Food Security Intern

PLEASE NOTE: Although this posting may display a longer availability window on Handshake due to system requirements, applications for this internship must be submitted by March 27.

This internship is part of the BRIDGE Fellows program, a workforce development initiative coordinated by the Kent County Health Department and the Grand Rapids LGBTQ Health Care Consortium. BRIDGE Fellows are hired and supported by KCHD and the Consortium but placed with community partner organizations across Kent County to work on projects that address local public health priorities. While the Fellow will spend most of their time working with the host site listed below, they will also participate in cohort activities, mentorship, and professional development coordinated by KCHD and the Consortium.

Host Site: North End Wellness Coalition and Creston Neighborhood Association 

Time Commitment: 11-20 hours per week

Project Description: 

Georgie’s Farm Market is a new neighborhood food market being developed by the North End Wellness Coalition and the Creston Neighborhood Association to improve access to fresh, nutritious food in the Creston and Belknap neighborhoods of Grand Rapids. Set to launch in May, the market is designed to be a walkable community hub where residents can purchase locally grown food while also connecting with neighbors and participating in health-promoting activities.

The BRIDGE Fellow will support the launch and early operations of the market, with a primary focus on community outreach and program development. Approximately half of the Fellow’s time will be spent planning and implementing a marketing and community engagement campaign to build awareness of the market. This may include developing outreach materials, supporting social media messaging and development, attending community events, tabling and engaging residents, and working alongside Creston Neighborhood Association staff to conduct door-to-door outreach in the neighborhood.

The Fellow will also support programming at Georgie’s Farm Market by helping coordinate community events and educational opportunities held at the site. Georgie’s is envisioned as a community resilience hub where residents can gather, socialize, and participate in activities such as cooking demonstrations, financial literacy workshops, and fitness classes offered by local partners. Additional responsibilities may include assisting with volunteer coordination, supporting early operational systems (such as point-of-sale setup), and helping connect the market with other local food initiatives such as the Creston Farmers Market and community garden programs.

Community Importance:

Access to affordable, nutritious food is a critical social determinant of health. The Creston and Belknap neighborhoods have been identified in multiple community assessments—including the Kent County Community Health Needs Assessment and a University of Michigan study—as experiencing limited access to fresh food. Georgie’s Farm Market is intended to address this gap by bringing locally grown food directly into the neighborhood and strengthening connections between residents, farmers, and community food systems.

In addition to improving food access, the market is designed to function as a community gathering space that promotes social connection and health education. By supporting outreach and programming for Georgie’s Farm Market, the Fellow will help increase awareness of healthy food options, build relationships between community organizations and residents, and contribute to a broader effort to improve health and wellbeing in the North End of Grand Rapids.

Project Deliverables: 

• Community outreach and marketing plan to promote Georgie’s Farm Market
• Participation in community outreach activities (e.g., tabling events, neighborhood canvassing, community meetings) to increase awareness of the market
• Development of outreach materials or messaging to promote market activities and programming
• Assistance planning and coordinating community events and classes hosted at the market
• Volunteer coordination tools, such as a volunteer contact database and scheduling system
• Summary of outreach and engagement activities conducted during the internship

Minimum Qualifications: Students applying for this internship must be enrolled in a bachelor’s or master’s degree program. Computer proficiency is required.