“Grow Dat has educated me in ways school hasn’t.”

— Crew Member & ACL 2021-2022

CORE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

This program is the heart of our work and how youth employees get started at Grow Dat. From January to June, 48 crew members from around New Orleans work on our sustainable farm. Youth spend half their time doing farm work like weeding, transplanting, harvesting, and growing their own food in raised beds. Alongside farm work, we prioritize building community in our diverse team, giving and receiving feedback, and doing workshops about the why behind this work. Our workshops focus on three branches: VISIONS, the model we use for learning and communicating across cultural differences; Farming & Environment, where we look at how to farm sustainably in our ecosystem; and Systems & Sovereignty, which asks how we can understand our history and present to build a just and sustainable future. Check out our Day in the Life page for more.

Who can apply? anyone 15-21 years old
When do we hire? Applications are currently open for the Summer Program. Please apply here if you are interested in working with us this summer!
What is the schedule? Crew members work either Wednesday or Thursday afternoons, 4:30-6:30, and Saturdays 8:30-3:00 for the spring semester. For 5 weeks in late May and June, Crew Members work 8:15-1:15, Wednesdays - Saturdays.
What is the pay? $10.50/hr with a raise to $11.50/hr for the June program

ADVANCED LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

Every year, alumni of our Core Leadership Program have the opportunity to return to Grow Dat to train as facilitators. These Assistant Crew Leaders spend the fall deepening their own knowledge and learning how to lead a group. Rooted in a popular education approach, we look at how to build community, maintain clear expectations, ask rigorous questions, manage field work, and lead engaging workshops. Starting in January when Crew Members arrive, ACLs work alongside Crew Leaders to lead daily opening circles, explain and supervise farm tasks, teach workshops, give Real Talk, and create a transformative experience for crew members.

Who can apply? Any alumni of the Leadership Program
When do we hire? We hire in July and August.
What is the schedule? ACLs work Wednesday and Thursday, 4:30-6:30, and Saturdays 8:30-3:00, from September to mid-May. For 5 weeks in late May and June, ACLs work 8:15-1:15, Wednesdays - Saturdays, with an optional planning day on Tuesdays.
What is the pay? $12.50/hr in fall, $13.50/hr once crew members arrive

SEED PROJECT

This program focuses on preparing alumni of the Leadership Program to become change agents in their communities by inviting them to envision, research, and execute a project of their choosing. Working in small groups, youth learn valuable collaborative skills as they bring their vision to life. Current and past seed projects include making herbal medicines, growing mushrooms and sugarcane, tending our farm’s beehives, building raised beds, and reforesting a portion of our land with native trees to increase shade and carbon capture on our site.

Who can apply? Any alumni of the Leadership Program
When do we hire? We hire in July and August
What is the schedule? Seed Project members work Wednesdays 4:30-6:30, and Saturdays 8:30-3:00, from September til mid-May.
What is the pay? $12.50/hr for the year

CREW LEADER FELLOWSHIP

Every year, the Crew Leader Fellowship prepares four young adults (18+) to facilitate our Core Leadership Program. In the fall, Crew Leaders hone their sustainable farming skills and build their skills for leading groups. We deeply root in educational theory and practice, focusing on building the leadership skills needed to create a supportive space for young people that encourages accountability, collaboration, and critical thinking. In the spring, each Crew Leader supervises a team of two Assistant Crew Leaders and 12 Crew Members - managing farm tasks, leading workshops, giving feedback, and building community.

Who can apply? Anyone over 18 with demonstrated interest in youth work
When do we hire? We post the job description in June, and hire in July and August.
What is the schedule? Crew Leaders work Wednesday-Friday afternoons and Saturday 8:00-3:30, For our 5 week June program, Crew Leaders work Tuesday - Saturday, 8:00 - 1:30.
What is the pay? $18-22 per hour; exact pay depends on formal and informal experience

FARM FELLOWSHIP

This full-time 10-month yearly fellowship is an opportunity to deepen skills in all aspects of urban farming and sustainable agriculture. Every year, the farm fellow assists the farm team in crop planning, soil building, cover cropping, seeding and propagation, transplanting, harvesting, and CSA distribution. The fellow also gains experience in data tracking, financial record keeping, and marketing and sales. In addition, the farm fellow supervises volunteer groups as well as supports young people in our leadership programs during agricultural tasks.

Who can apply? Anyone over 18 with demonstrated interest in youth work
When do we hire? July
What is the schedule? Farm fellows work 8:30-4:30, with a longer day on Wednesdays (until 6) and a shorter day on Saturdays (until 2:30).
What is the pay? This is a salaried position with benefits that utilizes Grow Dat’s values based compensation tool. See the full job description for more details.

Leadership Programs