Community Health and Empowerment Through Education and Research Inc Neighborhood Gardening and Local Food Access Specialist Silver Spring, MD · Part time

Apply for Neighborhood Gardening and Local Food Access Specialist

Job Title: Neighborhood Gardening and Local Food Access Specialist

Reports to: Neighborhood Gardening Program Director

Commitment: 30 hours per week (combination of on-site and remote work)

Start Date: May 2025

Location: Hybrid (CHEER Office, field/neighborhood, and remote work). On-site locations include the CHEER office and the Long Branch Neighborhood, Silver Spring, Maryland.

About CHEER:

Community Health and Empowerment through Education and Research (CHEER) is a grassroots nonprofit dedicated to supporting thriving communities. Based in Long Branch—an urban, culturally diverse neighborhood nestled between Takoma Park and Downtown Silver Spring—CHEER partners with residents to promote health equity, leadership development, and access to basic needs, including food, healthcare, and housing.

CHEER’s Neighborhood Gardening Program fosters collective gardening across several small urban sites. Community members grow culturally diverse food together, cook with the harvest, and build community. CHEER’s food assistance programs enhance access to nutritious, culturally significant produce through voucher systems, school partnerships, and "food as medicine" initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Neighborhood Gardening Program (~15 hours/week):

• Support garden planning, scheduling, outreach, and program expansion.
• Co-maintain urban garden sites alongside a multicultural group of community members.
• Participate on-site in gardens 2–3 times a week (season-dependent).
• Coordinate seasonal crop planning and select culturally valued crops.
• Participate in the design and construction of the garden.
• Procure garden equipment, building materials, and supplies.
• Assist with gardener recruitment, incentives, and tabling at community events.
• Plan and prepare garden workday projects, seasonal cooking events, and workshops.
• Track participation and analyze harvest data.
• Document activities for internal and external communication.
• Support evaluation and reporting tasks.
• Engage with local partners in urban agriculture.
• Assist with fundraising.

Local Food Access Programs (~15 hours/week):

• Coordinate food assistance programs, including monthly distributions, voucher systems, school-based initiatives, and “food as medicine” programs.
• Streamline participant registration, intake, and data tracking systems.
• Manage logistics for food deliveries, staffing, and volunteers.
• Attend weekly choice-based produce markets in Long Branch.
• Liaise with local schools and the Crossroads Farmers Market.
• Participate in internal and partner meetings.
• Assist with fundraising.

Qualifications Required:

• Strong communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills.
• Cultural humility and bilingual (native Spanish fluency highly preferred).
• Passion for food, health, and community collaboration.
• Hands-on gardening or farming experience (mainly small-scale/urban).
• Ability to perform physical garden work outdoors from spring through fall.
• Competence with social media and digital communications.
• Strong organizational skills and self-motivation.
• Comfortable working in diverse teams and facilitating group engagement.
• Reliable transportation, personal laptop, and phone.
• Willingness to undergo a background check.

Preferred:

• Reside in or near the Long Branch neighborhood.
• Associate or bachelor’s degree.
• Knowledge of soil health, pest management, crop succession, and related topics.
• Experience in community-based work or health-related programming.
• Data management and grant-writing skills.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to lift at least 40 lbs.
• The capability to work outdoors from early spring through late fall.

Working Hours & Benefits:

• Semi-flexible hours (primarily Monday–Friday), with some fixed gardening hours and occasional Saturdays.
• Mix of in-person (gardens and events) and remote work.
• Fresh produce from garden sites is available to team members.
• Collaborative, inclusive team culture.
• Seven paid holidays per year.
• Opportunity to grow into a full-time role.

To apply, log on to communitycheer.org or send a short email of interest with your resume to [email protected]. Interviews will begin in April, and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.