Coalition for Food and Health Equity Ujamaa Cafe Program Assistant - Nashville Jersey City, NJ · Part time Company website

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The Coalition for Food and Health Equity (CFHE) is a rapidly growing nonprofit organization redefining food access, community health, and racial economic justice across New Jersey and beyond. We believe food is a right, not a privilege — and our programs, from Ujamaa Café, Sankofa, Fresh by Ujamaa Café, and Pals & Produce to Rapid Response and STEM for Good, bring that belief to life. Through community fridges, culturally relevant meals, youth-led innovation, and local partnerships, we connect food, health, and equity into a thriving ecosystem of care. With an ambitious 10-year plan to scale nationwide, CFHE is powered by a collective of bold thinkers, doers, and dreamers who know that equity isn’t charity — it’s structure, strategy, and love in motion.

Ujamaa Café™ Program Assistant (Part-Time)

Location: Nashville, TN (Local candidates only)

Schedule: Mondays & Wednesdays (with occasional flexibility for community events)

About the Coalition for Food and Health Equity

The Coalition for Food and Health Equity (CFHE) builds power within communities through sustainable, community-grown cultures of health. We situate hunger within the broader framework of racial health equity — working to end hunger, improve health, and advance economic equity in historically marginalized communities. Our work is guided by three core pillars: UpRoot, ReImagine, and ReBuild. We recognize that racial health disparities are the result of historical and structural systems designed to perpetuate disease, poverty, and violence — disproportionately impacting communities of color. CFHE is committed to disrupting those systems through community-led solutions rooted in care, dignity, and mutual aid.

Position Overview

CFHE is launching Ujamaa Café™ in Nashville, and we are seeking a mission-aligned, community-rooted Program Assistant to serve as our on-the-ground lead for fridge operations.

This role is ideal for a Nashville-based college student or emerging professional with reliable transportation, a deep passion for food justice, mutual aid, and equitable food systems and an interest in growing with a rapidly expanding organization.

The Ujamaa Café™ Program Assistant will be responsible for coordinating food pick-ups from Nashville-based food partners, organizing and inventorying items, and restocking the community refrigerator on Mondays and Wednesdays. This person will serve as the local steward of the Ujamaa Café™, ensuring the fridge remains stocked with dignity, care, and consistency.

This is hands-on community work that also supports research, evaluation, and data tracking efforts to strengthen CFHE’s impact.

Key Responsibilities

Ujamaa Café™ Operations

• Pick up food from Nashville-based restaurant and food partners.
• Organize and safely restocking food items.
• Restock and maintain the Ujamaa Café™ refrigerator twice weekly.
• Monitor inventory levels and maintain accurate tracking records.
• Ensure the refrigerator site is clean, organized, and welcoming.
• Communicate consistently with supervisors regarding inventory, needs, and updates.

Community Engagement

• Serve as a positive, mission-aligned representative of CFHE in Nashville.
• Support light outreach efforts to increase awareness of the Ujamaa Café™.
• Participate in local community events as appropriate.
• Build respectful relationships with food partners and community members.

Research & Evaluation Support

• Support the Director of Community Wisdom and Impact with data collection.
• Assist with inventory documentation, usage trends, and impact reporting.
• Contribute to ongoing learning and evaluation efforts to strengthen the program.

Qualifications

• Must be based in Nashville, TN.
• High school diploma required. Undergraduate degree desired.
• State issued drivers license required.
• Must be available on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00 am - 12:00pm.
• Reliable transportation required (vehicle strongly preferred).
• Demonstrated interest or experience in food justice, mutual aid, public health, or community-based work.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and take initiative.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Comfortable using Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Ability to manage multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced, growing environment.
• Dependable, accountable, and aligned with CFHE’s mission and values.

Ideal Candidate

You are:

• Passionate about food systems and racial health equity.
• Excited about grassroots work that blends logistics with impact.
• Comfortable being the local point person in Nashville.
• Organized but flexible.
• Looking to grow with a mission-driven organization doing transformative work.