2018 Equity at the Table Fellowship

Introduction

The Come to the Table program at the Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA (RAFI) is pleased to announce the Equity at the Table Fellowship! This fellowship will equip faith and community leaders who are engaged in food access work to use their passion and influence to positively impact the landscape of work at the intersection of food, faith and justice in North Carolina.

Why?

As crucial players in the hunger relief system, faith and community leaders have a role to play in shifting the conventional hunger relief paradigm to a more integrated approach that features fresh and healthy food while supporting the local agricultural economy. Particularly in low-income rural communities, churches and community organizations have the potential to help increase access to fresh food, increase opportunities for farmers to feed their neighbors and provide support to local community development efforts.

The Fellows Program is designed to support and strengthen faith and community leaders who are passionate about equity and food access and who are engaged in projects that support these goals. This program is designed to benefit both the fellows (through training and leadership opportunities) and the Come to the Table Network (as the fellows share their skills and insights with others around the state).

Cost

The Equity at the Table Fellows Program is free to persons accepted into the program thanks to funding from The Duke Endowment. Fellows will be paid for expertise and time they provide as speakers, facilitators and in other roles.

Design/Structure

• The structure of the fellowship allows for fellows to shape the program to fit their skills and needs. Fellows will work with RAFI staff to design program activities that will be most beneficial to them.
• Fellows are expected to be able to commit a significant amount of time to the fellows program. The specific amount of time will vary based on the fellows’ particular needs and availability, but we anticipate a minimum of 10 hours per month.
• The fellowship lasts 2 years.
• The first year focuses on working with RAFI staff to design and complete a plan of professional development training and opportunities over the next year.
• The second year focuses on working with RAFI staff to design the CTTT conference and gatherings, conducting workshop/trainings or speaking engagements and serving as a technical assistance provider to organizations within the CTTT network. Fellows will be paid for their time.
• The fellows will also help to plan and participate in two fellows retreats over the course of the two years.

Expectations

Fellows were expected to:

• Contribute 4 blog posts to the CTTT website through a medium of their choice: video, audio, photographs or writing.
• Meet briefly (in person or over the phone) at least once a month with CTTT staff to reflect on their experience as a fellow and plan for future fellows activities.
• Work with CTTT staff to track the impact of their fellowship-supported programs and events and to evaluate the Fellows Program at the end of their fellows tenure through interviews once a year.
• Lead trainings, workshops or other events around the state related to equity and/or food access.

Who?

The ideal fellow candidate is someone who:

• Is already passionate about equity within the food system and is engaged with this work in some way
• Lives or is involved in food access work in North Carolina
• Is a faith or community leader engaged in food access work
• Someone who has skills and knowledge to offer the community/region
• Someone who has the time and flexibility to participate in this program
• Priority will be given to candidates who represent areas of regional, religious/denominational and/or racial diversity

What will I gain?

• Fellows will have the opportunity to travel throughout the state to speak at workshops and conferences, facilitate important conversations around equity in the food system and offer technical assistance to organizations in need of their particular skill set. Fellows will be compensated for their time and effort in these engagements.
• Fellows will have the opportunity to participate in leadership and professional development opportunities based on their particular needs.

2018 Fellows

Learn about the 2018 Equity at the Table fellows.

 

 

To inquire further about the Fellows Program, contact Michelle Osborne, Come to the Table Program Manager for Faith-based and Community Partnerships at [email protected] or 919-704-6920.