Food Programs Coordinator Position                                                                             

Period:  March 2014 – February 2015 with opportunity to renew based on funding

LUSH Valley Food Action Society is a grassroots, non-profit food security organization based in the Comox Valley.  We support food-related projects that promote community health, personal empowerment, and environmental stewardship.  For more information on our organization, please visit www.lushvalley.org.

LUSH Valley invites applications for a Programs Coordinator to organize and oversee programs offered by the Society as noted below. The ideal applicant would be a community-minded and dynamic individual who is capable of working collaboratively with staff, board members, employees and volunteers to accomplish the organization’s goals and priorities in accordance with time and funding limitations.  The Food Programs Coordinator will be tasked with organizing, assisting, or running LUSH Valley programs as needed.

Programs Coordinator Duties and Activities

·      Attends monthly Board Meetings providing a report on activities including any issues, requirements or concerns, to assist with the smooth functioning of programs, the writing of funding proposals and reporting to the funders.  

·      Develops and implements food programs in collaboration with other staff, i.e. Young Cooks, Family Literacy Outreach, Community Kitchens, Pocket Market, Member Pantry; works collaboratively with other members of these committees to develop policy and procedures, source facilitators, suppliers, volunteers, field trip hosts and other requirements for office, kitchen and other programs as time allows. 

• Assists with developing the Garden Share and Fruit Tree Program for the 2014 season with assistance from the FTP Committee, including sourcing volunteers for all aspects of the Program, i.e. orientation, compensation, etc.

• Provides education, training and presentations to community partners and special events as required and as time allows.
• Assists with the development of LUSH’s commercial kitchen social enterprise.

A key responsibility of the Coordinator is to oversee Young Cooks, a food skills program specifically designed at LUSH Valley for children of people with a mental health/dual diagnosis or children from low-income families. The purpose of the program is to educate youth about food topics like nutrition, cooking, and budgeting, and to help them build interpersonal skills.

Duties Specific to Young Cooks Coordinator

·      Plan and facilitate afterschool and summer program intake.

·      Teach food and life skills, including basic budgeting, effective interaction, meeting goals and building positive relationships.

·      Introduce youth to the local food system through field trips.

·      Develop the Young Cooks program to meet the LVFAS mission and the program purpose.

Applicant Qualifications

·      Health related education

·      Effective and proven communication skills with vulnerable populations

·      Experience working with youth

·      Knowledge of food security and poverty issues

·      Cooking experience

·      Food Safe certification

·      Criminal Record check

·      Class 4 driver’s license is an asset but not a requirement

·      Experience working productively both independently and in teams

·      Experience planning & executing tasks

·      Strong organizational skills

·      Computer skills (MS Office, Adobe, social media)

Remuneration

The base salary is $15/hr (inclusive of vacation & holiday pay) at 25hrs/week based on month-to-month wage with opportunities for wage enhancement through additional project & contract opportunities. The position includes two weeks of paid vacation time and (sick days).  Work hours may be flexible and based on events, programs and office hours.

Applications can be sent to cynthiafitton@lushvalley.org. or dropped off at our office 1126 Piercy Ave Courtenay. Review of applications will continue until the position is filled.

LUSH Valley is committed to social justice and employment equity. All qualified persons are encouraged to apply. We especially welcome applications from members of racialized groups, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, persons of minority gender or sexual orientations, and others with the skills and knowledge to engage productively with diverse communities. Canadian citizens or permanent residents will be given priority.

We thank all applications for their interest in this position. We regret that only those selected for an interview will be contacted. 

http://fluidsurveys.com/s/CVFRT_Land_Access/

Hey kids do you want to learn how to cook?

Many youth in North America are reconnecting with where their food comes from.  Young Cooks is a food skill program at LUSH Valley Food Action Society at 1126 Piercy Ave in Courtenay BC.    The Young Cooks share and learn about food in the kitchen, at the farm and at markets.  Exploring food connections increases knowledge of food issues related to nutrition and health, pollution and climate change.  

Typically the youth who participate in Young Cooks come from families with mental health problems or from low income families.  Youth get to explore cooking, choosing nutritious ingredients, recipe reading, basic budgeting and an introduction to the local food system through field trips.  Programming is geared to develop relationship skills with peers and community members.  During the last session the kids were inspired by all the locally grown food available at the market, and learning why it is important to shop locally. They learn about the issues of unfair working conditions, and what Fair Trade means to both the growers and themselves.

Every session the Young Cooks participate in a project that helps to express what they have learned about food.  Previous groups have done murals, films, and constructed raised gardens.

We are recruiting youth that want to improve food skills and increase their community awareness of the local food system. Students will receive food safety instruction and be able to prepare numerous, healthy meals of their choosing. A healthy snack at the start of each class is included and a fresh meal for the whole family is taken home.

There will be a Young Cooks Summer Day Camp July 7-11 and August 25-29.  Keep an eye on our website for details.

The Young Cooks Program is made possible by the support of the Children’s Health Foundation, Vancouver Foundation, the Province of BC and United Way.

Eligibility Criteria

· have an interest in food education, learning to prepare meals, chopping, shopping and eating.

· low income families or families with mental health/substance issues.

· Age 10-14 years +/-

Timeline and Frequency

3:30pm to 6pm on Wednesday or Thursday afternoons with the occasional  Saturday (for field trips), between March 19th and June 4th.

Please feel free to spread the word on this. More information can be found at lushvalley.org.  If you know a youth who may be interested have them contact Debi or Cynthia at 250-331-0152 or by email admin@lushvalley.org.