AAPI Voices: When Food is a Love Language
Serve Your Community, Grow Your Career
FoodsCorps Service Member Tessa Finkelstein leads a lesson in a school garden. (Bronx, NY)
2023-2024 Application
We’re still accepting applications for a limited number of unfilled positions.
Apply NowAs a FoodCorps service member, you’ll teach kids to grow, cook, and love the nourishing foods that celebrate their cultures and communities—and help schools serve more of those foods, too. FoodCorps recruits talented leaders into full-time, paid public service, where they grow healthy school food environments in diverse communities through hands-on, experiential food education. Service members commit for a year at a time, but for the greatest impact on kids and on your career, we encourage you to come back for a second year.
STEP 1
What Service Members Do
As a service member, you’ll teach kids about nourishing food and help schools become healthier places for them to learn and grow. Most of your time will be spent teaching in the classroom and garden; there are also opportunities to work with school nutrition directors in supporting districtwide food systems change. Most service corps members do the following:
Lead Hands-On Lessons
You’ll teach students to grow, cook, and taste new foods, building their knowledge of and enthusiasm for fruits and veggies. You’ll collaborate with teachers on integrating food into the curriculum, and you may help organize field trips to local farms or visits from chefs.
Influence Nourishing School Meals
You’ll cultivate a cafeteria experience that steers students towards fresh fruits and veggies, gets them excited to try new foods, and celebrates their culture and community. You’ll get kids to try samples during taste tests and brainstorm foods that make them feel strong and nourished. You may even work with food service directors and farmers to get local foods onto the lunch tray.
Build A Culture of Health
You’ll be an active, collaborative member of the school community, working to ensure that the whole school environment—from hallway to classroom to cafeteria—celebrates nourishing food. You may plan family cooking nights and organize food fundraisers, too.
Kimberly Miramontes and her students water plants and harvest fresh dinosaur kale. (Oakland, CA)
STEP 2
Who We’re Looking For
You want to make a difference in the world. You understand that food in school is a driver for equity, justice, and lifelong healthy habits. You’re committed to learning, growing, and developing as a professional and as an active member of your community. You see food as a fundamental part of every kid’s education. And you want to work directly in schools, with students, to make food central to their classroom experience.
Eligibility
To be considered for a FoodCorps service member position, you must:
- Be 18 years or older by the start of service
- Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawful permanent resident of the United States
- Hold a high school diploma, GED or equivalent
The ideal candidate has:
- Passion for building a healthier future for school children
- Demonstrated leadership aptitude
- Motivation and commitment to serve full-time directly in a community
- Self-determination in the face of challenges and creativity in finding solutions
- Respect for diversity of opinion, experience, and background
- Display a growth mindset by willing to grow through coaching and implementation of feedback
- Knowledge of the culture, history, and/or language of the communities we serve
- Desire to gain hands-on experience in food education
STEP 3
Where We Work
FoodCorps currently serves more than 100 schools and districts in 12 states and the District of Columbia. We encourage members to serve in their local communities, as service is often most impactful when members feel a connection to or have strong knowledge of the community they serve. Keep in mind that we do not provide housing.
Want to know what it’s like to serve in a particular community?
Contact the corresponding program staff via the Connect section of the region’s page.
Where We Work
Step 4
Benefits of Service
FoodCorps service members receive a stipend, health insurance, and other benefits. In addition, FoodCorps prepares alumni for lifelong careers of impact as food educators, school nutrition leaders, and policy influencers. Being part of the FoodCorps alumni network connects you to thousands of passionate professionals who can help you build a career at the intersection of food justice and education equity.
Living Stipend
Living Stipend$33,000 for the full 11-month term
AmeriCorps Segal Education AwardAfter successfully completing your FoodCorps term of service, you’ll be eligible for a $6,895 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. You can use the award to repay qualified student loans and to pay current educational expenses at eligible institutions of higher education and training programs.
Student Loan ForbearanceAs a FoodCorps service member, you may be eligible for student loan forbearance. You can learn more from our partners at AmeriCorps.
Health InsuranceYou’ll receive basic health, dental, and vision coverage.
Relocation Support
Relocation SupportTo support the transition into service, all incoming service members will receive $500 to cover relocation costs or to support a gap between jobs. These funds can be used for rent, gas, moving van rental, security deposit, and other costs associated with starting in a new role.
Partial Childcare ReimbursementsChild care assistance may be available for qualified service members who need the benefit in order to serve.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)Some service members are eligible to receive SNAP benefits.
Need-Based Funding
Need-Based FundingFoodCorps members can apply for funding to cover costs related to medical or family emergencies, natural disasters, or other unexpected costs related to service throughout their year of service.
5 Tips to Make Your Application Shine
5 Tips to Make Your Application Shine
5 Tips to Make Your Application Shine
Key Application Dates
Application Timeline
This year, we’re accepting applications and making admissions decisions on a rolling basis. Applications will be accepted anytime between Oct. 14, 2022 and March 27, 2023. The earlier you apply, the earlier you’ll receive a decision. Service site preferences will become limited as slots are filled, so we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible!
Click “See the Application Timeline” to view more details.
Stay in the loop
Check out The Skillet, FoodCorps’ home for news, stories, and resources
Explore The SkilletNewsletter
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