Company description Operating in 26 U.S. cities, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) provides resettled refugees with the assistance they need to survive and thrive. The IRC in Atlanta offers wrap around service provision in the areas of resettlement and social services, youth and adult education, employment services, health and wellness programs and immigration assistance. Clients served arrive from all over the world with varying levels of native language literacy, English language proficiency and skills needed to thrive in the United States. Over 3,500 refugees and immigrants from over 18 countries received culturally-competent, trauma-informed services in 2017 through IRC's programming and initiatives. 

Over 90% of refugees arriving in Georgia settle in Clarkston, Georgia. There are many obstacles to accessing fresh, healthy and affordable foods in Clarkston, where 76% of families with two foreign-born parents are living below the federal poverty level and over 95% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Due to heightened language and cultural barriers, refugees often struggle to understand the U.S. food systems and access culturally-appropriate information related to healthy eating. This can lead immigrant and refugee families to adopt unhealthy eating habits.

Through the New Roots program, the IRC helps refugees establish a strong future for themselves, their families and their communities. The Atlanta chapter of this nationally-acclaimed initiative enables refugees to celebrate their heritage and nourish themselves through youth programming, adult education and community gardening.  New Roots Atlanta works collaboratively with other IRC programs and community-based organizations to provide nutrition education, advocacy and food-related assistance to improve long-term health outcomes for refugee clients throughout Atlanta. Job description

Job Overview/Summary:

The New Roots Program Associate (Part-Time, 15 hours/week, Temporary) works with IRC clients and the community-at-large in two main areas: 1) youth gardening & food justice and 2) food security and nutrition. The New Roots program connects IRC clients and the community with access to healthy, affordable, and culturally appropriate food options; provides nutrition and garden-based science education in the U.S. context; and facilitates participation in gardening/food production programs.  

Major Responsibilities:

• Implement core programming of the New Roots Atlanta program on a temporary basis (September 3 – December 7)
• Implement New Roots youth education programming at Clarkston High School, including the Garden Club and Youth Food Justice internship program
• Implement New Roots adult education programming, including monthly nutrition classes and a weekly garden-based English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) class
• Represent the IRC in the Clarkston Food Initiative
• Collaborate with members of the Clarkston Food Initiative to conduct community garden and food justice classes and events
• Provide garden maintenance and assistance to growers at the North DeKalb Mall Community Garden
• Conduct outreach to the community and manage recruitment of New Roots participants, including high school student interns
• Maintain thorough and accurate records for all program-related activities
• Oversee and complete administrative duties, including report writing, completing expense reports, monitoring and reporting volunteer time, and other duties as assigned

 

Job Requirements:

• Strong knowledge of agriculture and production
• Experience working with a horticultural program 
• Experience implementing educational programs for a variety of age groups
• BA degree in agriculture, nutrition, or related field and/or a minimum of one year of relevant experience
• Excellent communication skills and proven ability to work with diverse populations; experience with refugee or immigrant populations preferred
• Access to reliable transportation
• Ability to work nights and weekends as needed 

Working Environment:  The New Roots Coordinator is based in the IRC Atlanta office, which is a standard office work environment. The Coordinator carries out various job activities in school and community gardens.

Compensation this position is : hourly Application instructions DeadlineAugust 17, 2018