Organization Overview
The Mountain Roots Healthy Futures Program builds community food security by creating synergies among education initiatives, nutrition and food access programs, public health and human services, and agricultural/conservation programs in the central Rocky Mountains and southwestern Colorado. Community-driven initiatives in the Healthy Futures Program include Farm to School, Sustainable Agriculture & Community Gardens, Hunger Solutions (Food Security), and Public Health programs, working together to build and sustain healthy communities, healthy people, and a healthy environment. Mountain Roots Food Project is on a mission to cultivate a resilient food system in the Gunnison Valley by enhancing healthy connections between food, earth, and community. We foster knowledge, teach skills, and provide opportunities that ensure access to affordable, nutritious and sustainably produced food.
Service Description
The position will coordinate collaborative and equitable food access programs such as, food rescue, cooking classes, community gardens, Spanish language food assistance distributions, and senior outreach in a rural Colorado mountain community.
Gunnison food security organizations collaborate on targeted, innovative efforts to reduce food insecurity and increase self-sufficiency among underserved rural community members. The member joins a small but passionate team and serves to combat rural food deserts, food insecurity and obesity by developing new and strengthening existing programs for children and adults that increase access to and use of food assistance services promoting healthy eating, active lifestyles, economic development, and environmental stewardship.
Rural food systems initiatives combine education programs, community gardens and local farms, and community food security programs. In this role, members actively engage with low-income and other underserved audiences; develop current access strategies into lasting programs that increase access to and consumption of fresh, nutritious food; build self-sufficiency and improve individual and community health; address the root causes of poverty/social determinants of health; and bridge age, cultural, and socioeconomic gaps. Primary activities include Cooking Matters courses, food demonstrations, Garden distribution, and food rescue programs.
AmeriCorps Member Primary Responsibilities
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Facilitate Cooking Matters or other education program for low-income people,
- Coordinate local distribution program of produce, a grow-a-row to innovative food rescue program connecting home gardeners with families in need,
- Support community engagement and organic vegetable gardening,
- Lead food demonstrations and expand community outreach opportunities,
- Attend local committee meetings to promote community-wide collaboration.
- Capacity building – Members innovate organizational systems, programs, and methods that allow rural organizations to more effectively understand and address community need. 10% of time spent on fundraising, including grant writing.
- Each member of the Food Security team will choose a focus area: Food Relief Program (“Backyard Harvest”), Community Gardens, Cooking Education, or Food Rescue.
