Somerville Community Growing Center: 2020 call for new board members

On September 8, 2020, in Latest News, by The Somerville Times

The Friends of the Community Growing Center (FCGC)––the 501(c)3 that manages the Somerville Community Growing Center––seeks individuals with diverse backgrounds and life experiences to join its Board of Directors. The Center is a city-owned, volunteer-run green space that for the past 25 years has been on the cutting edge of innovation in urban agriculture and community activism. We are in the process of completing a major renovation of the Center through a Community Preservation Act grant, and are looking for individuals interested in helping to guide us into our next 25 years. Candidates should be excited to delve into any of the different facets of this unique urban space regardless of their primary area of expertise.

The Somerville Community Growing Center (SCGC) is much more than a green space, it is where community grows. Situated on a quarter acre of gently sloped hillside near bustling Union Square, the high school, and the library, it hosts rich programming including environmental education and cultural performances and offers unique volunteer opportunities.

Initiated in 1994, the Center is a model for urban land use and collaboration between city government and local nonprofit and community agencies. This urban oasis was designed and built by local residents and is maintained by volunteers. Visit our website at www.thegrowingcenter.org to learn more about what we do.

Qualifications & Expectations

New Board members will:

Support the mission, values, and vision of the Somerville Community Growing Center:
- Candidates must show a willingness and commitment to get to know the organization, its volunteer base, and the community that it serves.
- Act as ambassadors for the Center and represent the organization in a knowledgeable and professional manner.
Actively participate in monthly meetings and other special meetings:
- Attend monthly meetings and remain up to date on current Center issues.
- Stay in contact regularly with other board members, ideally through established online communication platforms.
Take on active leadership roles:
- Be an active member on one of the FCGC’s three operating committees: the Site Committee, the Fundraising Committee, and the Programming/Outreach Committee.
- Attend and support the Center’s special events throughout the year.
- Participate in fundraising to ensure the FCGC has adequate resources to operate and maintain the Center.
- Develop, review, and implement annual budget on a regular basis.
- Familiarity with Quickbooks is a plus for the Treasurer.
- Engage in fundraising planning, including but not limited to reaching out to personal networks, making targeted asks, writing grant applications, and identifying additional funding opportunities.
- Help ensure legal and ethical integrity of the FCGC as a registered 501(3)c via the annual performance review process, conflict of interest policy, and fiduciary responsibilities.
Especially important to us are team members with one or more of the following areas of expertise and interest:
- Finance knowledge for record keeping such as Quickbook accounting software.
- Interest in urban ecology, creating equitable access to a shared, community green space, and similar community endeavors.
- Prior non-profit board expertise.
- Site maintenance and oversight.
Commit to a 1-year renewable term.

Application Process

To make a nomination, or request more information, please contact Lisa Brukilacchio at lisa@thegrowingcenter.org or Liza Kitchell at liza@thegrowingcenter.org.

The application form is available through our website: https://www.thegrowingcenter.org/board-search