StoryMap Developer – WriteShop Project

About the Project

Food First’s WriteShop Project amplifies the stories, challenges, and strategies of farmers, organizers, and activists advancing food justice and food sovereignty across the U.S. and the Global South. Building on more than 35 interviews conducted globally, our final report synthesizes these narratives into key themes around just transition, agroecology, and community power.

We’re now ready to translate this written report into a dynamic, visual StoryMap that brings these global voices to life through maps, quotes, images, and multimedia elements to create an interactive educational experience for viewers.

What We Need

We are seeking a volunteer StoryMap Developer to design and build a compelling, interactive StoryMap that:

• Condenses our written report into a more digestible, story-driven experience that optimizes storytelling, data visualization, and UX design to engage and educate audiences.
• Weaves together narrative text, images, maps, quotes, timelines, and data visualizations.
• Integrates geospatial data (e.g., farmer/interview locations, regional themes, ecological zones).
• Brings clarity, visual storytelling, and accessibility to complex narratives about food systems and justice movements.
• Highlights connections between regions (U.S., Africa, Latin America, Asia) through spatial context and story flow.

You will work closely with our program team to ensure that the StoryMap reflects the tone and intent of the WriteShop project.

What We Have in Place

• A final copyedited report: WriteShop Report titled Amplifying Grassroots Voices in Food Justice: Global Struggles and Local Strategies
• Curated multimedia assets: high-quality photographs, graphics, and participant quotes from over 30 interviews.
• Geocoded data of interview locations (U.S., Africa, Latin America, Asia).
• A clear visual concept and narrative outline, ready to be adapted into a StoryMap.
• Support from Food First’s program team for coordination, content review, and feedback.
• Access to StoryMaps subscription we can make accessible to the volunteer.

Ideal Volunteer Skills

Technical:

• Proficiency with ArcGIS StoryMaps (or comparable platforms like Mapbox, Knight Lab StoryMapJS, or Flourish).
• Experience with GIS mapping and spatial analysis, including:
  • Mapping locations and attributes using CSV, shapefile, or GeoJSON data.
  • Styling spatial data (choropleth maps, point symbols, basemap customization).
  • Publishing and embedding maps for web display.
• Understanding of StoryMap design principles, including sidecar panels, map actions, and multimedia integration.

Creative & Editorial:

• Strong storytelling sensibility and an ability to translate research into engaging visual narrative form.
• Experience combining visuals (maps, graphics, photos, videos) with written content.
• Eye for layout, hierarchy, and accessibility.

Deliverables

1. Storyboard / Concept Layout for the StoryMap based on report structure.
2. Draft StoryMap, including integrated text, visuals, maps, and quotes.
3. Final Published StoryMap, reviewed and approved by Food First.

Optional: Documentation/guide for future updates or replication.