Food Security Coordinator

Langley Food Security Coordinator

•Seed funding for contract with expectation of moving project beyond December 2009, contingent upon funding attraction •Location: Contractor’s home office, plus support space in Langley City and Township •Part time up to 60 hrs/month plus mileage allowance Project background and assets: The Langley Food Action Coalition is a coalition of agencies which is working on the food security continuum in the Langley’s. The foundation for this project began with a group meeting that included a wide variety of stakeholders in February 2009. The group has agreed to come together to collaboratively address food and food security in the Langley’s. The food security continuum addresses short term relief (feeding hungry people) re–skilling programs (community gardens, kitchens etc. and the development of healthy public policy related to food). The steering committee thus far includes: Aldergrove Neighbourhood Services, Langley Child and Youth Committee, Langley Early Childhood Development Table; Langley Community Services; MCFD Langley office; South Fraser Harvest Box; Surrey/White Rock Food Action Coalition; City of Langley; Stepping Stone; Cancer Society – Langley branch; The Salvation Army; Fraser Health Authority – Food Security, Langley Environmental Partners Society, BC Healthy Communities, and faith organizations Activities: Over the last several months, various community partners from across the Langley’s have begun the process of building a foundational process to address food security in these communities. This project will enable us to continue to address food security in our community. The purpose of this project is to: •Develop a mentorship relationship with Surrey/WR Food Action Coalition and other Food Action Coalitions throughout the Lower Mainland. •Assess where on the Food Security Continuum the services lie and identify gaps. •Develop a collaborative framework using the expertise and diversity of the group that this community will use to create a community plan with which to integrate and implement existing and upcoming services in the area of food security. •Collaborate with Langley Farmers Market, Fraser Valley Food Network, and Harvest Box Coordinators. Deliverables under this contract: •Conduct an environmental scan and develop an asset map of the persons, groups, and organizations working in the Langley’s on Food Security and/or offering support to people in Langley faced with food security challenges •Create a link to the farming community/farmer’s market table. •Identify food policies that exist in various organizations throughout Langley. •Facilitate the logistics, administration, and meetings of steering committee and continue community engagement /capacity building steps. •Develop a collaborative framework to guide community planning on food security. •Hold a public forum to showcase the findings, plans, and potential – celebrate the learning and network established, drawing in others. •Attend BC Healthy Living Alliance (BCHLA) Forum in November 2009. •Complete interim evaluation and final report for BCHLA funding. •Explore sustainable funding for the project and attracting in-kind and cash support for the initiative as it develops. Preference will be given to the Candidate with the following: •Connection to / familiarity with Langley City and Township – community, non-profit, business, government sectors; •Knowledge and experience working with food security; •Understanding of food security and local food issues in the Langleys •Excellent verbal and written communication skills; •Experience in managing successful community development projects; •Passion for people and food; •Proposal writing experience (with success in funding attraction); •Proven community facilitation skills; •Research skills (internet, telephone, analysis of existing documents); •Self-starter who thrives working independently; •Must have access to vehicle and home office with access to internet / email •Working knowledge and access to Office Suite TO APPLY Kindly forward statement of interest, resume, examples of related projects and successful funding proposals via email with the subject line ‘Food Security Coordinator’ to Karen Custodio at Karen@aldergrovens.com prior to April 21, 2009. Individuals selected for interviews will be notified.