New Roots Nutrition and Food Security Intern, Baltimore

post:New Roots Nutrition and Food Security Intern, Baltimore
International Rescue Committee, Baltimore, Maryland
3516 Eastern Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21224
United States

Tel: (410) 327-1885


SCOPE OF WORK:

This is an unpaid internship.

The International Rescue Committee of Baltimore is a non-profit, non-sectarian refugee resettlement agency dedicated to working together with legally admitted refugees to assist them in rebuilding lives and reuniting families in the greater Baltimore area. A committed staff of professionals and volunteers provide essential resettlement services to refugee families including basic necessities, education, employment, social services and advocacy.

The IRC has developed a Public Health Program with the overall goal of maximizing public health awareness, access, and advocacy for all refugee and asylee clients. Significant portions of the newly arrived refugees and asylees population are considered medically vulnerable, and suffer from serious conditions that are worsened by living conditions overseas and further exacerbated by systemic barriers to accessing healthcare and social services upon arrival to the U.S. The New Roots program at IRC is an initiative to support nutrition, food security, gardening, enterprise, and production within the US network of IRC offices. In the summer of 2012, the Public Health Program at the IRC in Baltimore collaborated with the Community Integration Program to develop a program focusing on nutrition for our newly arriving refugees as well as food security needs of communities where IRC clients live. To that end, the New Roots Nutrition and Food Security Intern would work with the Public Health staff to create and implement nutrition-focused health education initiatives, as well as coordinate food security programming across departments at IRC. The New Roots Nutrition and Food Security Intern would also help establish increased access to locally grown and healthy food, strengthen communal and organizational partnerships focused on food security, and work to increase the overall health of our community.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

•     Support development of New Roots initiative in Baltimore through collaboration with IRC staff.
•     Evaluate and assist to design nutrition curricula and educational materials targeting newly-arrived refugees.
•     Evaluate and establish best practices within the IRC surrounding food provided to newly arriving clients as well as ways clients are oriented around nutrition, food shopping, and food storage.
•     Communicate and interface with local Baltimore food banks with the goal of providing comprehensive and culturally appropriate food bank referrals to IRC clients.
•     Explore and develop partnerships with local farmers markets in the Baltimore metro area; also explore opportunities for collaboration, technical support, and mentorship.
•     Research models of food security programming and food justice advocacy for refugee/immigrant communities in Baltimore city, in the state of Maryland, across the New Roots network, and at other refugee agencies across the US.
•     Support Health Advocate in additional tasks as necessary to design and maintain New Roots programming in Baltimore.

REQUIREMENTS:

•     Interest and experience in public health and displaced/immigrant/refugee populations
•     Experience or demonstrated interest in nutrition, gardening, food security issues, and/or public health, preferably in a multicultural context.
•     Ability to communicate and work effectively as a team member in a multicultural environment .
•     Organized with great attention to detail and great flexibility.
•     Creativity and initiative to follow through on projects and ability to work independently.
•     Strong writing and editing skills, specifically in developing print and visual training materials. Experience with computer-based interactive training tools a plus.
•     Excellent computer skills: MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and proficient in a graphic design.
•         A car/driver’s license is beneficial
•     Proficiency in a foreign language, including Arabic, Tigrinya, Amharic, Burmese, Chin, or Nepali is a plus

TIME COMMITMENT:

    Fall and Spring interns are asked to work at least 10-15 hours per week, Monday through Friday, for a minimum of 12 weeks
    Summer interns are asked to work at least 25 hours per week, Monday through Friday, for a minimum of 12 weeks

To apply please send your resume, cover letter, and contact info for 2 references directly to Kafiya Ismail, Volunteer Coordinator ( ) and Karine Nankam, Health Advocate ( ).

IRC leading the way from harm to home.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.

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