Not for Profit Profile: City Year

Contributed by Jaime Botero


*Author’s Note: Having completed a term of service with City Year, I will attempt to be as non-biased as possible. 

City Year is a Not for Profit Organization focused on Civic Engagement and ending the high school dropout crisis. City Year employs diverse teams of 17-24 year old aged volunteers to do 10 months of service in high need schools throughout the country. Serving at twenty-one locations nationally, as well as two international sites City Year is one of the more prolific AmeriCorps programs.
Volunteers, formally called Corps Members receive all the benefits entitled to AmeriCorps and extra incentives such as uniform, cellular telephone service, and the opportunity to receive scholarships through the many Give-a-Year partnerships that City Year has developed with higher education centers.
City Year writes,
“As tutors, mentors and role models, corps members are uniquely able to help students and schools succeed through:

• Academic Support: Provide one-on-one or small group tutoring before, during and after school
• Attendance and Positive Behavior Encouragement: Lead energetic morning greetings, make attendance and positive phone calls home and lead mentor groups
• Community and School Improvements: Organize and lead activities, celebrations and projects to improve the community and school environment which includes performing physical service such as: painting murals, planting community gardens, renovating schools and refurbishing community centers”
  

The organization started serving Miami schools in the fall of 2008 and has grown in part to its successful partnership with Miami Dade County Public Schools. Corps Members are serving as far south as Homestead High School and as far north as Carol City High School.
If you are interested in learning more about City Year or becoming a Corps Member please reach them at this web-link: http://www.cityyear.org/default_ektid22295.aspx.