our global garden of joy Hi 👋 I’m Jasmine, founder of The Bloom. We have a phenomenal selection of social impact resources this week for you to bloom & forward to your friends!
"supported with love by Algbra" "supported with love by Algbra" supported with love by Algbra
Welcome bloomers, Here is your summary of the newsletter this week: 🌱Global South women's rights fellowship 🌱Intro to cannabis & climate resilience 🌱Career workshop on remote jobs with love & light, Jasmine Did a friend forward you this email? Sign up to get your own copy of The Bloom to your inbox with top social impact jobs, uplifting stories, and global resources. Partner with us! We're looking forimpactful organizations to partner with The Bloom to bring connections, resources, and opportunities to our global community.
Social impact careers learning platform: Joinour fast-growing community to learn from extraordinary social impact professionals in networking and mentorship events.
Sponsored membership: If you're unable commit to the membership fee of our platform, read our disclaimer and apply for sponsored membership – all benefits for 6 months and you can re-apply if necessary. We've got your back 💚
fresh soil
What is your unofficial role and field?
I have been a chef, a writer, food fellow with Future Food and FAO, an avid advocate for eating more organs (since we already kill animals, might as well eat the whole thing), a DEI person and more in the future, I would like to author a book! I am actually working towards it, right now. Just trying to find a good publisher(s). But until then, you can subscribe to my weekly newsletter on Offal and Assamese cuisine, Offal Thoughts.
How did you get to where you are today in your career?
A lot of it was trusting the process. I changed careers from being a chef to briefly being a content writer and I had to trust that it was going to work out for me for that time being. When I applied to study Agroecology and Food Sovereignty at the University of Gastronomic Sciences (Italy), I had to trust that that move would bring me opportunities and experiences I would have otherwise never had back where I was.
I had horrible bosses who didn’t do anything for the next generation of workers, I have had bosses who only hired me because “there would at least be a woman in the kitchen”. I have had bosses who thought they could do whatever they wanted without caring for the people under them. But I have also had bosses who were spectacular managers and taught me everything I know today. I have had bosses who taught me grace and patience.
After moving to Italy, I have taken a lot of leaps of faith. Logically speaking, they wouldn’t have worked on paper but I would say that the “what is” is a lot more liberating than “what ought to be”.
But in more practical terms, I was a chef for 4.5 years but the industry got too toxic for me and was costing me my mental health. Then I worked for a year as a content writer, during which I got affiliated with The Social Gastronomy Movement. Who then sponsored me for the Food and Climate Shaper Digital Bootcamp fellowship by the Future Food Institute in collaboration with FAO. But I knew content writing wasn’t everything I wanted to do so I applied to study in the University of Gastronomic Sciences. As a part of my course, I met the lovely Elisabeth Paul, a butcher working at Valli Unite who is also an advocate for offal consumption. I centered my thesis around offal consumption habits and added a small recipe section in it. Then I applied to become a fellow with The FarmLink Project, first joining the team as a ROOT fellow and then moving on to become their DEI fellow under the Internal Education Program. Right now, I am looking for opportunities where I can talk about sustainability, sustainable diets, and offal consumption.
Your relationship to “social impact”: has it evolved since you began your career?
Exponentially. Firstly, I would like to address that the social impact career depends on where you are in the world and which part of social impact you are working for.
I never really considered my area of expertise to be social impact, considering how I started with the culinary industry, which is anything but. And as I move further away from the harsher environments that is a professional kitchen and more onto the social impact side of food, I have finally come to realise that my love for food and feeding can easily benefit a community. There is so much to discover with ingredients, so much that they can teach you about the earth and your own lifestyles and really, about yourself, too. In a kitchen, I was restricted within the confines of cooking food without knowing who is growing it or who is eating it. Sometimes even in the fact that I was the only woman in the kitchen - sometimes the first one to be in a particular kitchen. Who wants to be reduced to such things, anyway?
So, yes. I believe everyone deserves a seat at the table where there is a lot of food and water for everyone. I want everyone to eat and everyone to be considerate, within their ability, of what they are eating. I want people to care that eating just a small section of an animal is such a disrespect to the whole animal - to reduce an entire cow to just pet feed or leather goods.
What other communities are you a part of (if any) and what do they mean to you?
Right now, I am very appreciative of The Bloom community for introducing me to some amazing people. I don’t always come out of my shell but I feel very comfortable here.
I am also very happy to be a part of the Social Gastronomy Movement, to have met so many people and made such great connections who went on to introduce me to some amazing people and experiences. Rapid fire! Share your favorite...
Podcasts?
🎤You're Wrong About - Sarah is a journalist obsessed with the past. Every week she reconsiders a person or event that's been miscast in the public imagination. My favourite episode is Koko the Gorilla - gave me a new perspective on languages.
