  Housing ,  Childcare assistance if eligible ,  Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend ,  Training .
*For details about AmeriCorps VISTA healthcare benefits, please visit http://www.vistacampus.gov/healthcare
Terms :
Car recommended ,  Permits working at another job during off hours ,  Permits attendance at school during off hours .
Service Areas :
Health ,  Community Outreach ,  Children/Youth ,  Education ,  Hunger .
Skills :
Fund raising/Grant Writing ,  Youth Development ,  Public Speaking ,  Communications ,  Conflict Resolution ,  Community Organization ,  Writing/Editing ,  Education ,  Team Work ,  Non-Profit Management ,  Recruitment .
How to Apply:

Access all three applications here .