Making an impact after City Year

City Year AmeriCorps members not only make a difference in the lives of the students they serve but also acquire valuable experience that prepares them to be leaders in their communities and careers.

Our alums—now almost 40,000 strong nationwide—are making significant contributions as leaders across a range of professional fields, including education and youth development fields.
Check-out the incredible ways our 2020-2021 City Year Milwaukee AmeriCorps members plan to make an impact as alumni through their post-service plans.

Katie Krause

City Year AmeriCorps member at Casimir Pulaski High School

“I will be serving with Teach For America! I will be doing special education for ninth graders at Bradely Tech High School!

“I serve because I was raised by Milwaukee Public Schools, and it is my honor to give back to my community through the empowerment of our students. It is my mission to create safe spaces for students where they feel as if they can be their full authentic self, so they will be ready to accomplish their own academic aspirations.”

Ricquele Brooks

City Year AmeriCorps member on the United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County Team at James Madison Academic Campus

Ricquele will be returning to City Year Milwaukee to serve as a second-year AmeriCorps member!

When asked why she serves, Ricquele said, “I serve with City Year because I want to be a part of something bigger than myself. I didn’t have people like City Year in my life as a kid growing up that I needed or even a real mentor. I was always scared to open up when I struggled at things in the classroom. But putting myself in the opposite shoes to help kids like I was at their age is something I look forward to.”

El Kallo

Team Leader at Harold S. Vincent High School

“My name is El Kallo. I serve as a Team Leader at Vincent Highschool. I’m so thrilled to say that I will be able to return to school after City Year, in order to get my master’s in counseling psychology at Oklahoma State University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. My time at City Year opened the door to this possibility through a partnership grant with City Year that has allowed Oklahoma State University to give me a full tuition waiver! My goal is to be a therapist for LGBTQ+ young people, especially for gender expansive folx – this is a huge step towards that goal.

“I serve because I believe in the power of young people: students and AmeriCorps members alike. Last year, City Year offered me innumerable opportunities for growth and self-reflection, as well as the support I needed to take it all in. This year, I hope to provide that same level of care and motivation for my team, so that they can put their all into serving the phenomenal young people we have the honor of teaching. Together, we can support our students and each other as we navigate these unprecedented times.”

Allison Kadampelil

City Year AmeriCorps member at Roosevelt Middle School of the Arts

“I plan on starting medical school this fall at either Rosalind Franklin University or Medical College of Wisconsin.

“City Year has allowed me to work intimately with the populations I hope to serve as a future physician. It’s given me early insight into the needs of people, and it has allowed me to flourish and grow as a person while serving my community.”

Michaela Hensley

Team Leader on the United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County Team at James Madison Academic Campus

“I will be moving to Chicago to work as a customer success advocate at n2y to provide technology for students with disabilities.

City Year has given me the space to grow in my leadership skills, as well as my interpersonal skills. My two years at City Year Milwaukee have helped shaped the person I am today, and I am forever grateful.

According to the 2020 City Year Alumni Survey, 91% of alums agree that their City Year experience had a significantly positive impact on their lives, and 93% of alums said City Year helped them to develop relationships with people from different backgrounds than their own.