🎤A Hot Dog is a Sandwich - Mythical Chefs Josh Scherer and Nicole Enayati discuss, debate, and dissect the web’s most hilariously controversial culinary quandaries. I love bone broth so my favorite episode is “What the heck is a Bone Broth?”
🎤The Food Chain by BBC - The Food Chain examines the business, science and cultural significance of food, and what it takes to put food on your plate. I have only recently discovered them so my favorite yet is “Why we love dumplings” and it’s fascinating because every culture across the globe has some form of a dumpling in their cuisine!
🎤Ologies with Alie Ward - Volcanoes. Trees. Drunk butterflies. Mars missions. Slug sex. Death. Beauty standards. Anxiety busters. Beer science. Bee drama. Take away a pocket full of science knowledge and charming, bizarre stories about what fuels these professional -ologists' obsessions. Humorist and science correspondent Alie Ward asks smart people stupid questions and the answers might change your life. My personal favourite is “Invisible Photology (Invisibility cloaks) with Greg Gbur
Accounts?
🐝Dario Cecchini Macellaio - A butcher from Tuscany who wanted to be a veterinarian but ended up becoming a butcher through some celestial plot twists. I have long wanted to visit him and maybe, one day, I will.
🐝Singapore Noodles by Pamelia Chia - Pamelia is a wonderful person who talks about Asian cooking heritage, styles and methods. Her substack is all kinds of heavenly information and pictures and she has authored 2 incredible books so far!
🐝Day with Mei - Has Chinese-American and Tinned fish recipes. My favourite so far is her 2-part series on cooking with Chinese bacon!
🐝Offally Good Cooking by Janine Farzin - She has been writing about and working with offal for a long time and her website is where I learnt how to handle a calf brain!
🐝Chef JJ's Kitchen - Palestinian chef cooking Palestinian recipes. Viva la Palestina!
🐝Hanna Taylor - She has some very basic recipes but something about her oozes warmth. And I would love to sit in her kitchen and have a cup of tea with a nice slice of pie.
Books?
📚The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller - Took me some months short of 2 years to finish it. I don’t consider it a sad story - just a story of literally every queer love.
📚Habibi by Craig Thompson - Habibi is a graphic novel by Craig Thompson. Published in 2011, the 672-page novel follows two runaway child slaves—Dodola and Zam—and the dangers and adventures they face in the present day, fictional Islamic country they inhabit. Dodola is a nine-year-old girl sold into marriage by her poor, illiterate parents.
📚Blankets by Craig Thompson - Blankets is a 2003 autobiographical graphic novel by Craig Thompson, who created both the text and the illustrations. It tells the story of Craig's coming-of-age and first love in the context of his strict religious upbringing, and later, a departure from his childhood faith.
📚Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi - In powerful black-and-white comic strip images, Satrapi tells the coming-of-age story of her life in Tehran from ages six to fourteen, years that saw the overthrow of the Shah's regime, the triumph of the Islamic Revolution, and the devastating effects of war with Iraq.
📚Embroideries by Marjane Satrapi - By the 53 year-old French-Iranian graphic novelist Marjane Satrapi, is a tale about women exploring Iran from their point of view. And through all their little stories, history comes out. The storyline is very simple: it's an account in real time of a moment at Satrapi's home. Reach out to Atreyee directly in our global social impact community. And make sure to check out the upcoming incredible mentorship and networking events 💜
water your soul
Inspiring newsletters, documentaries, social media, and much more; we find media to brighten and enlighten your spirit.
Curated collection of Global South/Global North fellowships, grants, awards, competitions – because there are many opportunities to branch out, beyond a traditional 9 – 5 jobs.
📆 Career Workshops
Nikkon Balial is a feminist strategist and project management professional in the international development and NGOs. Her passion lies in spearheading high-impact projects and processes for non profits, startups, consulting firms and social enterprises in gender, education and sustainability. On May 7, she's hosting a workshop on global remote jobs, drawing on many years working remotely: how to find remote opportunities, the benefits and shortcomings, fostering better global connections.
