[Community_garden] Growing Hope Americorps*VISTA hiring-- DEADLINE EXTENDED & additional position added

[Amanda Edmonds]

Please note: In addition to extending the deadline for the previously posted
Youth & Education Coordinator position to begin in February 07, we are also
bringing on a Volunteer Coordinator at that time (our current volunteer
coordinator, Karen, will have completed her 12 month term of service then).
Please forward along, and if you are considering applying, please get in
touch right away and let us know your intentions!


National Service AmeriCorps*VISTA Positions
*At Growing Hope in Ypsilanti, Michigan*
Make a difference in your community through community & school gardening


*POSITION OVERVIEW:*

Growing Hope is currently recruiting a* Youth & Education Coordinator* and a
*Volunteer Coordinator* VISTA positions for 12-month terms of service, to
begin in February 2007 and serve until February 2008. Growing Hope is a
community-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to help people
improve their lives and communities through gardening. Through a community
capacity-building approach, we work in partnership with low-income schools,
community groups, and agencies to help people gain the skills, resources,
and support needed to develop and sustain school & community gardens and
garden-based programming. *Application deadline has been extended to
December 1, but submissions and inquiries right away are strongly
encouraged!*

All VISTA members at Growing Hope work to help to enhance local environments
by strengthening food security, improving health & nutrition, and providing
educational opportunities to low-income community members throughout
Washtenaw County through different roles in the organization. VISTA members
will work to increase Growing Hope's organizational capacity by developing
program models, partnerships, training, and resources that support school &
community gardening.

Currently, we are recruiting VISTA members for the following areas of focus:
*Youth & Education *and* Volunteer Coordination*.  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 Growing Hope team, and specific qualifications for each position you
wish to be considered for.**

Qualified candidates for any of our positions will exhibit the following:

O         Desire and experience in effectively communicating with all types
of individuals and groups.

O         Experience or desire to gain knowledge of-and assist in
disseminating information about organic gardening, nutrition,
sustainability, and community food systems.

O         Desire to encourage local community members to share ideas,
talents and resources.

O         Excellent verbal and written communication skills

O         Strong organizational and management skills, including excellent
follow-through.

O         Willingness to know more about and respond to needs of communities
and schools.

O         Flexibility to work non-traditional hours, including some evening
and weekends as scheduled

O         Desire and ability to work both as part of a team and
individually.

O         Experience in coordinating and leading teams.

O         Willingness to see projects through—from developing to
implementing to evaluating.

O         Ability to juggle multiple projects simultaneously

O         Comfort in use of computers and technology on a daily basis

O         Willingness to adapt to changing organizational conditions and
extremely limited resources.

O         Creativity, flexibility, resourcefulness and positive thinking.

*TO APPLY:*

Please submit a *resume, 1-2 page letter describing your interests and
qualifications, and contact information for 3 references* to be received by
*December 1, 2006*. Electronic applications encouraged; please email (as
attachments) to Executive Director Amanda Edmonds at amanda at growinghope.net.
If mailing, please send materials to Amanda Edmonds, Growing Hope, PO BOX
980129, Ypsilanti, MI, 48198, or drop off at our office at 32 North
Washington, Suite 11, Ypsilanti, MI  48197. After receiving materials,
applicants may be asked to complete additional application materials and be
available for interviewing.  We are on a tight hiring timeline & encourage
applications & inquiries as soon as possible.  Please read on for position
descriptions.**

*POSITION DESCRIPTIONS:*

*Youth/Education/Outreach*. Working directly with schools throughout
Washtenaw 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.  S/he will also play
a leadership role in organizing the Washtenaw School Gardens Network and
developing trainings & resources for school gardens throughout the county.
This VISTA volunteer will also coordinate Roots & Shoots, after-school and
summer entrepreneurial garden program for youth, including developing
relationships with youth-serving organizations to become program partners.
This VISTA volunteer should have a love for and experience working with
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 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

·         Assist in fundraising

* *

*Volunteer Coordination. *This VISTA member will work to build the capacity
of Growing Hope to further its mission through the support of volunteers in
all areas of programs and organizational activity.  S/he will recruit
volunteers, coordinate and implement volunteer training and management
programs, develop/coordinate corporate and group volunteer opportunities,
oversee volunteers at workdays and during programs, maintain volunteer
database, and represent the organization in the community. This VISTA member
must have excellent people skills, superb organizational and follow up
skills, and be excited about communicating the work of the organization to
the public.

*Responsibilities include:*

·            Coordinate volunteer recruitment and training;

·            Maintain and manage volunteers and volunteer program

·            Develop and oversee organizational calendar of workdays and
programs, including Growing  Hope website calendar

·             Coordinate on-site garden education as well as other
educational programs during volunteer sessions

·            Expand and utilize database for volunteer management and
tracking

·            Assist in creating and fundraising for community garden
development/training model

·            Help coordinate existing community garden volunteer leadership

·            Supervise volunteer interns, as appropriate

·            Represent the organization to community groups, other
organizations, & businesses

·            Develop and maintain partnerships with other organizations

·            Assist in documenting and evaluating programs

·            Assist in grant writing and fundraising

* *
BENEFITS FOR ALL VISTA MEMBERS

O         Monthly Stipend of $883.00

O         Medical Insurance

O         Child care assistance, if needed

O         Educational ($4,725) or cash award ($1,200) at end of term

O         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.

*QUESTIONS?*

More information about Growing Hope is available at www.growinghope.net.  More
information about VISTA and other Corporation for National and Community
Service programs, see http://www.cns.gov/.  Additional questions about
Growing Hope or these positions, please call us at 734-786-8401 or email
Amanda Edmonds at amanda at growinghope.net.

* *
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