Anti-Hunger and Opportunity Corps – VISTA Member Position

Monday, March 20th, 2017

 VISTA Position Available

The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), in partnership with Hunger Free America, has an opening for an anti-hunger VISTA member with Virginia Hunger Solutions (FRAC’s state-based initiative headquartered in Richmond, Virginia). This position is a one-year AmeriCorps/Vista placement to help build capacity for the federal nutrition programs in Virginia.  The VISTA member will be employed through Hunger Free America, but will report to the Director of Virginia Hunger Solutions.
Organizational Background – The Food Research and Action Center
FRAC is the leading national nonprofit organization working to improve and implement effective public policies and public-private partnerships to eradicate hunger and undernutrition in the United States. FRAC engages in research, technical assistance, information dissemination, policy analysis and advocacy, coalition-building, and an array of communications strategies. FRAC works in partnership with hundreds of national, state and local nonprofit organizations, public agencies, corporations and labor organizations to address hunger and food insecurity, and poverty as their root cause.
Virginia Hunger Solutions (VHS) is a FRAC initiative working to create local hunger-free communities and to improve the nutrition, health, economic security and well-being of low-income residents in the communities.  VHS is a joint project with the Virginia Poverty Law Center (VPL).
Organizational Background – Anti-Hunger and Opportunity Corps (AHOC)
The Anti-Hunger and Opportunity Corps (AHOC) is an AmeriCorps VISTA project, sponsored by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, the Corporation for National and Community Service, and the Wal-Mart Foundation, and managed by Hunger Free America. VISTA members work in both rural and urban areas across the country as part of a public-private partnership to improve access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly Food Stamps) for Americans in need.
Responsibilities
The full-year VISTA member will support FRAC’s work in Virginia to build capacity to expand access to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).  The member will help recruit and train volunteers to assist in SNAP outreach.  They will help identify and engage community partners, faith-based organizations and local agencies to expand the number of organizations providing SNAP application assistance and will coordinate with partner organizations to develop innovative and targeted plans to reach special communities of interest (non-English speakers, seniors, rural populations and low-income workers).  They will also create and update SNAP toolkit resources and investigate ways to better inform recipients of the SNAP Employment and Training Program. The VISTA member may also work with farmers’ markets to improve and expand the use of EBT at the markets and to provide outreach to ensure that recipients are aware that growing numbers of markets accept SNAP benefits.
Skills and Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree; with preference for a degree in a field related to anti-hunger / social justice.
• Good oral and written communications skills. Ability to present and speak in public on behalf of the organization.
• Detail-oriented planning and implementation skills.
• Willingness to work varied hours.
• Good organizational skills.
• Self-starter; ability to work independently.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; team orientation.
• Evidence of commitment to social justice; experience with SNAP/food stamp program a plus.
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite products with ability to use Excel for data collection.
• Conversant in Spanish, a plus.
• Ability to travel around the state for meetings and events. (Must have own transportation; mileage will be reimbursed.)
Time Commitment:
This is a one year, full-time position with an expectant date beginning July 2017. You are expected to be available for the needs of your community and project at all times, including days, nights and weekends. For more information, please review the AmeriCorps VISTA Terms, Conditions and Benefits information available here – https://www.hungerfreeamerica.org/AmeriCorpsService.
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Housing:
You are responsible for finding your own housing.  No housing allowance will be provided.
Program Benefits:
• Living allowance, paid biweekly through Hunger Free America.
• Segal Education Award ($5,645) or End-of-Service stipend ($1,500).
• Health benefits through CNCS.
• Opportunity to forbear student loans while in service.
• Relocation assistance (if applicable).
• Childcare assistance (if applicable).
• Optional life insurance.
• One year non-competitive status for federal government positions.
• A network of over 180,000 AmeriCorps VISTA members and alums.
To Apply
Please email cover letter and resume, along with 2 references no later than May 5, 2017 to:employment@frac.org.  Please include “Vista member – VHS” in subject line.

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