Food Inspired Resilience & Equity Internship
Photo above: Fall 2023 – Spring 2024 FIRE interns at their final celebration.
FIRE Internship Program
Community-based food organizations and students work together on local food, community, and equity work.
The purpose of this program is to expand the capacity of local food-based organizations, that are dedicated to promoting more resilient and equitable food systems, across the state by pairing them with paid college student interns. We pair unique student skill sets (such as social media, marketing, and experience with online platforms) to match the needs of host local food organizations. In addition, we cover the salary of the student interns and program logistics, such as recruiting and hiring. In return host sites provide impactful experiences and hands-on skill building related to food systems and equity work for college students.
***We are currently seeking funding for the next cohort. If you are interested in being a student intern and would like to be contacted once the program is available again, please complete the form using the button below.
2024 - 2025 FIRE Host Sites & Student Interns
“This program gave me the opportunity to stand out as a storyteller in the food system and to develop my public speaking and community involvement work. I also learned a lot about better understanding the needs of people who face food insecurity and effective ways to make food access more equitable.”
– Hope Ostane-Baucom, 2023 – 2024 Char-Meck Food Policy Council Intern
“Long-term, this internship is creating a stronger link between WCU and WNC Farm to Table and is including a focus on food insecurity issues on campus.”
– Lisa McBride, 2023 – 2024 WNC Farm to Table Host Site
“The Eva Clayton Rural Food Institute is much stronger because of (our interns) work with us. She was eager to learn and share her skills with a young start-up organization. . . She was a gift to our Advisory Council members, who looked to her to keep them organized and accountable. . . (Our interns) contributions were diverse and impactful. She supported our website development, conducted thorough research on the counties in our service area, facilitated calls with our elected officials, and even lent a hand with the food set-up. I’ve shared with (our intern) that she is a part of our founding history!”
– Earline Middleton 2023 – 2024 The Eva Clayton Rural Food Institute Host Site
Organization Summary:
The NCLFC serves as a collaborative network across various organizations, agencies, and groups whose statewide and regional work supports vibrant farms and fisheries, healthy people, strong communities, thriving local economies, and resilient ecosystems through a common aim: NC’s local food systems. We do this by providing interactions between members to foster coordinated programs, guidance development, communication, resources, and support on food-related research discussions and development.
Intern Bio:
My name is Meg Sandy and I am a senior at NC State studying Agroecology and Community Food Systems. I was born and raised in Raleigh and grew up loving to eat and cook which led me to pursue a degree in agriculture having no previous knowledge or experience about it. Surprising everybody but myself I absolutely love it and look forward to finding a job in agricultural education and outreach to spread the word to more city kids like myself that agriculture is important and inspiring in every way. I love that agriculture provides me a space to mesh my love for environmental sciences and food, and work to improve our food systems.
Scope of Work:
- Assist in conducting an internal council assessment, support this project by collecting and interpreting data in the fall that would be used to guide the strategic planning for 2025
- Supporting communications (newsletters and annual report)
- Supporting local food marketing work-group that aims to connect producers with consumers.
Organization Summary:
Our mission is to transform under-resourced neighborhoods through community engagement, empowerment, and entrepreneurship. Growing High Point is anchored in the 27260 ZIP code, the fifth poorest in North Carolina and a “food desert.” In this ZIP code, we have transformed formerly blighted urban properties into a network of urban farms covering nearly 4 acres. The produce we grow is sold at the High Point Farmers Market, to Second Harvest Food Bank of NWNC’s Farm Nourish program, and on Growdega, our mobile market. We also serve 19 seniors each week with free produce delivery as well as new refugee families. We have nearly 20 youth employees who are learning about urban agriculture through employment and enrichment, and we’re training 3 adults in urban farming with the goal of expanding our urban farm network.
Intern Bio:
I (Kianna Harrison) am from Raleigh, North Carolina and I’m a Food and Nutritional Sciences Major at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. My personal interests include studying the interlink between nutrition and health, especially in the context of underserved communities and people of color. For fun, I love to bake cookies at home and binge YouTube videos. One fun fact about me would be that I recently started a watch collection.
Scope of Work:
- Research small local farmers, visit their farms or gardens, introduce Growing High Point’s Food Hub, and help build a network that utilizes the Food Hub to increase the availability of local produce.
- Be involved in special events to help support the overall organization’s goals
- Create a sheet with gardening-specific pictures/icons to help us communicate with refugee farmers who are working with us.
Organization Summary:
Common Ground Cafe is a 501c3 nonprofit food service model in Cleveland County formed to help overcome barriers to basic human needs of citizens within our community. Our mission is to strengthen our community, improve our economy, foster local partnerships, and promote health by offering nourishing meals in a welcoming and safe environment to everyone, regardless of income, age or status. From 2018-2022, Common Ground Cafe, through the establishment of a network of culinary artists, restaurant owners, churches, local farmers, area businesses and volunteers to enrich the lives of our guests by providing nourishing meals through a “donate-what-you-can” payment model via various pop-up markets and periodic fundraising events. In 2023, we recognized the need to address the disparity towards underserved and marginalized seniors who are unable to consistently prepare meals on their own. In June 2023, we successfully piloted the iSMILE Meal Program for Seniors, provided weekly home-cooked meals to 18 seniors in the program. As of today, we provide that meal delivery service to 75 seniors residing in Cleveland County.
