Recently did a quick survey for Long Beach Farmers Market in Mississippi as their organizer mulls a decision to move the market to a green space with more parking and some shade, but away from the coffee-house and asphalt.This sort of decision, as many organizers have discovered, sounds like an easy decision but never is!
Mississippi Gulf Coast markets continue to manage the after effects of Katrina (where the damage was most severe) with their cities often just now finishing rebuilding their downtowns and green spaces.
Those spaces often come last after city halls, schools and roads so the markets have been the hosts for the few vibrant public spaces along the Gulf over the last 7 years.
The amount of work that it has taken to bring back these small towns that are vital for the state and region’s economic feasibility is mostly undocumented and much of it has been driven by individuals and volunteers. Markets too can take a bow.
Here are the results of the survey:
Charted answers
MHAP is Now Hiring
The Mississippi Health Advocacy Program (MHAP) is now hiring a Community Organizer for its food policy initiative. If you are a committed advocate for strengthening Mississippi’s food system, this position may be for you.
Purpose: The successful candidate for Community Organizer will be responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with key community stakeholders, policymakers, and state agencies to facilitate food policy initiatives in the state. The Community Organizer will work on both local and statewide levels to build grassroots networks. He/She will be a full time employee of Mississippi Health Advocacy Program reporting directly to the Program Director.
Responsibilities:
Coordinate with various organizations/agencies in planning campaign strategies and tactics
Engage in public outreach to build organization infrastructure
Participate in statewide and local coalition building
Delegate responsibilities and organize people to work on projects
Arrange workshops, meetings, and other training for leadership development
Researches and gathers information for articles, press releases, and other communication vehicles such as social media
Arranges for distribution of communications
Documents meetings through formal minutes as required and follows up as appropriate
Provides administrative support in program committee and coalition work
Qualifications required:
Education Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree
Skills: Organizer should have following skills and attributes:
Knowledge of food policy and public health
Creativity, innovation, and decision making skills
Own transportation and valid Mississippi driver’s license is required
Ability to think organizationally
Public speaking skills
Basic computer skills
Motivated to work without supervision
Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and work as part of a statewide team
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Must be willing to work various hours and some weekends
Preferred Qualifications:
Master’s degree in Nutrition and Food Systems, Public Health, Health Promotion, or other related degree.
For more information about this position email your resume and cover letter to dsmith@mhap.org.
Another example of a farmers market manager being recognized for community engagement. Diane has been tireless in her work to create healthy activities along the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, even as she rebuilt her own life after Hurricane Katrina took her house. Diane (and her business partner at Real Food Gulf Coast, Dita McCarthy) show the level of partnership that is possible with city governments and business communities that want markets.
Ocean Spring MS-The prestigious HOSA Bob & Virginia Meyer Award for 2011 was awarded to Ocean Springs Fresh Market organizer Diane Claughton on Saturday evening, December 3rd at the HO HO HOSA event in the Ocean Springs Community Center. The stunned Claughton received a huge ovation by the large crowd of nearly 200 attending the annual event. The award comes with a bronze plaque and a $5,000 cash award.
When announcing Claughton as the Meyer Award, HOSA President Melanie Allen said the Committee who made the choice for the 2011 Meyer Award was unanimous in selecting Claughton as the recipient. “We all recognize that Diane was instrumental in creating this successful Fresh Market event that is now a regular part of Saturday mornings for many people & families, said Allen “By being at the Depot location, she has created an event that brings shoppers downtown who buy from the local growers & vendors at the Fresh Market, and then these same people also eat breakfast at one of the restaurants downtown and then buy gifts at our specialty shops as they stroll our streets. The value of the Fresh Market has real economic impact for the City. It also teaches us the value of eating local fresh foods as they grow and become available season to season. Diane has a regular schedule of cooking events and interesting classes that provide free community education at the Fresh Market as well.”
Diane Claughton started Ocean Springs Fresh Market in 2004. A former librarian and chef, Diane started the Fresh Market to help supply consumers with quality, locally grown or prepared food products, to support local sustainable agriculture and to educate consumers about the health and social benefits of locally grown or prepared food. She is also co-founder of Real Food Gulf Coast.
HOSA: the Historic Ocean Springs Association is an active community organization whose mission is to make public improvements using donated funds. The HOSA Bob & Virginia Meyer Award is presented annually by HOSA. The cash award presented is income on funds that the Meyer’s donated to HOSA for the purpose of giving an annual award for “any endeavor that helps or improves the ambiance of Historic Ocean Springs” as the selection committee guidelines state.
Though she confessed to being “Gobsmacked” when she was announced as the Meyer Award winner, Diane said she “would like to thank HOSA for the award, which I feel is also an award to the vendors, past and present, of the Fresh Market. I would also like to thank the Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce for allowing the Fresh Market to take place in their parking lot, and the City of Ocean Springs for the wonderful redevelopment of the Chamber parking lot. I thank the HOSA organization on behalf of everyone involved with the Fresh Market for recognizing what our little Saturday market brings to Ocean Springs.”
The 2011 winner of the HOSA Bob & Virginia Meyer Award Diane Claughton is presented the HOSA check for $5,000 as part of her honor by HOSA president Melanie Allen.
Disasters have a way of leaving spectators’ daily memory bank to make room for new ideas and sometimes, for trials that are closer to home. Unfortunately, those that experienced the issues firsthand stay there once everyone has moved on.
The Gulf Coast oil spill tragedy is really still in its early days. The impact of the water quality on the region is mostly unknown but the Exxon Valdez spill gave some hints as to the potential long term danger to the seafood system.
What’s causing these dramatic shrimp declines is still unknown, government officials say. Some blame the floods last spring for pushing high levels of water into traditional fishing grounds. But many fishermen don’t buy it; they blame the oil. Fish and shrimp can move, and they can survive inflows of fresh water. Fishermen say if they’re out there, they know how to catch them. But so far, most haven’t been able to.
Mississippi fishermen
