Volume 3 Issue 2 Students First

Volume 3 Issue 2

STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS A LONG-TERM LOOK AT OUR SERVICE

SOPHIA ANTOUN

collaboration exemplified

SERVING IN HONOR OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING Spend a day at Columbus’ South High School Marvin Demby @marvind_cyco

14m

“Thank you Mr. Marvin. I know you don’t hear it enough from me but your help is awesome” #MAKEBETTERHAPPEN

THE

IDEALIST TABLE OF CONTENTS

7

20 31

Starfish Stories

Corps members from Columbus share their stories

Beginning to Graduation

Linden McKinley STEM Academy has seen four years of City Year corps members.

Meet some kids they’ve helped along the way

Letters From the Editors

12

MLK Service Projects

Corps members take to the streets to help the community complete service projects

16 22 38

INSPIRE

pG.12

IMPACT

Dear Idealist,

You ask; The Idealist answers

Things Kids Say

A collection of funny comments from our students

Sophia Antoun

Mifflin Middle School’s Sophia Antoun expemplifies collaboration in all that she does

18 24 40

Hope’s Hypothesis

Musings about being first in life

Sharing Starfish Best Stories Practices

Great methods for getting your students back on track

A Day in the Life

A day of meetings, interventions, and collaboration between organizations

SPOTLIGHT

2 l cityyear.org l March 2014

14

Martin Luther Student Highlights King Jr. Service

Half way through the year, students are making large strides in the classroom

Projects

pG.40

19 26 42 45

pG.38

pG.31

Rod’s Ruminations

First is the worst, second is usually also bad

CY Health Zone

Making it through the last bit of winter

Smooth Operations

Adero Robinson returns to City Year as Director of Operations and talks about his corps member days

pG.42 Questions & Answers

Parent Engagement Group, Board Member Tanya Crawford, and Alumnus Nick Barnes

l

l

March 2014 cityyear.org 3

THE

IDEALIST CREDITS

OUR MISSION What we believe

OUR COMMITTEE The idealists who bring this magazine to life

THE IDEALIST exists to cultivate a culture of inspiration by showcasing the talents of our corps members and highlighting our service and impact within our community and our schools.

Managing Director

Sarai Exil

Editor-in-Chief

Zandra Casto

Executive Editor

Tamar Carr

Creative Editor

Mark Schmitter Senior Writer

Mirria Martin

Contact us We’d love to chat

COLOPHON Credit where it’s due

4 l cityyear.org l March 2014

Writers

Photography/Design

Kyle Bialko Traci Blaylock Chris Blum Cora Henry

Kyle Bialko Takeshi Tawarada

Hope Hill Joseph Isaac Virginia Ivey Ben Jenkins Pierre Lucien Darcy McCarthy

Send a letter to the editor, submit a Starfish Story, or share something your student said.

Best letter recieved wins an Idealist mug!

Fonts Used: Avenir Next Bebas Nue Caecilla LT Garamond GeoSans Light Swiss LT 721 Swiss 721 BT

Programs Used: Adobe InDesign CC Adobe Illustrator CC Adobe Lightroom CC Adobe Photoshop CC

City Year Columbus The Idealist 35 N 4th Street Columbus, OH 43215 theidealistcyco@gmail.com

RED JACKET BALL 2014 City Year Columbus Gala City Year Ripple Award Honoree

Saturday, April 5th, 2014 6:00pm to 9:00pm LBrands Headquarters Three Limited Parkway, Columbus

Thank you to our 2014 Red Jacket Ball Sponsors

Host Sponsor

Media Sponsor

Presenting Sponsor

Champion of Children recap

O

nce a year, the United Way hosts their “Champion of Children” event. It is a celebration of one individual and one organization who are transformational leaders in their world with children. I was able to attend to see Jed Morison and Big Brothers Big Sisters receive the award in 2013. A highlight for me was getting to hear Geoffrey Canada, founder of Harlem Children’s Zone in New York City. During the reception, I was able to meet him in person and have him sign a copy of his book Fist Stick Knife Gun: A Personal History of Violence. The book has a place of honor on my bookshelf.

First year corps Member Sophia Anton speaking with author and guest speaker Paul Tough

Just earlier this month, City Year Columbus received the honor of being named the 2014 United Way Champion for Children, along with Dr. Kelley Kelleher of Nationwide Children’s Hospital. It is an incredible honor to be recognized amongst the many deserving organizations in Columbus. Paul Tough, author of How Children Succeed, was this year’s guest speaker. He offered excellent insight on the intangible qualities, like grit and self control, that lead to successful children. It was a very different experience this year, having folks thank us for our service and asking questions about what our day looks like and our best experiences thus far.

