Community Outreach and Education Associate
Work as a Quaker Voluntary Service Fellow with the Minnesota State Horticultural Society!
The Minnesota State Horticultural Society’s mission is to grow cold-climate gardeners through education, encouragement and community. We help society members and program participants learn how to grow plants in our challenging northern climate and positively impact the environment. We help grow gardeners by sharing resources, tools and inspiration through our website, webinars, classes, educational displays and our award-winning Northern Gardener magazine. We cultivate community through our two signature community outreach programs. Minnesota Green promotes grassroots efforts to revitalize and beautify public space gardens and helps connect neighbors through a shared interest in growing fresh, healthy food. Garden-in-a-Box brings vegetable garden kits to underserved children and adults, giving our newest gardeners the chance to experience the benefits and joy of gardening. Other plans looking forward include increasing our resources on greening and sustainability, expanding community outreach efforts and strengthening our organizational capacity to serve our diverse constituents.
This position offers the chance to develop a strong understanding of two foundation stones of any community service and non-profit agency: marketing (outreach) and educational programming. The fellow will work closely with the Communications and Marketing Director and the Outreach & Education Director to grow our reach and impact in the community through activities including:
Education - help design/run/archive webinars and in-person classes, research event venues, help run special events
Outreach - update, track and distribute marketing materials and membership/donation appeals; execute magazine mailing; analyze results of marketing efforts; promote membership at State Fair and external shows; maintain and add content to online Resource Hub
Ideal candidates will be passionate about community service, detail-oriented, and love working with the diverse populations who are current or prospective members as we work together to diversify our organization's membership and programming. They should appreciate and be motivated by how horticulture intersects with key societal issues such as food security, racial injustice, and climate change.