Seasonal Summer Youth Instructor
Chicago
Seasonal Summer Youth Instructor
Full Time • Chicago
About Urban Growers Collective
Urban Growers Collective (UGC) uses urban agriculture and community food system development to dismantle inequities and structural racism, which prevent communities of color from living healthy, vibrant lives. UGC cultivates nourishing environments in Chicago’s historically disinvested communities, seeding pathways to freedom while supporting residents’ health, economic development, healing and creativity through urban agriculture.
As a Black- and woman-led 501(c)(3) organization, we believe that achieving food justice is a necessary first step in healing the historical trauma experienced by communities of color, building their resilience, and, ultimately, achieving liberation. While our work is rooted in farming, UGC’s approach is holistic. Our eight farms over 11 acres primarily on the Southside of Chicago, IL growing over 25,000 pounds of fresh produce annually, enabling food access to tens of thousands of food-insecure Chicagoans and providing safe and healing spaces for educational and life-enriching opportunities to hundreds of individuals each year through public workshops, workforce development, and land stewardship.
Now, UGC is preparing to open a new renewable energy facility and hub for urban agriculture and green jobs on Chicago’s South Side, the Green Era Campus. Through this work, we are breathing new life into long-neglected communities, building a sustainable model for a just food sector, and redefining what’s possible for Chicago’s local food systems.
Position Summary
The Youth Program Instructor will specifically focus on providing instruction during the Urban Growers Collective Youth Corps Summer Program, a six-week program focused on farming, community food system development and leadership. UGC is looking for individuals with experience working with young people and the ability to teach a multidisciplinary youth program at a farm.
In this position you will lead teens in daily farm work and facilitate workshops on science, nutrition, hunger, cooking, work readiness, food justice and food politics activities. The Youth Program Instructor will provide lead instruction and supervision of up to 17 teens.
Primary responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Recruitment, supervision and orientation of Youth Corps Participants.
- Independently deliver UGC Curriculum to up to 17 students in a farm setting.
- Maintain organized student paperwork and daily attendance (paper and online).
- Communicate with parents when teens are absent or late to program.
- Coordination and planning of summer lesson plans and curriculum in partnership with the Youth Program Team.
- Report incidents or challenges to supervisors and complete necessary paperwork.
- Assist with farm work, community outreach and production goals as needed.
Desired Qualifications:
- Youth leadership development experience and skills.
- Experience teaching in an interactive, project-based outdoor environment.
- Interest and knowledge of food systems and organic sustainable farming.
- Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with teens, parents, community partners and residents.
- Experience teaching youth in both in-person and virtual settings.
- Excellent organization, communication and follow-through skills.
- Maintains appropriate professional boundaries in working with teens.
- Ability to think critically and creatively.
- Ability to work as part of a team in a collaborative environment.
- Passion for food justice, dismantling racism, youth development and urban farming!
Duration: 8 full weeks, (mid June – mid August) 1 week for Orientation + program prep, Youth Program facilitation (6 weeks; dates to be confirmed); Instructor Exit Interviews (August)
Compensation: Hourly, commensurate with experience (average $20/hour)
Program Locations:
Roosevelt Square Farm: 1250 S. Loomis, Chicago IL 60608
South Chicago Farm: 9001 S Mackinaw Ave, Chicago IL 60617
Grant Park Farm: 119 E Congress Pkwy, Chicago, IL 60604
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
About Urban Growers Collective
Urban Growers Collective is a Black- and women-led non-profit farm in Chicago, Illinois working to build a more just and equitable local food system. We aim to address the inequities and structural racism that exist in the food system and in communities of color. Rooted in growing food, our mission is to cultivate nourishing environments which support health, economic development, healing, and creativity through urban agriculture.
We provide hands-on job training and create economic opportunities for youth, beginner BIPOC farmers, and men who are at high risk for gun violence. Our aim is to provide jobs while working to mitigate food insecurity and limited access to affordable, culturally-affirming, and nutritionally-dense food.
Our team cultivates eight urban farms on 11 acres of land, predominantly located on Chicago’s South Side. These farms are production-oriented but also offer opportunities for staff-led education, training, and leadership development. Our produce is available at farmers’ markets, in our Collective Supported Agriculture program, and at the Fresh Moves Mobile Market.
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