Many thanks to The United Way for the honor and to all the supporters of City Year. We all can be champions of children every single day.

Janet Jackson and James Gaddy presenting City Year Columbus with a check

Hope Hill Second Year Corps Member City Year Columbus

Ashhli Walker, Rachel Beebe, Brenda Scott and Cristin Bryant at the reception

Photos courtesy of United Way of Central Ohio

THE

IDEALIST LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

O

ur students are at the forefront of who we serve. We dedicate ourselves each day to making sure that our students realize their dreams are attainable if they believe in their potential. We cannot achieve this goal alone. It requires collaboration with our school partners, such as teachers, counselors, and parents, as well as our community partners.

A City Year founding story – a story or quote that captures the spirit of our vision, mission, or purpose – is a Nigerian proverb called “It Takes a Village.”

The saying goes, “It takes a whole village to raise a child.” We know the importance of every individual in a student’s life. We see the success when dedicated people take a positive interest in our students’ lives.

We know that any individual who walks in or out of a child’s life makes an imprint or an impression,

which is why we know that collaboration with all of the individuals that support a student is essential to our service. It’s why City Year values “Students first, collaboration always.”

Yours in service,

Todd Tuney Executive Director City Year Columbus

l

l

March 2014 cityyear.org 7

COTA

@ttrejo_CYCO Thank you @COTAbus for always being a reliable resource my students and I can count on <3 #redjacketsrideCOTA

@HopeH_CYCO Freezing weather, nice warm ride.

Thanks @COTAbus #redjacketsrideCOTA

@plucien_CYCO Rain, sleet, or snow, I can always count on @COTAbus to get me where I need to be. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why #RedJacketsRideCOTA

THE

IDEALIST LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

STUDENTS FIRST, COLLABORATION ALWAYS: The success of the young people we serve is our preeminent goal, best achieved by working in partnership with others who are dedicated to the same cause.

When I revisited this value, I began to talk with my fellow TLs and we got on the topic of teachers. We, as corps members of City Year, have the power to inspire and re-inspire our teachers. Inspire them to remember why they became teachers. Why they first went into this challenging, sometimes daunting, profession. When you talk to them you find it’s because of the students.

It could have been an experience they had growing up with an amazing teacher, inspiring them to become one later in life to pass along that experience. It could have been a class they took where they realized the injustices of the education system and they wanted to be a force for change in the lives of students. It could have been any number of reasons, but whatever it was, here they are in inner-city schools, teaching students who now have become ‘our’ students.

When they decided to be teachers they were putting students first. They weren’t working at Apple and using an Android phone, they were becoming teachers to work with students. But teachers’ jobs are hard. They need a set of PITWs for all their challenges in the day-to-day ( This is hard. Be strong-- anyone else?).

Between standardized tests, curriculum requirements and the various levels and types of learners that fill the classroom they can lose sight of their “why”. And why wouldn’t they? Being a teacher is hard work. It requires a lot of time, energy, and trial and error. And through the years many teachers have lost their motivation and their inspiration. We have the unique opportunity to encourage our teachers and to remind them, through collaboration, that it was in fact those 32 students, who sometimes disrespect you and who don’t come prepared, who are the reason why they became a teacher in the first place. So share your starfish stories and those small wins you get. Brainstorm together about what could work best for the upcoming lesson.

You never know, your small actions or ideas may rekindle the idealism of your teacher, and that’s a beautiful thing.

Yours in service,

Zandra Casto Second Year Corps Member City Year Columbus

l

l

March 2014 cityyear.org 9

THE

IDEALIST THEME INTRODUCTION

S

l

BEN JENKINS

tudents First, Collaboration Always is a City Year value that sets the priorities of our service. Impacting the lives of children to help them succeed is a complicated goal that involves much more than simply showing up and leading interventions. Advocating for our students’ success by acquiring quality resources, partnering effectively with teachers, administrators, sponsors, and partner organizations, planning special events, and engaging the community can lead corps members into a labyrinth of conflicting priorities and bureaucracy.

Remembering that students come first helps us keep the end goal of our service in mind.

Valuing collaboration gives us the resources to accomplish that goal.

holding each other to those goals. Accountability takes place on many levels between organizations and individuals. At times it can feel uncomfortable to be held accountable, but having conversations about our effectiveness and ways to innovate ensure greater impact toward the realization of our goals.

