Youth Program Intern   Start date: late January 2010 Duration: 9 Months Location: Parkdale, Toronto Greenest City is a nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to creating solutions that inspire diverse communities to green Toronto. Greenest City has three integrated program streams: Urban Agriculture, Youth & Children, and Healthy & Connected Communities. Our innovative programs connect people to local food, to each other, and to opportunity. In the past three years Greenest City has focused on growing local food and local youth leaders as keys to enhancing the health and sustainability of the Parkdale community. In 2008, Greenest City was one of 10 organizations chosen to receive The Wellesley Institute's "10 in 10" Urban Health Award that recognizes the "unsung" heroes that have made a significant contribution to the health of urban communities in the GTA from 1998-2008. Job Description This YMCA Youth Eco Internship Program position has two distinct components. For the first half of the internship, the intern will assist the Growing the Future Project Coordinator. Growing the Future is an exciting and new after-school environmental youth program aimed at 13-15 year olds. The second half of the internship will involve coordinating our Youth Green Squad. The Youth Green Squad is a summer employment program aimed at 15 – 18 year olds. Key Responsibilities (for the first half of the internship): • Work with the Growing the Future Coordinator in planning and designing program activities • Assist the Growing the Future Coordinator by arranging supplies and logistics for upcoming activities • Set up necessary equipment and supplies for programming days • Organize participants • Lead some hands-on urban agriculture and environmental activities • Assist with clean up Key Responsibilities (for the second half of the internship): • Work with the Urban Agriculture Manager to develop and implement Youth Green Squad programming activities • Work with the Communications and Outreach Director to recruit and hire the youth staff and to connect with the local community • Coordinate the program logistics, activities, workshops, field trips, and ecological gardening sessions for the youth • Motivate, encourage, and support youth in their work experience • Track, monitor, and evaluate programming • Help organize appreciation events, awards, and activities Qualifications: • Successful completion of a diploma or degree program in: Education, Youth Work, Environmental Studies, Social Sciences, or related discipline • Demonstrated ability and experience working with 13 – 18 year olds, particularly marginalized youth • Interest in food preparation, food security, gardening, and youth development • Highly motivated, resourceful and passionate – demonstrated commitment to issues of environmental, social and economic justice • Demonstrated ability to connect to and work within diverse communities • A positive and kind way with staff, participants and partners • Ability to speak a language relevant to the South Parkdale neighbourhood is considered an asset (for example: Tibetan, Mandarin, Hungarian, Polish, and others) Salary: $14 an hour Desired start date: late January 2010 Some evening and weekend day work is expected This is a full time internship position funded through the YMCA’s Youth Eco Internship Program (YEIP). YEIP places unemployed people aged 15 to 30 from diverse backgrounds into paid internship opportunities within the non-profit and community services sector in Canada with a focus on the environment. These positions, offered in a wide range of organizations, will help young Canadians learn the skills required to gain and sustain future employment within the sector. The YEIP and Greenest City encourage applicants from visible minority, Aboriginal, immigrant, refugee and traditionally marginalized communities to apply, and is committed to providing employment supports wherever possible. *Please note that only those eligible for the Youth Eco Internship Program can be considered for this position. More information at http://www.yeip.ca To apply: fill in the application at http://www.yeip.ca and indicate your interest in working with Greenest City, and send your cover letter and resume to: Greenest City c/0 Masaryk Cowan Community Centre 220 Cowan Avenue, Toronto, ON M6K 2N6 EMAIL: hiring@greenestcity.ca Late applications will not be accepted. We regret that only those applicants being considered for the position will be contacted. Greenest City is committed to Employment Equity and encourages applicants from equity seeking groups to self-identify.