From the heart of Texas to the heart of Philly

30 degrees in mid-October cannot be a sign of a reasonable winter. Although I must admit, my standards may not be designed for a northerly climate, I'm still glad I came.

You see, my name is Alex Harris and I am an Austin, Texas native. Last summer marked a rite of passage, my graduation from high school into the so-called “real world”. At the time, I felt unprepared to make a well-informed decision about college. My only clear conviction was that I wanted to avoid the blueprint of the hurry up and settle down life. I wanted, in a word, adventure.

A picture of what I didn’t want did not advance my college plans, it only kept me anchored in the present, with the clock ticking away. I obviously needed some time to think over my options, and felt this time period in my life a formative time for my perceptual lenses. Furthermore, I had a friend, near relative whom I’ve known since first grade in a very similar situation, so we set our sights for City Year Greater Philadelphia.

I served as an AmeriCorps member with City Year Greater Philadelphia. I am often asked “Why Philadelphia?”, and quite honestly I don’t have a clear answer. Perhaps the best one is “Why not Philadelphia?”

Initially City Year seemed rather overwhelming but now it makes complete sense to me. Being assigned to Elkin Elementary helped to affirm my reasons for joining. I worked with a first grade class, a bi-lingual second grade class and a fourth grade class in the afternoon. My fourth graders are quite a unique bunch of students. I remember being overwhelmed, with a sense of pandemonium that seemed like a parody of school room chaos seen in television shows or in movies, but amidst the distracting scenery there were a few students quiet and earnestly interested in their work. I wrote them personal notes, thanking them by pointing out their good behavior and hard work, and the reactions were magical. The students absolutely lit up and beamed with pride, while many others noticed my now signature “Mr. Alex notes”. The next day, an especially rambunctious young girl, Kayla was in her seat doing her work. She wanted a note as well. Attention is something these students soak up, and I prefer not to speak unless it is meaningful. Needless to say, those are complimentary tendencies.

Now that I’ve had some time to reflect and engage, I have a more concrete idea of what my plans will be, and I know that the lenses through which I view life will forever be altered.

Alex, 18, SAP team at Elkin Elementary

CY 101: Strong Circle

The Strong Circle Power Tool allows for effective communication between the members of small to medium sized groups. All members of the group stand shoulder to shoulder in a tight circle. No one stands inside the circle and no one is outside of the circle. There should be no food or drink in the circle, either, only notebooks and pens. The Strong Circle allows for inclusivity, because with everyone able to make eye contact and see and hear one another, there is a forum opened to allow for free discussion of a topic.

The Strong Circle is used all over City Year. Every day, teams will start off with First Circle, a check-in and announcement time. Circles throughout the day, especially on service days, can help keep everyone on the same page. Final circle can provide a great space to debrief the day.

'08-'09 Graduation

This past Thursday, City Year Greater Philadelphia's '08-'09 corps graduated.

We served in dozens of schools, completed hundreds of thousands of hours of service for our students and neighborhoods, and got to be a part of something bigger than any one of us.

As the members of the '08-'09 corps prepare to go to college, start careers, embark on another AmeriCorps term and the many other things that City Year alumni opt to do, we wish you luck and thank you for all that you did this year.

My team's impact on our school

I’m a proud corps member serving at Benjamin Franklin middle school, located in the Northeast section of Philadelphia. When I first arrived at this school I was kind of nervous of how the students were going to react to my team and me. I was not really sure of how to approach them or knew what to say to them, but as the year was moving I started feeling more relaxed around them. By the time we reached March, the school climate became free and the atmosphere was calmer. Everybody in the school knows my name, asks about if I’m around all the times, and the school Administration is nice and generous to me.

One of my classes that I work in is 217. Ms. Daniels is a 4th grade teacher with the most kind-hearted and polite group of kids. I do in-class support with her helping out with literature and math, and mainly take out a couple kids a week to do small group tutoring. Also, she has invited me on two school trips, one was to the aquarium, and the other was to the Franklin Institute. I had a fabulous time at both places because the students left with smiles on their faces like they just came back from Disney World.

Ms. Mackey’s 8th grade class is one of my favorites out of all. This class has the hilarious group of kids, and I work with at least 8 students from this classroom. The students work on their reading comprehension skills, and touch base on what’s going on in their lives like a mentor session. I created a performance chart to keep track on their progress in class. I threw a pizza party for these students because they achieved what I had set for them in the month of February.

The way this year went, I feel like my team and I had a great impact on Benjamin Franklin middle school. All the progress this school is making through the time we was appointed to this school with the Pep Rally, City Hall trips, Penny Wars etc…

Russ, 22, corps member, the Graham Company team at Franklin school

CY 101: Round Tables (aka service outside the classroom)

Roundtables are a part of your outreach engagement service and are at the heart of people understanding the service that we do. Back in 1991, Bill Clinton participated in a roundtable at City Year Boston and was so inspired by their stories that it created a ripple known as AmeriCorps. Locally, roundtables have led corporations to become team sponsors as well as partnerships for recruitment to make filling our boots easier. This past year has seen several articles published after the writer was engaged in a roundtable, including first year corps member Zein Tawil (FirsTrust team at Shaw Middle School)being featured in a Philadelphia Inquirer article.



In a roundtable, corps members are seated around a table (hence the title) and share their story with the visitor(s). The story consists of who you are, why you joined City Year, what you do in City Year, an impact story, and your plans for after City Year. The roundtables highlight the diversity of the larger corps and usually have 3 or 4 corps members. Also, every corps member will get a chance to participate in a roundtable – it can be anyone from a US Senator to a community organization. Every visitor is important, even if their title may not appear to be - our current Co-Executive Director Loree Jones came in for a roundtable with a friend of hers while the ED of Manayunk Development Corporation. So, remember the power of RIPPLES!

McKendry, 26,Visitor's Program senior corps member

Photo taken by Rex Carney

CY 101: Stand and Declare

Often in City Year, we find ourselves in large groups listening to a presentation or participating in a large scale discussion. “Stand and Declare” is a power tool designed to foster effective, courteous, and thoughtful communication and to strengthen community among the corps.

The idea behind “Stand and Declare” is that whenever we are in a medium to large group, the person who is speaking, whether to ask for clarification or to comment, will stand, state his or her name and team, then state his or her question or comment.

Standing allows for more eye contact, for the rest of the audience and the presenter to know who is speaking, and for greater voice projection so that the audience can hear the speaker. Being made to stand before you speak will also encourage the audience to be thoughtful in their responses, because they are literally, and figuratively, standing by their words.

Finally, “Stand and Declare” allows for people to familiarize themselves with one another in a large group, creating a greater sense of community than hearing anonymous speakers’ reactions.

'08-'09 corps member, '09-'10 service leader

I was born in Texas and raised in Puerto Rico. I have been in Philadelphia for 3 years. I attended public schools in Puerto Rico and completed 1 year of college in Universidad del Turabo for early childhood education K-3. In 2005, I was hired by Norris Square Children Center, where I worked as an assistant teacher. Working with children was the best for me, to see how they learn and grow knowledge was so exciting. I worked as an assistant teacher for almost 2 years and decided to further my education so I attended Orleans Technical Institute where I received a certificate on Residential and Commercial electrician. It was a challenge for me because I did not know anything about electricity plus I was the only girl in the classroom. But I was hungry for success and I focused on what I had to learn.

As a single mother, it was hard for me to provide for my children so I worked during the day and went to school at night. I graduated from Orleans Technical Institute in April 2008, finally I got there; it was difficult but not impossible. My spirit made me keep going. After I graduated I was looking for jobs everywhere but because of the economy most of the companies were not hiring or laying off. I attended many job fairs and finally found City Year Greater Philadelphia and asked, ‘what’s City Year?’

WOW, I was surprised and wondered where was City Year when I was in high school, unfortunately we don’t have City Year in Puerto Rico. That’s why immediately after finding out what City Year was, I said to myself, I’m going to give back to my people and community. It’s great to see that we can make a difference in youth’s lives and also make a difference in our community.

Yvette, 24, SEI team at Mastbaum AVTS High School

Comcast University

We often get the opportunity to work with our national sponsor, Comcast, around
various professional development topics, specifically while at Comcast University. This is a Professional Development arm of Comcast, where they offer various curricula on different topics within the realm of professional development, including leadership styles and resume critiques. While at Comcast University, many of our Staff and Senior Corps get the opportunity to learn and interact with professionals outside of the City Year bubble, and glean knowledge from Comcast’s professional development staff to bring back to Corps Members!

Ragina, 24, ProServe senior corps member

Hands-on Sponsors: Deloitte

Today, City Year Greater Philadelphia was thrilled to participate in Deloitte Impact Day.
Deloitte employees provided leadership training to the current corps members of City Year Greater Philadelphia who will be returning next year to lead a team of '09-'10 corps members. This was an excellent opportunity to meet with and ask questions of people at various stages in their careers and to learn how next year's leadership can better set themselves and their teams up for success next year.
Thanks to Deloitte for their donated time and thanks to our stellar '08-'09 corps members set to return for another City Year.

