While Boston’s nickname is The Hub, known for being a vibrant center for academia, business, tech and medicine, some students in Boston face significant challenges every day. Together we can help students build on their strengths and thrive.
While Boston is known for being a vibrant center for academic, business, tech, and medicine, some students face significant education inequities and challenges every day. As the largest school district in Massachusetts, Boston Public Schools enrolls more than 53,000 students across 125 schools.
I came into my service experience with an open mind and heart and left humbled, with a passion for doing my part as a citizen and leader in my community to support positive change.
Matt Axelrod City Year Boston, ‘88
Your Corps Experience
City Year Boston partners with Boston Public Schoolshelp create environments where all students can build on their strengths and fully engage in their learning. Our AmeriCorps members serve in schools all day, every day, preparing students with the skills and mindsets to thrive in school and in life.
They serve as tutors, mentors, and role models to students who need extra time and support to engage in school and stay on track to graduation. For many of our students, having this one-on-one attention is so important. Boston has the finest teachers in the country, but teachers can’t do it alone. And that’s where City Year lends a hand.
And AmeriCorps members are truly making an impact. Last school year, 77% of elementary school students maintained or improved performance on math assessments, and 85% improved performance in English. What’s more is that City Year is having an impact on whole school outcomes. 91% of our school partners agreed that City Year AmeriCorps members serve as positive role models to students in school. This close-knit community with ample opportunities to develop meaningful personal and professional relationships makes Boston an ideal place to serve.
Our Schools
As the largest school district in Massachusetts, Boston Public Schools (BPS) enrolls more than 53,000 students across 125 schools. Boston Public Schools is home to a wide variety of students, who come from many different backgrounds and ethnicities, with many different languages spoken by families and students. 42.5% of students are Hispanic, 33% Black, 14% White, 9% Asian, and 1.5% multi-racial or other. 45% of students do not speak English as their first language.
In the 2019-2020 school year, 250 AmeriCorps members serve in 25 BPS elementary,middle, and high schools.
Transportation to School
Most schools within Boston Public Schools are accessible by public transportation, the MBTA. City Year Boston AmeriCorps members receive a free MBTA pass which allows for travel on subway, buses, and commuter rail.
Professional Development
One of City Year Boston’s priorities is to support the personal and professional growth of AmeriCorps members by offering programming throughout the year designed to help you discover or pursue your post-service plans and ways you can continue to be a leader after your time with City Year.
18-Minute Networking – A networking event hosted by Deloitte that includes professional development workshops on networking, job searching, and financial planning, as well as an opportunity to speak with professionals in a field of your interest.
Comcast Careers Day – As part of our national partnership, Comcast NBCUniversal provides a day of professional development to support City Year AmeriCorps members preparedness for college and career following your year of service.
Public Speaking – Throughout the year, City Year Boston hosts a number of events where AmeriCorps members share their service story through writing and public speaking.
Comms Crew – Working closely with City Year Boston’s Communications department, help share service stories and highlight AmeriCorps members’ work in Boston Public Schools through the school team’s Instagram account and other storytelling opportunities.
Aside from support from Impact Managers and Team Leaders, AmeriCorps members receive support from City Year Boston’s entire beloved community. With more than 60% of our staff being City Year alumni, you will always have a strong network of individuals to give advice or lend support regarding your experience.
Community Involvement
Create a positive climate of civic engagement that ripples throughout the Boston community! During the service year, AmeriCorps members participate in community service across the city and help beautify the community by painting murals and common spacesin schools andcreating school supply kits for students and classrooms.
Over the last 30 years we have built robust relationships with Boston Public Schools, teachers, families and the community at large. We can’t wait to welcome you.
@bostonglobe hosted a panel with their Great Divide team on June 26th, 2020. This panel discussed diverse perspectives on what a safe school reopening could, and should, look like. They delved into challenging topics such as the health, emotional, educational well-being of their students, families, and staff. The speakers included in this panel were: David Venter, the father of a child with special needs at Boston Green Academy; Newton Schools Superintendent David Fleishman; Jose Valenzuela, a teacher at Boston Latin Academy; and Sarah Dryden-Peterson, who researches education in times of disruption and uncertainty at Harvard Graduate School of Education. Take a look at what they had to say, in the link in our bio!
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[Photo description: 1) The Great Divide cover. 2) a picture of all the panelist on the zoom call.]
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#CityYearBoston #TheGreatDivide #BostonGlobe...
