National Office Blog

The Holiday Season is upon us and the National Office is reflecting on all the wonderful things Nourish has accomplished this year.  None of it would have been possible had it not been for your help and support.  We would like to take this time to share with you the many incredible things we are thankful for this holiday season!

• Our Students. We are impressed and inspired by the creativity and dedication of Nourish students across the country. Thank you, students, for all of your hard work.
• Our International Partners. We are thankful for the past and future community partners Nourish has the pleasure of working with around the world. It is their connection to their community and local insight that allows us the opportunity to come alongside them in their efforts to eradicate poverty, and we are thankful for their constant dedication to their mission.
• Our Dedicated Friends and Supporters. Nourish is blessed with a wide community of friends that support us with advice, donations, volunteer time, and involvement. Thank you for all you do, and for joining us in this work.
• Our Board of Directors. Each member of our Board offers unique value to our organization. We are thankful for your time, wisdom, and constant support.
• Our Potential for Impact. This past summer, Nourish Chapters greatly increased the amount of money and the number of students sent abroad from any previous year. As Nourish continues to grow, we are excited to see the impact on students, communities, and our entire network of staff, alumni and supporters.

This month, the Nourish International National Office (NINO) staff visited 6 Nourish Chapters out west:  University of New Mexico, Arizona State University, Standford University, University of California - Los Angeles, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Davis.  The goals of these chapter visits were for staff to meet and inspire the hard-working executive board and members of each chapter, to train and work with students in person, and to gain a more in-depth knowledge of each chapter's composition and culture.  Executive Director Ryan Richards spoke at the University of New Mexico about igniting change through entrepreneurship and empathy. Sarah, Tom, and Allie held one-on-one meetings with executive board members and conducted workshops with chapters on ventures, projects, marketing, awareness, leadership and more. As the semester is winding down, the visits provided inspiration to overcome obstacles and propel Nourish forward in the coming semester.

NINO learned as much from this visit as the students learned from them.  Sarah, Tom, Allie, and Ryan were able to take part in ventures and outreach while visiting Chapters, which gave them further insight into the inner workings of chapters at the grassroots level. They were able to take part in the University of New Mexico's Bake Sale Venture and helped publicize the Arizona State University's 5K Zombie Run.

Sarah, the Chapter Support Coordinator, says "Nourish is all about empowering communities, and the chapter visits were a really exciting opportunity for the National Office to empower the Nourish Communities of the West Coast to keep making change."

NINO Staff visits the UNM chapter

Chapters have the opportunity each month to compete to win a $50 prize for their Chapter that they may use for venture start-up capital, project finance, or something fun or special for their Chapter.  The challenges feature Ventures, Projects, awareness, marketing and more!

For October's Chapter Challenge, students were invited to submit a short paragraph on how they brought awareness about Nourish's work to a venture they have run during the 2011-2012 school year.

October's Chapter Challenge Winner was Cornell University!

At Cornell University, Nourish International brought awareness to the Pancakes for Poverty venture: a late-night specialty pancake and hot chocolate sale. To spread awareness, we offered poverty trivia for candy. We had an extensive list of poverty trivia questions and while a customer’s pancake cooked, we asked him or her a multiple-choice question. We offered four answers for the customer to choose from. If the customer answered correctly, he or she received a goody bag. The questions ranged from guessing the percentage of people worldwide who lack electricity to estimating the number of children who die per year from complications of malnourishment. The trivia allowed the customers both to reflect on world poverty and relate our venture to our cause. The trivia also kept customers occupied while we cooked their pancakes, contributing to higher customer satisfaction. In addition to poverty trivia, we brought awareness to the venture by putting up a large Nourish poster board, displaying a Nourish banner, and handing out brochures explaining Nourish’s mission.

October's Chapter Challenge Runner-Up was The University of Texas!

This was our third time doing casino night and I’d always felt the event would go really well, but people were leaving not having thought much about poverty or where their money was going.  In the past we had an awareness table set up and did powerpoint presentations about our projects, but people would usually ignore them.   This time, I wanted to make it more interactive and personal.  When everyone (even nourish members) walked in the door, they received a little dot sticker either a red or a green one.  About half-way through the night, I asked everyone with a red sticker on their hand to stand up- about  40% of the room.  I told them to look around at what represented the 40% of the world that lives on less than $2 a day and then explained purchasing power parity and gave some examples of common costs like a cup of coffee or how much UT tuition is per day ($64). I ended thanking them via the communities we have worked with.  Also, throughout the night, the dealers had 10 poverty trivia questions that they could ask and let the players bet on the answer- this worked really well at getting them to interact and discuss poverty.

