Comer Crops Crew Intern
- Job Title
- Comer Crops Crew Intern
- Job ID
- 27650334
- Part Time
- Yes
- Location
- Chicago, IL 60619
- Other Location
- Description
-
Reports to: Urban Agriculture Manager
Status: Youth internship (ages 18-24), part-time, hourly, seasonal
Schedule: Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 7:00 pm; hours vary seasonally and based on need; some Saturdays and holidays
Gary Comer Youth Center: Having opened its doors in June 2006, the state-of-the-art Gary Comer Youth Center (GCYC) offers positive extracurricular alternatives in a welcoming and safe environment. The mission is to provide the support for all of our youth to graduate from high school, prepared to pursue college and careers. Located on Chicago’s South Side, the Gary Comer Youth Center draws its primary membership from the youth residing on the South Side of Chicago with a focus on Grand Crossing residents. GCYC is the oldest and largest institution sitting on the Comer Education Campus which includes our organizational partners Gary Comer College Prep High School, the South Shore Drill Team and Gary Comer Middle School. For more information, please visit: www.garycomeryouthcenter.org.
Comer Education Campus: With a comprehensive approach to education and youth development, the Comer Education Campus is devoted to guiding young people to and through college and into adult life. The campus constitutes a unique partnership between Gary Comer Youth Center, Gary Comer College Prep, Gary Comer Middle School, and the college success initiative UtmostU. The campus serves over 2,000 youth from across Chicago’s South Side, offering out-of-school time enrichment, academic enhancement, and college success programs. Working with best-in-class partner organizations, the Comer Education Campus empowers young people with the tools they need for post-secondary and life success. For more information, please visit: http://comereducationcampus.org/
Position Summary: Members of the Comer Crops Crew Internship assist the Urban Agriculture staff to perform urban agriculture duties including (but not limited to) moving and preparing soil, planting, watering, weeding, harvesting, washing, and packing produce. Duties will be mostly outdoors in the Comer Education Campus network of gardens and relating to working the soil, caring for plants, and harvesting and distributing fresh produce.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:- Perform basic farm and garden tasks: weeding, watering, planting, harvesting, record keeping.
- Safely use and care for all tools.
- Work collaboratively in a team setting.
- Serve as a role model for all youth and community.
- Attend regular check-in sessions with support coach or UtmostU Alumni Coordinator.
- Abide by the mission, employee handbook, and all other GCYC policies and procedures.
- Assist with special projects to promote the mission of the GCYC.
- Responsible for maintaining a physically and emotionally safe environment to further ensure proper youth supervision and managing conduct issues and incidents.
- Attends required staff meetings and trainings.
- Works with other staff to execute effective outreach, recruitment and retention strategies.
- Responsible for accurate data collection and data entry for grant and program compliance.
- Supports the mission of GCYC.
- Works collaboratively in a team setting serving the needs of youth.
- Is committed to the safety and development of all GCYC members.
- Takes on other duties as needed.
- Serves as a role model for youth and community.
- Abides by the employee handbook and established GCYC policies and procedures.
- Previous experience with agriculture, gardening, plants, or a job-training program preferred.
- Ability to learn and consistently follow safe work practices and to demonstrate proper hygiene required for food safety.
- Ability to work well independently and in groups to complete quality work in a timely manner.
- Strong work readiness skills, including communication, punctuality and team work.
- Strong work ethic.
- Ages 16-21, currently pursuing high school, college, or another post-secondary endeavor.
- Must possess genuine care and concern for youth – especially pre-teens and teens.
- Program area management skills that are engaging, non-oppressive and age appropriate.
- Strong project management and organizational skills. Must be able to initiate and finish projects.
- Able to communicate effectively with youth, co-workers, stakeholders and families in a respectful and culturally competent manner via written and verbal communication.
- Must enjoy working with teams but can also work independently.
- Enjoys being the leader but is also confident enough to take directions from others.
- Must be able to take initiative and problem solve. Must be a creative thinker.
- Demonstrates strong accuracy in all areas of work.
- Must possess adaptive vitality.
- Demonstrates understanding of the positive youth development philosophy.
- Demonstrates an understanding of guidance and discipline principles & conflict resolution strategies.
- Must demonstrate cultural competency, dedication to working with youth, families and community members in our care.
- Must have basic computer literacy skills – including Microsoft Office, independent use of the internet and ability to learn and properly utilize software systems.
- The GCYC environment is consistently bustling with youth and community members. The Center’s work is fast paced and varied. Our work is done on site where our youth and families are. Therefore, it is required that team members meet these requirements:
- Have the ability to lift up to 25 pounds.
- Physical demands require full body movement, physical strength, and stamina sufficient to use farm tools and equipment regularly while walking, standing, bending, kneeling, crouching, stooping/and or lifting
- Ability to work outdoors in all types of weather.
- Ability to tolerate other environmental factors like dust, pollen, bees, and other insects.
- Ability to work Monday-Friday with some Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.