Who is your hero? My City Year corps member

Last year I planned on attending college this year but ended up seeing something outside of myself. I saw the need to serve with a National Movement. After this foresight I deferred my acceptance to Purdue University and accepted the honor bestowed upon me to be a CYGP Corps Member. There is a City Year Washington DC but I decided to do Philadelphia because I wanted the experience of a new place, as I would get in college and Philly is a great city with great needs.
My team and I have permanent schedules based on our subject interests and/or presence requests by teachers. I help four teachers daily in their classrooms. I do small group tutoring, floating, and have one on one-mediation meetings with students. Although it is only my fourth week at Overbrook I know that I have a huge impact on the students. They expect me to teach, love, and respect them in and outside of the classroom. One student was asked, “Who is your hero?” on an application and answered Ms. Brittany because she helps me and she is so cool. This is one of many things that will motivate me all year to participate in powerful service.
This year of service is extremely meaningful to me because I aspire to be a teacher. But I want to be the best teacher that I can be. This year has improved my skills and given me new ones. Next year I plan to go to college at Old Dominion so that I can get the degree I need to do what I love.

Brittany, 18, corps member, Villa team serving at Overbrook High School

CY 101: Spirit Break

At the end of any City Year meeting, event or circle, an inspirational word or phrase is chosen and everyone puts their hand in the center. Those who cannot reach the center of the huddle can put a hand on the shoulder of the person in front of him or her. The person whose hand is on top of the huddle chooses the word or phrase.
Everyone bounces their hand in a countdown of 1-2-3 or C-Y-G-P and the phrase chosen. This power tool was borrowed from team sports as a way to powerfully bring together all the participants in the meeting, circle or event for one final moment of unity before we close.
If there are guests in the meeting, the Spirit Break should be explained, with the rhythm of the break demonstrated before the actual break. If it is garbled or disjointed, have the group re-do the Spirit Break. It is well worth it to repeat so that you can end on the right note.

Take an Art Class for Free

The Samuel S. Fleisher Art Memorial is guided by the spirit of its founder, who first extended an invitation in 1898 for "the world to come and learn art." Samuel Fleisher's singular vision of high-quality, tuition-free art instruction continues uninterrupted at the Memorial.

Here, children from all economic and cultural backgrounds share in the commonality of the creative experience and the cultural diversity of the city. Adult artists of all levels of experience study with a distinguished faculty of working artists in diverse fine-arts mediums such as painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, photography, and ceramics.

Fleisher's Romanesque-revival sanctuary provides an evocative, expanded musical and performance context for the understanding of time-based arts and the many meanings of culture.
The Challenge exhibition series, established in 1978, presents some of the region's best artists in a highly selective and widely respected competition.

Fleisher Art Memorial - 719 Catharine St. Philadelphia, PA 19147 * 215-922-3456 * www.fleisher.org

Corps Member's tricks to living on a stipend

Living on the stipend can be tricky some times. There are many bills you will have to pay from rent and utilities to groceries and internet. The first thing I suggest to you is to apply for food stamps as soon as you can. I unfortunately did not apply for food stamps before I started working and I have not had time to get them. If you do get food stamps it will really help you because it is basically like getting an extra paycheck every month.

One of the hardest points in the year to get through financially is the winter time. What I recommend is to keep your thermostat as low as you can without your pipes freezing. My house keeps ours at about 55 or 57. All you have to do is get a space heater for your bedroom and an electric blanket for your bed and you will be good to go. Don’t be afraid to put on a few extra layers. Also, it is probably a good idea to keep an extra space heater in the bathroom for after you get out of the shower. I have heard stories about some groups having $700+ bills for heat and electric, so I advise you to be very careful at least for the first month or two of winter. Our house has never had a bill over $130.

As far as food goes I recommend going on a big shopping trip for frozen foods and dinners about once a month and stock up. If you plan it out this way then all you need to buy weekly are things like milk, bread, or anything else you need/want. I also suggest you pack your lunch everyday. Buying lunch can add up very quickly. It is much easier to pack a lunch with a sandwich and a few snacks. I hope that my advice can help you survive on the stipend.

Joe, 18, corps member, Berwind team at Hopkinson

CY 101: Skit (“Getting Skittish”)

One of the best ways to communicate or instruct about a topic or idea is to act out the story that you’re trying to get across. This is a great power tool for communication, as well as using creativity, critical thinking, and teamwork.

Skits can be incorporated into trainings, meetings, after school programs, etc. They can be the warm up, a team builder, an inclusivity training, to emphasize the story being told or the subject at hand.

The writing and practice of the skit makes the participants think clearly about the information they’re presenting to the audience and how best to communicate their point to the viewers. The best skits are both creative and informative.

The Idealist Handbook’s 8 Elements to Successful Skits:

1. Keep it Simple: Brainstorm just one theme and stick with it, rather than being overly complex.
2. Give ‘em a hook!: Grab and hold the audience’s attention with a key line or repetitive action that will drive home your skit’s theme.
3. Don’t be a facts machine: Only incorporate the most important info. Leave out the unnecessary stats.
4. Keep your head in the crowds: Know your audience and tailor the performance to the needs of group.
5. Act simple: Overacting can drain the attention away from the skit’s story, lessening its impact on the audience.
6. May I see your dramatic license, please?: Get creative with the simple elements you have available to you: gestures and props can set the scene for the audience.
7. Glean for lean scenes: Once you get the basics of your skit down, keep them basic. Cut what you don’t need and the audience will appreciate the brevity.
8. It takes a village…to write a skit: Skits are as much about teamwork as teaching a lesson, so make sure everyone’s input is heard.

Starfish Corps Graduation

Yesterday, I had the privilege of going to West Philadelphia High School to help the FirsTrust team there with their Starfish Corps graduation.

The West Philly team ran Starfish Corps, a mini-City Year for 3rd- through 5th grade students, at Lea Elementary this year. To cap off the students' year of service and lessons, the team led the students through a scavenger hunt around the neighborhood.

Starfish visited the library, the YMCA, Malcolm X Park, Barkan Park, and a Water Ice vendor, learning things about their neighborhood and city as they went.

The team that finished first received refurbished trophies courtesy Laura (who collected Irish dancing trophies earlier this year to give out to students) on the Shaw team (which makes up the other half of the FirsTrust West-Shaw Team).

Seeing the kids with the corps members they look up to, having friendly competition, and playing games to celebrate all they've done this year was one of the best afternoons I've had this year, which is saying a lot.

West is just one of many teams wrapping up Starfish Corps this and last week, so thanks for all your hard work, and congratulations to our Starfish!

Mega, 24, recruitment senior corps member

Civil War and Underground Railroad Museum and Lecture Series

Although the museum’s collection is not currently available for public viewing as they move to a new location—having outgrown their old digs at 18th and Pine, the Civil War and Underground Railroad Museum continues to educate about and commemorate the participants in the Civil War and Underground Railroad through lecture series.

These once a month events are on a wide variety of topics and take place at many locations throughout the city and suburbs.
For more information, visit the museum's web site.

Most rewarding In Class Experience

The first day I started in my permanent classrooms, I had an experience that assured me I would be accomplishing great things this year. The last two periods of the day, I am assigned to a 6th grade math class. When I first walked in, I introduced myself to the teacher and took some time to get accustomed to the culture of the class.

Almost immediately I noticed one child being very disruptive. He was calling out, getting out of his seat, and keeping other students from doing their work. The teacher seemed too overwhelmed to discipline the child, so I took it upon myself to try to get him to pay attention. After a few failed attempts, I whispered to him, “I have asked you a few times already. If you do not settle down, I will have to pull you aside and work with you in the back of the class.” He looked at me and immediately called out.

It seemed he only wanted some attention. When I sat down with him, he was able to grasp the concepts with ease. Once he finished his assignment, he ran up to his teacher and said, “Look! I finished!”

At the end of the day, the teacher took my aside. “ I just wanted to thank you, and let you know that was the first assignment he has handed in all year.” Being that it was mid-October, I was stunned. However, the experience was a great start to the year. I continue to work with that student, along with many others. I will always remember that day, as it was one of my most rewarding in-class experiences thus far.

-Caitlin, 23, corps member, Berwind team at Hopkinson School

Leadership Development Days

While the bulk of our trainings happen during BTA and ATA, we are a community of young people that are always striving to learn, and as such, we have monthly Leadership Development Days (LDDs). They are around various topics, including: Diversity, LGBTQI, Health and Safety, and Civic Engagement. These days give us the opportunity to interact with various community resources that are more knowledgeable about the topics which we seek to learn. They also give our corps members the chance to enter discussion with other corps members that they do not see on a day to day basis.

Ragina, 24, ProServe senior corps member

Youth Corps Graduation

A key element of our service at City Year is our Youth Corps: the Young Heroes program for middle school students and the City Heroes program for high school students. These are Saturday service learning programs that teach our students teamwork and that they are not too young to make a difference. Each Hero commits to serving over 100 hours of community service voluntarily.

Last night, the 300+ students in City Year Greater Philadelphia's Young Heroes Center City, Young Heroes Northeast and City Heroes programs graduated. Each received a Presidential Service Award in honor of their commitment to service.

Hundreds of family and friends came out for the evening's event which featured special awards for extra-dedicated Heroes, presentations from our school partners and our corporate sponsors.

Congratulations to our '08-'09 Heroes and thank you for all that you do!

CY 101: Silent Applause

This is a time-saver, and keeps palms from getting bruised in a particularly appreciative audience. Borrowed from American Sign Language, Silent Applause allows an audience to show their appreciation while the speaker continues his or her presentation.

The way to silently applaud is by putting both hands in the air and fluttering them. This power tool can be used pretty much any time you want to show appreciation for something that someone has said.

