Ready to make my city a better city

I am 25 years old and I am from West Philadelphia. Growing up, I was involved in various activities including Girl Scouts, choir at both church and school, yearbook, student council (in both elementary and high school) and theater. I really feel that my hometown is brimming with potential in many ways, through its youth, as one example.

I joined City Year because I wanted to give back to my community and do my part to make it better. I also wanted to show that someone from an inner-city neighborhood can make something of themselves and be successful through perseverance and hard work in school and beyond.

I serve on the Eagles Youth Partnership team at John Paul Jones Middle School in Port Richmond. I served at Jones last year as a corps member. I decided to come back and serve a second year at Jones because I fell in love with the Jones community and I felt I was not done with the work that I started last year. This year, I am back at Jones leading a whole new team of passionate, idealistic 17- to 24-year-olds in service and the surrounding community. Every day the team tutors and mentors students during the day and run an after school program. We also run events and beautification projects.

Not only has City Year allowed me to make a difference; City Year has made a difference in my own life. I have become more positive, open, patient and politically aware since joining City Year. The organization has helped me gain some much needed clarity in my life and given me direction on what I should do next.

Next year, I plan on either working for another non-profit or going to graduate school for education.

Tracey A., 25, service leader, Eagles Youth Partnership Team at Jones Middle School