STUDENTS

It will always be important for City Year to put students first as the focus of our efforts, but it will not always be easy. Many corps members are passionate about social issues and education reform. We educate ourselves about policies and politics to better understand the challenges we witness every day. These are good things to care about. Our personal investment in these areas matters. But every day that starts with zipping up a red jacket is a day dedicated to the individual students we serve. Everything else we work toward is in concert with the needs of our students. This focus opens doors for us when others see our single-minded dedication to those we serve.

Collaboration is our vehicle for impact and the more we collaborate with a students-first mindset, the more we will motivate our partners to think likewise. This is how City Year leads in idealism- by inspiring those around us to make a positive difference as effectively as possible.

1st

Collaboration is a necessary aspect of serving a cause greater than ourselves. Unequal access to quality education is our nation’s baobab tree- an ugly problem with deep roots that has been allowed to grow for generations.

The reality is that no one individual or organization has the means to close the achievement gap as it currently exists, and history has demonstrated that simple bandages will not help the wound close on its own.

Through constant collaboration, City Year works to leverage the various unique resources in each city where students struggle the most to put them on track to graduation. The connections we make with people and organizations who share our goals multiplies our effectiveness, and much of our impact would not be possible without these relationships we’ve fostered in the communities where we serve. Another benefit of collaboration is accountability. When we partner with others who share our goals, we gain the advantage of

COLLABORATION

ALWAYS

10 l cityyear.org l March 2014

Take some time in the near future to reflect on how you collaborate with others. How can we better build and leverage the relationships we have for the benefit of the people we serve? How does keeping their needs as our central concern change the way we prioritize? Grab a lunch date with a friend and talk about it.

IMPACT The purpose of our service is to help students get on track. There are days when the difference we’re making isn’t easy for us to see. Students aren’t always appreciative of our presence, our passion that called us to a year of service isn’t always forefront in our minds, and sometimes the only thought in our heads seems to be: “this is hard...” (PITW, anyone?). But, even if it’s not clear to us every day, we ARE making a difference in our schools, in our communities, and in the lives of our students. The Impact section serves as a reminder to us all that we are making a difference every day, and that difference deserves to be recognized and celebrated.

l

l

December 2013 cityyear.org 11

THE

IDEALIST IMPACT

SERVING THE CITY IN HONOR OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

I

n celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, City Year served our communities and reflected on the life and lessons of the leader. Our festivities included inschool activities, creative projects, service to Columbus communities, and the MLK march downtown.

The in-school projects varied by site, but the overarching theme was MLK’s message of nonviolence in the face of social injustices. Some students viewed and discussed images depicting the segregation of the 1960’s; others listed current social issues in their communities and brainstormed nonviolent methods of addressing them. About the lessons, corps member Grace Campos said, “I thought that it was very effective and that my class really enjoyed it. I feel like I’m really making an impact when we talk about inspirational topics like this.”

A ninth grade student said, “I thought it was engaging; it made us pay attention more.”

City Year also created visuals around the school with the students’ help. For example, the corps members at South High School had students write down dreams for their community on paper stars to be displayed on a wall.

The Friday before the MLK holiday, City Year Columbus got together for a day of reflection. Corps members Fevean Keflom and Courtney Alexander planned the workshop. “We tried to choose activities that were impactful but relaxing.

It was a lot of self-reflection,” explains Alexander. Teams

12 l cityyear.org l March 2014

created “We have a dream” statements and worked together to surround the quotes by collages for the new office. Mifflin Middle’s statement expresses high hopes for students: “We have a dream that our students will exceeded their potential, that their hearts will understand that pride is also found in the hours of words both read and written, that humanity is learned, and that an education is more than just a number and letter on pages--that it is the very heart and soul of inspiration, empowerment, and freedom.”

For the MLK Day of Service, City Year served at five sites around Columbus: Ronald McDonald House, Dress for Success, YMCA, Boys and “I'm so pleased Girls Club, and Urban League. by the way it Corps member Sarah Lyle enjoyed working at the Ronald turned out.

McDonald House: “The people We were able working there were really eager to engage to help us with anything. They were very gracious for our our schools, help and got us everything we community, and needed.” Corps member Darcy McCarthy reports that her team ourselves in the helped by organizing clothes for spirit of MLK and Dress for Success, which helps ubuntu and truly dress people for interviews.

Corps member Kinsey Kistler paints walls at the Ronald McDonald House A student stops to read the dreams of his fellow classmates between classes

understand what his legacy means to us.”