Old City

As birthplace of the Constitution, among other things, Philadelphia is a city with a long and many-storied history. Walking through Old City, you can truly appreciate all that Philadelphia and Philadelphians have contributed to the nation. You can also see some pretty neat stuff as you stroll.

One of my favorite streets to walk down is Chestnut between 6th and 2nd. You’ve got Independence Hall, a whole bunch of green space, the Bourse, Carpenter’s Hall, the Second Bank, the City Tavern and a whole bunch of other neat little places to pop into. If you’re a history nerd, someone who enjoys people watching, or an urban hiker, this stretch of Old City is a great place to cheaply wile away an afternoon.

Megan, 24, Recruitment Senior Corps Member

Two Minutes

Life in Philadelphia is nothing at all what I pictured it would be. I graduated from college this past May from a small school in Indiana. I thought when I left the college dorms that I would be moving on up to the easy life. Oh how I was wrong.
I live with 5 other City Year Corps Members in a house in West Philadelphia. Every morning we all have to be out of the house by 8:00 a.m. to be at our schools by 8:30 a.m. I have to wake up by 6:43 a.m. to be able to take a hot shower. I used to think that there wasn’t much difference between 6:43 a.m. and 6:45 a.m. But I was dead wrong. Those minutes mean everything to me. Those two minutes mean the difference between a hot and cold shower. Those two minutes means milk with my cereal or no milk with my cereal. Those two minutes means being on time or being late for my day of service
Those two minutes are even more important at school than they are at home. Those two minutes mean a conversation with a student about their plans after high school. Those two minutes mean an extra smile to a teacher who's having a hard day. Those two minutes mean a student finishes his assignment because I stayed with him.
In college if you would have told me that two minutes would have meant so much to me or the people that I run into everyday I would have thought you were wrong. It takes longer than two minutes to change the world. But after my months at City Year I would say that’s all it takes. Two minutes to give a smile to someone to show that they aren’t alone in this world. Two minutes to sit with a student as they finish an assignment that means they pass or don’t pass a class. Two minutes to show a student that you care about their future. Two minutes changes lives.

Susan, 22, corps member, Comcast Team serving at University City High School

CY 101: Ripples (often hand-in-hand with Joys)

To share a “ripple” in City Year is to tell a short, inspirational story about an act of idealism, courage or belief, often with a larger impact and effect than the initial act seemed capable of.

Sharing a ripple puts us in a more inspired, uplifted frame of mind when we do so at the beginning of a meeting, or share a ripple with the entire site at Community Meeting.

Each morning at first circle, City Year corps members are asked to share Joys and Ripples to kick off the day in the right mind set.

The Ripple’s name is taken from the Ripples speech by Robert F. Kennedy in the City Year Founding Stories.

CY 101: Putting Idealism to Work

The Putting Idealism to Work list, or PITW’s, is a set of inspirational and practical advice for making the most of your City Year, written by City Year CEO and co-founder Michael Brown, but contributed to by many, many people. The list includes tips and techniques for getting things done effectively and efficiently. PITW’s also encourage you to be a better leader. PITWs give suggestions on how to reflect and dig deeper into the meaning of service and how to better understand ourselves, our teammates and our organization. They push you to challenge yourself and leave your comfort zone. They promote teamwork.

This list is generated from corps and staff suggestions, and is incorporated into the Daily Briefing at Unity Rally. Meetings as teams or departments are often kicked off with a subject-appropriate PITW.

Examples:

PITW #66: Do three “squishy” things a day. You know you are truly leading when you do at least three things a day that make you a little bit uncomfortable.

PITW #100: City Year is an act of will. City Year does not have a solitary institutional base. City Year is essentially a collective act of will of many people and institutions. As a full-time member of the City Year community, your actions of will make a huge difference.

PITW #140: Take personal responsibility for your own well-being. Often the first thing we lose at City Year is sleep, followed closely by our perspective. It’s very important for all of us to get healthy doses of both, and ensure there is balance in our life and work. Prepare yourself mentally, physically, and emotionally for the times of the year that are harder than others.

PITW #159: This is hard. Be strong.

100 HOP or 100 Hours of Power

100 Hours of Power, or 100HOP, is a service event during which 100 consecutive hours of community service are performed by City Year and community volunteers. This event has three central goals. First, City Year seeks to show people that the opportunity to serve can be found at any time and in any place. Second, it is our goal to engage volunteers in service to their community. Finally, 100 Hours of Power seeks to assist local schools, community centers, and non-profit organizations. Past years’ 100HOP have included cleaning out daycare centers, creating urban farms, and mural painting.

Dave, 23, service leader, DVHS Volunteer Management Team

What I wish I'd known before joining City Year

City Year not only causes physical stress, but there is a lot of emotional stress. You think, “okay, I'm creating after school programs, giving in class support and tutoring—sounds easy enough,” but sometimes it can be difficult. It all depends on the dynamic of your students and how receptive they are. There are definitely days when I feel like I've tried too hard or I've done enough. Whatever happens, succeed or fail, you've still got to give 110%.

If you’re not into your service, it will eventually ripple into students’ performance and that’s something you absolutely do not want. I guess what I'm trying to say is never have a weak heart. There will definitely be times when it feels that way, but you have your team, starfish students, service leaders, staff, project manager, and fellow corps members behind you to make sure you’re serving to your best potential. Just hold and keep the faith cause there are many rewards coming your way. Some are definitely worth more than monetary. These are the rewards you reap in making you the person you will ultimately become and inspire others to be.

Tom, 22, corps member, SEI Team at Mastbaum A.V.T.S. High School

My Deloitte Mentor

Thus far in this relationship with my mentor has been great. We have had a wide variety of informative conversations (mostly through the phone) about my goals and ambitions. He is working hard at providing me with some of his own knowledge about his experiences through his early professional career. Jared is a great fit to be my mentor because he helps me set goals and lets me take the reins from there. He kind of plants the seed of success into my daily activities and lets me decide on how to go about my business. We have weekly check-ins detailing things such as my progress on a certain short term goal, or just seeing how my week has gone. He guides me through other obstacles I have faced and encourages me to do more. The support that he provides has been a blessing and I really appreciate his effort to see me through my year of service.

The aspect of his guidance that I enjoy the most is how he helps me get more focused on tasks at hand. He sometimes walks me through scenarios that could happen and it prepares me for the unexpected. I’m glad that I was chosen to partake in this program because I am seeing the benefits right now. I am becoming even more assertive and confident in the decisions I am making. I hope that this will continue on for future corps members because I have not seen any faults. You make this relationship what you want it to be and take it how far you want it to go. The freedom is great, and it’s all about your future, why not take it to the fullest?

Omar, 22, corps member, FirsTrust team at West Philadelphia High School

Where I Live: North Philadelphia

I live in the North Philadelphia section of the city. I have lived there my entire life, except for the few years I was away at college. My area is not a great area to live in but because I have lived there for so long I am used to everything. When I was a kid the area was much worse. My street alone had many raids into homes because of drugs and such. Since I was in high school, the street became better because most of the criminals were either behind bars or they decided to move away.

I know that everything sounds so bad but there are some good aspects to my neighborhood. There are many things that people can do on a daily basis. There are two recreation centers nearby where children can go play sports or just spend some time with their friends. Another benefit is that there is a mini market on almost every corner, not to mention how many Chinese stores there are around. There are also places that people can go to at night but only if they are 21 years old.

Another benefit is that there are a lot of ways to get around the area. There are many buses around (just about every block has at least one bus). There is also the EL, which is called the elevated Market-Frankford line. That line will get you to downtown and out of the city at the last stop.

The best thing about living in my area is that I am near the school that I serve every day. I serve at Taylor Elementary which is only 20 minutes away on bus. It's very close to my home, which makes it convenient. Also, some of students live nearby so I get to see them even when I am not at the school and I am in my street. I do like living in my neighborhood even if there are some troubles there, but that is everywhere.

Christina, 22, corps member, SAP team at Taylor Elementary

ATA:: Advanced Training Academy

ATA stands for our Advanced Training Academy. This always happens at the mid-year point, and serves as a point of re-unification for our corps members. This year, we had a full day of professional development with out side facilitators on topics like resume writing, creating your personal statement, and credit counseling.

We also did an 18 minute networking event, featuring corps members mingling with City Year alumni and other professionals working throughout Philadelphia and the area.

Ragina, 24, ProServe senior corps member

Real Sports with Chris

Sports are my life, passion and first love. I had nothing else but football and friends when I grew up. My friends and I played nothing but football during my teenage years. The game played a major role in my life and carried me to bigger and better things. I had dreams of playing professionally for the Philadelphia Eagles but remember it was only a dream.
During the summer time, we played football almost every day on our block. It was the best feeling when we played and practiced to make each other better by the time we got to high school. I was considered very talented by my friends and of course I fed off that. When we played football games against other teams, there was a lot of emotion put into it. I was known as a dangerous receiver and I was very proud of it. I scored most of my teams’ points and won us plenty of nail-biting games.
When I got to high school, it was very hard for me to adjust to the official way of playing football. I had to learn the game all over and it took me a while to fit into the format. My freshman year helped me realize that I had a lot to learn. I took time off away from football to run track, which I got really good at by my junior year. In my senior year, I was officially on my high school football team roster. I had a chance to play defense for my team and my coaches called me a “playmaker”. At that time I was happy with myself and it fueled me to push for more.
Chris W., 19, corps member, Wolf Block team at Creighton K-8

CY 101: Power Greeting

Hello! Good Morning! Glad you’re here!

