Celebrating Our 10th Anniversary with MLK Day of Service

Celebrating Our 10th Anniversary with MLK Day of Service

On January 17, City Year Orlando commemorated 10 years of service to Orlando schools and neighborhoods with three physical service projects. City Year will continue to give back to the city that launched its service in January 2012, as well as the diverse communities who have helped sustain its service. 

Through a series of events, service days, and other activities, City Year was able to engage new and existing community champions to celebrate this milestone. City Year Orlando staff, corps and alumni served alongside The Mustard Seed, City of Orlando’s Planting Seedlings for Civil Rights and Coalition for the Homeless to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. To view all photos from these MLK Day of Service projects, click here. 

“Every year, City Year Orlando honors the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a day of service to commemorate Dr. King’s dream of the Beloved Community,” said Jared Billings, executive director for City Year Orlando. “This year marks our 10th anniversary in Orlando serving students and schools all day, every day, throughout the school year. For City Year, Dr. King’s birthday is a service day on, not a day off. Our staff and corps are energized by physical service projects to further celebrate the impact each of us can have to build strong, vibrant communities.” 

Since our launch in 2012, City Year Orlando has served thousands of students to increase academic and social-emotional skills.  

• 3,500+ students have received targeted math support 
• 70% of students were at school more often through attendance support initiatives  
• 3,700+ students have received targeted English Language Arts/reading support 
• 2,200+ students worked on their social-emotional and behavior skill set 
• 97% of partner teachers agree/strongly agree that City Year AmeriCorps members provide valuable support to their classrooms 

More than a gap year, City Year Orlando also serves as a launching pad for young people to jumpstart their careers, where they develop critical leadership skills and receive education benefits to pursue professions in a wide array of industries.  

“City Year Orlando changed the trajectory of my life,” said City Year alumna Meaghan Schneider. “I will be forever grateful to City Year for helping me find my passion.” Meaghan is now a first-year geometry teacher at the City Year Orlando partner school where she served for two years, Oak Ridge High School. Meaghan is also leveraging the Segal Education Award for completing her City Year service and continues her education through a master’s program in educational leadership and policy.  

City Year Orlando is proud to celebrate ten years of service to the students, families and communities in Orlando. To learn more about our upcoming events celebrating this milestone and ways you can get involved, click here.