In the afternoon, the entire corps joined the MLK march and jubilantly paraded from the Statehouse to Veteran’s Memorial. They carried signs with quotes from Dr. King and other inspiring leaders. “At the march it was good to see the community come together,” added Impact Manager Brenda Scott.

Summing up the activities, second year corps member Fevean Keflom from the CSX team at South High School said, “I'm so pleased by the way it turned out. We were able to engage our schools, community, and ourselves in the spirit of MLK and ubuntu and truly understand what his legacy means to us.”

The team from South High School work to clean Ronal McDonald House

Cora Henry First Year Corps Member City Year Columbus

l

l

March 2014 cityyear.org 13

THE

IDEALIST IMPACT

l

DARCY McCARTHY

SUCCESS STORIES

We have reached the mid-point in our year of service. After five months serving our students, tutoring and mentoring, we have seen some of the amazing results of our service. We asked some of our corps members to share their success stories.

The progress these students show is both inspiring and a testament to the power of City Year, proudly embodying the second City Year value, “Students First, Collaboration Always.”

56% IMPROVEMENT

Sarah Lyle, Mifflin Middle School After three weeks of intense focus on reading aloud and reviewing vocabulary, Sarah’s frustrated ESL student who had proclaimed herself a “bad reader” was able to increase her “Words Correct Per Minute” by 56% and is now more motivated than ever.

NEW SRI SCORE. +200 POINTS

+240 Jameel Paulin, Linden McKinley STEM Academy

Micah Baum, Mifflin High School

A student who struggled with comprehension and recieved an F in English, through pull-outs with Micah and hard work, was able to raise his grade to a B and his SRI (Standard Reading Inventory) score rose from 167 to 367.

The student’s pride in his achievement will continue to drive his success.

As a first year corps member, this year of service has been one of struggles and successes, from building relationships with staff and colleagues, to building relationships with students to augmenting intervention strategies based on those relationships, to being consistent with your expectations and affection for the students in the midst of strides and setbacks. At times it seems you take one step forward, two steps to the side, and three steps back; but if you can maintain a positive outlook, you can see that those steps forward tend to be giant leaps.

One such example of the successes is that of my starfish.

He is one of my ELA focus list students, whom I and the other 10th grade teacher affectionately refer to as my “son.” At the beginning of the year, it was difficult to build a relationship with this student because he was often absent. When he actually came to class, he would either leave or be disruptive. However, as our relationship has improved, it has been much easier to work with him, and after the past few months of ELA interventions he improved on his SRI assessment by over 240 points. On a personal level, he is one of the brightest students of his age that I have come in contact with, something his teachers are well aware of. One of my greatest joys of the year is that he is beginning to show his potential.

14 l cityyear.org l March 2014

INSPIRE INSPIRE: verb; to provoke a particular feeling in someone; to cause creative activity.

The Idealist strives to inspire Corps Members this month with various articles, including Starfish Stories showcasing Corps Membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; successes with students; a section highlighting one Corps Member who especially demonstrates and upholds one of City Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ten core values; Dear Idealist answers all questions from the Corps; sharing the best practices in each area of our service; and a Health Zone offering numerous tips on staying healthy throughout our year of service.

l

l

March 2014 cityyear.org 15

THE

IDEALIST INSPIRE

l

VIRGINIA IVEY

Dear Idealist, I came into 2014 with all kinds of New Year’s resolutions: exercise more, eat better, etc. But when I get home at 5pm exhausted after a long day of service and dealing with -6 degree temperatures I don't want to do any of the above. Is there a way to #makebetterhappen in my own life without having to leave the comfort of my home?

Sincerely, Couch Potato

Hey #makebetterhappen, The winter is always a challenging time to start making changes in your life for the new year. Motivation can be hard to find and let’s face it, it’s cold, dark, and hibernation is in full force. However, there are still plenty of ways that you can change your habits and follow through on your resolutions. Here are a few steps to help you get started on making 2014 the best year of your life!

Accountability – Find accountability partners that will help you reach your goals. Luckily, you don’t have to go too far to do so because you have your school team and the entire CY site at your hands. Once you share your goals and resolutions for the year, I’m sure that you will find someone else with the same or similar goals. You’ll then be able to support and drag each other out of the house. You can even add your workout into your weekly GAP goals! Sooner or later you’ll get tired of the overdue reminders and seeing that it’s still on your list of things to do.

Put some fun in it - You can create a game out of exercising, such as The Biggest Loser. Have everyone share their goals and compete for a prize at the end of the service year. This way you’ll feel motivated through competition to accomplish your goals. Another idea is to have a 3 minute dance party. Play a song in the City Year room and just dance with your students and/or your team. You’ll burn off those calories without even realizing it!