These are all good ways to start your average day. But a City Year event is not an average day. Power Greeting is a tool used to set the town at City Year events like Serve-A-Thon, Opening Day, and Legacy Projects. It is designed to make guests feel more welcome and quickly get them to where they need to be.

There may be just a couple of Power Greeters or a couple dozen. The cheers can be intricate with verses or something as straightforward as clapping. The most important thing about Power Greeting is that it be welcoming, sincere, and enthusiastic.

City Year makes kids feel safe

So this is going to be a weird joy and a weird quote but one of our 6th graders here at Feltonville said this about our City Year classroom:

"If there were zombies, this would be the room to be in. It feels safe here." -Rachel 6th grade.

Ashley A., 24, service leader, CSX team at Feltonville School of Arts and Sciences.

George Mason Alternative Spring Break Reflection

To City Year Philly:

There are times when I lose hope. I get discouraged, even resentful. Sometimes, in the end I’m left feeling burnt out. However, it is organizations like City Year that make me believe, believe that change is possible. All of you have reinforced the idea that Impossible? Is nothing. Thank you for caring, believing, respecting, recognizing, then acting to inspire. I AM INSPIRED, WE ARE INSPIRED.

Ultimately generations are inspired by your work. They say change happens in generations. Well, I am seeing it take place right here, right now. The Unity Rally, the murals, the debriefs and strong circles, the friendships, the laughter and tears, the energy and effortless motivation to love those we know and those we pass by in West Philly, Feltonville, and 52nd Street. Thank you for being visible. Thank you for testing our comfort zones, creating conversation and making Philly a home away from home for a week. I may be leaving with more questions than answers, but I do know one thing for sure--City Year has it--although not my application (yet).”

Justin Fogata, George Mason University ‘09, Alternative Spring Break Participant





Photos by Robyn Lorfink, CYGP

Day to Day Service, an Update from Meg

A typical day of service means that I arrive at the school around 8:15, unless it is a Wednesday when I need to be at school at 7:30. My team always circles in our office at 8:30 and runs through readiness check, joys and ripples, and our agenda for the day. Our first class starts at 9:30, so for the next 45 minutes we have a different theme for each day. On Monday we write down all the students we worked with the week before, on Tuesdays we work on our Life After City Year plans, on Wednesdays we write in our Starfish logs, and on Thursdays we make sure everything is organized for the next week. At 9:27 the bell rings and everyone on my team heads to their first class.

My first class is a 10th grade African American history class. I take two students out of that class and we go back to the City Year office and work on worksheets or read passages out of the book. After 2nd period I go to Ms. LeeHim’s class, which is a 10th grade English class with most of the same students as my second period. I work in-class there, usually working with a few students on the book they are reading at the time. Right now they are reading The Giver, and filling out a packet as they read. When that class ends I head to my period 4/5 class, a freshmen physical science class. For this class I walk around and make sure that everyone stays on task and is copying down notes. After that class ends, I have a half hour to work on different tasks, like planning the Book Club that we are starting at Overbrook soon. Then it’s lunch and I finish the school day in another freshmen physical science class, working with one student who has trouble seeing the board.

Then it’s time for tutoring in the library. This is my favorite time of the day, since we have a few students who come regularly and it’s just more relaxed atmosphere than being in class. This is the time when students talk to you about stuff unrelated to school, and they really begin to open up. The students never like to leave tutoring, but around 4:30 we finish up and they leave. For the next hour and fifteen minutes my team takes care of different tasks. For example, every month we publish a newsletter to give to students and parents, so everyone has a different article that they have to write. This is also the time to have team meetings once a week and plan our next 90% Club event. 90% Club is an initiative with our sponsor, Villa, that rewards students who come to school 9 out of 10 days. We collect attendance once every two weeks and have different prizes for the students who were present. It’s a great program but requires a lot of planning. At 5:45 my team will break and everyone goes home. And that is a day in the life of a City Year corps member serving on the Villa team at Overbrook High School. J

Meg, 19, corps member, Villa team at Overbrook High School

A great work out to go along with a great year of service

Recently, we began playing football on Sunday’s with a lot of random people. We organized the games by telling a few corps members that we were going to play at Clark Park (43rd to 45th on either side of Chester Ave.). Then, they told people. Then those people told people, and it turned into a big recruitment process.

Corps members began playing in January with college, high school and neighborhood teens. Football was a hit (literally). It began to progress every week, which is funny, because we just made up a random place to play.

As a group, we noticed most of the players lived in West Philly. We started telling all the West Philly people to tell their friends and we made announcements at Unity Rally for City Year people to come out.

The games kept getting bigger and bigger and we have a full team that includes linemen, wide receivers, running backs, and a quarterback. It’s a good way to play around with the people that we work with.

Marque, 19, corps member, Eagles Youth Partnership team at Jones Middle School

Basic Training Retreat (BTR)

BTR stands for our Basic Training Retreat. This generally happens during the second week of BTA, and we use this time to really bond as a corps.

We typically leave the city, in true retreat style, and are able to focus on our teams, and the service ahead. Leaving the city allows for a more peaceful, focused reflection.

Ragina, 24, ProServe senior corps member

CY 101: Power Courtesy

Simple courtesy includes being polite in behavior and speech. City Year amps up regular courtesy and turns it into Power Courtesy. Power Courtesy is a great way to engage people unfamiliar with City Year. It also goes a long way in changing people’s view of young adults. Never underestimate the power of small, daily interactions.

Power Courtesy includes, but is not limited to:
• Holding doors open for others
• Saying “Please,” “Thank you,” and “You’re Welcome”
• Making eye contact when you shake someone’s hand
• Standing up on public transportation to let someone else sit down
• Greeting people in the hallways and walking down the street
• Introducing yourself
• Standing up to speak to a group
• Being aware of your surroundings at all times.

These simple, straight forward gestures can transform the way people view you and others like you. You will be taken more seriously. You will impress those around you with your courtesy. You will make people readier to follow you as a leader. You may even notice a change in yourself.

Deloitte: Sponsors and mentors

The Deloitte Mentoring Partnership brings together 20 City Year corps members with 20 Deloitte employees from December-June for a unique mentoring opportunity. Deloitte employees provide City Year corps members with an extended network of support and guidance by:

-Providing extra support, guidance, and motivation needed to help them complete their year of service;
-Providing resources for professional and personal development;
-Helping develop a solid LACY (Life After City Year) Plan; and
-Developing an engaged network of City Year alumni, City Year staff and external partners.

Mentors/megntee partners meet at least once a month both on their own and at structured events.

Dana Martin, Development Director, City Year Greater Philadelphia

Camp City Year

Every year during the School District's Spring Break, City Year runs a day camp to provide a safe place to play and learn while school is out. Preparations for Camp City Year are well underway, because Spring Break is creeping up on us (April 6-9).

Camps are put together over the course of several weeks leading up to spring break. The camps leadership team--corps members who have applied to take on (over and above their day-to-day, in-class time) the challenges of finding places for, planning curricula for, and coordinating the food for 1,000 Kindergarten through 5th grade students.

This year's theme is "Adventures through Time" and will be hosted at four Recreation Centers throughout the city (Myers in Southwest, Marian Anderson in Center City, Murphy in South, and Rivera in Northeast Philadelphia).

Each camper must pay a $10 fee for the week. It's pretty cheap daycare. Each day, students will get to learn about different times and cultures, be fed breakfast, lunch and snack, and be supervised while playing and learning.

Philly Food: Water Ice

Philadelphia is a city well known for specific foods. After all, it’s not a Toledo cheese steak sandwich and it’s not like Denver is known for its soft pretzels. That being said, my favorite Philly specific food is water ice. Now that Daylight Savings Time is upon us and it’s still gorgeous and sunny out, I’m thinking about water ice.

Probably the most common chain to offer water ice is Rita’s. I particularly enjoy their lemon water ice as a refreshing late afternoon treat in muggy July and August. But the best water ice is the kind that comes from the corner store. It’s cheap, it’s plentiful and it comes in a ton of flavors. My particular favorite is to get a small (medium and large are actually humongous) cup of watermelon and pineapple from New Harvest Chinese-American Takeout between 48th and 49th on Spruce Street. It’s $1.50 and the best thing to enjoy on an afternoon in the park. The only caveat: as summer winds down, the owners don’t restock all the flavors, so I found myself limited to only cherry and lemon as options in September. As we gear up for spring, though, I’m pretty amped to see what’s available.

Megan, 24, Recruitment Senior Corps Member

Basic Training Academy

BTA stands for our Basic Training Academy. This is when the bulk of Corps Members’ training happens. BTA lasts for approximately three weeks, and includes a variety of trainings on different topics including: City Year Culture, academic support tutoring, and behavior management tools. During this period, we also do a lot of team building so that we can really come together as a corps, and start our year on a unified note!

Ragina, 24, ProServe senior corps member

It took a village to raise this child

I am from the East Falls section of Philadelphia. Growing up, I was involved in various activities, including student council, basketball and softball in my neighborhood. I truly feel that my hometown is one of a kind. I am proud to have been raised in such a wonderful community. As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child and I am very grateful for all of the love and support I have felt throughout my life.

I serve on the Eagles Youth Partnership team at John Paul Jones Middle School in the Port Richmond area of Philadelphia. Every day my team and I come to Jones with passion and a can-do attitude ready to serve. Each day, every member of my team follows a section of middle school students through their classes offering in-class support and guidance. We also target students that are below basic reading and math levels for one on one tutoring. Aside from academic support, we also run numerous after-school enrichment programs and participate in large and small scale service projects.

