Community & Volunteer Coordinator

About Urban Growers Collective
Urban Growers Collective is a Black- and women-led non-profit farm in Chicago, Illinois working to build a more just and equitable local food system. We aim to address the inequities and structural racism that exist in the food system and in communities of color. Rooted in growing food, our mission is to cultivate nourishing environments which support health, economic development, healing, and creativity through urban agriculture.
We provide hands-on job training and create economic opportunities for youth, beginner BIPOC farmers, and men who are at high risk for gun violence. Our aim is to provide jobs while working to mitigate food insecurity and limited access to affordable, culturally-affirming, and nutritionally-dense food.
Our team cultivates eight urban farms on 11 acres of land, predominantly located on Chicago’s South Side. These farms are production-oriented but also offer opportunities for staff-led education, training, and leadership development. Our produce is available at farmers’ markets, in our Collective Supported Agriculture program, and at the Fresh Moves Mobile Market.
Position Summary: The position will require a high level of public engagement that demands aptitude for teaching, working with volunteers and community members, networking and inspiring new audiences. The Community and Volunteer Coordinator will provide primary coordination and communication for the community garden program, supervise/work-alongside on site volunteer activities and support coordination and outreach for public events. The Community & Volunteer Coordinator will work closely with program staff to support onsite programming at UGC Farms, partner sites, and will engage the surrounding community in farm offerings. They will ensure that UGC’s Farm Programs are inclusive, accessible and enjoyed by community members.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• These projected time allocations represent an estimated average time only - actual time will be tracked weekly and adjusted seasonally based on seasonal needs.

Volunteer Program Support & Lead Engagement (50% - 20 hrs/week*):

• Recruit, supervise, and support volunteers for on-farm programs and special events - this involves working directly alongside volunteers on the farm;
• Provide volunteer tours & orientations during growing season for individuals, community groups and schools;
• Coordinate with farm staff to identify volunteer activities that support programming onsite;
• Support farm production goals through volunteer activities;
• Support community members in meaningful ways to create lasting relationships;
• Develop advanced, recurring and specialized opportunities for long-term volunteers;
• Support accurate volunteer reporting and recording, liability waivers, hours, contact information etc.
• Plan and coordinate volunteer appreciation events;
• Ensure accurate volunteer reporting and recording, liability waivers, hours, contact information etc.
• Support and collect evaluation surveys and protocols;

Community Garden Lead (20% - 8 hrs/week*):

• Serve as primary liaison between UGC and community garden participants;
• Enhance and expand the community garden program through outreach and programming;
• Ensure the garden site is inclusive, accessible and enjoyed by community members;
• Host seasonal community garden orientations & events;
• Assign individual plots and manage community garden participant expectations;
• Ensure community garden participants maintain plots throughout the growing season;
• Develop and facilitate educational programs related to UGC’s community garden efforts;
• Provide regular updates and outreach to community garden participants;
• Ensure accurate community garden reporting and recording, liability waivers, hours, contact information etc.
• Support and collect evaluation surveys and protocols

Partnership Program Support (15% - 6 hrs / week):

• Support community events, garden development and volunteer engagement onsite at partner gardens, as needed
• Ensure accurate reporting and recording of program impact, liability waivers, hours, contact information etc.;
• Participate in outreach and relationship building with potential community partners, as needed
• Enhance and expand workshops through outreach and programming;
• Ensure accurate workshop reporting and recording: program impact, liability waivers, hours, contact information, etc;
• Targeted outreach for community engagement;
• Support and collect evaluation surveys and protocols;

Organization Outreach & Community Events Lead (10% - 4 hrs/week*):

• Cultivate opportunities and coordinate outreach materials for community events;
• Set up, staff and break down information tables at public events;
• Coordinate other event logistics for on-farm and local events;
• Promote community programs, including workshops to educate Chicagoans on a variety of topics focusing on agricultural growing techniques, social justice and healing;
• Participate in outreach and relationship building with community partners;
• Lead communication and outreach to South Chicago Community Partners;
• Provide tours & orientations during growing season for individuals, community groups and schools;
• Build directory of community entities, lead local outreach to partners;
• Promote UGC programs at special events and community meetings; and
• Represent UGC in a professional, inclusive and respectful way at meetings.

General Admin (5% - 2hrs/week*):

• Contribute to monthly program reports;
• Complete weekly work plan and daily checkouts;
• Submit accurate timesheets & expense reports;
• Maintain appropriate supplies for projects;
Represent UGC in a professional, inclusive and respectful way at meetings and personal social media pages.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities):

• At least 3 years experience in a program coordination role;
• Experience and knowledge of food systems and organic sustainable farming;
• Proven track record with establishing and maintaining positive working relationships with teens, parents, community partners and residents, especially underrepresented communities and communities of color;
• Competency working with communities of color and diverse workplace; experience in dismantling racism and anti-oppression work is important;
• Ability to problem solve, think critically and creatively;
• Must work well as a member of a team and have the ability to supervise volunteers in a consistent, direct, thoughtful way geared towards educating and problem solving;
• Must maintain appropriate professional boundaries in working with co-workers and teens;
• Excellent organizational, communication and follow-through skills;
• Must have the ability to use Word, Excel, Google Docs;
• Willingness to work as part of a team in a collaborative environment, but have the ability to work independently to complete the job;
• Love for urban farming and passionate about social equity issues with ability to cooperate and communicate with diverse partners, including neighbors, supporters, funders and public officials;
• Preferred: Valid Driver’s License and clean driving record
• Preferred: Conversational fluency in Spanish
• Preferred: CPR Certified
• Required: Able to work on Saturdays and occasional holidays

Schedule:

• This is a full time in-person position, 40 hours per week
• 30min unpaid lunch, 2 - 15min paid breaks
• Tuesday-Saturday 8:30a-5:00p or 11a-7:30p (depending on evening events)
• Regular evening hours will be required to participate in and support community events. Start time will be flexed to accommodate change in schedule.

Physical Demands and Work Environment
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions:

• Must be willing and able to work in-person in an open-office environment; and
• Position will require use of a computer, to be provided by Urban Growers Collective.
• Must be willing and prepared to work outdoors in all weather conditions (hot, humid, rainy, cold, snowy);
• This positions requires daily use and safe-handling of farm tools including wheelbarrows, tools, hand-tools, irrigation equipment;

Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Paid Holidays, Vacation Pay, Personal/Sick Pay, Wellness Benefits, Employee Assistance Program, Student Loan Assistance Program