Urban Roots Food and Leadership Program VISTA will be a critical member of Urban Roots’ dynamic team. The VISTA will learn the ins and outs of starting a new program from the ground up – helping to build Urban Roots’ new college-aged Food & Leadership Fellowship program. The VISTA will help develop recruitment strategies and engaging materials to ensure we have a diverse cohort of college-age Fellows. The VISTA will work with our program team in the Urban Roots office; however, they also will spend some time on our urban farm and doing outreach at local colleges. He or she will also support the coordination of the program. Lastly, the VISTA will support the implementation of Urban Roots’ recently approved three-year strategic plan, tracking project status, creating updates for staff, and supporting key program initiatives.
Service Activities
Writing/Editing , Youth Development , Computers/Technology , Communications , Recruitment
Community Need Addressed
Urban Roots is a rapidly growing non-profit that uses food and farming to transform the lives of young people and inspire, engage, and nourish the community. On a 3.5-acre urban farm, Urban Roots provides Austin teenagers with life-changing paid internships that teach important life, job, and leadership skills. Through additional programming we engage hundreds of volunteers through team-building farm work days, provide educational tours to school and community youth groups, and donate thousands of pounds of farm-fresh produce to hunger relief agencies. As an organization, we are committed to the personal and professional growth of everyone, especially staff. Our organizational culture, defined by our Guiding Principles, informs how we fulfill our mission and how we work together as a team.
Position Outcomes
The Guiding Principles of Urban Roots: 1. We provide a High Quality, Transformational Experience for youth and community members. 2. We celebrate “Rigor” and Meaningful, Hard Work. 3. We build Strong Relationships. 4. We cultivate Intentionality in our work. 5. We engage our work with a Spirit of Celebration and Joy. 6. We Honor and Respect Diversity. It is an exciting time at Urban Roots and in Austin, TX – one of the most creative cities in the nation. Austin is a food destination city and we are honored to have so many partners in the renowned culinary and local farming communities who actively support our work. In 2015, we garnered national attention when Jimmy Kimmel chose Urban Roots as his beneficiary of choice during SXSW. This year, we recently completed a three-year strategic plan are launching new programs to strengthen organizational leadership and increase our impact in the community. Urban Roots is seeking a VISTA to help launch a new fellowship program to provide young people age 18-23 with leadership training and mentorship opportunities.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Living allowance, Non-competitive eligibility (federal jobs), Relocation allowance (if applicable), Stipend, Student loan forbearance, Training
Permits attendance at school during off hours , Permits working at another job during off hours
Skills you will gain
Writing/Editing , Youth Development , Computers/Technology , Communications , Recruitment
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Lead group discussion, 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, Turn taking, Write cleary and effectively
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Capable of generating possible solutions, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Provide relevant expertise, Select and implement well-considered solution
Teamwork
Derive consensus, Develop constructive working relationships and maintain them over time, Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, 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, Anticipate the consequences of decisions, 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
Carefully consider which tools or technological solutions are appropriate for a given job, 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
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create environment of contribution, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Demonstrate the effective allocation of time and resources efficiently, Drive decision making, Effectively delegate tasks, Facilitate group planning, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Understand and anticipate the needs of others, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization, Understand the significance of maintaining a healthful and safe environment