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CitySeed seeks a dynamic and driven leader with proven experience in program growth and strategy to lead Sanctuary Kitchen.

Job Overview

Sanctuary Kitchen, a program of CitySeed founded in 2017, partners with refugee and immigrant chefs to build economic opportunity and authentic connections through food. Sanctuary Kitchen runs a social enterprise that offers employment at above-market wages, culinary training, and professional development to 40+ chefs from 11 different countries. Through our food and events, Sanctuary Kitchen reaches thousands of people, building intercultural understanding in New Haven and beyond.

The Sanctuary Kitchen Program Director will be a mission-focused, strategic, and community-oriented leader. They will lead the Sanctuary Kitchen team - including colleagues, immigrant and refugee chefs, and volunteers. They will work closely with a broad network of stakeholders, including advisory board members, non-profit and community partner organizations, and social enterprise partners (such as catering customers or workforce development partners). The Sanctuary Kitchen Program Director will be a leader who can build on the success of the program over the past four years, and scale its growth to deliver measurable results in the future. The Program Director will contribute creativity, organization, and cultural humility to the team, and bring a lens of racial equity and economic opportunity to the work. Formalizing the chef training program’s curriculum and pipeline, and forging partnerships with potential job-placement sites will be at the forefront of the Program Director’s work. Equally important will be to further develop Sanctuary Kitchen’s food business model in close collaboration with Sanctuary Kitchen’s Culinary Manager. This position reports to CitySeed’s Managing Director, and works closely with CitySeed’s Executive Director and Sanctuary Kitchen’s Culinary Manager. 

Duties and Responsibilities

The Sanctuary Kitchen Program Director will lead Sanctuary Kitchen’s programs and internal operations, including: team management, program strategy and implementation, partnership building and outreach, and communications. 

Programming Strategy and Implementation

• Oversee the day-to-day functioning of Sanctuary Kitchen programming. Develop and implement long-term strategy for Sanctuary Kitchen’s projects and programs, including the development of Sanctuary Kitchen’s food business, culinary training and professional development programs, and cultural events
• Produce and implement monitoring and evaluation plans with relevant metrics to monitor the growth and success of Sanctuary Kitchen over time
• Evaluate all Sanctuary Kitchen plans, programs, activities and procedures with regard to their purpose, inclusivity, sustainability and impact on the organization and community
• Maintain and oversee the growth of Sanctuary Kitchen’s year-round culinary training program for immigrant and refugee chefs, including various learning modules (ESL, culinary skills, job-readiness), professional development experiences (ex: kitchen experience, sales and customer service experience, internships, etc.), and job placement opportunities
• Plan and implement culinary events (cooking classes, supper clubs, etc.) in partnership with Sanctuary Kitchen chefs and community partners; oversee event logistics, promotion, and facilitation often with the support of other staff, volunteers, or advisory board members
• Work closely with the Culinary Manager on developing Sanctuary Kitchen’s Food Business model, including product development, sales and outreach strategy, fiscal goals, etc.
• Build the capacity of Sanctuary Kitchen’s systems and processes by maintaining and coordinating various platforms (ex: Square, Squarespace, Eventbrite, Google Drive, etc.)  to ensure the efficiency, sustainability and growth of the program over time

Budgeting and Financials

• Support the Executive Director on fundraising strategy related to Sanctuary Kitchen

• Support the Managing Director in developing the annual budget for Sanctuary Kitchen, as well as regular financial check-ins throughout the year to meet Sanctuary Kitchen’s monthly and annual fiscal goals

• Manage Sanctuary Kitchen’s billing and accounting processes by working with the Culinary Manager and CitySeed’s accountant
  
  

Team Management

• Provide a consistent day-to-day leadership presence for the Sanctuary Kitchen team
• Alongside the Managing Director, hire, train, supervise, and evaluate Sanctuary Kitchen staff and interns as appropriate, and in accordance with CitySeed’s personnel policies

• Lead and nurture a strong team, building relationships with inclusivity and strengthening leadership at all levels of the program
• Create a positive work environment aligned with CitySeed organizational values and Sanctuary Kitchen’s culture of diversity, collaboration, and inclusion 
• Promote effective, inclusive and consistent internal communications within Sanctuary Kitchen’s team, between CitySeed staff, and with external stakeholders  
• Ensure staff and program are supported with physical infrastructure and equipment needs
  
  

Partnerships and Outreach

• Establish and maintain intentional, diverse, and collaborative relationships with other organizations and partners to further Sanctuary Kitchen’s mission
• Manage and coordinate strategic planning with the Sanctuary Kitchen advisory board
• Work with the Volunteer Coordinator to manage the recruitment, training, scheduling, and evaluation of 200+ Sanctuary Kitchen volunteers

Communications, Marketing and Branding

• Serve as the spokesperson for Sanctuary Kitchen and oversee the program’s communications strategy through print, online, public relations and community outreach channels
• Work closely with CitySeed’s Marketing Coordinator to create and execute content for Sanctuary Kitchen’s newsletter, website, social media, and other campaigns to promote Sanctuary Kitchen food products, sales, events, and the program overall 
• Identify new opportunities for improving customers’ experience, both online and in-person
  
  

Qualifications
We anticipate that a successful candidate will have management experience in a nonprofit or values-driven organization, and direct or lived experience working with immigrants and refugees. CitySeed recognizes that experience and expertise come in many forms. If you have different experiences that you think are a good fit for the role, please apply so we can learn more about you.  

