Teens for Food Justice (TFFJ) is a not-for-profit organization that is galvanizing a youth-led food justice movement.
We train youth in 21st century hydroponic urban agricultural farming techniques, entrepreneurship, and health/nutrition education and advocacy, empowering them as change agents who can lead themselves and their own food insecure communities towards healthier futures. 

TFFJ works in Title 1 schools to train youth to become urban farmers: building and maintaining indoor hydroponic farms that yield more than 22,000 lbs. of fresh produce annually at each location. Our young urban farmers experience the rewards of building a meaningful, working solution to food insecurity in their communities. In the process, they transform their relationship to the food they eat, while developing the science and technology skills needed in a new green sector economy. These youth-run farms serve as local sources for fresh food and centers for nutrition and health education in their schools and communities.

Teens for Food Justice is seeking a passionate individual with an entrepreneurial spirit, flexibility, and a desire to join a small, rapidly-growing organization.  The Campaign Coordinator will work directly with TFFJ’s Executive Director, Program Manager, Farm Managers, the American Heart Association, school partners and school-based teams to implement a Healthy Kids Meal Youth Advocacy campaign at both The Urban Assembly Unison School and DeWitt Clinton High School, where TFFJ currently operates youth-led farms.

The campaign will also engage students from Martin Luther King Jr. Educational Campus and Brownsville Collaborative Middle School, both scheduled to launch TFFJ farms in Fall 2018. The position will involve leading and supporting TFFJ after school programming; creating, distributing, and analyzing surveys, creating and modifying curriculum, and planning school-wide and community events with students, schools, and community partners, all with the goal of generating youth-led advocacy for healthier meal options for kids.  

Position Description:

Position Title : AHA/TFFJ Healthy Kids Meal Youth Advocacy Campaign Coordinator

Hours: 25 hours per week

Daily schedule will vary depending on after school program hours that require the Campaign Coordinator’s attendance for supervision and support.Tuesday or Thursday afternoons will be required at DeWitt Clinton High School and Wednesday afternoons will be required at The Urban Assembly Unison School. Some Saturday hours required for event support and all other hours will be fulfilled on a more flexible basis in office, at meetings, or at sites.

Duration : February 1, 2018 through July 1, 2018

Compensation : $20 per hour plus an unlimited metrocard for the duration of the engagement

Application : Qualified candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to Clare Hyre, Program Manager :  chyre@teensforfoodjustice.org

More information on Teens For Food Justice can be found at http://www.teensforfoodjustice.org/

Responsibilities:

Programs:

1. Lead/or support 16 week after school programming with teachers (Program Leads) and/or mentors
   1. Meet with Program Lead and TFFJ Program Manager to debrief and plan lessons and community engagement activities
   2. Work with Program Lead and TFFJ Program Manager to create or modify existing curriculum to focus on Health Kids Meal Youth Advocacy issues like :
2. 1. 1. Develop maps of local areas and food sources
      2. Lead community research by students into local foodscape
      3. Create lessons to expand study of food deserts to include food swamps
      4. Create lessons structured on fast food marketing and countermarketing
   2. Communicate regularly with American Heart Association Staff and TFFJ staff for programming resources and support
   3. Lead restaurant survey and food landscape research projects
   4. Analyze data and create final report on restaurant options and kids meals

Community Engagement:

1. Supervise planning and delivery of student-led community outreach events at Unison and DeWitt with Lead Teacher, and/or mentors, school administration, community stakeholders, and the American Heart Association.  Events include :
   1. Student-led presentation at each site to highlight work (assembly, poster, video)
   2. Youth Conference - including students from both sites with student led workshops and presentations
   3. Youth advocacy campaign with students from all four sites  to government offices
   4. Culminating large-scale community celebratory/advocacy events at both sites

1. Maintain relationships and coordinate with all school staff and community partners.

1. Promote and manage school involvement with the after school program as an educational resource, including overseeing communication between community partners, faculty, program staff, and farm staff
2. Identify and cultivate new TFFJ program partnerships and community engagement opportunities at each site/s that relate to Healthy Kids Meals
3. Build relationships with new school sites and identify students capable of joining advocacy campaign team with students from existing sites

Capacity Building and Staff/Mentor Management:

1. Support and collaborate with all program staff - TFFJ Program Manager, Program Leads and Mentors, Farm Managers, Communications and Development staff during duration of engagement
2. Establish and maintain effective communication norms between team members at sites
3. Manage mentors and ensure student participation in programming
4. Working closely and professionally with administration, community partners, and the American Heart Association

Qualifications

Required:

• Graduate of a Master’s Program or a Master’s candidate, ideally studying (or completed degree in) education, public health, food studies, nutrition, environmental studies, social services or community development.
• Some relevant management experience, preferably in education, food, or a related field
• Some teaching experience (teaching certificate not required)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Confidence initiating and maintaining relationships with students, teachers, mentors, various stakeholders, and families and community members at TFFJ school sites
• Passionate about education, food justice, youth empowerment, and food advocacy
• Must be willing to participate in and able to pass criminal background check

An ideal candidate will :

• Bring energy and passion to the classroom and community events
• Be able to work independently and have strong personal motivation
• Collaborate with diverse groups and be able to maintain a professional and respectful relationship with students, TFFJ staff, teachers, mentors, and various stakeholders
• Support/collaborate to improve the TFFJ program at site with Program Lead, TFFJ Program Manager, TFFJ Executive Director, School Administration, American Heart Association and other community partners