The Mountain Roots Healthy Futures Program builds community food security by creating synergies among education initiatives, nutrition and food access programs, public health and human services, and agricultural/conservation programs in the central Rocky Mountains and southwestern Colorado. Community-driven initiatives in the Healthy Futures Program include Farm to School, Sustainable Agriculture & Community Gardens, Hunger Solutions (Food Security), and Public Health programs, working together to build and sustain healthy communities, healthy people, and a healthy environment. The Gunnison Farmer’s Market, in partnership with the Gunnison Congregational Church, is interested in addressing the food and nutrition needs of low-income residents and families who are disproportionately affected by health concerns. In particular, increasing the use of SNAP benefits to purchase farm fresh food, and/or alternative distribution models that provide targeted access to fresh, healthy food.
Service Activities
Duties include:
• Assess the health education and food assistance needs of the community.
• Develop and strengthen partnerships between the farmers market, local producers, community organizations, and faith-based communities.
• Develop and implement outreach strategies to engage underserved audiences.
• Assist in the development and implementation of a new SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Access Program) food distribution model (a federal program for community members struggling with food security).
• Coordinate volunteers.
• Provide administrative support to b
Community Need Addressed
One in ten Coloradans struggle with hunger. Barriers to access healthy food are economic, educational / cultural, and physical (geography, transportation, seasonality, production, and distribution). At the same time, the agricultural sector is trying to meet the challenge of feeding a growing population with changing dietary demands while reducing the negative environmental impact of agricultural activities.
Position Outcomes
The Food Security Coordinator will work with other partner organizations to understand and overcome barriers that marginalized community members experience around equitable access to fresh food.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Living allowance, Student loan forbearance, Training
Education Benefits
College Degree
First Aid, CPR
Skills you will gain
First Aid /CPR Certification, public speaking, coalition building, event coordination, project management, communications, leadership, meeting facilitation, and time management
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner, Write cleary and effectively
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Improvise, Select and implement well-considered solution
Teamwork
Develop constructive working relationships and maintain them over time, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Stay positive and outcome oriented, Use appropriate strategies and solutions for dealing with conflicts and differences to maintain a smooth workflow
Decisions
Accepts responsibility, Identify and prioritize the key issues involved to facilitate the decision making process, Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them, Quickly respond with a back-up plan if a decision goes amiss
Tools
Consistently choose the best tool or technological solution for the problem at hand, Seek opportunities to improve knowledge of tools and technologies that may assist in streamlining work and improving productivity
Planning
Create environment of contribution, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Drive decision making, Facilitate group planning, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Evaluate customer or client satisfaction, Provide personalized, prompt, and efficient service to meet the requirements, requests and needs of customers, Recognize the importance of maintaining privacy and confidentiality of those being served, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization