Youth Roots Program Assistant

IRC Background:  The mission of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933, the IRC has a presence in over 40 countries and 27 offices in the United States; the IRC leads the way from harm to home. IRC opened an office in Seattle in 1976 and provides a continuum of services including intensive case management, employment and economic empowerment services, immigration assistance, health and wellness programming, and education support to refugee and immigrant families in Washington State. IRC Washington is committed to providing trauma-informed, equitable, and accessible services and maintaining and evolving a diverse, inclusive, and supportive workplace.

Job Overview:

The IRC’s New Roots program has developed services and infrastructure aimed at engaging low-income families in urban agriculture, nutrition education, and healthy food access navigation. New Roots builds on the agricultural experience of many new refugee and immigrant families by providing access to land, materials, and education for program participants to grow healthy food. New Roots Program Services include: Increasing Food Access, Fostering Income Generation, Improving Nutrition, Building Community, Developing Leadership and Skills.

The Youth Roots Program Assistant will have the opportunity to support Youth Roots summer programming. Youth Roots is a program that engages and builds with high-school age youth who are passionate about food justice, land justice, and sustainability. Program activities include a paid summer internship, gardening, cooking, field trips, opportunities to contribute to local food systems projects, and other activities throughout the year. The Youth Roots Program Assistant will primarily be supporting with program planning and implementation. This is a great position for someone who has a youth and community centered approach and is passionate about food and land justice. 

 Major Responsibilities:

Program Planning and Implementation

• Support Youth Roots activities including recruiting and working directly with youth participants and program transportation for youth participants.
• Coordinate with Youth Roots Specialist to deliver program activities and discussions rooted and centered in food access, land access, youth leadership development and other topics.
• Collaborate with Youth Roots Specialist to develop and implement program curriculum on topics such as: agriculture, nutrition, food justice, land justice and other related topics.
• Support with communicating program information to participants and their families. Working with interpreters to convey information in participants’ languages.

Program Monitoring and Evaluation

• Facilitate Youth Roots program data collection and required reporting including program evaluation and collecting program input from youth participants.
•  Input program activities and data into database.

Land Management & Infrastructure Maintenance

• Support site maintenance at main educational garden sites.
•  Maintain program supply and tool inventory.
•  Manage greenhouse activities and in coordination with participants and Youth Roots Specialist.

Additional Responsibilities

• Participate in program meetings, and staff development activities·
• Comply with all policies, procedures, and protocols of the organization.
•  Other responsibilities as needed and assigned by Supervisor.

Key Working Relationships:

 Position Reports to: Youth Roots Specialist

 Indirect Reporting: Youth Program Coordinator for Secondary Programs

 Other Internal and/or external contacts:

 Internal: New Roots Team Members and IRC Seattle Youth Team