Required Qualifications 

• Belief in the mission and core values of Sanctuary Kitchen and CitySeed
• 5+ years of relevant experience, such as: culinary experience, food business management, cultural programming, workforce development, non-profit management, etc.
• Program leadership experience including: budget and fiscal management, goal-setting, team building and staff management, monitoring and evaluation, program growth and outreach
• Lived experience and/or direct experience working with immigrant and refugee communities
• Strong written communications skills including: writing and editing, developing proposals, newsletters and social media content, and crafting outreach materials
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with many stakeholders, including Sanctuary Kitchen chefs, colleagues, board members, customers and partners
• Experience taking initiative and managing complex projects that require organization, attention to detail, prioritizing activities, and meeting deadlines
• Entrepreneurial mindset, ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Passion for community-level food systems and a commitment to racial and economic justice

Desired Qualifications 

• Experience with higher-level organizational strategy and organizational growth
• Flexibility, maturity and a sense of humor 
• Have experience working with individuals from a diversity of backgrounds
• Basic understanding of Arabic, Farsi/Dari and/or Spanish 
• Knowledge of the New Haven food system and/or nonprofit landscape
• Basic social media, website and design experience (Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar)
• ServSafe Food Manager or equivalent certification 
• Able to lift/carry up to 50 pounds for kitchen management, events, farmers markets, etc.

Details:  

• Desired Start Date: Early June 2021
• Location: New Haven, CT
• This position is full-time and salaried. Salary is commensurate with experience, starting at  $45,000. 
• Benefits include vacation and holidays, parental leave, health care and a flexible work schedule. 
• The Sanctuary Kitchen Program Director will be expected to work some evenings and weekends, to support events and programs, as needed.

To Apply: Please fill in your information and attach your resume and cover letter through this form.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. CitySeed is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for all employees and our community. 

About CitySeed: CitySeed is a dynamic, community-based nonprofit organization based in New Haven, Connecticut, whose mission is to engage the community in growing an equitable, local food system that promotes economic development, community development, and sustainable agriculture.

Our values include: 

1. supporting community rights to access healthy and culturally-appropriate food and recognizing the know-how, celebration, and/or history that each community member brings to food and cooking; 
2. dismantling privilege, oppression, and racism in the food system; 
3. collaborating with community partners on food justice and inclusive growth projects and to leverage resources and programming to better serve the community at large.

For more about CitySeed and our mission visit our website: www.cityseed.org

Fair Haven Community Health Care is offering free walk-up vaccine appointments, Tuesday to Friday from 10 am to 2 pm. The vaccine clinic is located at Wilbur Cross High School,181 Mitchell Drive in New Haven. Open to all CT residents. Pfizer vaccine-ages 16+. Please note 16 and 17 years old must be accompanied by an adult. 

This year, Continuum is celebrating Autism Acceptance Month by highlighting four incredible people on the autism spectrum who embody the power of neurodiversity.

May their stories inspire you to celebrate differences  – the Autism Society of America's theme this year.

View the full poster with clickable links here: https://www.continuumct.org/newsItem/autism-acceptance-month.  

Concepts for Adaptive Learning (CfAL) has received a sizable donation of computer equipment that is more geared to supporting businesses than residents.  We would like to offer these computers to small nonprofits that may be in need of computer resources. 

Organizations must be nonprofits organizations (501(c)(3)) providing services in the New Haven area, and must be available to pick-up.  We are hoping you can help us reach out to organizations that may be able to use these devices for their staff – but cannot be provided to organizations’ constituents.  (Constituents are eligible to receive computers directly from CfAL through our computer training program.) 

We have 20 computers that can be prepared and ready in the next few weeks.  Computers will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please let us know if you know of any small nonprofits that would benefit from these computers.  Each nonprofit is limited to receiving no more than four (4) devices.  Here is a description of the hardware:

HP EliteDesk 800 G1 TWR
Two 1TB hard drives
4 slots of ram, 16 GB of DDR3 RAM
4th generation Intel i5 processor
320 w power supply
10 USB ports (4 front 6 back)
DVD drive

Approximate value: $250 (estimate only)

Please share this information with organizations you believe might be interested.  Any questions can be sent by email to Jim Mitchell (jmitchell@cfalct.org) and Alex Cushman (acushman@cfalct.org).  Please be sure to copy BOTH individuals on all correspondence.  We’re excited to support other nonprofits…we are stronger together!

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Check the full interview at: https://www.scienceyourself.org/en/blog/2021/interview-with-nikki-saccoccia

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TechSoup is launching a new initiative, through the generosity of the Truist Foundation, to engage a cohort of nonprofit organizations to help them use technology to adapt to the challenges presented by COVID-19, and deliver vital services to their communities both now and well into the future.  The value to be received by participant organizations is up to $10,000. Click here to apply.

