Local First Arizona Foundation (LFA) is a non-profit organization that is building opportunities in Arizona. LFA is an award-winning organization focused on community and economic development throughout the state in order to build self-sufficient, healthy, and prosperous communities. We are creating a movement that has proven results across a wide variety of measurables including youth retention, job creation, and economic gains: creating prosperity for all Arizonans.
We are looking for candidates who love Arizona and want to help spread the message about the importance of local businesses, especially local food production. This is an extraordinary opportunity for someone who would like to develop communications and event planning skills to directly benefit local producers and strengthen Arizona’s community food network. This unpaid internship can provide school credit, resume and portfolio building experience, and a flexible schedule. Candidates must be energetic, creative, results-oriented team players and self-starters, and ultimately dedicated to the achievement of personal as well as team goals.
About the Program
Arizona agriculture has a $23.3 billion impact on our state’s economy. In the winter months, Yuma supplies over 90% of the country’s leafy greens and vegetables. Despite this tremendous productivity, 15% of households in Arizona are food insecure, meaning that they don’t know where their next meal will come from. Local First Arizona’s Local Food Initiative works to connect Arizona’s producers to local markets and supports small scale food producers as they build their customer base. A major component of these efforts is telling the stories of Arizona’s farmers and local food producers, as well as the innovative supply chain actors that are improving local food production, distribution, and access.
About the Internship
This intern position will work under the umbrella of LFA’s Local Foods Initiative to support the development and execution of our 2021 events, as well as provide additional outreach support where needed. From general event planning to communications, from registrant management to flyer distribution, this intern will be our right-hand person for the semester’s producer- and consumer-focused events that highlight local food production.
Under the supervision of the Food & Farm Initiatives Manager, the Local Food Intern will be tasked with updating the Good Food Finder directory, supporting social media efforts, writing one blog post a month, general outreach at farmers markets and farmer’s, and providing support with executing our events over the course of the semester.
The Local Foods Events Intern may support one of three main events and campaigns:
- Devour Culinary Classic
- Food & Farm Forum
- Good Food EXPO
This internship will provide the opportunity to expand personal networks of business professionals, provides community outreach experience, writing and publishing credit, and exposure to Arizona’s local food system and community.
Overall, the intern can expect to:
- Coordinate and plan a communications campaign (blogs and social media) to highlight local food producers
- Support event promotional efforts through communications channels
- Update the online directory of local food producers, farmers, and farmers markets
- Develop tools/campaigns for utilizing LFA food resources
- Conduct research projects and create surveys to help with target marketing and event follow-up
- Consistently work with the food team to evaluate for sponsor obligations and any responsibilities needing completed due to possible grant fulfillment
- Contribute a minimum of five relevant blog posts to the Good Food Finder blog platform
- Table at least three Farmers Markets in the Phoenix Metro Area (as needed)
Required:
- Basic understanding of or passion for local food purchasing and its influence on sustainability, health, or economic well-being
- A passion for the farming & food production in Arizona
- Strong experience with social media platforms and web page management
- Experience with blog writing and/or press releases
- Strong verbal communication and written skills
- Ability to process and implement creative feedback
- Reliable transportation as needed to attend meetings and events and other in-person engagements least twice per week (if needed)
- Ability to be highly organized and efficient
- Self-motivation and accountability
- Strong time management skills
Preferred, but not necessary:
- Active social media user
- Photography skills: an eye for bright, visually appealing scenes
- Leadership role in event planning process of any size
- Basic graphic design skills (familiarity with Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop & InDesign)
- Experience working with Wordpress and/or Squarespace
- Experience in the non-profit sector
Gained experiences:
- Experience working in the non-profit sector
- Your name on online published site
- Community outreach strategies
- Economic systems, particularly within the area of local food systems
- Research skills and database management
- Interpersonal communication
- Project management experience; including how to meet daily, weekly and long-term deadlines
- Experience using InfusionSoft, Wordpress, Squarespace, Google Drive, and more
- Exposure to many locally owned businesses, non-profits, and organizations in Arizona
- Education on the several program and initiatives LFA implements to work toward our mission of creating a sustainable local economy
Total hours: 135
Hours & Compensation: THIS POSITION IS PRIMARILY REMOTE WITH OCCASIONAL IN-PERSON MEETINGS AND EVENTS. The intern will work approximately 10-15 hours per week for the Fall or Spring Semester. Typically this comes out to approximately 125 total hours for the semester (may vary based on student’s internship requirements). This is an unpaid internship with many professional development opportunities. Upon satisfactory completion of the internship, the intern will receive a letter of recommendation and course credit, if applicable.
Length of Term: Internship program is 1 semester long, with opportunity for second semester upon satisfactory completion of internship.
To Apply: Email your cover letter, resume, and a brief writing sample (of your choice) to Somlynn at somlynn@localfirstaz.com