San José is home to an ethnically diverse community, booming technology companies and aspiring entrepreneurs. City Year San José/Silicon Valley works alongside teachers and community partners to support students across our city.
While Silicon Valley is widely known for being a vibrant center for academia, business, tech and medicine, many students in East San José do not have access to the learning environments and resources they need to thrive due to systemic inequities.
I serve to remind our students that they are capable. That their defeats during school are not due to their lack of intelligence, but due to a system that is not made for everyone... I serve to remind our students that they are beautiful even though society around them does not make them believe so.
Brittany Hernandez City Year San José/Silicon Valley ’19
Your corps experience
City Year serves in schools that need our support as part of the solution to educational equity, specifically changing the narrative for student outcomes from this area and coaching students to meet their full potential.
City Year is partnered with Alum Rock Union School District and East Side Union High School District in creating equitable learning opportunities for all students and develop the city’s future leaders. AmeriCorps members support teachers and staff in delivering instruction that serves the development of the whole child and is responsive to the diverse racial, cultural and linguistic needs of San José youth.
With more than 294 City Year students achieving their end-of-year English or math growth goal in 2019, AmeriCorps members are truly making an impact. A family-oriented school community with numerous opportunities to develop both personally and professionally, San José is an ideal place to serve. By engaging students, families and community partners, City Year helps students from East San José graduate high school, college and career ready and persist into thriving careers in Silicon Valley.
Serving in San José schools
Serve in one of nine elementary, three middle and two high schools throughout the East San José area. Schools in San José are quite special, not only because of the amazing students and families, but also because of the outdoor layout of most schools. With vibrant blacktop and outdoor spaces, students have plenty of room to play and be outside while having the best view of the beautiful foothills of the Santa Clara Valley in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Most schools are accessible via public transportation and there is an equal balance of AmeriCorps members who carpool in a vehicle or take the light rail and/or bus to commute to schools. Most AmeriCorps members live in South/East San José with others commuting from other parts of Santa Clara County. In addition, many of the teachers and staff you will work with have served in the same school or within their school district for 10+ years, demonstrating their sincere dedication and love for this community.
Working on a team
Work with a committed and diverse group of 6-10 City Year AmeriCorps members who share your passion for service and personal growth. As a team, you will have the opportunity to support students with their academic and social-emotional needs.
Each school team consists of an impact manager and team leader who provide coaching and guidance for all aspects of City Year’s service in schools. An impact manager is a staff member who collaborates closely with school administration and staff to best identify where City Year support is needed. The team leader is a returning AmeriCorps member, often doing a second year of service, who provides direct coaching and strategies to AmeriCorps members related to working with students and school partners.
You will work as a team, all day and every day, forging powerful relationships with one another and your students. City Year teammates often become life-long friendships and connections after your service year experience.
Professional development
In addition to receiving robust training to prepare you for coaching and mentoring students, AmeriCorps members will receive opportunities to develop hard and soft skills necessary for their careers after City Year. We have a dedicated staff member who develops monthly workshops about preparing for graduate school, resume writing, mock interviewing, networking and personal brand and teacher pathway programs. We are grateful for the support of our partner companies, nonprofits, and schools who help us bring this programming to our AmeriCorps members!
Community involvement
When you serve with City Year San José/Silicon Valley and wear the yellow jacket, you stand on the shoulders of 1,500 alumni who dedicated a year of service. In spaces such as schools, community landmarks and City Year partner facilities, you represent service-oriented values and civic engagement throughout the greater San Francisco Bay Area.
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.
For today's #MentorshipMonday we have Rayna Wong an AmeriCorps member serving at Ocala Middle School. When asked the best advice she's received from her mentor, she responded "When you're stuck between 2 choices, be confident in the decision you make. If you spend time thinking about what could've been that's where depression and anxiety set in." Thank you so much for sharing with us Rayna!
Thank you @pagerduty for sponsoring our "Building Mentors for Life” campaign!
We are so proud of City Year AmeriCorps members for their passion and hard work. They are caring young adults that show up each and every day, to help create a positive school environment where all students can thrive. Thank you all for your service, and Happy AmeriCorps Week!
It's happening today! The Winter Showcase will be happening later this afternoon, and we hope you can join us. We will hear stories from our AmeriCorps members about students they are working with, what makes their service unique at their school, and much more!
Register at: bit.ly/cysjvirtualvisit
We can't wait to chat with our AmeriCorps members! Are you joining us? There is still time to register for the visit on March 15 at 3:30pm. Sign up: bit.ly/cysjvirtualvisit
Visit with us virtually and get the chance to chat with Brian Joel, a second year AmeriCorps member serving at Renaissance at Mathson Middle School, and Inbar Michael, a first year AmeriCorps member serving at Mt. Pleasant High School. Come see why we do this work!
New blog out! From having City Year when he was a student in school in New York, to what it's like serving an AmeriCorps member now in East Side San Jose, California; Ethan Viera shares the story about the unique connection he has to City Year.
Check out his story to see the value and importance of mentorship within City Year! Visit https://bit.ly/3MyYKQX or click the link in our bio to read more.
For today's Mentorship Monday we have Osvaldo Valencia an AmeriCorps member serving at Cesar Chavez Elementary School. When asked what's something he's learned about himself through mentorship, he responded "I learned that I would really not enjoy working in an office setting but rather be out and about moving and getting to see the impact I make." Thank you so much for sharing with us Osvaldo!
Learn more by checking out https://www.cityyear.org/san-jose/support
Thank you to @PagerDuty for supporting City Year as our "Mentors for Life" campaign sponsor!