GI V E A Y E A R . CH A NGE T HE WOR LD.

City Year unites young people of all backgrounds for a year of full-time service, giving them the skills and
opportunities to change the world. As tutors, mentors, and role models, these young leaders make a difference
in the lives of children and transform schools and neighborhoods across the U.S. and in South Africa. City Year is
a proud member of AmeriCorps.

This year, City Year’s 1,400 young leaders will complete more than 2.4 million hours of service
through the following activities:
› Mentoring, tutoring, and educating school children in partnership with public schools
› Organizing after-school programs and school vacation programs
› Engaging students of all ages in community service and leadership development activities
› Planning and leading physical service projects
“Nothing means more to me than providing New York’s children with the tools they need to succeed in the classroom
and in life, and no organization has done a better job of helping me achieve this goal than City Year.”
- Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of New York City
Since its inception, City Year has:
› Graduated more than 10,400 alumni
› Served 1,060,000 children
› Completed 16 million hours of service
› Partnered with more than 1050 corporations and 3,100 service organizations
› Engaged more than 1,000,000 citizens in service
From a 50-person pilot program in 1988, City Year has grown to 18 locations:
Boston, MA • Chicago, IL • Cleveland, OH • Columbia, SC • Columbus, OH • Detroit, MI • Little Rock/North Little
Rock, AR • Louisiana • Los Angeles, CA • New Hampshire • New York, NY • Philadelphia, PA • Rhode Island  
San José/Silicon Valley, CA • San Antonio, TX • Seattle/King County, WA • South Africa • Washington, DC

City Year Alumni: Leaders for Life

A study conducted by Policy Studies Associates indicates that on every established major indicator of civic
engagement, City Year alumni excel.

› At least 90% of alumni reported that their City Year experience contributed to their ability to work as part of a
team, work with people from diverse backgrounds and lead others.

› Three-quarters of alumni reported that City Year contributed to their ability to solve problems in their
communities.

› When compared with the voting behavior of 18 to 40-year-olds in the national population, City Year alumni
were 22% more likely to vote.

w w w.cit y year.org
Cit y Year Headquar ters • 287 Columbus Avenue • Boston, MA 02116

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 T ransfor ming lives and communitie s through service
At City Year’s 18 locations across the United States and in Johannesburg, South Africa, young
people – called “corps members” – serve full time for 10 months. Each of these young leaders
provides more than 1,700 hours of service in schools and neighborhoods to make a difference
for children and their communities.

School-Based Service
City Year’s youth service corps is one of the largest in America, with initiatives tailored to meet
community needs. While there are differences in specific service initiatives and partners, the
way in which corps members make a difference remains the same.

Corps members serve in schools as:

› Tutors
› Mentors
› Role models
› Leaders of after-school programs and vacation camps
This school-based service is at the heart of City Year’s “Whole School, Whole Child” approach
to transformative change in the lives of children and their school environment.

Youth Leadership
One of the important ways corps members share their belief in service and their commitment
to helping children is by leading programs that teach elementary, middle school, and high
school students about their ability to make a difference:
› Starfish Corps is an after-school program designed for elementary school students
to convey the importance of community issues by combining games and academic
enrichment activities with community outreach, environmental awareness, and culture and
diversity appreciation.
› Young Heroes develops middle-school youth into emerging civic leaders through
community service and an interactive curriculum that focuses on social and community
issues.  The five-month program brings together students to work in diverse teams, serve
a minimum of 80 hours and, in the process, earn the President’s Volunteer Service Award.
› City Heroes engages high school students in civic leadership development, teamwork and
problem solving activities that build their awareness and understanding of social issues
in their community, such as interactive lessons, debates related to a monthly topic, and
hands-on community service.

Community Transformation
In addition to helping schools and students reach new heights, City Year corps members
transform their site communities through physical service such as:
› Painting murals
› Planting gardens
› Creating playspaces
› Renovating schools
› Refurbishing community centers

photos by Jennifer Cogswell, Andy Dean, John Gillooly/PEI, Jim Harrison, and Kevin Jenkins

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