Dictionary Thesaurus Word Dynamo Quotes Reference Translator Spanish

City Year

City Year is a non profit AmeriCorps organization whose primary goal is to build democracy through citizen service, civic engagement, leadership development, and social entrepreneurship. The program's main program is for 17- to 24-year olds to do 10 months of full-time community service to their community. These young leaders come from diverse backgrounds and put their idealism to work by tutoring and mentoring school children, reclaiming public spaces, and organizing after-school programs, school vacation camps, and the Starfish Corps, Young Heroes, and City Heroes programs. The vision of City Year is that someday the most commonly asked question of a young adult will be, “Where are you going to do your service year?” Corps members work in 17 cities across the United States and in Johannesburg, South Africa.

History

City Year was founded in 1988 by Michael Brown and Alan Khazei, then-roommates at Harvard Law School, who felt strongly that young people in service could be a powerful resource for addressing our nation's most pressing issues. Initially, corps members focused their efforts on community rehabilitation, beautification of neighborhoods, and building a sense of community throughout Boston. Over the years though, the organization has expanded, opening sites in 18 cities throughout the U.S. In early 2005, City Year opened its first international site in South Africa. Since 1988, City Year has been built on the belief that one person can make a difference, and with the vision that one day service will be a common expectation – and a real opportunity – for citizens all around the world. In 2006 after Hurricane Katrina hit the gulf region, City Year opened a site in Louisiana to help with the recovery. The Louisiana Corps motto was “Here to Serve, Here to Stay."

Full-Time Youth Service Corps

The Full-Time Youth Service Corps is the primary program of City Year. Over 1,400 people from the ages of 17-24 serve a year with City Year performing a combination of service, leadership development, and civic engagement as Corps members. They may be part school partnerships with the program Whole School, Whole Child, or the Heroes programs.

To respond to the challenges facing public education, Corps members who are on school partnership teams work in schools full time providing academic support and after school programming. These school partnerships work with a curriculum developed by City Year called Whole School, Whole Child.

The Young Heroes and City Heroes programs for middle school and high school students respectively are leadership and service programs run by City Year corps member teams. The Heroes programs run from January to June on Saturdays. In the morning of Heroes Saturdays, have themes on social issues such as hunger, homelessness, ageism, drug abuse, and racism. During these days, heroes participate in a workshops and, perform community service projects. Philadelphia does this the best

Site Locations

Currently, City Year sites are located in Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbia (South Carolina), Columbus (Ohio), Detroit, Little Rock and North Little Rock, Los Angeles, Louisiana, Miami, New Hampshire, New York City, Philadelphia, Rhode Island, San Antonio, San José and Silicon Valley, Seattle and King County, Johannesburg in South Africa, and Washington, D.C.

Cyzygy

Cyzygy is City Year's annual, end of term conference in which all Corps members within the United States, and representatives of City Year South Africa attend. The word Cyzygy is derived from the Greek word syzygy, a rare alignment of celestial bodies. Notable speakers at past conferences include President Bill Clinton, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Mitt Romney. During the conference City Year members attend forums and events as well as perform community service projects throughout the Host City.

This Cyzygy 2008 took take place from June 5th to the 7th at Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts. Cyzygy 2009 will take place in Washington D.C.

Funding

City Year's funding comes from a variety of sources. In FY 2006, 26% of the organization's operating revenue came from the AmeriCorps, 26% from foundations, 20% corporations, 14% individual donors, 8% other governmental sources, and 6% in-kind sources.

AmeriCorps

While he was still Governor of Arkansas, Bill Clinton visited the Boston site, and that experience partly inspired him in his first term as President to create the AmeriCorps national service program as a way to fund City Year and other similar organizations. All AmeriCorps members earn an education award while performing service, which can be used to fund education or training or to repay student loans. City Year is now a member of the AmeriCorps network, along with thousands of other non-profits. The money received via AmeriCorps allows City Year to support its 1,400 corps members annually.

Care Force

The Care Force division of City Year engages employees of corporate sponsors of City Year in community services events. Net proceeds Care Force events are revenue of the City Year organization.

Notable Alumni

David Polito- award-winning American graphic designer and illustrator

Awards

City Year is a five time winner of the Social Capitalist award from the Fast Company Monitor group. City Year has also has had positive reviews from the Princeton Review, the US News and World Report, US News, and has earned four stars from the organization, Charity Navigator.

Criticism

City Year has been criticized for accepting a sponsorship from the soft drink manufacturer PepsiCo. Because City Year Corps members are role models to many children, this partnership might encourage greater consumption of soft drinks exacerbating the problem of childhood obesity. Really, criticism could and should be much more severe.