Nourish International seeks applicants for its Fellowship Program

Nourish International is a student movement working to address global poverty through social entrepreneurship and responsible development practices.  Nourish Fellows will play a crucial role in this movement, directly mentoring and supporting the student leaders within our U.S. university chapters.  For their year of service, Fellows will receive deep professional training, modest coverage of living expenses, and an opportunity to leverage their skills to change the world.

About the Nourish Fellowship

Our network of chapters drives the impact of our movement. Students from our chapters start and run sustainable businesses to generate funds and then design and implement international development projects, in conjunction with community partners.  For the 2011-2012 school year we have 24 chapters, and we are planning to grow our chapter network for the 2012-2013 school year.

To support this growth we are seeking applicants for the Nourish International Fellowship. The Fellow position at our National Office in Chapel Hill, NC works to facilitate and accelerate chapter growth through mentorship and guidance. This position is an opportunity for an individual with superior communication, organization, relationship building and management skills to play a crucial role in ensuring the long-term success of our movement. Nourish International is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual identity or orientation. Prior experience with a Nourish International chapter is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Supporting chapters in planning and executing profitable business and event ventures
• Training chapters in selecting, planning, and preparing for a 6-8 week development project abroad
• Mentoring student leaders in recruiting members and organizing leadership positions
• Maintaining communication between the chapter network and the National Office
• Managing and creating training resources for the chapters
• Visiting chapters to lead workshops and meet with our students
• Communicating best practices between chapters and connecting chapters to on campus business, social entrepreneurship, and international development resources

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Highly motivated, results-oriented individual who excels in an entrepreneurial environment
• Proven ability to build strong relationships with a variety of constituents
• Exceptional communicator with external and internal audiences
• Experience with tutoring and/or mentoring
• Comfortable teaching and training peers
• Strong organizational and operational skills
• Strong management skills
• Respect for developing communities
• Passion for international development
• Belief in the power of young people to make a difference

Required Education and Experience

• Undergraduate college degree within the last two years (graduate in 2010, 2011 or 2012)
• Previous leadership experience, preferably with a Nourish chapter
• Previous international service experience preferred
• Some business background is beneficial

Benefits

• Housing in Chapel Hill, NC
• Monthly stipend of $500
• Basic health insurance
• $500 moving stipend
• Firsthand experience in a growing non-profit
• Experience of working directly with staff and the Board of Directors on organizational performance
• Experience training and working with emerging leaders in the social innovation space
• Opportunities for staff trainings
• Opportunities to attend conferences for professional development

Application Process

To apply, please send a resume and two 500-word essays to allie@nourishinternational.org.

The prompts for the essays are:

• “Why do you want to work for Nourish international?”
• “What skills would you bring to help you support our student leaders?”

Applications are due January 15^th, 2012. This one-year position in our National Office in Chapel Hill, NC begins on June 1^st. 

NOURISH INTERNATIONAL SEEKS APPLICATIONS FOR ITS SPRING 2012 INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

We are seeking to fill the following semester-long positions:

- Assistant to the Executive Director Intern

- Public Relations Intern

- Chapter Founder Team Leader Intern

- Chapter Founder Team Members (2)

- Business Consultant Intern

Nourish International is seeking interns for its Spring 2012 internship program.  Interns work closely with full-time Nourish staff to expand and strengthen the organization’s capacity to deliver upon its mission to eradicate poverty by engaging students and empowering communities.

ABOUT THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

“I had a wonderful experience working closely with [Executive Director] Ryan, and learned a great deal about non-profit management and Nourish’s mission through him.  I hope that future interns have as wonderful and moving of an experience as I have had.” Megan Straubel, Assistant to the Executive Director Summer 2011

“I thoroughly enjoyed my internship with Nourish International and am so grateful for the opportunity. I am now so much more knowledgeable about the non-profit sector as a whole, and really appreciated being able to take ownership over my own projects.” Natalie Prince, Event Planning Intern Summer 2011

Positions are for the National Office of Nourish International (not the UNC Chapter), which is located at 133 ½ E. Franklin Street Suite 105, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 (between Cold Stone and Bank of America).

APPLICATION PROCESS

Candidates must be enrolled in or have completed a four-year degree program.  Nourish International is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on items such as race, gender or sexual orientation.

To apply, send a resume and cover letter to allie.treske@nourishinternational.org by Monday, November 28th at 5:00pm EST. Please include a statement describing why you would be a good fit for this role and how this position fits into your larger career trajectory and values. Internships are unpaid opportunities to support transformative work and gain professional experience working on a high performing team of changemakers.

