About Micah 6:8 Mission
Micah 6:8 Mission works to strengthen Southwest Louisiana through community engagement, environmental stewardship, education, advocacy, direct service, and resilience-building. The Commons is Micah’s community-based sustainability and education site, including gardens, growing spaces, gathering areas, and hands-on learning projects.
About The Commons Co-op
The Commons Co-op is a Micah 6:8 Mission social enterprise and educational demonstration project. The Co-op is being developed to teach how everyday products can be made from plants, natural materials, community skill, and small-scale cottage industry practices. The Co-op will support artisan training, product development, environmental health education, and community-based economic opportunity.
The Co-op will help tell the story of how products move from soil, seed, and plant to finished goods, while also helping residents understand modern product ingredients, petrochemical supply chains, safer alternatives, and the possibility of community-rooted cottage industries.
Position Summary
- Micah 6:8 Mission is seeking a part-time Commons Co-op Assistant to help with product preparation, artisan support, plant-to-product activities, inventory, packaging, event support, and educational demonstrations.
- This is a hands-on support position for someone who is dependable, organized, willing to learn, and interested in sustainability, small business development, gardening, handmade products, environmental health, or community education. No prior co-op or nonprofit experience is required.
- The Commons Co-op Assistant will help prepare materials, support production days, assist with packaging and labeling, help maintain supplies and inventory, support artisans and volunteers, and assist with workshops, markets, and public education activities. This role will not be responsible for final product formulas, sensitive public messaging, legal compliance, or financial decisions, but will help carry out the day-to-day work that makes the Co-op function.
Key Responsibilities
Product Preparation and Production Support
- Assist with preparing materials, supplies, tools, and workspaces for Co-op production activities.
- Help support small-batch production of approved products such as salves, balms, soaps, bath products, loofah items, herbal products, or other Co-op goods.
- Assist with measuring, sorting, labeling, packaging, and organizing product materials.
- Follow safety, sanitation, quality control, and product handling procedures.
- Help clean and reset work areas after production activities.
- Report supply needs, equipment concerns, or product quality issues to the supervisor.
Plant-to-Product Activities
- Assist with harvesting, drying, sorting, and storing plants used in Co-op products.
- Help document the process of turning plants grown at The Commons into usable product ingredients.
- Support educational demonstrations related to herbs, flowers, loofah, pollinator plants, infused oils, natural materials, and small-scale production.
- Work with staff to connect garden activities to Co-op products and educational materials.
Artisan and Volunteer Support
- Help welcome and support artisans, volunteers, and community members participating in Co-op activities.
- Assist with setup for artisan workdays, trainings, and workshops.
- Help participants follow basic production, safety, and cleanup procedures.
- Support a respectful, inclusive, and dignity-centered environment.
- Communicate participant questions, concerns, or needs to the supervisor.
Inventory, Packaging, and Records
- Help track supplies, ingredients, packaging materials, and finished products.
- Assist with basic inventory counts and product organization.
- Help maintain organized records of production batches, supplies used, and products prepared.
- Label and package products according to approved instructions.
- Help save records, photos, and product information in Micah’s shared filing system as directed.
Sales, Markets, and Events
- Assist with preparing products and displays for markets, events, workshops, and community programs.
- Help set up and break down Co-op tables or product displays.
- Share basic approved information about Co-op products, The Commons, and Micah 6:8 Mission.
- Assist with customer interaction, product organization, and event support as assigned.
- Help document sales, feedback, frequently asked questions, and product interest.
Educational Support
- Assist with workshops and demonstrations about plant-based products, cottage industry development, ingredient awareness, and sustainable alternatives.
- Help gather information, photos, and stories that explain how Co-op products are made.
- Support staff in preparing product story cards, displays, and educational materials.
- Help communicate the Co-op’s purpose in a clear, respectful, and accurate way using approved language.
Administrative and Organizational Support
- Track assigned hours and submit simple weekly time records.
- Communicate promptly about schedule changes, barriers, supply needs, or concerns.
- Follow Micah’s purchasing, card use, safety, documentation, and confidentiality policies.
- Support the overall care, organization, and cleanliness of Co-op spaces.
Qualifications
- Dependable, punctual, and able to follow through on assigned responsibilities.
- Interest in sustainability, gardening, handmade products, community education, public health, environmental justice, or small business development.
- Comfortable working with diverse groups of people.
- Willingness to learn safe product handling, sanitation, labeling, and inventory procedures.
- Ability to follow written and verbal instructions.
- Basic organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Ability to work respectfully with staff, volunteers, artisans, and community members.
- Ability to attend scheduled workdays, markets, workshops, or events reliably and communicate in advance if a conflict arises.
Preferred, But Not Required
- Experience with gardening, herbs, crafts, handmade products, cooking, food prep, retail, markets, or small business activities.
- Experience working with volunteers or community groups.
- Interest in natural products, product safety, environmental health, or cottage industry development.
- Basic comfort with photos, simple documentation, or inventory tracking.
Physical Requirements
- This position may involve standing, bending, lifting, carrying supplies, setting up tables, working outdoors, handling plants or materials, and assisting with cleanup. Reasonable accommodations may be made as needed.
Expectations
- Because this role supports production activities, community events, and public-facing work, reliability is essential. The Commons Co-op Assistant is expected to attend scheduled shifts and events, communicate promptly if conflicts arise, follow safety and sanitation procedures, and represent Micah 6:8 Mission professionally and respectfully.
- Failure to report for an assigned event, production day, market, or work responsibility without prior notice may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
What You’ll Gain
- Hands-on experience with social enterprise and cottage industry development.
- Experience with plant-to-product education and sustainable product-making.
- Exposure to environmental health, sustainability, public education, and community resilience work.
- Practical experience with inventory, packaging, markets, workshops, and small-batch production.
- Professional development and resume-building experience.
- The opportunity to contribute to meaningful community-rooted work in Southwest Louisiana.
How to Apply
Send a resume and brief statement of interest to:
micah68mission@micah68mission.org
or call 337-888-6791
Students, community members, artisans, gardeners, makers, and people interested in learning are encouraged to apply.