Women of the South Speak Out Fellowship: Includes a grant ranging from GBP 1000 to GBP 2000. Fellows will be drawn from civil society organizations or networks that focus on women’s rights or have a demonstrated commitment to women’s rights. The fellowship is open to young women advocates between the ages of 18 and 35 from the Global South. IKEA Foundation's African Food Fellowship: Provides training, platforms, and networks to spark collaborative action for healthy, inclusive, and sustainable food systems. They are are recruiting 80 food systems leaders in Kenya and Rwanda to join the African Food Fellowship, 40 for each country. Google for Startups Africa: 10-week equity-free accelerator program for Seed to Series A startups based in Africa or developing Africa-centered solutions. The startups are paired with relevant Google and industry experts to solve their startup’s top challenges, and are provided with insights and best practices to improve their product and business. Open Society University Network Academy Fellowship: Develop research and leadership skills at a leading policy institute, bridging training, mentorship and the delivery of a personal research project. Academy Fellows receive a monthly stipend of GBP 2,365 for London living costs, including accommodation, utilities, food, transport, and other basic expenses. Amahoro Fellowship program for Forcibly Displaced People: Its aim is to equip leaders with the essential skills and resources to create transformative change. The 12-month program will give leaders a platform to cultivate and disseminate their ideas on the world stage.
community garden
Finding a network of extraordinary social & environmental impact leaders to nourish your career growth and build relationships of reciprocity has never been easier ☀️ Here are our favorite happenings in The Bloom community this week: 🪴 ASKS & OFFERS
Hanya: Hi! :) I am looking for recommendations on gender and race equity podcasts! Please let me know who you like to learn from! I am looking to better my craft - I feel like I have information, but unsure of the official trends/buzzwords in the equity space. Thank you!
Lara: I'm currently looking for book recs by fellow changemakers. What's a book you read that really impacted the way you do good, or the way you move in the world? Jill: Liluye seeks a driven, empathetic, honest, strategic yet process-minded leader with experience in grant research and writing. The Grant Writer will research, write, prepare, submit, and report on grant proposals to governments, corporations, and foundations. Additionally, they will be responsible for prospect research to seek out new sources of funding that support Liluye’s work. Jimena: Hi Bloomers! I’d love to connect with people in the business development and/or partnerships field! I am the first in those roles at my nonprofit and have basically taught myself a lot of things. So I’d love to connect with people to interchange learnings and best practices
Connect directly with the leaders & offerings in our social impact community platform, and read through all the wonderful opportunities for reciprocity from job application support, to book club partners 🐝
grow new roots
🤎 Social Impact Employer Spotlight
☀️Amna Since 2016, Amna, formerly known as Refugee Trauma Initiative, has been dedicated to providing non-clinical mental health support to every child and family affected by violence and displacement. Their mission is to create community capacity for healing in communities ravaged by trauma. In 7 years, Amna has reached an estimated 4 million people through programmes, advocacy and support to partners across the world across Europe and South Asia. Check out the open roles they're hiring for in Lebanon and global remote! Hand-picked job opportunities and employers we love around the world, selected from a diverse team of social impact leaders behind the scenes at The Bloom who are excited for you to grow new roots in your career. LATIN AMERICA + CARIBBEAN Research coordinator for LATAM – Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent 🇲🇽 Junior analyst – Fundacion IDEA Facilitation of development of gender transformative education– Fòs Feminista x5 vacancies – British Embassy Mexico City Consultant expert in the labor system – American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative EUROPE 🇨🇭 Storytelling consultant for women's entrepreneurship team – International Labour Organization 🇧🇪 Policy coordinator – Fair Trade 🇦🇹 Facilitators for healing retreat – European Network Against Racism ASIA + OCEANIA 🇯🇵 Research fellow – United Nations University 🇰🇷 Director of comms – Green Climate Fund Head of sustainability and inclusion – Green Climate Fund AFRICA+ MENA 🇰🇪 Senior associate – Instiglio 🇲🇦 Analyst – Instiglio 🇱🇧 Coordinator & trainer in early childhood development & mental health – Amna NORTH AMERICA 🇺🇸 Director – Worker’s Justice Project REMOTE 🌍 Digital officer – Start Network Lead program officer - gender – Wikimedia Foundation Political education & global organizing school – Fight Inequality Alliance Principal political advisor (part time) – Fight Inequality Alliance Communication and media lead – Fight Inequality Alliance Forum access fund lead – AWID Junior collaborator – International Institute of Humanitarian Law Climate & nature director – Global Alliance for Future of Food Director of development and partnerships – Amna Operations and finance manager – Partners in Justice International
For more hand-curate job openings, check out the job board of our careers platform!
Social Impact Career Rewards 🥳
If you know others who will love The Bloom's newsletter... Share your unique referral link & win rewards when your friends subscribe! Our team prepared unique career-focused gifts to support your personal and professional growth.
Book Your Spot Now to Get Seen During the Busiest Shopping Season of the Year! Please enable images to see this email. Black Friday & Cyber
Hi all, I've just started reading Nuclear Folly: A History of the Cuban Missile Crisis. I'm about 5 chapters in and so far it's very good! I'll link to it again later if I finish it/
Discover how Osmo's scent teleportation technology is turning smells into shareable digital data, explore the latest AI and robotics breakthroughs, and learn how reframing fear as inexperience can