A #tbt to three weeks ago. We can’t believe it’s been that long since we said #CYgoodbye to our dedicated AmeriCorps members. 😱We were even honored with a congratulatory video from our very own Boston Mayor, Marty Walsh! Thank you for being a part of this special day.😊
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Did you get a chance to see our AmeriCorps member graduate? Click the link in our bio to re-watch all the great moments!🎓
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[Video description: Mayor Marty Walsh in his office saying congratulations to our 2019-2020 class.]
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#CYBGraduates #Boston #CityYearBoston...
The last award that we want to recognize is the Coolidge Citizen Award that honors a team with outstanding leadership and demonstrates accomplishments in civic engagement, mobilization, and action.
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The winner of this award is the @BostonCivicEngagement team! This team exemplified great leadership in every aspect of their service, whether they were coordinating two events at a time, building strong relationships with partners, or piloting new programs to strengthen CYB’s commitment to Boston’s schools. This team demonstrates what it means to be committed to “a cause greater than self."
Way to go BCE team!! We are so proud of you!❤️💛
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[Photo description: A graphic of Boston Civic Engagement team sponsored by National Grid.]
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#CYBGraduates...
The next award that we are going to honor is the John O’ Connor Award. This award is in memory of John O’ Connor. His best friend, Charlie Rose (Dean of City Year) remembers him as a man who was deeply committed to his community. •
The winner of this award, Shaun Kleber is a community activist, someone who thoughtfully builds and supports the City Year, school, and/or neighborhood community. He has demonstrated a strong commitment to the many communities that City Year serves, classrooms, schools, neighborhoods – and indeed our entire city. ❤️💛 Congratulations once again, Shaun! 🎉
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• [Photo description: A graphic of AmeriCorps Member and Team Leader, Shaun Kleber a part of the Summit Partners team serving at the @CYB_UpBoston.]
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#CYBGraduates 🎓🎈...
The next award we want to commemorate is the Wilmer Hale LLC Civic Innovation Award. 🏆
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This award was inspired as a tribute to John D. Hamilton, Jr. who served as Managing Partner of the law firm and as Vice Chairman of the City Year Boston Board. This award goes to an AmeriCorps member who powerfully impacted City Year Boston and it’s constituents through their initiative, innovative spirts.
Jordan Kettle demonstrated this through her service at @CYB_UpBoston, working with 8th graders. During her time at UAB she created a program called “Life After Middle School,” or L.A.M.S for short. This program helped her students discuss topics that range from money to mindfulness. It was a space for students to consider their priorities and gain skills that will follow them throughout high school. Not only that, but she also worked with her school’s administration and partner teacher to create, “Students Advocating for Students,” or S.A.S for short. S.A.S is a student-led group, where the students are empowered to identify challenges, brainstorm solutions, plan for advocacy strategies, and turn their ideas into action!
Way to go, Jordan! 👏This award is well-deserved.😊
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• [Photo description: A graphic of AmeriCorps Member, Jordan Kettle a part of the Summit Partners Team serving at UP Academy Boston.]
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#CYBGraduates 🎓...
We want to take the time to recognize our AmeriCorps and teams who won graduation awards. Over the next couple of weeks, we will be honoring those who have won to celebrate their achievements!😄
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First up is the NBC @ComcastUniversal Leadership Awards. This award honors an AmeriCorps member who has exhibited exceptional leadership qualities during service. They also have the ability to unify, motivate, and inspire others to achieve the best outcome for any project or task. This year, the Comcast Leadership Award was given to Samantha Huynh. She has been described as a force ever since she walked through the @cyb_Tobinschool doors. Thank you for your exceptional leadership, Samantha! 👏❤️
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• [Photo description: A graphic of AmeriCorps Member and Team Leader Samantha Huynh who was a part of the Public Consulting Group Inc Team, proudly serving at Maurice J. Tobin K-8 School.]
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#CYBGraduates 🎓...
![A #tbt to three weeks ago. We can’t believe it’s been that long since we said #CYgoodbye to our dedicated AmeriCorps members. 😱We were even honored with a congratulatory video from our very own Boston Mayor, Marty Walsh! Thank you for being a part of this special day.😊
•
Did you get a chance to see our AmeriCorps member graduate? Click the link in our bio to re-watch all the great moments!🎓
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[Video description: Mayor Marty Walsh in his office saying congratulations to our 2019-2020 class.]
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#CYBGraduates #Boston #CityYearBoston](https://www.cityyear.org/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed-pro/img/placeholder.png)
