Regenerative Agriculture Fellow

Project summary

The California Climate Action Corps (CCAC) is part of a statewide initiative to address and mitigate the effects of climate change. CCAC matches Fellows with organizations to mobilize community members to take direct climate action through education, volunteer mobilization, and assessment focused on urban greening, organic waste diversion and edible food recovery, and wildfire resiliency. This is a climate-focused, workforce development program for emerging climate and environmental leaders.

Opportunity description

Our project addresses the pressing issues of climate change, food insecurity, and racial justice by implementing regenerative agriculture techniques to distribute fresh, affordable food to low-income and food insecure populations at Saint Mary 's College and nearby communities. With a focus on reducing organic waste and redistributing edible food, particularly to marginalized communities of color, this initiative seeks to tackle both environmental and social challenges. Recent data revealing significant food insecurity among Saint Mary 's students underscores the urgency of action. Saint Mary 's aims to bolster its sustainability efforts, harnessing regenerative agriculture to provide local, healthy food while fostering just, equitable, and sustainable agri-food systems. Fellows will collaborate to enhance garden production, engage volunteers, and expand community partnerships, amplifying educational outreach on campus and beyond to effect meaningful change at the intersection of climate action and food justice. Duties include, but are not limited to: Coordinate regenerative agriculture production in the Saint Mary's half-acre garden to increase access to local, healthy, and affordable food for food insecure populations. Optimize volunteer recruitment and enhance engagement and outreach efforts at our campus garden, to expand food production, distribution, and food recovery. Lead educational outreach campaigns on climate action and sustainability - on campus and with local climate justice organizations - to foster awareness about the intersections of regenerative agriculture and food insecurity .Manage volunteer engagement in service opportunities related to sustainable gardening and food recovery, cultivating a culture of community engagement and social responsibility.

Benefits

• $33,600 stipend
• $10,000 education award
• 340 hours of professional development
• Minimum essential healthcare
• Loan forbearance
• Food and childcare assistance (for those eligible)