Connecticut is creating a plan to prepare the state for climate change. Decision-makers must hear from you to best support your community. Researchers at the Vermont Law School and Yale University want to aid that communication. Over the coming weeks their team will run focus groups on equity, health, transportation, safety, and other issues in the context of climate change. In these groups, you can share your experiences and stand up for your needs. Your insight is key for advising how the state's plan can best serve your community. Compensation for your time is offered. Click on the link below for more information:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdVExcSmiiErzOKp-eOd7_66BQY9xnfMqtFEEkcAF6fItkRIQ/viewform

Monday,  April 5th from  6 PM – 7:30 PM: a panel discussion to launch Connecticut's 3rd annual Health Equity week: “The Path to Health Equity in Connecticut.” To register click here.

Cyndi Suarez

February 4, 2021

Editor’s Notes: The Nonprofit Quarterly’s new editor in chief, Cyndi Suarez, launches a new podcast series today featuring women of color in leadership. Through candid, in-depth interviews, listeners will come to understand how these women embarked on their paths to leadership, how their leadership styles have evolved over the years, how they envision their work now, and what they hope to see for their fellow women of color leaders.

“I’m noticing that women of color have been moving into key leadership positions in the nonprofit sector, including philanthropy,” Suarez explains in inaugural podcast. “Some of us are leading predominantly white organizations, often with the charge of transitioning them to more racially just design and practices.” Other leaders of color, like Amoretta Morris, direct organizations that are by and for people of color. Morris, who kicks off this series, is the newly installed president at Borealis Philanthropy.

https://nonprofitquarterly.org/new-borealis-leader-outlines-bold-vision-for-racial-justice-philanthropy

In our fifth episode of the Voices of Local Leaders series, we interview Adrian Huq, a young environmental activist with strong roots in New Haven. As a middle school student in the area, Adrian already cared deeply about the environment and would go out of their way to improve recycling efforts and reduce food waste at school. In high school, at the Metropolitan Business Academy, Adrian had the opportunity to engage with their school community about environmental issues and started organizing youth-led climate strikes and other initiatives, which led them to co-found the ‘New Haven Climate Movement’   and coordinate the youth internship at the ‘Climate Health Education Project’ . Based on solid scientific evidence about the impact of human actions on global climate, Adrian’s activism creates awareness of these issues and pressures local communities and policymakers to advance plans for broad climate education across the city and potential solutions to mitigate human impacts. Adrian inspires other young students to take action and is definitely helping New Haven move in the environmentally right direction!

Check the full interview at: https://www.scienceyourself.org/en/blog/2021/interview-with-adrian-huq

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In honor of Women’s History Month, Continuum is highlighting some remarkable women whose accomplishments we hope will inspire you to dream big and fight for the less fortunate.

Visit link to view the full-size poster with clickable links: https://www.continuumct.org/newsItem/womens-history-month

Please join Health Equity Solutions and panelists to launch Connecticut's 3rd annual Health Equity week on April 5th at 6 PM. Health Equity Week is a week-long annual campaign created to bring awareness and start conversations on advancing health equity throughout the state of Connecticut.

Moderator, Tekisha Dwan Everette, PhD - Executive Director, Health Equity Solutions

Panelist, Nichelle A. Mullins, JD - President & CEO, Charter Oak Health Center
Panelist, Steven Hernández, JD - Executive Director, The Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity & Opportunity
Panelist, Wizdom Powell, PhD, MPH - Director, UConn Health Disparities Institute

This event will be recorded. Can't make the live webinar? RSVP anyway and we'll send you a recording afterward.

To register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5bGqiZURSp-TEOGSfDi-CQ

In our fourth episode of the Voices of Local Leaders series, we interview Dr. Gale Ridge, a concert pianist that became an insect researcher at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. Although Dr. Ridge’s specialty is bedbug’s behavior, she has helped solve several bug-related mysteries, from intercontinental transportation of exotic insects, to forensic entomology in murder cases, to mental disorders in which patients believe they are being fed on by insects. As she points out in the interview, her curiosity and attention to detail have been prevalent in her life and are a driving force that facilitated her crossover from working on the theater stage to the microscope in her laboratory. Her passion for six-legged creatures and her compassion for learners and patients in distress are inspiring and will make you want to learn more about her work!

Check the full interview at: https://www.scienceyourself.org/en/blog/2021/interview-with-dr-gale-ridge

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To create public works that truly serve our shared experience, we must maintain that community organizers and city-appointed art directors are sitting at the table as peers, not outweighed by power or pedigree but rather equalized by their lived experience.

Imagine that public space put the ideas of the artist at its center, with urban transformation, public infrastructure, and civic architecture as its foundation. In such a space, creative culture would be championed by the public and be financially supported by those who understand that art is essential to social advancement. In that world, hasty cycles of development would become more thoughtful, collaborative civic movements that represent people from all backgrounds and abilities...

https://nonprofitquarterly.org/public-art-the-case-for-a-cultural-heart-transplant ;

Let your voice be heard and testify in support the PROTECT Act, our bill that will eliminate solitary confinement and mandate external oversight over the Department of Correction! You can register for the testimony and learn more here.