Dallas Food Security Intern

BACKGROUND: The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and gain control of their future. In more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities, our dedicated teams provide clean water, shelter, health care, education and empowerment support to refugees and displaced people. The New Roots program focuses on food security, food access and agriculture in the refugee community. New Roots is a national program and is located in 12 different cities. In Dallas, we have partnered with different community gardens to provide growing space for our clients who come from Agricultural backgrounds in their home countries.
 
Description: With oversight from the Food Security Coordinator, the Food Security Intern will assist New Roots staff in providing food security and benefits navigation services to newly arrived refugees as they adjust to their new lives in the US. This intern will play a key role in helping refugee families access needed benefits and services as they resettle in the United States. The intern will also perform a series of clerical and administrative duties to ensure client files are kept up to date. 

Responsibilities:
Support in the setup of the food pantry in our office
Perform client intake and collect documents to verify eligibility for program.
Help in the community gardens, we partner with clearing plots and preparing the space for clients to utilize.
Assist New Roots Specialist in teaching food and nutrition workshops
Pick up food items from distributor and drop off emergency food deliveries to clients when possible.
Collect eligibility documents and enter data
Research creative, local resources that help clients become more food secure.
Work with interpreters to get materials translated
Contribute to overall site maintenance and food production activities
Assist with harvest and distribution through donation partner and weekly farm-stand;
Support Coordinator in organizing work-day activities and support volunteers on site;
Support community engagement and outreach, by updating social media profiles, developing promotional materials and share information with local CBOs
Support educational activities onsite
Learning Objectives:
1. The intern will be introduced to the work of IRC and more specifically the New Roots program
2. The intern will gain experience in urban agriculture and community gardening
3.   Through this position, the intern will engage refugee clients and community members in food security efforts
Minimum Qualifications:Requirements:
•   A strong passion for and knowledge of food and farming issues
•   Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills required
•   Demonstrated experience with community organizing and engagement, particularly with disadvantaged communities and related to food justice or farming, preferred
•   Prior experience working in urban agriculture or gardening preferred
•   Prior experience working with refugees, immigrant or pre-literate populations in non-traditional setting preferred
•   Ability to travel and work at community gardens when needed
•   Second language (Spanish, Farsi, Kinyarwanda, Arabic or Karen) and interpretation skills a plus.

Standard of Professional Conduct:The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.