Mixed Greens
National Service AmeriCorps*VISTA Positions
AMERICORPS*VISTA POSITION OVERVIEW:
Mixed Greens is currently recruiting applicants to fill several VISTA positions for 12month terms of service, to begin in June 2007 and run through June 2008. The areas of
focus of these positions are Program Development, Marketing/Fundraising, and School
Garden Network and Resource Development.
Mixed Greens is a community-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to teach
the children of the Grand Rapids area the value of health and Michigan agriculture
through the growing, preparing and sharing of food using schoolyard vegetable
gardens and kitchen classrooms. Through a community capacity-building, collaborative
approach, we work in partnership with schools, community groups, and agencies to
help youth and their community gain the skills, resources, and support needed to
sustain vegetable gardens and garden-based kitchen programming.
Overall goals for this position include increasing community and individual knowledge
about food systems and increasing access to local, nutritious foods. Qualified
candidates for any of our positions will exhibit the following:
• Desire and experience in effectively communicating with all types of individuals and
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groups.
Experience or desire to gain knowledge of-and assist in disseminating information
about organic gardening, nutrition, sustainability, and community food systems.
Desire to encourage local community members to share ideas, talents and
resources.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Strong organizational and management skills, including excellent follow-through.
Willingness to know more about and respond to needs of communities and schools.
Flexibility to work non-traditional hours, including some evening and weekends as
scheduled
Desire and ability to work both as part of a team and individually.
Experience in coordinating and leading teams.
Willingness to see projects through—from developing to implementing to
evaluating.
Ability to juggle multiple projects simultaneously
Comfort in use of computers and technology on a daily basis
Willingness to adapt to changing organizational conditions and extremely limited
resources.
Creativity, flexibility, resourcefulness and positive thinking.
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TO APPLY:
Currently, we are recruiting VISTA members for the following three areas of focus:
Program Development, Marketing/Events/Fundraising, School Garden Network and
Resource Development. In your cover letter, please specify which position or
positions you wish to be considered for, based on the specific job descriptions that
follow, citing both what skills you would bring to the entire Mixed Greens team and to
the position you are seeking.
For consideration, please submit your resume plus a 1 page cover letter and contact
information for 3 references by March 21, 2007. Electronic applications are strongly
encouraged; please email (as attachments) to Lisa Rose Starner,
lisa.rose@mixedgreens.org. Snail mail: Human Resources, Mixed Greens, 1444 Lake
Dr. SE, Grand Rapids MI, 49506. No faxes or calls please.
After receiving materials, applicants may be asked to complete additional application
materials and be available for interviewing. We may begin interviewing some
applicants as soon as materials are received so we encourage materials to be submitted
early.
BENEFITS FOR ALL VISTA MEMBERS
• Monthly Stipend of $833, $9,996 annually
• Medical Insurance
• Child care assistance, if needed
• Educational ($4,725) or cash award ($1,200) at end of term
• Training before and during service term; Opportunities to build resume
EXPECTATION OF SERVICE
AmeriCorps*VISTA members serve full-time, for one year with varying work schedules.
Educational award is only available to those who complete their term, unless
extenuating circumstances exist. VISTA members are not allowed to be in school or
have other employment during their term of service. VISTA members may be eligible
for Food Stamps or other forms of public assistance.
ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential
duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed of each position are representative of the
knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to
enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Some High School education or equivalent of six months to one year of progressively
more responsible experience in the field or a related area. Also, the ability to compose
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and maintain clear and detailed records as well as the ability to effectively present
information in one-on-one and small group situations is required of each applicant to
be considered for a Mixed Greens position. Applicants must have the ability to handle
multiple priorities and tasks within required program deadlines. While performing the
requirements of this job, the employee may be required to sit or stand for extended
periods of time.
The employee occasionally must be able to lift up to 50 pounds. Additionally,
applicants must be independently mobile, possess own transportation, and must be
able to work a flexible schedule, with some evening and weekend work required.
POSITION DESCRIPTIONS:
Program Development.
Working directly with schools throughout Kent County to develop and maintain
greenhouses and/or school gardens, this VISTA volunteer will facilitate classroom
involvement, support after-school activities, and help build the partnerships and teams
in the schools to sustain these structures over the long term. This VISTA volunteer
should have a love for and experience working with urban youth and youth-serving
adults in a variety of settings (including public schools), and a working knowledge of
gardening and/or greenhouse production skills.