I know that I am making a difference because the children I work with are happy every single day I step into their classrooms. Simply knowing that I have the ability to improve the attitude, confidence and grades of a child keeps me focused. This experience is meaningful to me because I know I am an important part of amazing movement. I am honored to give back to my city.

Next year, I plan to return for a second City Year. I want to continue to give back to my city and the youth who shape the future of our community.

Rachel, 19, corps member, Eagles Youth Partnership team at Jones Middle School

Why I returned to City Year

My name is Dave and I'ma 2007 grad of TCNJ. After spending my freshman and sophomore years going to class, having fun with friends and working the occasional shift at the Tutoring Center, I decided I was interested in becoming more active on campus, trying to leave my own mark upon the school.

I began to get involved in a bunch of political organizations and campaigns. Eventually, I was involved in bringing fair trade coffee to the library café and eventually the student center, hosting a lecture by Howard Zinn and working on an environmental campaign to improve the school’s recycling. However, I knew that the extracurricular work I did at TCNJ wouldn’t be enough to satisfy my appetite for change.

Luckily, I stumbled across City Year, which gave me the opportunity to continue working not just for myself, but for others as well. Last year I served with a team of fellow idealists at Kensington High School in Philadelphia. I spent my days tutoring and mentoring students, running after-school programs, engaging parents and teachers, setting up college fairs and fashion shows, and everything else my team and I could do to improve the academics and climate of a struggling urban high school.

I decided to come back to serve a second year largely because of both my successes and regrets from last year. My team and I ran an evening college fair that a third of the entire student body attended—after our principal told us the school wouldn’t have had the resources to host one without us. More personally, I worked directly with a number of students whose lives I was able to impact through tutoring and mentoring. For some, I was able to help them get into colleges like Penn State and Temple after spending the year working on their writing skills. Despite these successes, I knew I could do more. I needed to return to City Year for a second year of service.

The experience has been nothing short of life-changing. A few years ago, I certainly couldn’t have imagined that I’d be living in Philadelphia and making an impact in some of the city’s toughest—also, most inspiring—schools and communities. As much as I’ve expanded upon my professional and leadership skills, the impact I’ve been able to make is what I’ll always take away from these two years. If you’re interested in spending a year working to improve the lives of students in this country, I strongly recommend that you think about a year of service with City Year.

Dave, 23, service leader, DVHS Volunteer Management Team

The Mummers

Mummers tradition dates back to 400 BC and the Roman Festival of Saturnalias where Latin laborers marched in masks throughout the day of satire and gift exchange. This included Celtic variations of “trick-or-treat” and Druidic noise-making to drive away demons for the new year. Reports of rowdy groups “parading” on New Years day in Philadelphia date back before the revolution. Prizes were offered by merchants in the late 1800’s. January 1, 1901 was the first “official” parade offered about $1,725 in prize money from the city.

The Mummers parade is a celebration of the New Year but is serious business in Philadelphia. Clubs work on the costumes and practice all year for their one day in the sun (…wind, rain or snow). There are many lively discussions over the scoring by the judges and adherence to the complicated set of rules the marchers must follow when being judged. String Bands are judged on their musical presentation as well as the costumes. Seeing and hearing a String Band performing live in the parade is a one-of-a-kind experience.

Comic clubs tradition from ancient Greek god Momus who was the personification of mockery, blame, ridicule, scorn, raillery and stinging criticism. Momus was expelled from heaven for his/her criticisms and ridicule of the gods. The comic clubs continue to raise controversy over these themes they use in the parade that make fun of current issues and news stories such as issues involving religion, ethnicity, and feminism. Many Mummers parade controversies over polices, such as the exclusion of women and the use of black-face, lasted many years.
From www.mummers.com

Also, visit www.mummersmuseum.com

CY 101: Physical Training ("PT")

Physical Training, or PT, is an important part of Unity Rally and all City Year service days. It gets the entire corps and staff, as well as any guests we may have, on the same page. It gets our minds and bodies ready for a powerful day of service. PT engages the community by making people ask, “What are you doing?”

PT includes traditional moves like jumping jacks and stretches, as well as City Year-created moves like Philly’s Own Rocky Jacks or Foot Fires.

PT is always on the City Year program, whether it’s at a Service Day, an annual celebratory dinner, Opening Day, or Unity Rally.

When used at major events with guests, PT is first demonstrated by the corps members that make up the PT Crew. The PT Crew is a well-trained, elite PT force that can powerfully lead the corps and their guests through any exercise regimen. Getting PT-certified (knowing all the exercises, all the calls and responses, and the ready positions for all the exercises) is a key part of Basic Training Academy.

A Serve-verse about service

Gazing at the clouds and I started to reminisce
Like man when I was six I couldn't picture this
Changing lives everyday with the moves that I make
The decisions I decide and the steps that I take
Making it happen with my own two Attitude on can-do
Because I can and you can too!

Tay, 19, service leader, Mastery Charter School team

Networking and Veterans

My plan for Leadership After City Year has changed significantly while I’ve been with the program. I initially came to CYGP thinking that it was a year-long stop on my way back to Chicago, where a large number of my family and friends live. Midway through my second year, my priorities shifted.

I still want to pursue my Master of Social Work degree in order to make myself a better public servant.

I still want to provide the best possible care to the men and women of our military who return home injured, physically and emotionally struggling to acclimate back into civilian life.

Rather than go to school in Chicago, though, I want to stay in Philadelphia. I have grown to love this city. I am committed to the students here, the neighborhoods here, and the City Year site here.

Rather than seek employment in Chicago, I will be seeking placement as a case manager at a hospital on an overseas airbase. I do not know how plausible this plan is at present, but I know that if I do not try, the answer is automatically, ‘no.’
In addition to the MSW, I also want to pursue my Master of Science in Social Policy. I feel that earning these two degrees will aid not only in my on the ground service to veterans, but will make me a more powerful player in changing the way veterans are treated upon return home and upon discharge from the military.

This change in plans came after learning about different possibilities in round tables and meetings with professionals in the City Year network. When I first heard about 'networking opportunities' as one of the intangible benefits of City Year, I had now real concept of what that actually meant. Now that I've had conversations with some of the people I've met through City Year, I realize that my service years have opened doors to me that I didn't even know to knock on before I got to CYGP.

Megan, 24, recruitment senior corps member

Where I live: Juniata

Everyone with a huge appetite would love to live in the type of neighborhood I reside in. I live in the Juniata section of the city; it’s very diverse and well-populated. This area is surrounded by many stores and shops that are never empty. I’ve been living in this neighborhood for the past year and a half with a very comfortable feeling about not moving.
I have a very convenient location as well. Now I really relate to the saying, “Location, location, location,” because I live down the street from a bus stop and the Market-Frankford line is three blocks away. I can get downtown in no time as well as to my service site. I hardly have any problems with getting to work late thanks to the transportation that’s available.
Hunger is never an issue with me thanks to all the stores around. My block has a grocery store on one corner and a Chinese store on the opposite corner. I hardly go to either one of the places, but it’s nice that they’re around just in case I get a little hungry. Every morning, I get breakfast from the best place to go on weekdays, WaWa, of course. People always ask me where did I find a WaWa at and I always reply “from home,” Hardly anyone believes me when I say there’s one down the street from my house. When it’s time to go grocery shopping, there’s a Save-A-Lot on the next block over that I go to a lot just because the prices are so good. Being so close to so much food hasn’t taken a toll on my weight, yet I’m glad I don’t have to go to far to get it.
Juniata is a lot different from Olney, the neighborhood I grew up with, in many different ways I’m thankful for. When I was coming up, there really weren’t that many things close by. My friends and I were walkers and distances between places weren’t a problem for us at all. Now that I’m older, places need to be closer and I live in the ideal neighborhood and don’t want to move any time soon.

Chris W., 19, corps member, WolfBlock team at Creighton K-8

Malvern Retreat House

Owned and operated by the Laymen’s Retreat League, Malvern Retreat House is a spiritual sanctuary with a long-standing Catholic retreat history. As the largest Catholic retreat house in the U.S., this spiritual sanctuary hosts 350 private rooms, two chapels, five oratories, a large conference center and a dining hall in the Main Retreat House. In addition, a new, self-contained building entitled the McShain-Horstmann Family Life Center, offers 50 handicap-accessible rooms. In this building, individuals are offered amenities including a private bath in each room. In essence, Malvern Retreat House offers two separate retreat environments; the Main Retreat House and the Family Life Center. Well over one million individuals have participated in the retreat experience since 1922 with approximately 20,000 men, women, families, married couples and youth now making the journey to this countryside sanctuary. This past fall, Malvern Retreat House opened their doors to City Year Greater Philadelphia for our Basic Training Retreat.

My favorite uniform part: The Bomber

My favorite uniform part is my bomber. The reason my bomber is my favorite uniform part is because it wasn’t just giving to my I had to earn it. The way I earned it was by being committed to 10 months of service and waking up with a positive out look on life every day.

Also the bomber represents more than a jacket with a City Year logo on it. The bomber to me means so much, like being a positive role model, being humble and not being self-centered. When looking at my bomber, sometimes I think about the effects I have on the community and the people in the community I serve in. It makes my feel great to know I’m doing something positive with the one life I have and puts my heart at peace when knowing I am doing good deeds.

