City Year Los Angeles E-Newsletter

October 2007

www.cityyear.org/los_angeles

In this issue

L.A. FACTOID:

Twenty-four million people come to Los Angeles every year for their vacation.

COUNTDOWN TO MLK DAY OF SERVICE:

109 DAYS

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75 YOUNG ADULTS PLEDGE TO SERVE 127,500 HOURS IN LOS ANGELES THIS YEAR
Putting Idealism To Work

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Mayor Villaraigosa proudly stands with CYLA inagural corps memebers.

At a spirited Opening Day ceremony led by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, 75 young leaders pledged to serve community and country as members of the inaugural City Year Los Angeles 2007-2008 Corps.

The Opening Day event at Los Angeles City Hall featured remarks by Mayor Villaraigosa before an audience of more than 200 community, corporate and civic leaders, local citizens, friends and family. Special guests in attendance also included Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles City Council Member Tom LaBonge, School Board Member Marlene Canter of the Los Angeles Unified School District, City Year Los Angeles Board Chair Andrew Hauptman, and Frank W. Epinger, Sr. V.P.and Branch Manager of Smith Barney Downtown L.A.

"Make no mistake about it, City Year Los Angeles is destined to make change . . . And who better than all of you, the first class of young people of hope, of optimism, of a can-do spirit , who really want to make a difference? So I wanted to acknowledge you, to thank you, for your work," commented Mayor Villaraigosa as he addressed the inaugural corps members.

After the Opening Day ceremony, the corps and Smith Barney employees put their idealism to work by engaging in service projects at Utah Street Elementary School in Boyle Heights

CITY YEAR LOS ANGELES RECEIVES GRANT FROM UNITED WAY

City Year Los Angeles is proud to announce that is was selected along with 138 other L.A. area non-profit organizations to be part of the United Way of Greater Los Angeles' new "Pathways out of Poverty" campaign. CYLA received a three-year grant in support of City Year's leadership development and "Life After City Year" (LACY) program.

The grant will enable CYLA to help prepare corps members to be successful after their experience by ensuring that they have skills and support to enter the work force or pursue further education. CYLA is excited to partner with the United Way to provide opportunities for young people to succeed in Los Angeles, both during their year of service and beyond.

SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS

The CYLA senior corps and actress Jennie Garth hard at work.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE WITH KaBOOM!

On Wednesday, August 28, the City Year Los Angeles senior corps members set out to Villa Hermosa, a housing complex near downtown Los Angeles, to help build an entire playground in one day. The day was hosted by KaBOOM!, a national non-profit founded by City Year Chicago alum Darrell Hammond whose mission is to build a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America.

The corps spent the day hauling mulch, constructing picnic benches, playground stages, and engaging the youth of Villa Hermosa in activities. Actress Jennie Garth and Councilmember Bernard C. Parks thanked the volunteers for their hard work and shared their thoughts about the need for children to have a safe place to play. In just six short hours, with less than two hundred volunteers, combining the work of five separate non-profit organizations, a new viable play-space was built, bringing Los Angeles just a little bit closer to the dream of having a great place to play for every child.

IN SERVICE WITH THE LOS ANGELES REGIONAL FOOD BANK

On Friday September 7, 2007, City Year Los Angeles Corps members spent an afternoon working at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. This was a powerful day of service for incoming corps members. Service included learning about the hunger and poverty issues in Los Angeles , sorting food, and bonding as a team.

The CYLA corps members at the LA Regional Food Bank.

FOUNDING CORPS MEMBER PROFILE
Founding It Right

SheenaRedJacket.jpg picture by cityyearla

Sheena Edmond
Age: 17
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Serving in Boyle Heights at Hollenbeck Middle School

Why do you serve with City Year?
I want to serve with City Year to give back to my community, to help kids with obstacles in life that I dealt with growing up, to develop and grow as an individual, and to improve my communication and public speaking skills.

What has been your favorite part so far?
I've really enjoyed learning about the school that I will be serving in, Hollenbeck Middle School .Â Getting to know everyone at City Year has also helped me to trust and work with others.

What does teamwork mean to you?
It means helping others to reach a common goal and to become strong and united in a shared experience.

What are you looking forward to the most for our founding year?
My main goal is to help the students, at least one. I want to get to know them as I serve my community. I am also really looking forward to becoming friends with my team and everyone else at CYLA.

JOIN THE TEAM

Apply to become a part of the City Year Los Angeles founding team

City Year Los Angeles is recruiting staff members for its founding year. Open positions include Recruitment Director, Recruitment Manager, and Operations Manger/Executive Assistant. To learn more about these positions or to apply, please contact Allison Graff-Weisner at cylajobs@cityyear.org or visit our web site.

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