Food Equity Internship | Spring 2022

Established in 2009, the Institute for Public Health Innovation (IPHI) is a regional non-profit organization that develops multi-sector partnerships and innovative solutions to improve the public’s health and well-being across Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. IPHI’s work strengthens health systems and policy, enhances conditions that promote health, and strengthens government and community capacity to ensure equitable health opportunities for all. IPHI is the official designated public health institute serving the region as recognized by the National Network of Public Health Institutes.

The Prince George’s County Food Equity Council (FEC) is a local food policy council, housed within the Institute for Public Health Innovation, that works to help local residents grow, sell, and choose healthy food. We are a group of hometown leaders and changemakers committed to bringing better food to every fork. Our council is made up of anti-hunger direct service and advocacy groups, government agencies, community-based organizations, civic associations, urban farms, universities, grocery stores, health care providers, and residents who care about where their food comes from. 

Since 2013, our council has been a voice for county residents at the policymaking table. We work with County leaders to find permanent solutions to improve our food system. We focus on systematic and sustainable changes to Prince George’s County’s public health challenges (i.e., hunger, diet-related chronic disease, and communities under food apartheid that lack healthy food options) by advocating for policy that creates a more equitable local food system.

Through IPHI’s internship program, the FEC offers internships to local students to complement their academic studies and help them to gain real-world experience in community-based public health work. This helps cultivate the region’s pipeline of public health professionals and prepares future public health leaders to contribute to health and equity in the region. FEC and IPHI accommodates students’ academic commitments and welcomes coordinating with educational institutions to enable students to gain course credit for their internship.

The Food Equity Intern will have the opportunity to gain valuable professional experience through involvement with FEC’s work developing and sharing food assistance resources to improve food security and food access in Prince George’s County. The Intern will help gather and communicate updated information through the website and social media. The Intern will also provide communications support to the organization including writing newsletters, action alerts, and blog posts and sharing information via the FEC’s website and social media. Other opportunities include support for committees, event and meeting assistance, and help with some administrative tasks. To the extent possible, FEC representatives will work with the intern to customize involvement in FEC activities to reinforce and complement the intern’s academic coursework and specific professional interests. FEC staff will guide the interns' work on specific projects for 15 to 20 hours per week for at least three months. Internships with the FEC and IPHI are conducted without entitlement to future employment with the organization.  

Responsibilities

• The intern will have the opportunity to be involved in the following activity areas, among others:
• Learn about food assistance resources and help the FEC maintain and update resource database.
• Develop professional writing experience through collaboratively drafting articles, press releases, newsletters, and action alerts to increase awareness of FEC initiatives. 
• Gain knowledge of regional food systems partners and help increase partner engagement via social media channels.
• Develop skillsets in branding and design through creating outreach materials for FEC’s website, newsletters, and social media.
• Learn about FEC’s work groups and policy priorities and support FEC meetings and ongoing work group projects.

Qualifications

• Current enrollment in undergraduate or graduate-level program.
• Passion and enthusiasm for food system work, including agriculture, economic development, public health, environmental justice, and/or hunger relief.
• Experience working, volunteering, or interning for small nonprofits.
• Live in, or are familiar with, Prince George’s County and the DC metro region.
• Self-starter with an ability to work independently.
• Ability to work respectfully among individuals with diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail.

Additional Details

• Internships are 15-20 hours a week from February 14, 2022 through May 27th, 2022. A minimum of 50% of internship hours should be performed during normal business hours so FEC staff can provide sufficient support and involvement. 
• Interns can fulfill their internship hours remotely with flexible hours to accommodate their academic schedule. Interns should be available to attend meetings during business hours when their academic schedule accommodates.
• Preferably, interns are able to use their own computer with reliable internet access, though computer equipment can be provided if necessary.
• Internships are not employment, and thus IPHI does not pay a wage/salary or offer benefits for this position. However, to support participation in the internship program, the FEC/IPHI offers a stipend of $2,500 for the 15-week period. 
• FEC staff can assist students in obtaining course credit at a college or university program, if applicable. 

How To Apply 

Please submit a resumé and cover letter. Your cover letter can be submitted under "Additional Information" as text or uploaded as one file along with your resumé. Please note: only one file can be uploaded to apply.

The Institute for Public Health Innovation strives for equity, diversity and inclusion in all its work and encourages applications from all individuals.