Last of all, the bomber makes my family proud especially my Ummi. Ummi is the Arabic way to say mother and she smiles every time she sees me in my bright red City Year jacket. It feels like my bomber is a jacket of good deeds and that puts my life in a peaceful state. And this is why my bomber is my favorite uniform part because it’s more than a jacket. It’s my service.

Will, 19, corps member, Deloitte team at Kensington International Business High School

CY 101: NOSTUESO

It’s not Spanish.

NOSTUESO, pronounced “noh-stoo-ess-so,” is an acronym that stands for “No One Speaks Twice Until Everyone Speaks Once.” This is a Power Tool that ensures that all members of a group are able to participate in group discussions. Not everyone on a team is going to be coming from the same place, from an opinion point of view or from a point of view of being comfortable speaking up in a group. NOSTUESO makes it possible for people to get a word in edgewise, rather than deferring group discussion and direction to the loudest or the most talkative.

This is not a practice intended to stifle conversation—it’s meant to do the opposite. Not everyone in the room HAS to speak if they are uncomfortable doing so, or do not feel as though they are adding anything to the discussion. However, this is to be used so that everyone is at least given the opportunity to say something.

NOSTUESO is a tool that can be used like a light switch, turned on when needed in discussion, and turned off when it isn’t.

City Year, one stop on a lifetime of service

My experience with City Year will be so valuable to future employers that I’ve already begun planning for my life after City Year. To keep my options open, I’m getting ready to apply to several different programs. The first being Teach for America, which is a program that would place me in an underserved community and train me to be a full time educator within the school district for two years. I’m also looking into Outward Bound, a non-profit that brings inner-city kids to the sticks to teach social and leadership skills and challenge their abilities with team building workshops and high-ropes courses. I’m also interested in other AmeriCorps opportunities geared toward environmental work and I am currently researching the possibility of spending a year in Patagonia, Chile through the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) where I would receive various certifications in wilderness medical training, risk management, and outdoor education.

Jeff R., 24, corps member, Villa at Overbrook

CY 101: Leave It Better than We Found It (a.k.a. Camp Firing)

Like Front Most, Center Most, Leave It Better than We Found it, or Camp Firing, is a part of Power Courtesy. This is a tool that makes sure all members of a team or group are responsible for cleaning up a room or building after City Year has used it. Much of the space we use in City Year is borrowed, whether for trainings, Youth Corps events, or meetings. A great way to keep getting invited back is to Leave it Better than We Found It.

Even when City Year did not make the mess or move anything in the room, we believe in leaving it better than we found it. Pick up that empty water bottle, even if it’s not yours. The space should be given a once over before leaving, just to make sure that things are cleaned up and ready for whoever uses the room next.

Urban Tree Connection

The mission of the Urban Tree Connection is to assist urban, low-income communities to revitalize their neighborhoods by transforming abandoned open spaces into safe and functional places that inspire and promote positive human interaction.
Urban vacant land is typically concentrated in socio-economically disadvantaged neighborhoods and is often linked to drug-related crime and violence. The City of Philadelphia is currently estimated to have over 30,000 vacant lots, many of which are overgrown, filled with trash and contribute to an appearance of decay and blight.

Urban Tree Connection believes that community-based urban greening is a great way for residents of all ages to bring about positive change in their neighborhood. In addition to beautifying the neighborhood, urban greening projects also provide a variety of economic, environmental, health-related and social benefits.

UTC has collaborated with City Year Greater Philadelphia’s Youth Corps to provide youth with the opportunity to be the change in their own environment.

Teacher to be

City Year hasn’t changed me, it was what I was waiting for my whole life. But I will admit it’s making me a better person, a more responsible person. And it’s given me a career goal. I am almost 100% sure I want to be a teacher, probably a special ed or ESOL teacher. Just because I want to be a teacher doesn’t mean only prospective teachers should join City Year. Children everywhere need someone to help them, just someone to sit there and care, maybe just the few extra minutes that no one else has time for. If you think your life is pointless, be brave. Your life has meaning if it means something to someone else. Step outside your comfort zone. Give a year. Change the World! It’s not as hard as you’d think…

Paige B., 18, corps member, Nutrisystem team at Morrison

Central North Philly--Cool, Nice Place

I’m a native of Central North Philadelphia. It is a low income, predominately African American community. North Philadelphia has a lot of character. All and all it is a beautiful struggle.

Just like any other decision in life there are a host of pro’s and con’s that you must think about before you make an educated decision. The following are a few negative things to consider about this section of Philadelphia. North Philadelphia is an inner city neighborhood that definitely has it's share of problems. Someone that is not familiar with the big city’s hustle and bustle may have a tough time adjusting. With that being said, I have lived in North Philadelphia all of my life. I have never had any altercations with anyone. I have never been robbed, burglarized, beat up or anything crazy like that. For the most of it, the people of North Philadelphia are just hard working families that are just trying to make it through life. No one has any intensions on harming anyone.

The following are some pros. If you want a real big city experience and would like to connect with the community you serve, North Philadelphia is a good place to choose. You can get to almost anywhere in Philadelphia from North Philadelphia via public transportation. Central North Philadelphia is fairly close to center city. It takes approximately a half an hour to reach the office. Another community that is fairly close to North Philadelphia that is a popular place to hang out is Northern Liberties. It has a host of cozy neighborhood-style bars and restaurants and a nice size concert venue.

As far as serious logistics, it is fairly inexpensive to get housing in North Philadelphia. For example, my team mate pays $315 dollars a month to share a three story house with two people. If you live near the Temple University campus as I do, you have the luxury of living in a down to earth neighborhood and having access to things that are not traditionally in a blue collar neighborhood. Temple University has drawn many large name franchises to North Philly that traditionally didn’t service this community. Just to name a few: Starbucks. Subway, Foot Locker, etc.

As far as safety goes, two different police forces serve Central North Philadelphia—the Philadelphia police department and the Temple University Police department. Temple University Police is accredited by the state and has the power to make real, authoritative decisions. If you have any concerns about them check out the Temple website. I hope this was helpful in helping you to make your decision on where you would like to live.

Michael, 23, corps member, Glenmede City Heroes Team

Mayor Michael A. Nutter

Michael A. Nutter is a lifetime Philadelphian with an accomplished career of public service, business, and financial administration. He served as a City Councilperson for nearly 15 years, representing Philadelphia’s fourth district - one of the city’s largest - encompassing the communities of Wynnefield, Overbrook, Roxborough, Manayunk, East Falls, Mt. Airy, and parts of North and West Philadelphia. During his time in council, Nutter worked to lower taxes for Philadelphians. He engineered groundbreaking ethics reform legislation, and led efforts to pass a citywide smoking ban, among countless economic and legislative measures to improve the quality of life for people and businesses in the fourth district and citywide.

In July of 2006, he resigned his City Council seat to run in Philadelphia’s mayoral election. On November 6th, 2007, Michael was overwhelmingly elected Mayor of the City of Philadelphia. He was sworn in as the 98th Mayor of Philadelphia on January 7th, 2008.

Mayor Nutter played a critical role in the development of City Year Greater Philadelphia. Nutter says he first came in contact with the City Year program when he visited Boston in 1997: “One thing led to another and I said, ’Let’s bring this to Philadelphia.’” Nutter paid a visit to Thomas Paine Plaza outside the Municipal Services Building to show his personal support for City Year, and got a workout while he was there: he performed PT with the 200 member corps! He now sits on the Board of Trustees of CYGP. Nutter said of the City Year Corps: “They represent the hope and promise for the future because they’re really doing something in our communities.”

Bringing in resources for our students

We applied for and received the $3,000 SCI-West Community Grant award. SCI-West’s mission is to improve whole communities by making them healthier, more competitive, and better connected to the economic mainstream, and they have deemed the CY team at West Philly to be an able contributor to that goal. In the award letter, they wrote, “We recognize the strong link between the great work that you do to the overall health of West Philadelphia. Organizations such as yours play a fundamental role in the success of our neighborhoods.”

This grant will help to fund a Celebration of the Arts event here at West. The day will include a poetry slam, dance performances, outside facilitators/performers and food. We are hoping to bring in the Twin Poets, a break dancing group, and some other local talent. Another part of the project is the construction of a new mural in the Student Success Center that we can move to the new West when that building opens in a few years.

Miles, 22, service leader, First Trust team at West Philadelphia High School

My favorite uniform part: the backpack

My favorite part of the uniform provided by Timberland is the backpack. The straps are super padded, as is the back of it, so even when it’s heavily loaded down (which is pretty frequently), it sits comfortably on the back.

There are lots of different compartments, including one large back portion, which fits a laptop, a water bottle, a five subject notebook, and a packed lunch with a bit of room for a quarter zip or a vest.

The front zipper pocket has a loop for your keys, a mesh pocket for pens and pencils, a second mesh pocket for cell phone, Tic Tacs and other small items, and ample room for a notepad, a travel size bottle of lotion and hand sanitizer, and a wallet.

Then there are outer pockets and clips, good for attaching a rolled up bomber jacket, holding extra bottles of water or cans of soda, City Year flyers, candy bars, or what have you.

The only downside to the back pack is that the zipper gets jammed kind of often on the largest pocket, but that’s easily fixed and can be avoided. I use my City Year backpack for day to day service, air travel, and grocery shopping. It’s pretty much awesome.

