Coordination Staff
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Dana Choquette, Interim Executive Director & Eastern Coordinator
Dana (she/her/hers) spent the last decade in clinical social work, supporting kids & families, and people experiencing addiction. She has a B.S. and Masters Degree in Social Work and is conversationally fluent in Spanish. She has managed multiple programs including regional mental and physical health initiatives with the Autism Society, the Boys & Girls Clubs, and most recently, MAHEC.
Dana's passion for food extends to her work outside of WNC FSC. She and her partner co-own and manage a regenerative farm in McDowell County focused on pastured chickens, hogs, sheep and cattle. She loves spending every possible moment outside, and sharing a delicious meal with pals.
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Jenn Tuft, Program Manager & Western Coordinator
Over the last two decades, Jenn (she/her) has worked in worked primarily in social research and food preparation, with 15 years in nonprofit research, design and program delivery.
She credits food for changing her life; influencing health, community and connection to the land, during a time when she needed it most. She realized food was a nearly universal way to influence people’s lives and in 2016 she became dedicated to never stop learning more about preparation, production, ritual and sustainability related to food.
She is now very excited to combine her passion for food and experience in research and service development to support community food sovereignty across WNC.
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Jill Murray
Jill’s (she/her) professional experience began in the field of Wilderness Therapy, where she worked with adolescents, young adults, and their families. Here she supported clients struggling with emotional and mental health. While she loved working in this industry, she felt a pull to return to her passion for sustainable agriculture and environmental and community wellbeing.
This led her to WNC, where she interned on a regenerative farm raising cattle, sheep, and hogs. She found herself wondering how as a community, we can better support small-scale, hard working farmers.
Jill is thrilled for the opportunity to utilize her lived experience working on several small farms throughout the midwest and WNC, and her dedication to community health and well-being through access to the invaluable products produced by the dedicated farmers in our region, to contribute to WNC FSC’s mission.
Board of Directors
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Dr. Patrick Baron
Chair
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Nicole Hinebaugh
Vice Chair
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Claire Neal
Secretary
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Lisa McBride
Member at Large
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Kelli Buckner
Member at Large
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Gina Smith
Member at Large
We’re Hiring!
Development and Communication Coordinator
Job Title: Development & Communications Coordinator
Location: Western North Carolina (WNC)
Hours: 15 hours per week
Schedule: Mon-Friday, Hours Flexible, with 70% remote work, 30% in-person work
Compensation: Starting at $25/hour, commensurate with experience
About WNC Food Systems Coalition:
The WNC Food Systems Coalition works across the 18 county region of Western North Carolina. Our mission is to support a community-led food system in WNC that is regenerative, resilient, and equitable by strengthening regional connection and cultivating cross-sector collaboration. Join our growing team and help us support innovative food solutions across the mountains of North Carolina!
Our Coalition takes on projects that focus on the following areas:
Collaborative Agriculture
Community Gardens
Food Waste Reduction
Healthy Food Distribution
Nutrition Education
Regional Food Councils
Successful members of our Coalition are self-motivated and able to take clear direction and produce results. Our small but mighty team is collaborative, creative and hardworking. We strive to create an emotionally safe working environment where all members feel valued. We fiercely protect our work/life balance and know that our best work happens when we’re able to prioritize our values outside of work.
Position Overview:
We are seeking a highly organized and motivated individual to join our team as the Development & Communications Coordinator.
This 15-hour per week position will focus primarily on supporting the Coalition’s grant writing, donor relationships, and fundraising efforts, and secondarily on external communications, and community engagement efforts including but not limited to digital content creation, newsletter writing, and email management. The role requires a passion for researching, writing and securing meaningful and relevant grants and funding sources as well as maintaining strong relationships in the community.
Requirements:
You are a great fit for this position if you have a passion for any or all of the following: local food and farms, community organizing, local and national food policy work, supporting local food aggregators, effective charitable food distribution, and responsible grant/private funding procurement and management.
A successful candidate will live in the WNC region and have reliable transportation for in-person meetings and events.
The Coalition uses Google Workspace and the candidate must be familiar with Forms, Docs, Sheets, & Slides.
Key Responsibilities:
Grant Writing & Fundraising Support:
Assist with drafting, editing, and submitting grant proposals to secure funding for programs and initiatives.
Research and identify new funding opportunities from foundations, government sources, and private donors.
Track grant deadlines and reporting requirements.
Fundraising Event Planning & Coordination:
In a team effort, support the logistics, planning and promotion of Coalition events.
Support virtual event planning, including webinars and online workshops.
Communications & Outreach:
Edit the Coalition’s ongoing newsletter, highlighting key updates, upcoming events, and relevant food systems news.
Assist with graphic design tasks for newsletters, flyers, and social media posts using tools like Canva or Adobe Creative Suite.
Community & Food Distribution Support:
As needed, provide logistical support for food distribution efforts, including coordination with local farmers, food pantries, and volunteers.
Participate in community outreach and engagement activities related to food systems work.
Qualifications:
Location: Must live in Western North Carolina and have reliable transportation to attend in-person meetings and events.
Experience:
Previous experience in nonprofit development, communications, or related fields.
Strong writing skills with experience in grant writing, newsletter creation, and content development.
Basic graphic design skills (familiarity with tools such as Canva, Adobe InDesign, or Illustrator).
Event planning and coordination experience, including virtual and in-person events.
Comfortable with virtual communication tools (Zoom, Google Meet, etc.).
Skills:
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
Self-motivated and able to work independently, while also collaborating effectively with a team.
Passion for food systems, sustainability, and community-driven solutions.
Other Requirements:
Access to a computer and internet connection for remote work.
Ability to attend in-person meetings and events in WNC on a regular basis.
How to Apply:
Please submit your resume, a cover letter, and an example of funding you have helped secure in past work.
Applications can be sent to howdy@wncfoodjustice.com by December 6, 2024. We will take this Job Description down from our website when the position has been filled.
WNC Food Systems Coalition does its best work when our team is diverse. This means diversity in gender, race, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, ability, age, and beliefs. We value all types of lived experiences and encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.