Intern Bio:
I (Candy Reyes) was raised in Hickory, NC, but am currently studying Social Work at NC state. Outside of school, I love reading, crocheting, and watching movies. My favorite book is Salt to the Sea, which I recommend to any one who likes reading. Many of the themes within this book, such as hope and community, are the reasons I chose to pursue a career as a Social Worker.
Scope of Work:
- Supporting the sustainability of our nutritionally-tailored meals program
- Connecting with other food systems opportunities in and around Cleveland County
- Support codifying a model that distributes the economic cost of healthy food equitably within the community through pay-what-you can opportunities and other forms of subsidization
- Evaluation and analysis of both qualitative and quantitative impacts
- Research into other existing initiatives that our organization could learn from
- Find ways to increase purchasing of locally-sourced produce (at fair-market value), ensuring both the highest nutritional quality of the meals we produce and economic opportunity for farmers
Organization Summary:
Our mission is to improve the overall health outcomes of our community by increasing access to fresh and healthy produce, encourage physical activity among our community members, and improving access to affordable healthcare. We work to achieve our mission by giving away 75% of the produce that we grow to the community, whether it be through creating produce boxes to ship out for the community, or by hosting/attending events to give away our produce. We also host a Summer Camp program for our youth to learn about sustainable agriculture, healthy eating practices, and develop their skill sets for a career of their choice. In addition, we are currently partnering with ECU Health in a program called Food is Medicine, which is a project that seeks to increase accessibility to healthy foods for people facing food insecurity and chronic illness. When we provide the produce, ECU Health documents the participants’ overall health to show the correlation between healthy eating and improved health conditions, allowing us to further support our organization’s goals.
Intern Bio:
Hi everyone! I’m Kiki from Durham, I’m currently studying Horticulture Science Management with a concentration in Small Scale Farming. My goal with my degree is to use the knowledge and skills I’ve learned to help my local communities deal with food insecurities and provide them with fresh produce. Outside of school, my hobbies include making pottery, caring for my 67 houseplants, and hiking.
Scope of Work:
- Online research for horticultural and agricultural practices to implement on the farm ie. best practices for starting a hydroponic system
- Communicating with school staff for students that will come to the farm and coordinating with them on how to implement what they learn on the farm into their curriculum
- Contacting businesses for quotes on farm items needed
- Planning for and ordering seeds
Organization Summary:
The mission of the North Carolina Farmers Market Network is to work with and for farmers market communities to create a thriving network of marketplaces for local food and farm products through education, innovative services, programs, and partnerships, including providing resources to historically underserved populations. One of our current priority projects is coordinating efforts to create statewide funding for doubling SNAP/EBT benefits at farmers markets. This initiative works towards creating more equitable food systems by increasing access and reducing barriers to fresh and local produce.
Intern Bio:
My name is Stephanie Reichert and I am a second year graduate student at Meredith College pursuing my Masters of Science in Nutrition. I am an aspiring registered dietitian and am most passionate about facilitating equitable access to safe, affordable, and nutritious food for all. I completed my undergraduate career at NC State University where I obtained a BS in Applied Nutrition and a minor in Global Health. I enjoy walking my dog, spending time with friends and family, and trying new recipes and restaurants!
Scope of Work:
- Support Double Up North Carolina (DUNC) working group with various tasks such as: additional data collection for Statewide Nutrition Incentives; working group meeting note-taking; and assisting with engaging partners and collaborators by sharing updates, information and educational materials
- NCFMN Statewide Conference (Feb 2025) support
- NCFMN membership engagement and recruitment efforts
- Social media support
- Creating photographic content of farmers markets
Organization Summary:
Our mission is to increase self-reliance, relieve hunger and improve the quality-of-life for food insecure families. Approximately 750 Bertie County families are served monthly during our distributions; 450 -500 seniors receive food boxes from the Commodity Supplemental Food Program. Since 2022 GSFP in partnership with Access East under the Healthy Opportunities Pilot (HOP) program has delivered healthy food boxes to over 375 households. As of October 2023, an average of 150 boxes per week are delivered to Medicaid (managed care recipients) through the HOP program.
During the summer months of June-August, GSFP manages the Windsor Farmers Market. We provide opportunities for local farmers, vendors, students and the community to sell their products at a minimal monthly fee of $10 per market day. GSFP purchases produce that isn’t sold and distributes it during our distribution the following day. SNAP recipients are able to use their EBT card during the “double bucks’ program to receive free produce. The prescription program under HOP can be redeemed at the market also, allowing for more fresh fruits and vegetables.
