IntroductionOver the years, City Year has grown exponentially. As our numbers have gotten bigger, we have developed a culture to help us to communicate and serve more effectively. This culture includes the use of Power Tools. Our Power Tools are techniques used to mobilize, communicate, inspire and break the ice in small, medium and large groups.
Some of our Power Tools and other cultural elements have been adopted from other cultures and organizations. Some are signature to City Year. The CY 101 series of posts is meant to introduce you to CY Culture, drawing from the corps members’ own Idealist Handbook. The Idealist Handbook is the guide to the ideas, values, techniques and programs of City Year. It explains the ‘why’ of what CY does.
Each of our Power Tools and cultural practices must be three things:
Inclusive: A Power Tool of City Year must be easily accessible for people coming from all different ages and backgrounds. To quote the Idealist Handbook, “There should be nothing elitist or technical about a power tool.”
Accountable: The Power Tool must hold all of a group accountable to some desired outcome, meaning that the whole group is involved in the process and outcome, rather than just one leader.
Structured: A Power Tool has clear steps, so that success can be arrived at through those steps. CY Power Tools are not just hopes, commands or shouts, they are tools that achieve a purpose.
As you read up on CY culture, you may have questions. Please leave your questions in the comments section under any post that you need clarification on. We will use this feedback to make sure that we are answering your questions and tailoring this blog to your needs.
On behalf of City Year Greater Philadelphia, we’re looking forward to having you in the corps. Welcome to City Year!
Megan, 24,
Some of our Power Tools and other cultural elements have been adopted from other cultures and organizations. Some are signature to City Year. The CY 101 series of posts is meant to introduce you to CY Culture, drawing from the corps members’ own Idealist Handbook. The Idealist Handbook is the guide to the ideas, values, techniques and programs of City Year. It explains the ‘why’ of what CY does.
Each of our Power Tools and cultural practices must be three things:
Inclusive: A Power Tool of City Year must be easily accessible for people coming from all different ages and backgrounds. To quote the Idealist Handbook, “There should be nothing elitist or technical about a power tool.”
Accountable: The Power Tool must hold all of a group accountable to some desired outcome, meaning that the whole group is involved in the process and outcome, rather than just one leader.
Structured: A Power Tool has clear steps, so that success can be arrived at through those steps. CY Power Tools are not just hopes, commands or shouts, they are tools that achieve a purpose.
As you read up on CY culture, you may have questions. Please leave your questions in the comments section under any post that you need clarification on. We will use this feedback to make sure that we are answering your questions and tailoring this blog to your needs.
On behalf of City Year Greater Philadelphia, we’re looking forward to having you in the corps. Welcome to City Year!
Megan, 24,
Senior Corps Member
No comments:
Post a Comment