ABOUT NOURISH INTERNATIONAL

Nourish International is one of the Carolina Entrepreneurial Initiative's earliest success stories. Founded at UNC as "Hunger Lunch" in 2003 by Sindhura Citineni, Nourish International received inspiration and assistance from CEI's programs and community to develop into a nonprofit venture. It incorporated in 2006 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit focused on eradicating poverty worldwide. Nourish now works with students on 24 campuses in the United States. In 2011, Nourish sent 83 students to work on community development projects with partners in 14 communities worldwide. In 2008, Nourish received the North Carolina Peace Prize for excellence in cross-cultural solutions and sustainable development. For more information, visit www.nourishinternational.org

POSITIONS AVAILABLE

Assistant to the Executive Director Intern

Commitment: 10 hours a week

Skills needed: Strong writing skills, organizational and planning skills

Description:  The Assistant Intern will be in charge of the upkeep of Nourish databases, including Convio Common Ground and Quickbooks. Prior training in these areas is not required but would be beneficial. The AED intern will also be involved in some grant writing and fundraising initiatives and work closely with the Executive Director and Development Assistant.  This position is ideal for people interested in gaining experience in grant writing and non-profit management.

Positions available: 1

Public Relations Intern

Commitment: 10 hours a week

Recommended Skills: Excellent communication, writing, organizational and planning skills; knowledge of AP Style and public relations writing; familiarity with WordPress, Facebook and Twitter.

Recommended but not required coursework: Intro to Ad/PR (JOMC 137), News Writing (JOMC 153), Public Relations Writing (JOMC 232)

Description: This intern will work side by side with Nourish staff using social media and public relations campaigns to raise awareness about the organization.  The PR Intern will be given leadership opportunities in writing content for publications and designing promotional materials, and will work closely with the Chief Operating Officer and the Event Planning team. This position is ideal for people interested in gaining public relations experience and applying classroom knowledge to initiatives and products in the non-profit setting.

Positions available: 1

Chapter Founders Team Leader

Commitment: 12 hours a week

Recommended skills: Excellent communication, motivation and creativity; time management; written and verbal skills. Ability to work in a team environment is a must. Previous team leadership and project management experience is a plus.

Description: The Chapter Founders Team will be integral to the expansion of Nourish International to universities around the country for the 2012-2013 school year. Team Members will contact faculty and staff from chosen target universities to publicize our program. Additionally, the Chapter Founders Team will support recruited students, guiding them through the application process. The Team Leader will manage the team and ensure that the team is hitting their target goals. The CF Team and Leader will work closely with the Chief Operating Officer, the Assistant to the COO and Chapter Support Team.

This position is ideal for people interested in gaining experience in marketing, team leadership, management and sales.

Positions available: 1
Chapter Founders Team Member

Commitment: 10 hours a week

Recommended skills: Excellent communication, motivation and creativity highly valued.  Time management; written and verbal skills. Ability to work in a team environment is a must. Knowledge or experience working with YouTube and iMovie is considered a strength.

Description: The Chapter Founders Team will be integral to the expansion of Nourish International to other schools throughout the country for the 2012-2013 school year. Team Members will contact faculty and staff from chosen target universities to publicize our program through phone calls, social media and other creative means. Additionally, the Chapter Founders Team will support student recruits while guiding them through the application process. The CF Team will work closely with the Chief Operating Officer and the Assistant to the COO.

This position is ideal for people interested in gaining experience in marketing, sales and advertising.

Positions available: 2

Business Consultant Intern

Commitment: 10 hours a week

Recommended Skills: Problem solving, analytical and summarizing skills highly valued. Ability to work on a longer term project with relative autonomy Excellent communication skills highly recommended, as well as knowledge of basic management principles and completion of an introductory accounting class. Excel knowledge and experience with case studies valued.

Description: The intern will work side-by-side with the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Nourish Fellow in researching and analyzing student run enterprises around the country and at UNC to contribute to Nourish’s long-term goal of increased venture profitability and chapter sustainability. The intern will also research and analyze the possibility of different revenue streams that could contribute to the National Office’s overall financial sustainability.

This position is ideal for people interested in gaining experience in consulting, business research and non-profit financial management.

Positions available: 1

This summer, The University of Texas Chapter went to Cameroon to help the widows of Njinikom cultivate plantain trees so they may earn a sustainable income and increase their self-sufficiency.  Below is a video of Emily Salada, a project team member and the Chapter Secretary, speaking about her experience with the project.

For more student project stories and Nourish videos, visit our YouTube Channel!

This week, NINO would like to recognize two of our great student leaders, the Chapter Leaders of Duke University: Pulkit Taunk and Puneet Raman .

