Cook Fresh Youth Program Coordinator

About Us: Urban Roots is a Saint Paul organization whose mission is to cultivate and empower youth through nature, healthy food, and community. Urban Roots focuses its programs on the East Side of Saint Paul, MN and our vision is a world where all communities have unlimited access to nature and healthy food.  We place the tools of personal and community development in the hands of young people and families.
Over the past 53 years, Urban Roots has provided a range of community development services in Minneapolis, Saint Paul and southern Minnesota, including architecture, urban planning, economic development, and organizational development—with a common thread of empowerment, engagement, and innovation. Since 1996, we’ve operated our food and environmental programs on the East Side of Saint Paul, engaging thousands of under-resourced youth ages 14-21 in education, training, and work projects that provide service to the community, develop young leaders, and improve health and the environment. We offer three programs to engage and support youth in paid internships and educational opportunities—Market Garden, Cook Fresh, and Conservation.

Position Summary:

The Cook Fresh Program Coordinator works under the direction of the Cook Fresh Program Manager to further develop and deliver youth programming. 

The Cook Fresh program connects food, cooking, and community by exploring the journey from farm to plate. Interns gain hands-on culinary experience, first learning to cook for themselves and later mentoring new participants. Throughout the season, youth  also engage in weekly discussions on Food Sovereignty, Food as Medicine, and Local Food Systems, deepening their understanding of food’s cultural, environmental, and historical significance. In the summer, interns work directly with Urban Roots’ crops, connecting food production with meal preparation. Staff work closely with each intern to scaffold their individual growth and learning, while assuring that day-to-day programming meets the collective needs of the group. The program builds cooking skills while fostering awareness of food justice, sustainability, and community well-being.

Schedule: Year round, 40 hours/week, Start date April 14th, 2025

Compensation: $20.23/hr, health benefits, optional retirement package with employer contribution, paid vacation, holiday and sick time.

Essential Functions:

Food production: 

• Support Cook Fresh team & interns in preparation of a weekly all-organization lunch
• Train alongside Cook Fresh staff to teach basic cooking skills and set kitchen expectations.
• Collaborate with interns to create delicious meals and build culinary knowledge
• Support Cook Fresh team to maintain kitchen space and systems to ensure smooth operation
• Shop for groceries and run errands as needed for Cook Fresh program
• Support both on and off site events for the Cook Fresh program and broader organization
• Develop creative recipes with produce from the farm

Youth Education & Training:

• Work one-on-one with interns to support and meet individual needs and goals, with the help and supervision of Cook Fresh team
• Facilitate programming highlighting intersections of food justice, food sovereignty, land based knowledge, and cultural identity.
• Model healthy boundary-setting, effective interpersonal communication, and culturally responsive leadership
• Promote a safe and inclusive space for exploration of identity through 
• Lead groups of youth ages 14 – 22 in program activities
• Design, implement, and lead small group activities
• Attend youth work trainings with Sprockets or other organizations as requested

Program development:

• Collaborate to plan, develop and propose program content and implementation with the Cook Fresh team
• Ensure program activities and goals meet specified objectives as determined by the planning team and administration.
• Maintain detailed records for program-related activities, curriculum, and youth feedback.
• Evaluate intern job performance, process intern payroll, and other administrative duties as assigned.
• Community outreach/collaborative leadership 
• Participate and co-lead in planning community-based events within the scope of the Cook Fresh program
• Work with the Cook Fresh team in collaborative efforts with community partners. 

• Other duties as assigned by the Cook Fresh team.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 1-2 years of experience in food service and/or youth development.
• Experience in program/curriculum development and instruction. 
• Knowledge of food safety and sanitation protocols and best practices.
• Knowledge of food studies/science, particularly as they pertain to agriculture, ecology, and social and racial equity.
• Passion for cooking with locally sourced ingredients & excitement to engage others around food.
• Familiarity with the East Side of Saint Paul
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Suites and other standard office tools. 
• Reliable source of transportation to fulfill duties related to grocery shopping and other responsibilities. 
• Commitment to Urban Roots’ values: collaboration, inclusion, stewardship, experiential learning, continuous improvement, transparency, diversity, social justice and equity, and fun
• Background check & driver’s license with proven history of safe driving required.

Urban Roots is an equal opportunity employer. We seek to build a staff reflective of our values of equity and inclusion with regard to race, culture, ethnicity, class, religion, physical ability, age,  gender identity and sexual orientation. Urban Roots is committed to fostering the leadership of BIPOC individuals (Black, Indigenous and People of Color), women, LGBTQ people, immigrants, and others living in marginalized communities. 

To apply: Email a cover letter and resume to aberger@urbanrootsmn.org – please include Cook Fresh Coordinator in the subject line. No phone calls, thank you!