Spice Kitchen Food Entrepreneur Liaison AmeriCorps VISTA

Salt Lake City

Organization: IRC - International Rescue Committee
Location: Salt Lake City
Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
Occupational Groups:
- Sustainable trade and development
- External Relations, Partnerships and Resource mobilization
- Nutrition
- Food Security, Livestock and Livelihoods
- Public, Private Partnership
- Innovations for Sustainable Development
- Social Entrepreneurship
Closing Date: Closed

BACKGROUND:

Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee is a leading, non-sectarian, non-profit organization providing emergency relief, protection, rehabilitation assistance, resettlement services, and advocacy for refugees and victims of oppression or violent conflict. Domestically, our 24 offices across the U.S. ensure new arrivals have food, shelter, and clothing, and work with refugees to help them gain self-sufficiency. SPICE Kitchen is an innovative food business incubator supporting refugees, immigrants and disadvantaged community members to start successful food businesses in Salt Lake County, UT.

SCOPE OF WORK:

Operation AmeriCorps is a national program where community members have the opportunity to serve in local nonprofits for one year helping eliminate poverty. In return for service, members receive a living allowance and other benefits.

The AmeriCorps position will help increase employment opportunities and stabilize income for housing by working with participants in the Spice Kitchen Incubator program who require additional time and technical assistance to grow their food businesses. The position will meet with select participants 1-2 times per week to help them reach identified food business goals including increasing access to market opportunities and preparing for market opportunities ensuring high quality cuisine and service is offerd. This position will increase Spice Kitchen’s capacity to support participants in increasing their own income and in generating additional employment opportunities for other community members. The AmeriCorps member will work with all Spice Kitchen team members, and in particular with Spice Kitchen’s Program Coordinator.

Founded in 1965, Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) is a federal national service program designed to provide needed resources to nonprofit organizations and public agencies to increase their capacity to lift Americans out of poverty. In 1993, VISTA was incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of programs, housed at the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). AmeriCorps VISTA supports efforts to alleviate poverty by recruiting Americans 18 years and older from a diverse range of backgrounds to dedicate a year of full-time service with a sponsoring organization (“sponsor”) to create or expand programs designed to empower individuals and communities in overcoming poverty.

As an AmeriCorps member the pay, called a “living stipend” which is projected to be $18,850, distributed over the period of 12 months across bi-weekly pay periods, until you are no longer in the program.

This is a Full -time contract and commitment for the course of one year (12 months). Upon successful completion of the contract, you would be eligible for an Education award of $6,345 that you may use to either further your education or pay on a previously accrued qualifying Federal student loan(s).

Also while serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA member, if you have any qualifying Federal Student loans, they will may qualify for forbearance along with any taxes accrued, will be paid by the National Corporation (Trust) at the end of your 12 month contract. The full time position also has Health Care options available through RBI Insurance (subject to eligibility and costs to the member).

The goal of this project is to assist at-risk refugees and other new American food entrepreneurs, in particular women, to grow their food business and earn essential income through self-employment that contributes to household economic wellbeing including stable housing.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.Work with Program Coordinator and at-risk entrepreneurs to identify specific goals to achieve business sustainability and growth, including job creation.

2.Carry out research required for entrepreneurs to attain their income and business goals.

3.Meet with identified at-risk entrepreneurs 1-2 times per week to review goals and support achieveing those goals including identifying market opportunities, assisting participants to apply for opportunities, and prepare for and carry out the events

4.Assist Spice Kitchen team to carry out events that feature multiple Spice entrepreneurs and other activities as needed.

5.Support data collection and communicate program success stories for newsletter write-ups and program reports.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

Position Reports to: SPICE Kitchen Program Coordinator

This vacancy is now closed.
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