City Year AmeriCorps Member Pre-Interview Information

City Year and COVID-19

Our number one priority is the health and safety of our employees and AmeriCorps members and their families; our students and school partners; and the community at large from COVID-19. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required for service – all AmeriCorps members are required to be fully vaccinated by your start date*. If you are unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons or sincerely-held religious beliefs, we will consider requests for reasonable accommodation consistent with our policy, and where we are able to provide such accommodations without undue hardship to the organization pursuant to applicable law**. Notwithstanding any language herein, City Year will comply with any state, local, or federal orders, statutes, or regulations that may conflict with the COVID-19 vaccination policy.

*Individuals are considered fully vaccinated 14 days after receiving the second dose of a two-dose vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) or one dose of a single-dose vaccination (Johnson & Johnson).

*The following City Year locations do not require vaccination: Denver, Jacksonville, Orlando, New Hampshire and Seattle.

**Due to stricter district vaccine policies in New York City, Los Angeles and Seattle, those applying to serve at these locations will not be granted accommodations for medical reasons or sincerely-held religious beliefs.

For additional information, please click here.

Culture and diversity

City Year’s culture is based on the foundation of teamwork and diversity. We embrace diversity of every kind and see differences as strengths that help us meet our goals to get students to graduation. The communities we work in are incredibly diverse and the unique perspectives of our diverse teams of City Year AmeriCorps members enables us to provide the greatest impact for the students we serve. Having a team with different interests, work styles, backgrounds, and experiences helps us ensure there is someone that can connect with and get through to every single student.

The City Year uniform is a symbol of our full-time commitment to service. By wearing the uniform, we identify ourselves as practicing idealists who are ready to lead. The uniform provides the children, youth and members of the community we work with a signal of reliability, idealism and inspiration. Professional appearance guidelines are intended to create minimal distractions for the children and youth we serve, to support AmeriCorps member safety and to foster professionalism of AmeriCorps. City Year guidelines are not meant to constrain AmeriCorps members’ individuality, but rather to present a unified and easily recognizable symbol of our commitment. City Year AmeriCorps members do not wear non-uniform scarves, bandanas, or buttons that would detract from the professional look of the uniform.

As role models to children, City Year AmeriCorps Members must conduct themselves as professionals and representatives of City Year. These standards include the following while in City Year uniform:

• Punctuality
• Respect and courtesy
• No smoking, alcohol or drugs
• No swearing, gum chewing or jaywalking

Please click here for additional information about uniform requirements.

What we look for

City Year is a highly selective organization and we look for applicants who will have the maximum impact with the students we serve.

• Experience as a tutor, mentor, coach or leader
• Experience working on diverse teams
• Experience working with children
• Demonstration of perseverance in difficult situations
• Commitment to your work and completion of the service year

Eligibility requirements

• A college degree, have attended some college or have a high school diploma or equivalent
• Able to dedicate 11 months to service
• Between the ages of 17*-25 (at the start of service)
• U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident
• Have served no more than four terms in an AmeriCorps State or National Direct program
• Agree to a background or security check

*Must have GED or high school diploma and parent signature required upon onboarding.

Additional requirements

• The Afterschool Enrichment Coach and School Day Learning Coach are new roles offered in select locations. If selected to serve, you will support the organization in testing the new role through completing surveys and providing feedback throughout your service term.
• Afterschool Enrichment Coach
  • This is a 900 hour role that averages 25 hours per week, Monday through Friday.
  • For special training and events, this role may be required to occasionally work hours outside their typical schedule.
  • This position is offered in Memphis and New York only.
• School Day Learning Coach
  • There are two roles for this position: a 1200 or 900 hour role. Service terms vary by location.
  • The 1200 hour role averages 35-40 hours per week, Monday through Friday. This position is offered in Cleveland and Washington DC only.
  • The 900 hour role averages 25 hours per week, Monday through Friday. This position is offered in New Hampshire and Los Angeles only.
• City Year AmeriCorps Members may be permitted to hold part-time jobs or take college courses if they do not interfere with City Year commitments.
• The minimum hours requirement (900 or 1200, depending on the role) must be completed within 11 months to successfully graduate the program and receive all benefits.

To help prepare for your interview, please watch this video to learn more about the City Year AmeriCorps member role.

Benefits

Over the course of your service year, you’ll receive a wide variety of exciting benefits. Please explore the full list of benefits here.

Housing

City Year does not directly provide housing for AmeriCorps members. If you are offered a position to serve with City Year, you will be introduced to your local Service Year Advisor who will provide information and resources to identify affordable housing and to secure roommates if needed.

Resources include:*

• A Facebook group to connect with other incoming members
• Housing manuals
• Neighborhood recommendations
• City-specific local partnerships with housing groups
• Our City Year alumni network

Ultimately, you will be responsible for selecting and securing your own housing. Most AmeriCorps members will not be able to secure housing more than a month before their service begins. This is to be expected and is something all incoming AmeriCorps members should anticipate if planning to relocate for service.

*Please note that resources vary by site.

Notification

You will be notified of your admittance to City Year based on the timeline below. Typically, once your application is submitted, your decision will be communicated within one month.

Deadlines and notification timelines

We are now accepting applications for full-time service in the 2023-2024 school year.

Decision outcomes

If you are offered a position, you must either accept or decline the offer to join City Year within the timeline listed above and/or within the timeline given by the National Admissions Team.

If you are not offered a position with City Year, you may reapply for the following service year as long as you continue to meet all the eligibility requirements.

If there are no spots available at your primary location and you are a qualified applicant, you may be offered a transfer offer, and will work with your Service Year Advisor to transfer your application to one of our other available locations.

Eligibility and background check

If you have served 4 terms (of any length) in an AmeriCorps State or National program you are not eligible to join City Year. If you accept a City Year AmeriCorps member position, you will be required to bring proof of citizenship and employment eligibility documentation to Registration Day. An original Social Security Card is also required. If you cannot demonstrate that you are a US Citizen or Legal Permanent Resident Alien, you are not eligible to serve.

Valid documentation is either:

• US passport
• US Birth Certificate & government issued photo ID
• Legal Permanent Resident Card

Background Check: All AmeriCorps members are required to complete a criminal background check including a National Sex Offender search, FBI Fingerprint search and state searches in their current state of residence and in the state where they will be serving. Applicants who are listed on the National Sex Offender website or have been convicted of murder are not eligible. All other criminal records will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

Term of service dates

The term of service with City Year is generally from late July until the following June unless stated otherwise by your specific City Year Site. Please note: there will be a mandatory in-person registration day prior to your first day of service. Registration and start dates will be communicated to you as soon as they become available. Failure to show up for registration day will result in a withdrawal of your acceptance in the program.

Vacation, holiday & breaks

City Year AmeriCorps Members are required to serve from the first official day of the program through graduation day. Throughout the year there will be required events that everyone must attend. A full list of dates will be provided at the beginning of the year.

Please note that our AmeriCorps members serve during most school vacations, except Thanksgiving and during the holiday break in December. AmeriCorps members receive most Federal Holidays off. In addition, you are given up to nine days off (1200 hour role) or seven days off (900 hour role) during the course of the year for events such as religious holidays, illness, doctor appointments, or academic/career interviews. However, these requests must first be approved by your supervisor.

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