Local Food, Local Solutions, Local People

Exploring Volunteer/Networking/Internship Opportunities through Food…

Are you interested in….

-Learning about groups that are doing good in the Lansing area?

-Meeting new people?

-Developing job skills and finding out about job opportunities?

-Fulfilling, meaningful and fun work?

-Creating your own job or starting a business?

Many of you are already involved and seeking new opportunities to share your skills and creativity with others.   The concept of "social entrepreneurship" is growing -- people doing good work, helping their community, discovering and contributing their talents, ideas, and energy to making the world a better place.

People that know their interests, have quality work experiences, can work in teams, and make connections, are much more likely to get jobs.  People that take steps toward creating a positive future (for themselves and others) are more likely to do so!

Taking the first step is not always easy and painless.  It can be scary… Knowing that there is a support network of people and organizations that can help, is important.

This brief concept paper is an attempt to start such a network.  For starters, I need your help in identifying people and organizations that are interested in participating.  I'm also looking for someone who might want to help co-coordinate this initiative.

Are you interested in:

1) being a volunteer?

2) working with other volunteers at a business or on a project?

3) helping co-coordinate this effort?

4) sharing your thoughts about how this project might work?

If so, read on…

Q & A

What organizations might participate?

A:  The potential range is limited only by our imagination.  In fact we might even create new organizations in the process!  I would like to start with a "spoonful" of groups for starters.  I'm suggesting that we build around the "local food" theme, possibly tying in to a new "Local First" / "Go Local" Initiative that's starting up soon. 

Several organizations come immediately to mind:

Allen Neighborhood Center & Farmers Market
www.allenneighborhoodcenter.org

MSU Student Organic Farm and other local farms
http://www.msuorganicfarm.com/

East Lansing Food Co-op
http://eastlansingfoodcoop.com

MSU Office of Campus Sustainability
http://www.ecofoot.msu.edu/index.htm

Magdalena's TeaHouse
www.magdalenasteahouse.com

NorthWest Initiative
http://www.nwlhci.org/

Urban Options
www.urbanoptions.org

Capital Area Community Media Center
www.capitalcmc.org

Gone Wired Cafe, Everybody Reads, Green River Café, Lansing City Market, Bailey Scholars, Riddle School Garden, Go Local/Local First Initiative, Campus Climate Challenge, 4-H, etc.

What ideas to you have?  (see discussion forum)

 Rough draft:  edited 1/16/07 by LH  harveyL3@msu.edu