International Sonoran Desert Alliance (ISDA) – Regional Food Projects—Building Community Health and Wealth

OPPORTUNITY CLOSED - The Organization is no longer accepting applications for this project

At the International Sonoran Desert Alliance, we design and implement environmental, cultural, real estate and business development projects intended to preserve and enrich the environment, culture and economy of the Sonoran Desert.  We are committed to fostering communication, understanding and cooperation among the diverse cultures residing in the area. 

We propose to work on a series of collaborative projects all related to building community, and building community health and wealth, through regional food related projects.  Currently, we are focused on three projects. The first is the planning and preparation for a variety of programs to be delivered mid-December 2010 to mid-January 2011 in conjunction with the traveling Smithsonian Institution exhibit, Key Ingredients which we are hosting at the Curley School Auditorium during that period.  The groups already collaborating with ISDA in hosting the Key Ingredients show are: the Ajo Community Health Clinic, the Ajo Community Garden and Community Supported Agriculture groups, the Desert Artist Guild and Ajo Council for the Arts, the Ajo Unified School District, and the Ajo Public Library.  Before we are done, more groups will be involved.   The second project is to develop an ongoing collaboration between ISDA, the Community Health Clinic, Ajo Community Garden, Ajo Community Supported Agriculture, and the Ajo Community Food Bank around growing, cooking, and selling local foods. Each group is already involved in regional food projects—the goal is to achieve a common vision and to structure a productive collaborative initiative. The third project is to research potential larger scale agricultural projects that could be undertaken by a collaboration of these same groups.

To find out more about ISDA, please visit their website at:  http://www.isdanet.org.

Member Duties:  In order to realize new opportunities and new best practices in nonprofit collaboration in the area of community economic development, including collaboration among nonprofits and with the community at large the VISTA Member will:

  • Work with multiple nonprofits and community groups to collaboratively produce 7 weeks of food-themed programming in conjunction with the Smithsonian traveling exhibit, Key Ingredients.
  • Formalize the structure and document the collaborations for best practices.
  • Develop ongoing collaboration among nonprofits and community groups around growing, cooking, and selling food. 
  • Research potential larger scale agricultural projects that could be undertaken by a collaboration of these same groups. 
  • Present research findings to ISDA board and collaborating partners.

Service Areas:  Community and Economic Development, Community Outreach, Education, Environment, Neighborhood Revitalization

Skills:  Passion for the ISDA mission, critical/analytical thinker, experience with Microsoft Office software, strong people skills, public speaking ability, ability to work well in a team, excellent written communication skills, flexibility, ability to complete tasks in a timely manner, self-direction.

Return to VISTA page

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