As “Student Success Coaches,” our AmeriCorps members work with teachers and principals to provide holistic support, helping to ensure that students in systemically under-resourced schools have the support they need to thrive.
As “Student Success Coaches,” City Year Philadelphia AmeriCorps members work with teachers and principals to provide holistic support, helping to ensure that students in systemically under-resourced schools have the support they need to thrive. Corps members work alongside students in schools all day, every day.
City Year's mission statement of working towards a cause greater than myself has really stuck with me. Just remembering that goal and why I’m doing the work is something that I learned at City Year and will carry with me for the rest of my career.
A close-knit community with ample opportunities to develop meaningful personal and professional relationships, Philadelphia is an ideal place to serve.
We partner with teachers and principals to ensure that students develop strong skills that will help prepare them for college, career and civic life. We serve in schools in neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia, supporting over 10,000 students annually. AmeriCorps members also forge positive, caring relationships with students, as mentors and help create an environment where students can build on their strengths, take risks in their learning and feel connected to their school.
By engaging students, families and community organizations, City Year helps the Philadelphia School District achieve its mission of providing the civil right of every child in Philadelphia to an excellent public-school education and ensuring that all children graduate from high school ready to succeed.
Our schools
There are currently 203,229 students enrolled in the Philadelphia School District across 341 schools. The Philadelphia School District is home to a wide variety of students, who come from many different backgrounds and ethnicities, with 157 different languages spoken by families and students. 53% of students are Black African American, 20% Hispanic Latino, 14% White, 7% Asian and 6% being multi-racial or other.
City Year Philadelphia AmeriCorps members serve in 13 elementary, middle, and high schools throughout the city. You can view our current school partners below.
Work with a committed and diverse group of 6–12 City Year AmeriCorps members who share your passion for service and personal growth. Each team at City Year Philadelphia is managed by one Impact Manager and supported by 1–2 Senior AmeriCorps members who serve as Team Leaders.
Transportation to school
Most schools within the district are accessible by public transportation, SEPTA, with the Market Frankford line, Broad Street line, trolleys and buses being the primary route for our AmeriCorps members. Transportation passes are given, on a monthly basis, to AmeriCorps members who need them. However, there are AmeriCorps members who choose to drive and/or carpool to their specific schools.
Benefits & Professional Development
The skills and experiences you gain as a City Year AmeriCorps member will help build your resume no matter what career field you intend to pursue. We offer special programming throughout the service year that is designed to help our AmeriCorps members continue leading after City Year and achieve their professional goals.
Benefits and professional development programs include but are not limited to:
Compensation:
$25,875 annual living stipend (pre-tax), paid in biweekly installments
$500 (pre-tax) relocation payment if relocating 50 miles or more for service
$6,895 Segal Education Award—can be used to further your education or pay off student loans
Networking opportunities with over 35,000 alumni nationwide.
Deloitte Professional Development Day (formerly 18-Minute Networking) — A professional development event hosted by Deloitte that consists of a variety of career-focused workshops, interview prep, and resume review.
Career Development Workshops — Ongoing workshops dedicated to perfecting your resume and LinkedIn profile, leveraging your City Year experience in job applications, and other career advice.
Career and Education Fairs — Fairs that expose AmeriCorps members to opportunities available post City Year.
College & University Information Sessions – Sessions dedicated to providing tools, information, and resources about colleges and other universities.
Comcast Career Day — As part of our national partnership, Comcast NBCUniversal provides a day of professional development to each sponsored site in order to support City Year AmeriCorps members preparedness for college and career following their year of service.
Aside from support from Impact Managers and Team Leaders, AmeriCorps members receive support from City Year Philadelphia’s entire beloved community during the service year. With over 50% of our staff being City Year alumni, you will always have individuals who will be able to give you advice or lend you knowledge regarding your experience.
Community involvement
Create a positive climate of civic engagement that ripples throughout the Philadelphia community. During the service year, AmeriCorps members participate in community service across the city and help beautify the community by painting murals in schools, restoring recreation centers and/or cleaning streets and neighborhoods throughout the community.
Over the last few years we have built a robust relationship with our partner schools, teachers, families and the community at large. We can’t wait to welcome you.
As we reach the midway point in the service year, our @AmeriCorps members are hard at work preparing for their LACY (Life After City Year) career plans - and our staff members are eager to support them in their growth journeys!
Last Friday, our Learning & Development Team hosted a "Career Round Robin" for RACMs (Returning AmeriCorps Members) to learn more about non-Impact Manager roles at City Year. In small rotating groups, RACMs met with current and former CYP staff members and had the chance to hear about their career trajectories, current roles, and words of advice and encouragement for their LACY next steps.
Thank you to everyone who generously volunteered their time for this event! We enjoyed our time building community and having meaningful conversations.
Happy #BlackHistoryMonth to our amazing students, @AmeriCorps members, staff, and community! Throughout the month of February, we look forward to sharing stories that affirm Black identities, elevate Black voices, and celebrate the accomplishments of Black historical and contemporary icons.
Stay tuned to see how our Corps members are commemorating this special month with their students. In the meantime, swipe to see a few throwback photos from last year's Black History Month initiatives!
Photos 1-3: @cityyear_duckrey_diamonds art contest
Photo 4: @cy_hartranft door decorating contest
Photo 5: The team at McClure School (former CYP partner) with their Black History Month bulletin board
In this week's @AmeriCorps member spotlight, we're excited to feature Chantell Gillette from the @cy_hawks team! A few fun facts about Chantell are that her favorite activity is playing board/card games, her favorite City Year memory is participating in MLK Day of Service, and her spirit animal is a rabbit.
Chantell's team leader, Xavier Alvarez, shares: "The work that Chantell continues to put into the students is pretty awe-inspiring. For much of the year, Chantell has been the most consistent adult that some of her students see in their English class. She has fully taken on that challenge and continues to show incredible care and work ethic, and the students all love her as a result!"
On Saturday, our Asians Are Awesome (AAA) affinity group hosted a gathering at the Lunar New Year celebration at @therailpark! This event was open to all City Year Philly @AmeriCorps members and staff, and offered an opportunity for community building and learning about APIDA cultures and traditions.
Thank you to AAA for organizing this outing, and shoutout to @chinatownpcdc, @asianartsphilly, @philadelphiasuns, @callowhillneighborhood on a wonderful Lunar New Year event!
You read that right...City Year Philly is now on TikTok! Follow us @cityyearphilly for a behind-the-scenes look at our work - including laughter, dancing, power greetings, fun in the schoolhouse, and much more! Stay tuned for more content soon.