Responsibilities include:
• Work directly with teachers, administrators, students and high school interns in
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garden & greenhouse development and maintenance planning
At some sites, help to assemble and maintain diverse school teams including
parents, teachers, volunteers, and administrators
Organize, facilitate, and evaluate garden/greenhouse programs
Identify training and support needed among school and youth populations;
Teach skills in gardening, greenhouses, food systems and related topics to youth &
youth-serving adults
Identify and work with partner organizations serving youth and schools; design and
facilitate garden-based program models (after-school and summer) with these
partners.
Assist in development of school and youth garden resource guide and lending
library materials
Assist in development of youth volunteer opportunities and internship program
Help facilitate regional & statewide networks of school gardens
Assist in documenting and evaluating programs
Help recruit and train volunteers
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Marketing/Events/Fundraising.
Working closely with the Executive Director, this VISTA member will focus on
fundraising, event planning, marketing, and related administrative tasks, with the
focus on building Mixed Greens’s financial and organizational capacity. S/he will
concentrate on planning fundraising events, representing the organization at
community festivals and events, grant research and writing, grant management, donor
research, creation of marketing materials (newsletter, annual report, etc), and other
fundraising. This VISTA member must be extremely well organized, computer savvy,
customer-oriented and preferably have experience in event planning, fundraising or
campaign work, and/or other areas of marketing.
Responsibilities include:
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Plan & coordinate fundraising and other special events
Research, write, and manage grants
Develop marketing materials to aid in fundraising and general outreach
Work with media to increase community awareness of gardening, nutrition food
systems and Mixed Greens.
Coordinate fundraising solicitation process and assist in management of donor
communications
Planning special events (fundraising & others) along with staff & board
Manage and disseminate marketing materials & maintain website content
Coordinate production & sales of merchandise
Respond to inquires about the organization
Manage database of donors, funders, et al.
Represent the organization in community settings at special events
Support other administrative & office management systems
Provide general staff support as needed at events, programs, etc
School Garden Network and Resource Development.
This VISTA volunteer will expand community-based garden education, develop
organizational models for community & school garden development and partnership,
facilitate our training program for community garden organizing, and work heavily
with volunteers. This VISTA volunteer needs to be exceptionally skilled at relationship
building and follow through, to support developing and new gardens and teams of
garden planners. Experience in community organizing desirable.
This VISTA volunteer will work to expand and manage educational and material
resources, in order to build the capacity of schools, community groups, and families to
have what they need to garden. An extremely organized, detail-oriented volunteer will
create an inventory of existing materials and work to acquire additional ones as s/he
manages new Garden Resource Center and tool lending library. Additionally, s/he will
become familiar with curricular and training materials, and work to organize, acquire,
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and develop more—including garden learning kits for schools, training materials for
Mixed Greens programs, organic garden reference guides, and general resources for
our School Garden Network Initiative. S/he will expand availability of educational
resources on the Mixed Greens website. S/he may also have the opportunity to plan
and conduct trainings and educational sessions using these materials.
Responsibilities include:
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Develop and Coordinate School Garden Network, including recruitment, program
facilitation, and working with new garden teams
Work with organizations and schools who want to develop new gardens
Act as a liaison to existing school gardens and garden stewards
Assist with volunteer recruitment, training, and management, especially as related
to new garden development
Assist in raising funds and obtaining other resources for Mixed Greens’ programs
Represent the organization to community groups, schools, other organizations,
businesses
Offer support to Mixed Greens’ school & youth garden programs
Assist in documenting and evaluating programs
Launch and manage School Garden Network Resource Center, including lending
library of tools, educational materials
Keep inventory of all Mixed Greens resources, tools, & materials
Conduct outreach about the School Garden Network to diverse constituents
Actively manage lending of materials to schools, community groups, garden
workdays, et al
Assist in classroom and other training sessions using our educational resources,
including assisting in training volunteers to use materials
Assess needs of constituents, and generally assist in documenting and evaluating
programs
Develop garden resource guides and lending library materials
Develop and organize educational materials
Assist in raising funds and obtaining other resources for this and other of Mixed
Greens programs
QUESTIONS?
More information about Mixed Greens is available at www.mixedgreens.org. More
information about VISTA and other Corporation for National and Community Service
programs, see http://www.cns.gov/. Additional questions about Mixed Greens or these
positions, please email the Executive Director at lisa.rose@mixedgreens.org.
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