The Nashville Food Project

Community Engagement Intern

The Nashville Food Project

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Job Summary

Mission, Vision, and Values
The Nashville Food Project brings people together to grow, cook and share nourishing food, with the goals of cultivating community and alleviating hunger in our city.  At The Nashville Food Project, we embrace a vision of vibrant community food security in which everyone in Nashville has access to the food they want and need through a just and sustainable food system. This mission and vision are guided by core organizational values, including hospitality, stewardship, interdependence, learning, justice, and transformation.

Organizational Background
The Nashville Food Project (TNFP) was born from the idea that good food is a matter of basic dignity. Since its start in 2007, TNFP has served thousands of Nashvillians facing food insecurity. In 2011, TNFP was incorporated as an independent nonprofit, shifting the focus of its meals program toward a collaborative partnership model and launching an urban agriculture program. Today, TNFP continues to connect people to nourishing food and to each other through vibrant urban agriculture projects, made-from-scratch meals, and food shared with local partners working to disrupt cycles of poverty.

Internship Summary:
The Community Engagement Intern joins a dynamic, mission-driven team at the heart of TNFP’s volunteer and community-building work. This internship offers a meaningful, hands-on opportunity to contribute to a thriving ecosystem of volunteers, growers, neighbors, and partner organizations who collectively grow, cook, and share nourishing food across Nashville. Reporting to the Volunteer Engagement Manager (VEM), the intern will support the full arc of volunteer coordination — from recruitment and scheduling to relationship-building and leadership development — while also contributing to events, community education, and grant-funded programming. This role is well-suited for someone who is energized by people, comfortable moving between detail-oriented logistics and big-picture community organizing, and deeply committed to the values of equity, hospitality, and food justice that define TNFP’s work. This is an active, in-community role that will include time in gardens, at events, and alongside neighbors and partner organizations across the city. It is an ideal opportunity for an emerging practitioner who wants to build practical skills in volunteer management, community engagement, and nonprofit program support — while being part of work that matters.

Job Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

  • Recruit and cultivate volunteers through intentional, community-based outreach strategies, including tabling, flyer distribution, and ambassador-style engagement
  • Assist with facilitation of volunteer sessions in the kitchens, gardens, and farmers’ market
  • Maintain and replenish volunteer supply kits (e.g., bug spray, sunscreen, first aid materials) to ensure safe and prepared volunteer experiences
  • Support the planning, communication, and on-the-ground execution of Community Engagement events, including volunteer appreciation gatherings, community convenings, garden parties, grower and steward workshops, and large-scale public presence events (e.g., Tomato Arts Fest)
  • Represent TNFP at community events and strategic tabling opportunities, building relationships that deepen organizational visibility and community connection
  • Create accessible educational materials, including referral guides, plant species and care lists local to Middle Tennessee (orchards, gardens, pollinators), and food drive toolkits
  • Assist with data tracking and other administrative tasks critical to the Community Engagement team’s operations

Qualifications

REQUIREMENTS

  • Available for eight-to-ten weeks between June 2025 – August 2025, for 15-20 hrs a week, with some evening and weekend availability to support community events and occasional Saturday Farmers’ Market (8am-1pm). Availability on August 7-9 to support Tomato Arts Fest is strongly preferred. Internships can begin on a rolling basis based on school schedules and availability
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills – externally and internally – including written, verbal, and visual communication; comfort speaking in public and facilitating groups
  • An interest in non-profit operations, community building and/or alleviating hunger 
  • Bi-weekly check-ins with mentors and program supervisors to achieve set goals
  • Ability to communicate via Slack/text/email/video conference with supervisors; ideally skill set includes experience in Monday.com or similar work management software platform
  • Must have reliable transportation – internship requires both onsite and offsite tasks (including in our gardens, at community events, and other partner organizations)

Additional Information

Benefits

COMPENSATION

As part of this placement, The Nashville Food Project provides:   

  • Hourly compensation ($19 per hour) paid bi-weekly, for a ten (10) week internship. Interns should plan to work 15-20 hours per week.
  • Hands-on opportunities to learn and invest in non-profit management and the work of community food security, in both the administrative roles of an organization, as well as spending time with our Meals, Garden and Share teams. 
  • Direct supervisory support throughout the course of placement.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter to info@thenashvillefoodproject.org  with CE Summer Intern 2025 in the subject line. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until filled. 

In all aspects of its work, The Nashville Food Project strives for a culture of inclusivity and fairness without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristics protected by law.

 

Details

  • Date Posted: May 14, 2026
  • Type: Contract / Temp
  • Job Function: Other
  • Service Area: Other
  • Salary Range: $19/hour
  • Working Hours: 15-20 hrs/wk