Megan, 24, recruitment senior corps member

CY 101: Vocabulary

One of the things that trips people up (both in their getting to know the organization and understanding its leadership structure) is the vocabulary around the employees of City Year Greater Philadelphia. So here's a crib sheet:

Corps member: These are the ground troops. A corps member is a 17- to 25-year-old person devoting 10 months of his or her life to full-time community service with the youth of Philadelphia. Each corps member is assigned to a team-let of 8-10 fellow corps members, which is managed by a service leader. As a corps member, you are the one working with sutdents and getting them to reach their full potential.

Service leader: This is another young idealist serving for 10 months. This may be a person in his or her second year of volunteering with AmeriCorps through City Year, or it may be a first-year applicant who showed great leadership potential. This person manages the 8-10 corps members' day to day schedules, as well as the partnership with the school in which the team is placed, various community organizations, a corporate sponsor, the rest of the City Year organization, etc. As a service leader, you must understand that your service is often based around facilitating others' work with students.

Senior Corps: Like all oaks are trees, but not all trees are oaks, all service leaders are senior corps, but not all senior corps are service leaders. The senior corps umbrella encompasses second year corps members who serve in the Programs/Service, Visitor's Program and Recruitment Departments. These are people who've elected to do a second year of service, in a leadership capacity, but their focus is not on team-based service. They focus on outreach, corps members' (personal and professional) development, civic engagement and spreading the word of City Year. They work with the rest of the corps, but less frequently and in a less intense capacity than the day to day management of the service leaders.

Project Manager: Project managers are staff members who manage teams that consist of two team-lets. They coordinate efforts of 15-20 corps members, two or more service leaders, 1-2 corporate sponsors, community partners, 2 or more school administrations, and often take on personal projects as the staff point person for such initiatives as Peace Ambassadors, Project Safe Zone, Project P.E.A.C.E., the Literary Magazine, College Fairs, and others. A high proportion of our project managers are folks who've risen through the ranks of corps member and senior corps.

My North Star

I made it to Philly by way of San Diego, California, joining City Year after I graduated from college last May. Even though I'm new to the city, City Year offers one of the best introductions to the city of Philadelphia. The city offers an exciting blend of history and modern day city life.

One of my very first and very vivid memories of Philadelphia was seeing the city skyline for the first time. About a year and a half ago, I was visiting the city with my family and we arrived late at night. I noticed a bright yellow circle in the skyline and it grabbed my attention immediately. I wanted to know what it was because the bright yellow color was so striking. I ended up learning that it was the clock dial to Philadelphia’s City Hall.

The sight of the building still gets me, daylight or night time. It’s a beautiful building with eye-catching architecture. It’s a sight that I am fortunate to see often since it's across the street from where we do our Physical Training (PT) on Tuesday and Friday mornings. I consider it my North Star because I’m always at peace whenever I see it and it always brings me back to the first time I saw it.

- Jackie Lopez, 23, service leader, Deloitte team at Kensington International Business High School

Snow Day!

So, being in my mid-20s, I suppose I should be old enough and dedicated enough to my job that I shouldn't let something like the weather get my hopes up about a day off. On the other hand, I must quote my old roommate and say, "I hope I never get so old that I stop hoping for snow days."

Today, due to inclement weather in Philadelphia, the school district has closed schools and all corps and senior corps are not in service today. We were informed this morning by calling in to the CY Weather Line (a number that has a prerecorded message, updated by 6 a.m. on days that are expected to be crumby enough to merit school closings) that we had a reprieve from an early start and were free to bundle up, stay safe, and enjoy the mid-week day off. I'm planning on working on grad school applications and drinking a lot of hot chocolate.

Megan, 24, Recruitment Senior Corps Member

Make it happen: Corps members' ideas become students' realities

My mom has been trying to get rid of old dance trophies that my sister and I have collected over the years. I remember how much winning those trophies meant to us and how wasteful it was to just throw them out. Instead of getting rid of them, I decided to keep the trophies, clean them up and give them to our Starfish Corps participants at the end of the year. My sister asked me why I didn’t collect enough trophies for all of my team’s after school program kids, rather than just the Starfish Corps?

I thought, why not? I could ask other dance team families to donate their old trophies. I was sure we could find enough. When my dance teacher found out about my project, she suggested setting up a donation table at a local competition, which would enable me to reach out to a larger number of dancers.



So, this past Saturday, I attended the Broesler School Feis (pronounced “fesh” and is the Irish word for “competition”) in Whippany, New Jersey. I wore my City Year jacket and set up an info table that doubled as a trophy drop off area. I made a photo album to display pictures of the students that my team and I work with. This gave the people who donated a vision of who their trophies would go to. I was even introduced to a dancer who is joining another AmeriCorps program this summer. Dancers from dozens of different schools visited my table and by the end of the day, I had received well over 400 trophies!



My sister and I are now working on fixing up the trophies. We are also designing new labels for each set of trophies. I am excited to give as many as we can to the kids that we serve. I promised the families who so graciously donated their well-loved awards, that each one is going to bring a smile to a child’s face.

Laura C., 22, corps member, FirstTrust team at Shaw Middle School

Photos also by Laura C.

Short time for big change

ATTENTION: CAUTION: WARNING: RED ALERT: This is an advertising and recruiting strategy targeted to young idealists ages 17-24 who want to give a year of their lives to change the world. My name is Jeff. I’m a 24 year old native of Bethlehem, PA. Growing up, I attended the Bethlehem Area School District for 13 years (including Kindergarten) until I graduated from Freedom High School. At Freedom, I played four years of soccer and also participated in the student government. Other extra-curricular activities include, but are not limited to: dating a teacher’s daughter, skipping classes from time to time, and faking a seizure in Algebra II (though I absolutely DO NOT recommend or endorse this behavior). Six years later, I will have graduated from Penn State University at University Park, PA, moved to Philadelphia, and joined City Year, a non-profit organization funded by AmeriCorps to serve the community.

The reason for my complete high school disclosure only goes to show the diversity you can expect to experience while in City Year. Corps members are graduates of high school, college, and graduate school, idealists with GEDs, single parents, married, and even members from foreign countries. Through the guidance, instruction, and support of City Year staff, we go out into the community and transform lives by positively impacting the people with whom we work.

As a Corps Member, you can expect to serve your school and community as a role model, tutor, mentor, peacekeeper, and leader to young people that need you to be that extra resource they need to succeed. And the best part about it, City Year gets you in, and you create your own experience and job description however you feel most comfortable. What do you get in return? The list goes on: a weekly living stipend, uniforms provided by Timberland, a T-Mobile phone, first aid and CPR certification, character and leadership development, and an academic award issued by AmeriCorps for $4,725 upon completing your full year of service.

Even though I’ve only been working since the start of September, I’ve already witnessed the impact a group of young idealists can make. Collectively, City Year Greater Philadelphia has renovated five recreational centers in Philadelphia, begun recruiting for next year’s corps to be bigger and better than ever, and started the process of changing the lives of 1000s of students within the 25 schools we serve.

During my average day, I pull struggling students out of their classes to teach them the concepts they find difficult to understand in a more effective one-on-one or small group environment. This way my students receive the individual attention they need. I also spend half of my day helping older students with career and college preparations--assisting with applications, essay writing, and financial aid concerns. At the end of the school day, I spend an hour tutoring different students in different subjects, and continue to develop other after school programs. For example, we are organizing a hip hop club, starting an intramural indoor soccer league, and introducing Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). I do all of this at Overbrook High School in West Philly through our corporate sponsorship with Villa, a popular outfitter in Philadelphia, PA.

I will be rather forthcoming with the reality of this job. It is a true challenge and the degree of difficulty will vary from day to day, but the returns make this job worth it. This is one of the best opportunities you can find to improve the ailing educational system in the United States today. One in four high school students drop out before graduation, and they are the ones we will be counting on to propel our country into the 21st century. As an individual you grow and develop characteristics and abilities you never knew you had. In hard times like these, where jobs are few and far between, why not give a year to service? While the job market is weak now, there is always a market for AmeriCorps volunteers. During your service year, you will strengthen your resume and skill set to appeal to future employers, as well as having more experiences from which to draw. Sure, not all of us look great in bright red jackets and Timberland boots. But when you see us you know who we are. We are City Year and we want you to join us and the rest of the country in the national service movement.

Jeff R., 24, corps member, Villa Team at Overbrook High School

The National Constitution Center

My favorite museum in Philadelphia is the Constitution Center. Not only is this museum informative, but it is also TONS OF FUN! Their exhibits are very interactive and hands on, you can try on robes that the Supreme Court justices wear, take the presidential oath of office and push buttons to watch videos of historic moments in history. They also have a very heartfelt performance piece that they show in the theater called “Freedom Rising” and you can not leave this museum without stopping to view a showing… the first time I saw it, it brought a tear to my eye.

Additionally, they have really cool traveling exhibits that they host for limited amounts of time. Most recently, they had an exhibit that they brought in entitled “Baseball in America” with items from the Baseball Hall of Fame and another one called “The Road to the White House” with different historical items from past presidential elections. Unfortunately, this museum is a little bit expensive, but it is definitely well worth it!

Sam T., 22, corps member, Bank of America Young Heroes Center City Team

City Year Open House

So, you've been invited to join the corp for the '09-'10 year in City Year Greater Philadelphia. Do you know any other young idealists who would make excellent role models to Philadelphia youth? Have you been in to our office to see CYGP for yourself?

Come to our Open House!

Join Us!