Pulkit Taunk

What passion drives you and your work with Nourish International?
I really like everything that Nourish International stands for. Nourish International approaches important issues through an innovative lens by harnessing student spirit and really engaging communities. A few things that really get me excited about Nourish: it's student run; the projects bring about sustainable change, the ventures give room for student creativity and innovation and it's a model that actually works!
What is one of your favorite memories of working with Nourish?
My favorite memory would definitely be from the Summer Institute - just meeting so many people who are passionate about the same issues that I'm passionate about. It gave me a sense of direction, a feeling of empowerment, and a community to keep in touch with.
What career path are you interested in? How do you think Nourish will prepare you for that possible career?
I am pre-med. A lot of major problems such as heart attacks can be prevented through simple, sustainable lifestyle choices. As a doctor, I want to practice preventative medicine and give my patients ownership of their own health. A lot of what Nourish does is build accountability for a project, and as students we want to instill this sense of ownership in the community so that the community will really invest in this project.

Puneet Raman

What passion drives you and your work with Nourish International?
 I’ve always been interested in positively impacting the lives of people around me.  But I never liked the idea that all of the money I donate to organizations goes into some big untraceable pool.  Nourish gives me a way to use my creativity and passion to finance a specific project abroad, where I’m able to be involved in everything (from earning the money, to literally conducting the project abroad).  Nourish is a very unique organization that allows me to express my desire to help others in a meaningful way.
What is one of your favorite memories of working with Nourish?
My favorite memory has probably been the successful Hunger Lunches we had last fall.  It was nice to have a lot of people from the organization at one of our events, and the first few lunches were both social activities and fundraisers.
What career path are you interested in? How do you think Nourish will prepare you for that possible career?
I’m most likely going into medicine after teaching for two years. Nourish emphasizes the principles that I want to live the rest of my life with.

Cornell University's Nourish Chapter began their Trail Mix venture last spring and it continues to be a success this fall. The Chapter sets up a table in the lobby of the library, selling a cup of trail mix for $2. Their table displays a buffet of delicious trail mix ingredients so each student can create their own personal mix of brain food.  Ingredients include: pretzels, chocolate chips, Chex Mix, dried fruits, M&Ms, raisins, peanuts, and more!

The Chapter's Venture gains business by displaying colorful signs and having their most outgoing members engage student passersby.  Cornell's Ventures Director Nikki Goldberg says she thinks the venture is successful because it is so easy to implement and because they are able to reach a large number of students due to the heavy foot traffic in the library.  It also gives Nourish exposure and has significant non-monetary gains: students are drawn to the smorgasbord of ingredients and begin asking questions about Nourish. Chapter members use this time to share information about Nourish and recruit more members for the Chapter.

This year, Chapters will have the opportunity each month to compete to win a $50 prize for their Chapter that they may use for venture start-up capital, project finance, or something special for their Chapter.  The challenges will feature Ventures, Projects, awareness, marketing and more!

For September, the National Office invited Chapters to submit their three best pictures from their Summer 2011 Projects.  For the picture taken during their summer project in El Salvador, this month's Chapter Challenge Winner is: The University of Miami!

Congratulations to the University of Miami!  In addition to the winner, there were three honorable mentions this week:

One honorable mention was for The University of Pennsylvania's project in Mozambique:

One honorable mention was for the Arizona State University/Cornell project in Nicaragua:

One honorable mention was for The University of Tennessee's project in Uganda:

Next month, the October Chapter Challenge invites Chapters to submit a paragraph on how they brought awareness about Nourish’s work to a Venture they ran since the start of school.

To kick off the start of the new school year, our chapter support team asked the 2010-2011 Nourish Chapters across the United States, “Why do you nourish?”

Cornell Chapter Leader Elyana says that she loves Nourish because instead of getting caught up in college life (as it is so easy to do), Nourish allows you to take a step back and really see the world and see how you can make a difference in it.  “It’s easy to forget how privileged we are,” says Elyana, “and Nourish helps us build bridges with different people.”

UNC International Projects Co-Director Margo not only loves the bridge between college students and people all across the world, but also loves the bridge of youthful energy with the challenge of work and “the power to shape the work that we do.”

Dakota, the Chapter Leader at Yale says he Nourishes because “I like that profit from ventures is being used to remedy the harm profit has done.”

University of Georgia Chapter Leader Greg likes to inspire people to feel the way he does about changing the world, and, the University of New Mexico’s Chapter Leader Sam likes that Nourish works to help people while incorporating entrepreneurship.

Miya, the University of California Santa Barbara Chapter Leader says, “I am very interested in the alternative model to the current global system and working with others to make people’s lives better.”  Duke University’s Chapter Leader Pulkit, shares Miya’s sentiment, saying, “I have a lot of faith in the model, empowering communities abroad and helping communities abroad.”

It doesn’t end there!  Here are some other echoed and inspiring thoughts from our leadership teams and chapter members:

Student empowerment.
Engage communities.
Change the world.
Responsibility.
Sustainability.
Challenge.
Impact.
Shape.
See.
Do.