College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Horticulture

The Ingham County Health Department is currently seeking passionate, driven individuals to join our '22-'23 Spring AmeriCorps cohort!

Corps members will serve as part-time AmeriCorps members at local nonprofit organizations. These paid positions will focus on maintaining community gardens and have opportunities to develop transferrable skills, professional networks, and knowledge of the public health sector.

Service Terms:

We are currently considering applications for the following time commitments:

• 4/3/23-8/18/23

This position is a great fit for those who are interested in pursuing a career in:

• Agriculture
• Government
• Social Work
• Public Health
• Nonprofit Work

Host Organization Information:

The Garden Project, a 40 year program of the Greater Lansing Food Bank (GLFB), provides access to land, how-to education, free seeds and plants, tool lending, a networking hub and more, so that all community members can have access to fresh, healthy food through gardening opportunities. For more information, visit www.greaterlansingfoodbank.org.

The Community Garden Support Specialist (CGSS) will provide hands-on garden support to a network of Garden Project (GP) community gardens across Ingham County. Member responsibilities will include infrastructure repairs, tilling, mowing, resource and tool delivery and providing basic community garden site maintenance, all in efforts to increase garden sustainability. The CGSS will also lead volunteer groups and foster on-site community leadership to create more inclusive growing spaces. Members will model direct service as they serve alongside Garden Project staff and volunteers across many types of gardens in the county. The CGSS should be willing and interested in working with all types of people while modeling patience, kindness, flexibility, equity and respect while maintaining privacy for those we are assisting in the community.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Provide hands-on garden support to a network of Garden Project (GP) community gardens across Ingham County, including infrastructure repairs, tilling, mowing, resource and tool delivery and providing basic community garden site maintenance, all in efforts to increase garden sustainability
• Lead volunteer groups and foster on-site community leadership to create more inclusive growing spaces
• Model direct service as they serve alongside Garden Project staff and volunteers across many types of gardens in the county.

Required Activities

• Engaging in monthly AmeriCorps cohort meetings
• Attending AmeriCorps orientation at the Ingham County Health Department
• All members will participate in an end of service performance evaluation (mid-March for full-year members)
• All members will be required to submit bi-weekly timesheets, quarterly data reports, and other data tasks requested by the host site and AmeriCorps program

Evaluation and Reporting

• All members will participate in a mid-year performance evaluation (mid-March for full-year members)
• All members will be required to submit bi-weekly timesheets, quarterly data reports, and other data tasks requested by the host site and AmeriCorps program

Preferred Skills/Qualifications:

• Must have vehicle
• Willingness and interest in working with all types of people, while modeling patience, kindness, flexibility, equity and respect while maintaining privacy for those we are assisting in the community.
• Ability and willingness to work outdoors in all weather conditions
• Note: Service will be outdoors, in all types of weather. Member must be willing, and able, to safely perform outdoor, manual labor, in summer heat, for up to 8 hours a day, daily.
• Able to lift 50+ pounds and an enjoyment of physical labor,
• Excellent communication skills, adaptable nature,
• Well-organized, efficient with time, with a willingness to finish projects started,
• Completely trustworthy and honest with the desire to serve independently with adequate guidance and in a team setting,
• Some experience in gardening, farming, landscaping, irrigation &/or construction, (Technical knowledge of horticulture or urban agriculture a plus.)
• Computer proficiency, specifically Microsoft Office Suite,
• Some evenings and weekends required. Flexible schedule appreciated.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Be at least 17 years of age. Minors must have guardian permission. Applicants must have HS diploma, GED, or working toward the completion of one.
• U.S. citizen, U.S. national or lawful permanent resident of the U.S.
• Agree to and pass the following checks: State of Michigan background check, FBI Fingerprinting check, and State & National Sex Offender Registry check.
• Must have a driver’s license and pass requirements necessary to be put on the GLFB vehicle insurance (i.e. DUIs, other notes on driving record)

Schedule

Mandatory, one-day, in-person AmeriCorps orientation week of March 27th (schedule TBA) for AmeriCorps orientation

40 hrs of PTO for vacation and sick days

Flexible Schedule:

• 3-4 days per week, Mondays mandatory (Flexibility for students in April, welcome to take off finals week)
• Set schedule will be determined, but hours are flexible between 7am-7pm (based on corps member’s schedule and preferences)

April 4 weeks @ 24 hours a week

May 5 weeks @ 32 hours a week

June 4 weeks @ 24 hours a week

July 4 weeks @ 24 hours a week

August 2 weeks @ 24 hours a week

Minimum Qualifications:

• Be at least 17 years of age. Minors must have guardian permission. Applicants must have HS diploma, GED, or working toward the completion of one.

• U.S. citizen, U.S. national or lawful permanent resident of the U.S.

• Agree to and pass the following checks: State of Michigan background check, FBI Fingerprinting check, and State & National Sex Offender Registry check.

Benefits

• $5,200 living stipend
• $1,824.07, upon completion of service
• Loan deferment for eligible student loans
• Free, monthly CATA bus pass
• Lifelong membership to AmeriCorps alumni network

ICHD AmeriCorps State is an equal opportunity employer. Reasonable accommodations will be made for interview/service as needed.

Job Types: Part-time, Temporary, Internship

Pay: $5,291.00 per year

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Application Question(s):

• Are you familiar with AmeriCorps? If so, please explain.
• The total living stipend for this position is $5,291 (about $1,058-$1,322 per month). Please confirm you understand the compensation for this position by typing "I agree to this living stipend."

Work Location: One location