23rd and Chestnut, 2nd floor of the Red Cross Building

Wednesday, February 4th, 2009

*30 minute Tours will be led at 12:00pm, 2:00pm, 4:00pm, & 6:00pm

Corps members receive a weekly living stipend, health benefits, a uniform, a T-mobile phone, and an education award.

Apply at www.cityyear.org/joincorps

Application Deadline: Sunday, February 15th, 2009

Questions? Contact the Philadelphia Recruitment Team at philadelphiarecruitment@cityyear.org or at 267-386-7035

Martin Luther King Day of Service

"MLK Day is City Year's largest day of physical service. Every year, City Year corps members lead volunteers in transforming Philadelphia schools in partnership with the United Way. Volunteers can be found painting colorful murals that will line the halls of an elementary school or perhaps revamping the look of an entire high school. Traditionally, City Year will lead volunteers in 3 or 4 schools in one neighborhood to maximize impact on a particular community. For City Year, MLK is not a day off, but a day on—one in which our organization and others can honor the legacy of Martin Luther King in a productive way."
-Dave, 23, Service Leader of the DVHS Volunteer Management Team

Yesterday, City Year Greater Philadelphia worked with the United Way to bring together over 700 volunteers at the Kensington High Schools, Edmunds Elementary, and Brown Elementary school. We painted murals, cleaned up class rooms, painted lockers, and generally brightened the schools' environments. We were joined by Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey, Jr. More than 300 middle and high school students showed up to serve with our Youth Corps in the Young Heroes and City Heroes programs. It was a great day of service and a testament to the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his idea that, "Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve."

Inauguration Day and a Call to Service

"As I stand here today, what gives me the greatest hope of all is not the stone and marble that surrounds us today, but what fills the spaces in between. It is you -- Americans of every race and region and station who came here because you believe in what this country can be and because you want to help us get there.”

—President Barack Obama, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, January 18, 2009

Our newly sworn in President believes that we, the people of the United States, can make the difference in where our country is and where it will be. I don’t believe that we can make the difference. I know we can.

For the last 17 months, I have served with City Year Greater Philadelphia. I worked in the classrooms of Olney High School in North Philadelphia, keeping underclassmen in school and helping seniors figure out how they would make post-graduation dreams realities. I helped the youngest students at Cooke Elementary School’s after school programs improve their reading and math skills, while hearing from them how they wanted to make a positive difference in their community. On Saturdays with our Young Heroes, I watched as a loud, disorganized group of middle school students became a team dedicated to community service. I’ve been able to take part in these transformations, as well as my own, through City Year.

As just one of the 225 young idealists participating in City Year Greater Philadelphia this year, I have gotten to know people from as far away as Siberia and from the heart of Philadelphia. I’ve worked alongside and learned from G.E.D. candidates and masters’ degree holders. I’ve discussed living on a stipend with someone who had a trust fund and someone who split her stipend with her mother so that they could keep the lights on in their apartment.

It has not been easy. This has been the most challenging thing I have done to date. That being said, it is also the most rewarding thing I have ever had the opportunity to do. City Year is not a program for everyone. It is for the idealistic. It is for those seeking to understand. It is for those looking to change the world. It is for those who want to be part of a nation where people from all different backgrounds can build a stronger community, nation and world for all of us.

To join us in changing the world, one student, one mind at a time, visit us at www.cityyear.org/joincorps

Megan, 24, recruitment senior corps member

CY 101: Joys

The service we do in City Year is hard. Students count on you, your service leader counts on you, family and friends count on you. People come to you with problems seeking advice. The hours are long and the pay is low.

In spite of this, every day is full of Joy. That is why City Year encourages our corps members to share their Joys. These are good things that have happened in service, around town and in your non-City Year life. We share Joys because we need to highlight the positives in our days. Too often, people get caught up in the negatives of the world. Taking a moment to really think about what is going well or what has been a simple gift puts things back into perspective.

Example: In my first City Year, I served on the Lincoln Financial Foundation team at Olney High School. We also served after school at Cooke Elementary. This year, I am office-based and don’t do direct service with students on the day to day basis that I did last year. I was able to go to this year’s Olney team’s first day of after school programming at Cooke to help introduce some of the old students to the new team. This was a huge Joy for me. I got to help introduce this year’s team and got to see all the kids I got to know and love last year. Seeing Gabby, who used to read out loud to me for practice, run up to me and hug me while saying, “I get to be in City Year this year!” was one of the most rewarding things I have seen or heard this year. Gabby’s enthusiasm for CY is just one of the Joys that I got to experience on my visiting day back to Cooke.

Bachelor's of Social Work, City Year, Masters of Social Work

My name is Tracy; I am a 23 year old New York City native. While growing up, I have spent years living in New York City as well as Delaware. As a child I practiced dance, played wiffle ball, and ran track. While in high school, I participated in V.I.C.A (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America), TRIO programs, and became a C.N.A (Certified Nursing Assistant). After graduating high school in June of 2004, I attended Delaware State University. While attending Delaware State University, I participated in several different organizations such as Delaware State University Marching Band, Ronald McNair Post Baccalaureate Research Program, and I was president of the Social Work Club. During May of 2008, I graduated from Delaware State University with my bachelors’ of Social Work. I had an eventful yet challenging experience in college and my alma mater has molded me into a young professional dedicated to making a difference on the path to success.

I am now an AmeriCorps member serving with City Year Greater Philadelphia. All corps members work in teams to enhance the student’s academics skills through full time tutoring and mentoring. Along with tutoring and mentoring there are three main programs City Year focuses on throughout the school year which are Starfish, Young Heroes, and City Heroes. Starfish involves 3rd-5th graders, Young Heroes involve 6th-8th graders, and City Heroes involve 9th-12th graders.

I joined City Year due to my high interest in working with inner city youth. The majority of crime that is committed by youth happens between the hours of 3pm-7pm. There are entirely too many “latch key” children roaming the streets of Philadelphia as well as other major cities. Aside from street engagement many children are steadily failing in their academia. Rather than focusing on ways to rehabilitate youth, I wanted to look at ways I can prevent youth from failing academically as well as engaging in senseless violence.

South Philadelphia High School and SouthWark Elementary school are two inner city schools I currently serve. I am working on several projects for an African American History class and I am mentoring a senior in his senior research project. I also work with the school cheerleading squad and have incorporated my own drum line dance team. I enjoy working with the students at both schools and they are the very reason I continue to wake up in the morning.

Next year, I plan to attend Temple University Master’s of Social Work advanced standing program. I believe education forces people to become successful as well as enable people to break the barriers they are encountered with on a daily basis. I am extremely content with the choice I have made after undergraduate school and I believe my City Year experience will change my life and each of my student’s life.

Tracy M., 23, corps member, Sunoco Team at South Philadelphia HS

Where I choose to stay

I relocated to Philadelphia from the Midwest. I relied on fellow corps members who were moving into the city from the suburbs to find a place for us to live. I had no idea which neighborhoods were which, or what was a reasonable rent. I wound up staying in University City down at 46th and Chester. It was a great location, but my rent was way, way higher than it should have been for the quality of the building and the responsiveness/helpfulness of the landlord.
This year I moved further north and west, at roughly 50th and Spruce. I dig my neighborhood, but will likely move further south again if I stay in Philadelphia.

To compare the two areas:
• They both have parks. Clark Park is more hopping than Barkan Park, though. Point: University City
• Grocery: There are Fresh Grocers at 56th and Spruce, 54th and Chester, and 40th and Walnut. There’s a Shop’N’Bag at 43rd and Walnut. My recommendation is the Shop’N’Bag or the 40th and Walnut Fresh Grocer. The selection at 40th and Walnut is better than at 54th and Chester, and I’ve had trouble with expired food at the 54th and Chester Fresh Grocer. This location is also between my service site and my home, so it's easy to stop by on my way home. The Shop’N’Bag has pretty good produce. All are easily accessible via public transportation or walking from where I stayed last year as well as this year. My preferred store is easier to get to this year, though, so Point: West Philadelphia
• Laundry: The place I stayed last year had laundry machines in the basement, but sometimes it was faster or I wanted to be in an air conditioned place and went to the Ultra Clean Laundromat at 47th and Baltimore. Now I go to the Laundromat at 49th and Spruce. The one I go to now offers one more minute per quarter for dryer time, so Point: West Philadelphia.
• Public Transportation: Last year, I could take any one of 4 trolleys to get home. If I didn’t catch the 13, which rolls right down Chester, I could take the 34 and walk two blocks south from Baltimore. Or I could take the 11 or the 36 and walk two blocks north from Woodland. I got spoiled on it, because I could be to the office in 30 minutes. This year, I have the 42 or the 21 bus. If I take the 21, I just have to walk a block to catch it or to get home from it. The bus is much slower than the trolleys, and I miss having so many options to get to and from work and play. Point: University City
• Night life: I usually wind up going to Center City or South Street to hang out in the evening, getting food or drink. Yet there are a number of pretty good spots along Baltimore Avenue. Dahlak (www.dahlakrestaurant.com) is an Eritrean bar and restaurant at 47th and Baltimore that made me like beets. I hated beets, or so I thought, until I tried Dahlak. That’s how good this place is. At 50th and Baltimore, there’s a brewery/pizza place called Dock Street (www.dockstreetbeer.com), which is delicious, but the service is terrible. Whether it’s crowded or busy, it’s always slow. Point: Toss Up.

Megan, 24, recruitment senior corps member