Intern, Sustainable and Equitable Food Systems

The Wallace Center has been a key organization in fostering a more sustainable food and agricultural system in the U.S. since 1983.  Today, the Wallace Center is focused on expanding and accelerating the expansion of sustainable and community-based food systems throughout the United States, with a vision to bring more good food—healthy, green, fair, affordable food—to more people. Wallace Center is doing this through business models and social networking that bridge the gaps between producers, consumers, non-profit organizations, government, and for-profit food companies; in order to “scale up” good food distribution beyond the direct marketing realm to wholesale and traditional food outlets (e.g., food service, institutions etc.). In 2007, Wallace Center launched a professional social network called the National Good Food Network, which links regional efforts and build capacity. In 2009, Wallace Center was chosen by USDA to implement the Healthy Urban Food Enterprise Development (HUFED) Center which takes a market based approach to address food access and food desert issues in urban and rural areas.  Currently the Center is launching a national food hub initiative through the NGFN and building its capacity to provide technical assistance in support of hubs and other social enterprise strategies.  The Center is also engaged in a strategic value chain development effort to expand grass based agriculture in the Midwest. These initiatives and others serve to move forward sustainable and equitable food systems across the US. 

POSITION SUMMARY:

This internship is on focused supporting the various Wallace Center programs described above. The Intern will provide support to outreach, provision of technical assistance, research, conferences and meetings, and communications across Wallace Center projects. This position offers the successful candidate a diverse and meaningful experience in the area of food systems with a dynamic and leading organization in the field.