Job Application - Catholic Charities Food Bank Of The Southern Tier

Job Posting CLOSED

Community Empowerment Coordinator

The Food Bank of the Southern Tier is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Therefore, individuals who bring a diverse perspective and are supportive of diversity are strongly encouraged to apply.


PRIMARY FUNCTIONS:
The Community Empowerment Coordinator (CEC) bolsters the Food Banks's efforts to engage more people with lived experience in poverty and food insecurity and recognize and utilize their own power to engage with the issues impacting their lives. The CEC will be working with individuals who have experienced trauma and understand how trauma affects people's lives, service needs, and service usage. This position needs to work well under pressure with good judgment and decision-making abilities to assists us in reaching our goal of ensuring that our programs are community-specific and designed by all stakeholders, including those who participate in them. The CEC will cultivate relationships, develop leadership, and gain insights for Food Bank decision-making through programs, trainings, listening sessions, one-on-one, and community conversations, all to create and sustain hunger-free communities.

SPECIFIC DUTIES:
1. Community Empowerment: Coordinates client and community engagement activities, including but not limited to the Food Bank's Community Advocates Program (CAP). Works closely with the Advocacy &
Community Empowerment Manager to administer and conduct CAP training series, including supporting and mentoring participants. Develops relationships and serves as a mentor for clients and community members based on mutual respect and trust. Manages Community Advocates during trips and events. Client Engagement is new and emerging, requiring sound judgment in situations where limited standard procedures exist.

2. Community Listening. Coordinates feedback and listening sessions with people facing food insecurity to inform and improve the work of the Food Bank. Works to create community and client advisory processes to engage with existing community coalitions and build connections between various stakeholders. Works closely with the Community Impact Manager to create feedback loops, analyze and interpret data, charts, and graphs, and provide recommendations to the organization for improvements, prioritizing relationships with context experts who are informed and involved to help us make the right decisions and identify barriers.

3. Civic Engagement. Works to increase civic engagement by facilitating training sessions and community conversations for staff, members of the Board of Directors, partner agencies, donors, and the general public around a shared vision for increased engagement across lines of social difference, such as race and class.
Assists in coordinating events and activities that engage people with lived experience with various other stakeholders, including elected officials, members of the Food Bank Board of Directors, partner agencies, donors, educational institutions, and beyond. Works to have community members provide testimony for policymakers.

4. Community Voice: Works to use stories and experiences to change the narrative of who experiences food insecurity and highlights the root causes of poverty. Connects community members and their stories with
Development & Community Engagement Department to share this message with the broader community and show that food bank resources are for all, without exception. Works closely with the Community Engagement Manager to ensure the Food Bank story collection and storytelling processes are dignified and conducted in a way that is non-exploitative and recognizes the expertise of lived experience. In addition, works to help prepare clients to share their own stories in a variety of ways publicly.

5. Capacity Building. Builds internal and external capacity for staff and partners to understand the importance of community empowerment and inclusion. Works with the Programs & Partnerships team to develop this culture with our network and partners. Serves as a resource and provides technical assistance for external partners on engaging people with lived experience. Documents learnings and develops standard operating procedures (SOP) to present to the Board of Directors, elected officials, and community and organizational leaders.

6. Other duties as assigned.

STANDARD WORK SCHEDULE: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday thru Friday
WORKSITE: 388 Upper Oakwood Ave., Elmira, NY 14903
WORK FROM HOME: Eligible with supervisors' approval

QUALIFICATIONS: • High School diploma or equivalent
Minimum 2 years of experience, preferably in advocacy, public policy, human services, and/or community organization

• Lived experience of poverty/food insecurity and/or experience navigating the social safety net strongly preferred

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to communicate and complete in-person and virtual presentations/trainings and effectively facilitate in a group setting.

• Knowledge of computer systems including Microsoft Word, Excel, & PowerPoint