Overview
Culture, Food & Community Writer (Volunteer) Jobs in New York, NY at Mentor A Promise
Title: Culture, Food & Community Writer (Volunteer)
Company: Mentor A Promise
Location: New York, NY
Mentor A Promise is a New York City–based nonprofit serving children and youth (ages 5–18) experiencing housing instability, grounded in the belief that every child is a Promise—full of potential, dignity, and possibility. We deliver consistent, high-quality programming across mentorship, literacy, social-emotional learning, and creative expression in shelters, schools, and community spaces, creating structured environments where students can grow, be seen, and build lasting skills. Through signature experiences like The Imagination Studio, The Kitchen Table, The Sound Lab, and The Story Space, we nurture academic development, emotional well-being, and creative voice, all within a trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and accessibility-centered framework. Our work prioritizes dignity-protective storytelling, consent-driven engagement, and deep community partnership, ensuring that how we serve is as intentional as whom we serve. We are not only addressing immediate needs – we are building pathways to confidence, belonging, and long-term opportunity, so every child has the support and foundation to carry their promise forward.
,
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.
