Community Engagement Trainee

Community Engagement Trainee

**Overview**:
Black Creek Community Farm is an 8-acre farm in the heart of the Jane and Finch's neighborhood in Toronto. We are a not-for-profit organization and a leader in Toronto’s dynamic urban agriculture and community food sector. We serve and enrich our community through a thriving farm, healthy food, as well as hands-on training and learning experiences. Our focus is to inspire the next generation by providing leadership in food justice and supporting diverse and social ecosystems.

Our focus is to inspire the next generation by providing leadership in food justice and supporting diverse natural and social ecosystems. We believe everyone has a right to food. We are equity-oriented and believe in directing adequate resources to people who are experiencing systemic oppression and social inequity as it relates to food security. We believe the Black community, low-income communities, and other equity-seeking groups must play a central role in defining food justice and its priorities. We believe in prioritizing lived experiences in addressing food insecurity.

This position is funded through the Cultural Hotspot program, which requires that the applicants: - Be between 15-30 years of age (inclusive)
- Be a resident in the Jane/Finch Black Creek/Humber River community
- Be legally entitled to work according to the relevant provincial legislation and regulations

**Community Engagement Trainee**:
The Community Engagement Trainee will primarily support our Coordinators creating and implementing a seasonal calendar of events. The work includes supporting with creating event plans, coordinating logistics, community outreach and correspondence, recruiting, relationship building with volunteers, community partners, and other stakeholders as needed, the set-up/tear-down for onsite farm events, and follow-up evaluation of the event, programs, and initiatives. They maintain an inventory of event supplies, support with BCCF communication and community outreach. They will support with a wide range of field task including vegetable production, planting, garden maintenance, harvesting, and weeding.

**Tasks and Responsibilities**:
Event Planning and Facilitation
- Work collaboratively with the BCCF Coordinators in the planning of various events at the farm, managing the logistics and maintaining the inventory of event supplies.
- Support program delivery including art-based, cooking, gardening and workshops, and working alongside youth, community residents and volunteers on the farm
- Utilize digital technology and social media to engage youth from the community in programming
- Welcome and facilitate community engagement and workshops for program participants, volunteers, community members, students, and groups
- Support the event preparation, the set-up and tear down

Administrative
- Track program metrics and deliverables in Program Log
- Contribute to the preparation of monthly program updates, the annual report, and other funding-related progress reports
- Collaborate with the Fundraising Coordinator to develop evaluation tools to measure impact of the project

Outreach
- Conduct and contribute to the design of outreach activities to register participants, including creating promotional material, canvassing, flyering, partnering with local schools and community organizations, putting up posters, and tabling at community events and building relationships to engage community residents and stakeholders
- Provide content and media for communications to be shared on upcoming Farm Education events and programs, in weekly social media posts (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) and in monthly e-newsletters, update website as needed

General
- Support the maintenance of the food forest, medicine wheel garden, community garden, other themed gardens, chicken coop, bake oven and periphery areas on the farm, which includes daily watering, weeding, maintenance and harvesting
- Work collaboratively with staff to supervise community members participating in programs, offer safety training, and ensure participants feel safe and respected
- Be prepared to work outside in ALL weather conditions including rain, sun, and heat.
- Support staff in implementing scheduled activities including nature crafts, gardening, cooking, and environmental stewardship programming.
- Participate in regular team meetings, check-ins staff training, scheduled staff meeting and offer feedback on ongoing program site activities.
- Follow BCCF guidelines and protocols, and help to create a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for staff, volunteers, and community members
- Participate in farm-wide initiatives and events
- Other duties as assigned
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**Job Requirements**:

- Must be legally authorized to work in Canada
- Be between 15-30 years of age (inclusive)
- Be a resident in the Jane/Finch Black Creek/Humber River community
- This position's main work location is Black Creek Community Farm, 4929 Jane St, as well