What We Seek
We seek individuals with a strong desire for and full investment in maintaining excellence in all aspects of our summer youth program, Seed Crew. We hold high expectations for our youth and, in order to foster their potential, we require our Crew Leaders to be strong role models. Ideal candidates possess enthusiasm for working with youth, a commitment to The Food Project’s mission, a strong work ethic, and a good sense of humor. While our organization is deeply committed to building a sustainable food system, we do not require Crew Leader candidates to be well-versed in agriculture or food production systems. We do require candidates to have some workshop facilitation experience. We seek candidates who are open to learning and engaging with The Food Project’s mission. The Food Project strives to create and support culturally diverse leader teams and candidates from all backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.
Responsibilities
- Lead a diverse group of urban and suburban teenagers who work together throughout the summer.
- Led their crews in facilitating farm tasks on suburban and urban farms, partnering with community-based organizations to steward a holistic understanding of our food system’s operations, and in workshops throughout the summer. Our workshops are unique to our youth crews and cover a diverse range of subjects, such as food systems, agriculture, and social justice issues, including racism, classism, and sexism.
- Support the Crew Supervisor in facilitating these workshops.
- Uphold The Food Project’s community accountability agreements and, using The Food Project’s Real Talk model, give weekly feedback to their youth based upon focused observations of their behavior and work performance.
- During all activities, including group activities and farm work, Crew Leaders are responsible for the safety and well-being of the crew and others in our community.
- Participate in and receive ongoing feedback from the Crew Supervisor, as well as informal guidance from other Crew Leaders and Growers.
- There is a 14-day training for all Crew Leaders prior to the beginning of the summer season.
Qualifications
- High school diploma
- 19 years of age by June 14, 2024
- Prior experience working with teenagers from a variety of backgrounds
- Ability to perform rigorous and demanding physical labor in summer conditions (sun and rain) on a farm
- Interest in social justice, food systems, and building community across difference
- Ability to motivate a group of young people while supporting individual youth
- Ability to give and receive constructive feedback to and from youth crew workers and staff
- Openness to one’s own personal growth
- Ability to uphold high standards of behavior set by the community
- Ability to work in a team as well as independently
- CPR and First Aid certified or willing to be trained
- Able to pass a CORI/SORI background check
Location & Schedule
This is a summer program. Crew Leaders must be available from June 17, 2024 through August 16, 2024. Crew leaders will work Monday – Friday from 8 AM until 4 PM, with a slight variation in these hours when there is work to be taken home. Both the Greater Boston (GB) and North Shore (NS) farms are accessible by public transportation.
- Crew leaders for GB will work in both Boston and Lincoln.
- West Cottage Farm – 40 W Cottage St, Dorchester, MA 02125
- Baker Bridge Farm – The intersection of Baker Bridge and Concord Road, Lincoln, MA 01773
- Crew leaders for NS will work in both Lynn and Wenham.
- Ingalls School Farm – 1 Collins St. Terr, Lynn, MA 01902
- Reynolds Farm – 78 Larch Row, Wenham, MA 01984
The Food Project is an Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to creating an inclusive organization. We actively seek a diverse pool of candidates for this position.