AmeriCorps Food Access Outreach Coordinator

Northeast Brooklyn Housing Development Corporation (NEBHDCo) was incorporated in January 1985 as a 501c3 not-for-profit organization. NEBHDCo's mission is the preservation, development and management of affordable housing and homeownership opportunities; community and economic development initiatives and human services that effect social change in central Brooklyn. NEBHDCo provides services in four program areas: Affordable Housing, Property Management, Asset Management and Community Programs. Brooklyn neighborhoods served include: Bedford-Stuyvesant (Bed-Stuy), Crown Heights, East New York, and Ocean Hill-Brownsville.

NEBHDCo's portfolio includes 929 apartments directly managed by their Property Management Department, and nearly 17,000 square feet of commercial space throughout the central Brooklyn neighborhood. The Community Programs Department programming includes: Golden Harvest food pantry, community gardens, employment and education referral resources; public benefits referrals; tax prep; youth aged out of foster care housing and supports; educational scholarships; crafts events; Back to School events; a holiday toy drive, senior trips, and a Thanksgiving community meal.

Through the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) New York City's Communities for Healthy Food NYCprogram, NEBHDCo has also launched and further developed programming to:

• Increase access to affordable, nutritious and fresh foods.

• Educate residents, housing staff and community service providers on nutrition, healthy food preparation and gardening.

• Enable economic development opportunities through creating or expanding food-related jobs, improving existing or creating new healthy food venues and fostering urban markets and food related enterprises.

• Implement a comprehensive neighborhood-wide outreach and awareness campaign.

• Form cross-site partnerships with key organizations involved in healthy food work.

Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is dedicated to helping community residents transform distressed neighborhoods into healthy and sustainable communities of choice and opportunity — good places to work, do business and raise children. LISC combines corporate, government and philanthropic resources to help community-based organizations revitalize underserved neighborhoods. This strategy extends to the LISC AmeriCorps program where we support placing AmeriCorps Members with local non-profit partners. Members assist in efforts to revitalize underserved neighborhoods across America and create vibrant places for people to live, work, and play.

The member selected to serve in this capacity will be responsible for:

• Managing promotion of NEBHDCo's Communities for Healthy Food (CfHF) programming to NEBHDCo tenants and community members, through social media, newsletters, online resources, door-knocking, events, flyers and meetings.
  • Further deepen relationships with school, public, and organizational partners to develop community champions of the CfHF initiative.
  • Develop volunteer leadership to not only increase participation, but to also take active roles in shaping, staffing, and leading the programs associated with CfHF Bed-Stuy.
  • Track and report on all outreach volunteer activities – strategy, execution, and result.
  • Co-write CfHF quarterly reports and review all year 1 (2014) programs with the Community Healthy Food Advocate.
  • Assist in the development of CfHF priorities and programs for year 2 (2015).
    • Plan outreach and engagement strategy in accordance with year 2 goals and deliverables.

Members will also be expected to fully participate as part of the LISC AmeriCorps team. LISC sponsored activities including:

• Attend a national leadership conference tentatively scheduled for March 2015. This conference is coordinated by the national LISC AmeriCorps staff;
• Attend all locally sponsored monthly meetings;
• Participate in a minimum of six nationally sponsored webinars;
• Engage in every-other-month affinity groups to discuss topics related to the member's service; and,
• Actively participating in two locally identified and team coordinated service projects (one for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service and one for National AmeriCorps Week).

This is an AmeriCorps position. LISC and NEBHDCo will not allow the member to engage in activities that are considered prohibited under the terms of the grant while serving as a LISC AmeriCorps member.

Desired Skills

• Desire and ability to work with a diverse group of people, particularly those living in low-income distressed neighborhoods
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment
• Good computer skills including Microsoft Office; ideal candidate would also be comfortable with basic flyer design and familiarity with InDesign, Illustrator, or a similar design program
• Good written and oral communication skills
• Ability to work a flexible schedule (some night and weekends may be required)
• Highly dependable person
• Strong organizational skills
• Public speaking skills
• Outgoing, confident, and engaging personality

Program Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible to participate as a LISC AmeriCorps member the candidate must meet all eligibility requirements to serve as a National Service participant including but not limited to:

• Possess a high school degree, GED certificate or agree to achieve GED during the term of service
• Be at least 17 years of age (note there is no age limit)
• Have status as a US citizen or possess permanent resident status
• Be eligible to earn an education award and not be barred from performing a term of service
• Be available to serve for a full 10 month period of time and within that time period complete a minimum of 1700 hours of service
• Be available for service from October 1, 2014 through July 31, 2015

Program Benefits

Upon successful completion of the term of service, the member will be eligible for a $5,645 education award to pay off existing, eligible student loans or return to school. The position pays a total stipend of $15,000. The stipend is paid in 20 equal checks twice a month. Direct deposit is available and highly encouraged. A health care benefit is available for the participant only (dependents are not eligible). For members with children under the age of 13, there is a child care subsidy benefit available which is dependent on the participant meeting all eligibility requirements. This benefit is administered by a contracted provider via the Corporation for National and Community Service.

LISC & NEBHDCopromote equal opportunity in selecting AmeriCorps members.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion in the selection process.

How to apply

Resumes should be emailed to:

Bianca Bockman

Community Healthy Food Advocate

Northeast Brooklyn Housing Development Corporation (NEBHDCo)

bbockman@nebhdco.org