Culture, Food & Community Writer (Volunteer)

Culture, Food & Community Writer (Volunteer) PromiseVoice | Community Storytelling, Food Writing & Cultural Journalism Organization: Mentor A Promise (MAP) Division: PromiseVoice Location: Remote / Hybrid Type: Volunteer Creative Role Reports To: Magazine Writer Manager / Chief of Communications Works Closely With: Editorial Team, Magazine Writers, PromiseStudios, Community Partners, Social Media Teams About Mentor A Promise Mentor A Promise (MAP) is a New York City–based nonprofit dedicated to supporting children and youth experiencing housing instability through mentorship, education, literacy, social-emotional learning, creative expression, and community-centered programming. At MAP, storytelling is a form of connection. Through culture, food, and community narratives, we seek to document the experiences, traditions, creativity, and voices that shape neighborhoods and bring people together. About PromiseVoice | Communications, Editorial & Public Narrative PromiseVoice is MAP’s communications and storytelling division responsible for editorial content, magazines, newsletters, journalism, digital storytelling, and public narrative. The division explores how stories can deepen understanding, amplify voices, and strengthen connection between communities and the wider public. Role Overview MAP is seeking a Culture, Food & Community Writer to help create compelling stories focused on culture, food, neighborhoods, traditions, and community life. This role focuses on storytelling that explores the richness of lived experience—through restaurants, recipes, local histories, creative voices, public spaces, and the people who shape them. Writers may contribute to:

Magazine features Food writing Cultural essays Community profiles Interviews Neighborhood stories Human-interest journalism Editorial storytelling

This is a journalism and community storytelling role focused on culture, belonging, and meaningful public narrative. Core Responsibilities Culture & Community Journalism

Write stories exploring culture, identity, and community experiences Develop features focused on neighborhoods, traditions, and local voices Help document stories that reflect creativity, belonging, and lived experience

Food Writing & Culinary Storytelling

Write about food, restaurants, cooking traditions, and culinary culture Explore how food connects families, migration, memory, and community Support stories connected to local food culture and shared experiences

Interviews & Feature Development

Conduct interviews with community members, artists, creators, or local voices Develop thoughtful human-interest and feature stories Help bring depth, empathy, and narrative clarity to written work

Editorial Collaboration

Work closely with editors and the PromiseVoice editorial team Participate in story planning and publication discussions Support collaborative storytelling and editorial workflows

Mission-Aligned Storytelling

Ensure stories reflect dignity, care, and responsible representation Practice consent-centered and community-respectful storytelling Help create journalism that informs while honoring lived experience

Qualifications Required

Strong writing and storytelling ability Curiosity about culture, food, and community life Ability to write clearly, thoughtfully, and engagingly Strong communication and collaboration skills Alignment with MAP’s mission and dignity-centered values

Preferred

Experience in journalism, blogging, editorial writing, or cultural storytelling Interest in food writing, cultural criticism, or human-interest journalism Experience conducting interviews or developing feature stories Familiarity with community-centered or nonprofit storytelling

Commitment

Volunteer role Approximately 5–10 hours per week Minimum 6-month commitment required Remote / hybrid collaboration

What You’ll Gain

Experience writing for a mission-driven editorial and communications division Opportunity to publish meaningful stories about culture and community Collaboration with editors, creatives, and communications teams Portfolio-building journalism and editorial experience Professional references and letters of recommendation

How to Apply Interested candidates should apply directly through Idealist and submit:

Resume (required) Writing samples (preferred) Brief statement of interest describing experience or interest in culture, food, or community storytelling

Tell the stories people gather around. Exploring culture, food, and community through writing that nourishes connection and understanding. This role holds the pieces together. From research to outreach to execution—help ensure every story is fully built before it’s told. Thank you for your interest in volunteering with our organization. At this time, volunteer opportunities are limited to individuals based in the United States due to legal, safeguarding, data-privacy, and programmatic requirements. We appreciate your interest in our mission and your understanding of these constraints.