Policy & Planning Intern

Food Well Alliance (FWA) is a collaborative network of local leaders working together to build equitable and thriving community gardens, urban farms, and orchards across metro Atlanta. FWA’s mission is to provide resources and support to local growers to connect and build healthier communities. Our vision is an Atlanta that is locally grown and community connected.

FWA was founded in 2015 when Jim Kennedy, chair of Cox Enterprises, and Bill Bolling, founder of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, had an idea to build healthier communities across metro Atlanta by connecting and supporting members of our local food movement. Today, we support more than 300 gardens, farms and orchards in Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett, and Clayton counties. We accomplish our work through two primary program areas:

• Resource Center - We provide metro area farmers, gardeners and orchard stewards with essentials for success: tools, training, mechanical assistance, labor teams, tractor support, compost, seeds, seedlings, saplings, grants, and more.
• Policy & Planning - We bring local government leaders together with residents and community leaders to develop plans that bring urban agriculture into city planning processes in partnership with the Atlanta Regional Commission.

POSITION OVERVIEW

FWA is seeking a Policy and Planning intern to support policy and planning program initiatives and assist with the Local Food System Planning program. They will be responsible for supporting planning-related duties including data collection and analysis, coordinating project logistics, and assisting with program administration and support as needed.

The ideal candidate is pursuing a higher education degree in social sciences, urban planning, public policy, or a related field. They are interested in learning more about the growing field of food systems planning and are comfortable in diverse settings. They work well as a member of a team and have strong organizational and communication skills. They have some knowledge of data management and community engagement strategies. This position is ideal for someone who is looking to gain experience in a nonprofit setting and has knowledge or interest in Atlanta’s local food movement. This position is open to both undergraduate and graduate students.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting to the Policy & Community Engagement Manager, the Policy & Planning intern will:

• Assist with program initiatives, including conducting case study research, gathering and compiling data about local food systems
• Assist with preparing presentation materials for City council meetings and relevant partners
• Gather and compile local food system data to share with cities during the community engagement phase of local food system planning
• Assist with the design, execution, and analysis of community engagement processes, including surveys, focus groups, and other direct engagement opportunities.
• Assist the Policy & Planning team with programmatic planning and evaluation, including data audits and avenues for growth
• Prepare internal and external documents and written materials including reports
• Perform other duties assigned to support program goals and objectives.

We want to ensure that this internship is not only beneficial for FWA but also provides valuable and hands-on experience for the intern. If there are any aspects of policy, advocacy, or planning work you want to gain experience in, please let us know in your cover letter. If you’re selected, we will try to incorporate your requests into the internship.

REQUIREMENTS

• Availability for Spring 2026; the preferred time frame is 12 weeks with a flexible start date ranging from Late January to Early February.
• Ability to work 20-25 hours per week with availability Mon- Fri, with some weekend/evening availability required. Flexible working hours are available to accommodate class schedules.
• Ability to work remotely, at our 970 Jefferson Street office, and occasionally offsite
• Ability to work indoors and outdoors, as assigned
• Appropriate dress which includes business casual in the office and at events and protective and weather-appropriate clothes at grower sites
• Reliable transportation to work
• Access to a laptop is preferred, but we can accommodate if needed
• Strong written and oral communication skills

COMPENSATION

This position offers a $400 per week stipend, paid bi-weekly plus mileage reimbursement for any off-site activities.

DIVERSE CANDIDATES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

Food Well Alliance is an equal opportunity employer. We are a community that is proud to represent different racial, socio-economic, gender, and other identities. Our diversity as a community is our strength, driving our ability to be empathetic, visionary, and effective leaders in the local food movement and our city.

HOW TO APPLY

Full instructions for how to apply can be found via the job posting on our website: https://www.foodwellalliance.org/policy-planning-intern