Michelle Tafel of City Year DC Named to Washington Business Journal’s “40 Under 40”

Washington, D.C.–City Year Washington D.C.’s Executive Director and Vice President has been named to the Washington Business Journal’s 2020 40 Under 40—an elite list of business owners, CEOs, nonprofit executives, law firm partners and other corporate leaders “making waves in Greater Washington.”

Michelle Tafel is an experienced education executive who isn’t leading in the classroom. Instead, she is leading nearly 30 staff and 150 AmeriCorps members providing tutoring, mentoring and role modeling to D.C. Public Schools students. City Year D.C. has a local budget of around $7 million — personnel are in 19 schools, working with more than 7,000 students to build on social-emotional learning, attendance, math and literacy.

Tafel is passionate about service to the community and began her career serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA at College Summit. She joined staff and spent 13 years in various roles, including chief innovation officer and eventually chief strategy and innovation officer. In 2017, she joined City Year D.C. as executive director.

The Business Journal stated that the 40 Under 40 winners were judged on professional accomplishments, community leadership, awards and milestones. Ms. Tafel and her fellow honorees were recognized at a virtual award ceremony on July 30.

Learn more at cityyear.org/dc.

Twitter and Instagram: @cityyearWDC

Michelle’s Twitter and Instagram: @cydcmichelle

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About City Year: City Year helps students and schools succeed. Diverse teams of City Year AmeriCorps members provide support to students, classrooms and the whole school, helping to ensure that students in systemically under-resourced schools receive a high-quality education that prepares them with the skills and mindsets to thrive and contribute to their community. A 2015 study shows that schools that partner with City Year were up to two-three times more likely to improve on math and English assessments. A proud member of the AmeriCorps national service network, City Year is supported by the Corporation for National and Community Service, local school districts and private philanthropy. City Year partners with public schools in 29 communities across the U.S. and through international affiliates in the U.K. and South Africa. Learn more at www.cityyear.org.

Local media contact: Megan Truman