The Center for Resilient Communities Food Justice Lab (FJL) supports the emergent movement toward the Right to Food (RtF) in West Virginia. We are seeking an undergraduate research assistant to work up to 20 hours of work per week.

Growing out of the 2020 WV Food for All Summit “ Race and Food Access Roundtable ” and “ Leading with the Truth ” session, House Joint Resolution 30 proposes an amendment to the West Virginia constitution for the Right to food, food sovereignty and freedom from hunger.

Voices of Hunger WV (VoH) is a grassroots coalition of West Virginians with lived experience of food insecurity, and those advocating on their behalf, to break the silent violence of hunger and build collective power to advocate for policies and programs that improve access to healthy food for all in the Mountain State including local and statewide resolutions for the Right to Food.

 

The undergraduate research assistant will support action research and popular pedagogy programming within this movement. Outcomes include the development of the Voices of Hunger WV platform including the creation of a website that will gather testimonials from people experiencing food insecurity across the state and organize monthly calls with key stakeholders advancing the Right to Food in different parts of the state. The student will also engage with a national community of practice advancing RtF research and advocacy across the United States.

 

Key tasks include:

 

●      Collaboration with FJL staff, undergraduate and graduate students to research, analyze and visualize relevant information on food access and equity in WV.

●      Support VoH leadership circle fellows as they organize toward the RtF in their communities.

●      Co-Organize Right to Food Day on campus during the Fall 2022 semester.

●      Collaborate with FIRSTHAND cooperative to develop and market a RtF coffee label to enhance visibility and funding of the movement.

●      Design and update web pages

●      Design and publish social media posts.

●      Attend weekly FJL coordination meetings

●      Support FJL and CRC staff with events, outreach and project planning.

 

Job Requirements:

●      Undergraduate Student at West Virginia University

●      Minimum one year of professional experience.

●      Demonstrable web-based design and social media experience.

●      Previous experience in food system/anti-hunger work (preferred)

Compensation:

Commensurate with experience (starting @$12/hr)

 

Please submit a cover letter and C.V. to jlohnes@mail.wvu.edu by Monday August 15th, 2022.