Food Access Specialist

Location: Wake County Cooperative Extension

The Food Access Specialist will support the goals and outcomes of the 2023 Food Security Plan Update.

The VISTA will improve access to culturally appropriate, nutrient dense, and locally produced foods. Additionally, the member will build the capacity and of farmers markets and community programs providing fresh produce to our emergency food partners.

Grass Roots Support

Location: Wake County Cooperative Extension

The Grassroots Support VISTA will support a small group of grassroots non-profits with key leverage points to move them into a place of more effective models with greater reach in the community.

We believe that the organizations addressing root cause issues are integral to the sustainability and long-term success of our community development projects.

Community Engagement Coordinator

Location: Wake County Health & Human Services

The main objective of the Community Engagement Coordinator VISTA with Wake County Health and Human Services’ assignment is to help create a comprehensive food security ecosystem to improve the quality of life and services of low-income seniors in Western Wake County. 

The VISTA will collaborate to establish partnerships thus gaining Government, non-profit and faith-based experience along with grassroot organizing.

Garden and Nutrition Specialist

Location: Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC

The ultimate goal of the VISTA assignment with the Food Bank is to help build a program of community outreach to encourage and recruit community members and families to attend educational programming around urban gardening, agriculture, food production and nutrition.

This programming aims to assist low-income families to subsidize their food resources, understand the importance of fresh produce, from a nutritional perspective and encourage physical activity.

Food Security Operations Specialist

Location: Urban Ministries of Wake County

The Food Security Specialist will serve in two key areas: (1) Hunger and nutrition operations activities and (2) Volunteer engagement activities.

The hunger and nutrition operations activities will focus on launching systems for data collection/management and supporting the strategic goal of building UMWC’s organizational capacity. The goal of the Volunteer Engagement activities will be to increase the number and engagement of active volunteers enrolled in the volunteer program, enhance the connectedness of new and existing volunteers to UMWC staff, and raise awareness of volunteer opportunities.

Food Security Specialist

Location: Wake Forest Community Table

The Food Security Specialist VISTA will work collaboratively with the Wake Forest Community Table Board and leadership/advisory teams to build the infrastructure needed to increase funding, grants, volunteer base, community recognition, connection to the community and to other partners and donors.

The primary goal of the VISTA member’s one year assignment will be to build the capacity of this new 501(C)3 that has grown out of a longstanding ministry of a faith-based organization (St. John’s Episcopal Church).

Community Health Educator

Location: Inter-Faith Food Shuttle

The Community Health Education VISTA will support the Inter-Faith Shuttle efforts to build stronger community networks and partners, increase overall reach into marginalized and traditionally excluded groups of people and will develop outreach materials and resources to be accessible to a wider range of people.

The purpose of the Community Health Education program is to support community-led initiatives to increase knowledge around health and wellness through a stigma-free and inclusive lens.

Agriculture Educator

Location: Inter-Faith Food Shuttle

The goal of the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle Agriculture Education Program is to increase food access through education.

The objective of the Agriculture Education VISTA assignment is to expand the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle’s offer of mobile programming including activities to offer educational materials to be taught off-site. With potential to expand the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle’s current resources and offerings to their programs, building stronger community networks and partners, and making new partnerships with other agriculture related organizations.

Food Security Operations Specialist

Location: Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian

The Food Security Operations Specialist VISTA will work with the Western Regional Food Security Action group and Kirk of Kildaire’s food hubs to increase its capacity for food security.

The member will work on the logistics of partnerships with businesses and other non-profits that will position Kirk of Kildaire to continue serving its target beneficiaries and neighbors. The member will also coordinate a variety of workforce development efforts (tutoring, summer program, GED, etc.) that will lead to greater food security.