Intern Bio:
I (Patriska Richard) was born in Stamford, Connecticut, raised in Norwalk, Connecticut, and moved to Cary, North Carolina 7 years ago. I’m currently a secretary of a student organization known as the Society of Public Health Educators, SOPHE, and am part of other organizations like Tri-Beta Society, Honors Biology Society, and the National Society for Leadership and Success. I enjoy educating others about healthy options, painting, cooking/baking, and gardening.
Scope of Work:
- Provide administrative assistance to the Ex. Dir and Program manager as needed to include maintaining an updated filing and database system for families served
- Identify and interview potential families that may benefit from services we provide
- Update and/or develop an engaging social media platform to reach potential clients
- Serve as our community liaison during community events to educate the public on potential opportunities
- Create surveys to determine what other benefits families can receive in the program
- Evaluating data amongst the county working in to insure that they are receiving benefits
- Creating media sources for outreach to families
Organization Summary:
TTCF’s mission is to uplift food sovereignty in the refugee community through access to land, education and opportunities for refugee farmers to address community food insecurity and the barriers they face in reaching their dreams of farming. The farm provides a cultural community space for refugee adults and youth to come together, recreate home and build healthy communities, and continue agricultural traditions in the Piedmont of N.C.
Intern Bio:
Shonna Smith, originally from Dallas, TX, is pursuing a Ph.D. in Agricultural Education and Human Sciences at North Carolina State University. She earned her Master of Science in Animal Science with a focus on food safety and disease prevention from The Ohio State University, and a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Sciences from Southern University and A&M College. Her research centers on improving the health and food environments of minority communities through food and health intervention programs aimed at influencing nutrition-related health behaviors. Shonna is dedicated to advocating for food security, sustainable food systems, and promoting health equity in diverse communities. Beyond her academic pursuits, she is passionate about community engagement and leadership, striving to make a positive impact in the lives of those she serves.
Scope of Work:
- Expand our presence on social media and increase accessibility of our website to increase our reach to potential customers
- Reaching more people with our story – to share what we do with our broader piedmont/ NC community.
- Support outreach for our growing food access and wholesale programs
- Stepping in to organize outreach events
2024 - 2025 FIRE Host Sites & Student Interns
Learn about the 2023 – 2024 FIRE cohort here.
Learn about the 2022 – 2023 FIRE cohort here.
Learn about the Spring 2022 FIRE pilot internship here.
Purpose:
- The purpose of this program is to expand the capacity of local food-based organizations, that are dedicated to promoting more resilient and equitable food systems, across the state by pairing them with paid college student interns. We pair unique student skill sets (such as social media, marketing, and experience with online platforms) to match the needs of host local food organizations. In addition, we cover the salary of the student interns and program logistics, such as recruiting and hiring. In return host sites provide impactful experiences and hands-on skill building related to food systems and equity work for college students.
Potential Projects:
The student interns may assist with projects that support host sites work, such as:
- Researching issues, policies, communications, and practices around local food and health equity work
- Coordinating food council meetings with agendas, communication, and facilitation
- Establishing/increasing an online or social media presence and using analytics to maintain an online presence
- Writing educational and promotional materials for community distribution
- Assisting with program coordination and logistics
- Researching and supporting funder/donor opportunities
- Developing and maintaining community partnerships
Community Food Strategies, North Carolina Local Food Council, and Center for Environmental Farming Systems agrees to:
- Manage the intern administration, including hiring, tracking hours, and payment
- Provide an internship orientation for host sites and new interns
- Hold monthly check-ins with each intern and bi-weekly cohort calls for group learning and professional development
- Coordinate monthly check-ins with intern host sites, as appropriate, to support student intern performance and/or to address emerging needs
- Schedule a site visit with each host site accompanied by the host-site intern
- Coordinate one end-of-year intern presentation event to share successes and lessons learned
Timeline:
- Host site Applications open May 6th, 2024
- Host site Applications due June 3rd, 2024
- Intern Applications open July 1st, 2024
- Intern Applications due August 2nd, 2024
- Interviews week of August 26th, 2024
- Orientation September 15th, 2024
- Start date September 20th, 2024
- End date May 2nd, 2025
Background
Community Food Strategies works to inspire connections and amplify collective action so that community voices are heard and food policy shifts toward more equitable outcomes.
Our ultimate purpose is to help build an equitable, community driven food system that improves the quality of life for all people. Learn more here.
North Carolina Local Food Council serves as a collaborative network across various organizations, agencies, and groups whose statewide work supports vibrant farmers and fisheries, healthy people, strong communities, thriving local economies, and resilient ecosystems through a common aim: NC’s local food system. Learn more here.
CEFS envisions a future of vibrant farms, resilient ecosystems, strong communities, healthy people, and thriving local economies. CEFS is one of the nation’s most important centers for research, extension, and education in sustainable agriculture and community-based food systems. It is recognized as a national and international leader in the local foods movement, and celebrated for its work in building consensus around policies, programs, and actions that facilitate a vibrant local food economy.
CEFS was born from the shared conviction that a land-grant-university-based research, education, and extension program focused on organic and sustainable agriculture could have a significant and essential impact in North Carolina.
This internship program is financially supported by the NC DHHS.
