Careers

Description:

Organization Description

The mission of the Somali Bantu Community Association (SBCA) is to provide vital transitional services, advocacy, and programming that empowers members of the refugee community to uphold cultural identity and thrive in their new life here in Lewiston/Auburn, Maine. 

The main programmatic undertaking of the SBCA is the community farming program, Liberation Farms. It aims is to provide new American farmers access to, and culturally-appropriate resources for, the means of sustainable food production for themselves and their communities to bolster food and economic security. The program assists over 130 Somali Bantu farmers by providing access to land, seeds, trainings, technical assistance, and marketing. 

Job Description

In September, 2020, SBCA established a 99 year rolling lease at a 104 acre farm in Wales, Maine, about 20 minutes from where most of our farmers live. As we transition to the 2021 season, there will be much work to build capacity on this property and to generate resources for this purpose. As the Somali Bantu community looks to our agri-cultural future, it is important to engage our young people in the opportunities this new farm/community center will provide.

We are seeking a Youth Program Coordinator to support this transition and this larger goal. The position will be split between our office in Lewiston, farm in Auburn, and new farm site in Wales.  

Schedule

July 6, 2021 - July 5, 2022

This is a full-time job with some flexibility around scheduling, which will be determined based on the individual we hire. 

Duties & Responsibilities 

Help our organization transition to our new farm in Wales, Maine: 

• Engage and survey Somali Bantu youth to alert them to the new farm and evaluate their priorities for the farm in Wales.
• Work closely with SBCA Property Manager to coordinate community events at the new farm.
• Evaluate necessary equipment and implement strategies for gathering safely.
• Develop promotional materials for community events.
• Design and develop pollinator strips and the perennial garden at the Wales farm.
• Consult with experts, staff, and the community to educate community members about why these features serve the farm.
• Develop educational materials to promote environmentally protective and sustainable agriculture practices.
• Facilitate the building and installation of physical farm infrastructure for the sustainability of our farming program, working closely with Farm Operations Manager and Property Manager.
• Research and draft plans for the implementation of a commercial kitchen at the new farm in Wales.
• Assist in planning and building fencing, irrigation systems, greenhouses, wash/pack station, etc.

Work towards the sustainability of the Liberation Farms community farming program:

• Develop a better understanding, within the SBCA community, of programs that serve the community.
• Conduct outreach within the community to help folks understand how they can leverage their SNAP benefits through the Maine Harvest Bucks program.
• Process and track SNAP benefits to purchase Liberation Farms produce and/or seedlings.
• Work closely with Markets Manager and Farm & Markets Coordinator to identify any surplus in commercial farming plots.
• Develop a market/gleaning plan for redistributing this produce back to the Somali Bantu community and to local food banks, soup kitchens, schools, or other institutions aimed at alleviating food insecurity.
• Keep an updated social media presence for SBCA via instagram, facebook, etc.
• Research and facilitate grant applications to raise funds for SBCA’s farming program.

Work closely with our Liberation Farms program staff, and Kasheekee, youth development,program staff to weave together these two programs:

• Engage Somali Bantu youth in community farming practices to encourage investment and interest in Somali Bantu and Maine’s agricultural heritage.
• Develop programming and curriculum that merges our farming program with our youth development program.
• Lead gardening workshops in a demonstration plot managed by VISTAmember
• Engage youth in Kasheekee program in Liberation Farms practices and principles
• Facilitate Kasheekee programming at SBCA’s office in Lewiston, and at the farm property in Wales.
• Plan and lead youth in building recreational trails for Kasheekee programming in SBCA’s forested land in cooperation with Wabanaki community members.

Participate and engage with farmers and staff to accomplish daily farm tasks and large projects:

• Assist with and set up systems to engage youth in farm chores
• Goat chores and pasture rotation
• Seeding and seedling distribution
• Harvesting
• Processing and packaging of produce
• Installation and maintenance of irrigation system
• Keep farm tools and equipment organized and clean
• Assist in facilitating SBCA’s African flint corn harvest, drying, and processing so that it can be delivered to market accounts.
• Work with Farm managers to open and close the Whiting greenhouse at the beginning and the end of each farming day.

Terms :
Car recommended ,  Permits working at another job during off hours ,  Permits attendance at school during off hours . 

Program Benefits : Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend ,  Stipend ,  Health Coverage* ,  Housing ,  Childcare assistance if eligible ,  Training ,  Relocation Allowance . 

To apply for this position, you must go through the Americorps website. The link to this position and application can be found here.