Flint River Fresh’s New Fresh Urban Farmers youth development program offers paid internships

ALBANY, Ga. – A special program is sowing the seed of opportunity for Dougherty county’s youth.

Flint River Fresh has announced the launch of its latest youth development initiative, the New Fresh Urban Farmers program. This innovative program combines agriculture, mentorship, and hands-on work experience through a paid internship.

“Pre-pandemic, like 2019, we started a partnership with the 4C Academy working with the high school students, and we were teaching them about agriculture, small scale farming. And then about two years ago, we received a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Urban Ag and Innovation. We wanted to develop a paid internship program for the high school students that we were interacting with through our program with 4C,” said Fredando “Farmer Fredo” Jackson, Flint River Fresh Executive Director.

This will also drive economic development with plans to open a retail store on Front Street in downtown Albany. The store will provide students with experience in retail while offering valuable insights into the responsibilities of being a small-scale farmer.

Fredando “Farmer Fredo” Jackson, Executive Director of Flint River Fresh, highlights the valuable experiences and opportunities this internship will provide for local youth.

“They’ll become leaders. So, we have organized volunteer days with Flint River Fresh where we’re going to different school gardens, community sites, so these young people learn how to lead people in their community with growing food. In addition to that, we have a couple curriculum that’s about teaching them about nutrition and education, how to cook and prepare meals for themselves and for their community. They’ll also be supporting our local food bank in terms of making produce boxes. Or supporting community partners in the distribution of those food. In addition to it, we have other partner agencies that will be coming in doing different leadership development, learning about finances, about how to be a social change agent. But, then we will also do field trips. They might be to local colleges or different farmers in particular, so they can really see what does it take in agriculture and also to see the impact of the number one industry in our state,” said Jackson.

Fredando “Farmer Fredo” Jackson outlines the application process.

“Right now, we’ve opened enrollment like an application process. We’re taking applications up to January the 3rd. Then after we receive the applications, we have a review board that will go through and will make phone calls to the applicants, do an in person interview. Then around January the 27th, we will officially launch a program with an orientation. But, in addition to the students, we will also engage in their parents as well. Through this partnership with urban ag in different grants and things that we receive through Flint River Fresh, we will also open up the opportunity to expose them to different scholarships as well, that they can apply for if they are looking at going to HBCUs. Other programs that the department kind of has in place to support these young people in their secondary education as well,” said Jackson.

Interested individuals can submit an application by visiting NFUF Spring Internship program flintriverfresh.org/nfuf.

“So, we definitely encourage you to follow us on social media, because I think one thing how to make this program equally successful is participation from our community. So, we’re just looking at this as the groundwork to expand our existing footprint that we have here in Dougherty county, but also to be able to take these young people to surrounding counties maybe and possibly to other states or going to different conventions and talking about the work that they’re able to do here through this new program with Flint River Fresh,” said Jackson.

De’Andra Jacobs reporting.

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