Welcome, prospective Mentors!
Do you have a background in special education, social work, therapies, OR do you have experience in gardening and a desire to support neurodivergent individuals? Are you available to work outside 7-14 hours per week, coaching up to three neurodivergent apprentices seeking to develop their job skills, self-awareness, and ability to self-advocate in future employment positions?
About Our Program
Growing Together, our mentor/apprentice program, is focused on job skills training, mentoring, and facilitating increased personal development for neurodivergent individuals ages 16+. Our core clientele includes neurodivergent individuals with autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and anxiety – neurotypes that vary from perceived norms and affect an individual’s ability to achieve employment and independence in the current job market.
We hire mentors for a variety of job contracts, structured around a clearly designed 7-step framework. Mentors provide job coaching for neurodivergent individuals to introduce work skills, help develop personal awareness, and address specific challenges each individual has experience in getting and keeping a job. This is an opportunity to give back to your community, while increasing your own skills in working with neurodiverse individuals and enjoying a calm garden environment. You do not need gardening experience! You do need patience, calm communications skills, and understanding of the executive function, self-regulation, and self-awareness challenges and gifts associated with neurodiversity.
We prioritize a mindful, relationally based work environment where communication is key to learning and self-development. We welcome challenges and set-backs as learning opportunities. We believe that a balanced, well-regulated nervous system is the first step in increasing executive function, organizational, and emotional regulation on the job.
key responsibilities
Work on garden projects with small teams of neurodivergent individuals ages 16+ who are engaged in educational training and paid vocational work as a bridge to independent employment
Review, assess, and prioritize apprentice(s)’ personal goals and skills development quarterly, ensuring clarity on progress plans in daily work
Create supports and materials that move apprentices along a continuum of progress and independence in job skills
Adjust daily tasks to garden demands (as needed) and help apprentices to clarify last-minute adjustments, changes to focus, and ability to meet deliverablesWork alongside apprentices to complete tasks that help maintain Legacy Farms gardens
Check in with assigned apprentice(s) on areas of challenge and strategies for success related to responsibilities
Participate in a 4-week online mindfulness 101 course for certification (paid by Legacy Farms)
Maintain professional standards of behavior and interaction that embody and set an example of an effective employee, including such qualities as: arriving to work on time and prepared, maintaining a positive attitude, managing personal emotions in regard to challenges, frustrations, etc. and speaking mindfully about personal approach to managing those feelings
As appropriate to experience, guide other mentors, entrepreneurial apprentices, and mentors-in-training to progress taking on leadership roles
Assist in periodic farmers markets to coach apprentices on products, sales, and social interaction
Other Beneficial Experience
A background in mindfulness practice (not required, training will be provided also by Legacy Farms)
Enthusiasm for growing flowers, vegetables, herbs and/or entrepreneurial and small business development
Understanding of issues surrounding neurodiversity empowerment
Hours
2-3 days per week, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:30am-12noon (in garden); additional days/hours possible
Location
Garden hours at Temple Hall Farm Regional Park 15855 Limestone School Rd, Leesburg and/or Fabbioli Cellars, 15669 Limestone School Rd, Leesburg, VA 20176
APPLY NOW
More information for Mentors: Detailed .pdf Mentor Job Description here.