Leadership Development

As a City Year corps member, you will be provided with the skills and experiences you need to change the world. City Year offers leadership development training throughout the year. You will develop skills and experience in the following leadership areas: working with children and youth; team leadership; project planning and management; civic knowledge; public speaking and communication; and community assessment.

• Working with Children and Youth
  example: Learn from experts about how to identify and help students at risk of failing, especially by understanding your unique role as someone who is neither a peer nor a parent.

“The trainings we receive help us use our time with children well. Now, I can give students the extra needed attention and a learning environment in which they can thrive. There are so many kids in our communities who need a corps member in a red jacket to give them the confidence and attention they need to succeed in school and life.”

– Chris Reilly, Corps Member

• Team Leadership    
  example: Lead a team of City Year corps members in planning fun learning activities for Camp City Year, a positive camp experience conducted during school vacation.

“The experience, lessons and skills I acquired as a City Year corps member are so important: working one-on-one and in a group with children has taught me patience and perseverance; having opportunities to lead my team in service has made me a more confident person in everything I do; and working with an extremely diverse group of young adults has made me realize my own strengths and appreciate those of my peers.”

– Sara Wasserman, Corps Member

• Project Planning and Management
  example: Plan and organize a Thanksgiving can drive for a local food bank by securing in-kind donations, managing a limited budget and delivering excellent service.

“I have gained more skills and learned more lessons working at City Year than I have at any other job. The leadership, time management, planning and team building skills that I acquired are so valuable to me now and will remain valuable assets to me in the future.”

– Jed Cindric, Corps Member

• Civic Knowledge
  example: Work with a student government organization to learn about legislation affecting high school students and write letters to state and local representatives about its impact.

“City Year taught me how to use every experience and piece of knowledge as a step toward becoming a stronger, wiser and more socially aware citizen.”

– Sylvia Roldan, Corps Member

• Public Speaking and Communication
  example: Talk about your involvement in national service before the City Council or at the State House.

“I have learned that effective communication and relationship building is at the core of everything we do at City Year. Whether it is meeting with new champions, speaking with potential corps members, developing school partnerships or engaging an elementary school class in a poetry workshop, all of our service revolves around communication and relationships.”

– Russell Haynes, Corps Member

• Community Assessment
  example: Create a map of community centers, libraries, health clinics and police stations in the neighborhood to help students and parents identify resources in the area.

“I spent four years in this city while I was in college. Then I came to City Year and was fortunate to receive a whole other part of my education. As a corps member, I experienced more of the city in a month than I had in the four previous years."

– Deena Rosner, Corps Member