Community Garden Intern

Description

JOB TITLE: Community Garden Intern

REPORTS TO: Community Garden Program Manager

SCHEDULE: Tuesday-Friday (9:00am-5:00pm) [Varies]

LOCATION: Venice, CA

STATUS: 200 hours total

PAY RATE: $16.90/hour

NOTE: This position is only for youth members that are currently receiving services from SPY. All outside applications will not be considered.

ABOUT US:

Safe Place for Youth (SPY) is the leading service provider for youth experiencing or at-risk of homelessness in West Los Angeles. Founded in 2011, our agency offers trauma-informed, low barrier programs that support young people in exiting the streets and achieving stability so that they can thrive, not just survive. Our robust continuum of care includes street outreach, drop-in services, health and wellness programming, case management, education and employment services, and housing programs.

SPY is a unique social impact agency that is committed to overcoming structural barriers to equity, community collaboration, and innovative youth-focused programming. If you have the skills, passion and collaborative spirit, join our growing team of over 100 employees.

SPY strives to attract and develop individuals who reflect a broad spectrum of diversity, including (but by no means limited to) racial, ethnic, gender identity and socioeconomic dimensions. We believe that inclusion of diverse perspectives is essential to achieving long-term, systemic change. We explicitly seek applications from those who self-identify as coming from historically marginalized populations to enrich and elevate our equity-centered approach to problem-solving.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

The 6-month, 240-hour, long internship with the Breaking Barriers to Employment program will offer

participants the opportunity to receive on-the-job training, professional development curriculum, and support identifying and transitioning into long-term employment. Centered around the SPY Community Garden, this internship opportunity will highlight food justice, community-building, and healing.

The first 3 months of the internship will take place at the SPY Community Garden on Venice Blvd, where interns will learn about gardening, urban farming, landscaping, cooking and more. The second 3 months of the internship will take place at a partner business of the intern’s choosing, in industries like food service, landscaping, nurseries and more. Throughout the program, interns will receive one-on-one support sessions with the Intern Liaison, as well as group based professional development classes.

The opportunity is also available to participate in a 100-hour internship with the garden through SPY’s Education and Employment program. The duties of the internship will include all those listed for the 3 months internship, just with a more flexible schedule.

This is the ideal opportunity for someone who is interested in developing their workforce skills.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

• Support the SPY Garden Team in growing the SPY Garden (planting, watering, weeding, composting, harvesting, distributing).
• Authentic participation in activities and discussions around garden-related topics, garden walks, and workshops.
• Help plan and co-facilitate garden-related workshops for youth and community members.
• Support management in tracking plant and volunteer data, as needed.
• Attend SPY Garden team meetings.

Requirements

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

• Demonstrated interest in gardening or urban farming.
• Active listener; uses reflection techniques when working with others to learn their needs and interests.
• Ability to adapt to a dynamic work environment; willing to work as part of a team. ? Collaborative and efficient problem-solving.
• Takes initiative; sets high standards for personal and team performance.
• Open to learning; willing to take a patient and consistent approach to one’s own development and growth.
• Takes direction easily and responds well to feedback.
• Thoughtful communicator; seeks to provide feedback in constructive ways.
• Welcoming personality; able to encourage and promote group and service participation.
• Is authentic and respectful of other members’ authenticity; appreciates diverse perspectives.
• Able to maintain a safe atmosphere for all people in the SPY environment.

BACKGROUND YOU’LL NEED:

• Candidates who apply must be a youth member that is currently receiving services from Safe Place for Youth (SPY) to be considered f