Plan ahead – Plan out your entire week with a to-do list of things to accomplish. Try to plan and cook your meals in advance or on the weekends so that you don’t have to worry about cooking during the week.

Stay home – On the colder days, do some workouts around the house. It doesn’t have to be too strenuous, but nothing too minor either. Get started with some spring cleaning and household chores such as laundry or the dishes. Play some music in the background and scrub those stains out of that carpet; dusting even burns calories.

Or you can even YouTube some workouts!

Extra steps – Try parking farther away from the entrance so that you can get a brief workout. You will not want to be in the cold, brisk weather anyway so this will force you to power walk inside a building. Take the stairs during walk-and-talks and carry your heavy, City Year backpack for some extra weight to increase the intensity of your workout.

Avoid elevators at all costs!

DEAR

IDEALIST 16 l cityyear.org l March 2014

Dear Idealist,

With the last 4 months ahead of us, I am finding it more difficult to remain idealistic and positive. What can I do to help myself get out of this negative space?

Sincerely, Pessimist

Dear Opportunist,

The definition of a pessimist is one who has the tendency to stress the negative, unfavorable, or to take the gloomiest possible perspective. I’m calling you “Opportunist” because I can’t bear to address you as Pessimist at the moment. There are only three months of service left and I know that the end may seem far away, but City Year is the most important thing that you could be doing with your life right now. Take a few minutes to inhale and marinate on what I’m going to tell you.

1. Identify the positive – You have to look for the things that make your day worthwhile. Take a

Dear Idealist, Moving into February, I'm trying to get back into the dating scene. With events and school time, plus making time for myself it's hard to fit in time for dating. Do you have advice on how to date or talk about what to do on a first date that best explains what I do. I'm a teacher, kinda, role model mostly, who works with the best, funniest kids on the planet. I don't want to sound like a crazy cat lady raving about my adorable cat children.

Sincerely, Single and Ready to Mingle

moment to reflect on the service that you have already put in thus far. It’s important to focus on the good, the relationships that you have built, and the significant strides that you’ve taken up to this point.

2. Surround yourself with positive people and students – Seek people that are idealistic, positive, and solution-oriented. Their positive energy and thoughts will eventually rub off on you.

3. Read positive quotes – This falls in line with surrounding yourself with positivity and looking at the brighter side of things. Besides, positive quotes are inspirational and eye opening. Sometimes quotes are a fast and efficient way to make complex things simple.

4. Control vs. Influence – Focus on all of the things that you have control over and disregard the things that you do not have control over. If you don’t have control over an area, think about how you can positively influence the situation.

Dear Single & Ready, It’s great that you know you don’t want to come off as the crazy lady with a wallet full of pictures of all of your students.

Start off casual – Go out and grab a coffee or a smoothie at the mall.

This doesn’t take much planning or time out of your schedule. This can be done right after your service day or an hour or so later. Plenty of these small encounters will add up to something and you’ll know what you’re looking for sooner or later.

That way, if they aren’t who you’re interested in, you don’t feel as if you’ve wasted any time.

Take advantage of canceled engagements – CY rarely cancels on anything because CY is always ready, right? But when they do cancel on something or say that it’s not absolutely mandatory, get out there and go!

Open your eyes to the people that are around you – There may be that special someone that you’ve been keeping your eye on at the gym or other extra-curricular activities outside of CY. Make a move and spark up a light conversation. If you’re in the same room, you obviously have something in common.

Submit your anonymous questions to theidealistcyco@gmail.com.

l

l

March 2014 cityyear.org 17

THE

IDEALIST INSPIRE

HOPE’S HYPOTHESIS

HR

thoughts by Hope Hill, second year corps member

When I was a Resident Advisor, I lived on the first floor of my dorm. We had this saying, “first

out in a fire”. It was a silly saying, but it morbidly explains why it is better to be the first than the

last. Everybody knows Neil Armstrong as the first person to set foot on the moon, but ask those same folks who the last person was to blast off into space and you’ll get blank stares. The folks at the front of the lunch line got the best choices, hot pizza or a little extra shredded cheese on their tacos, while the straggler was left with a dry PB&J sandwich and room temperature milk.

To add insult to injury, they were left at the broken table in no-mans land while everyone else

had chairs with all four legs. Think back to your Kindergarten days where you could raise your

hand so high to be called on for line leader, not line follower, and got to march triumphantly in

front of the rest of your classmates. You may have gotten picked last for kickball but for several minutes that day you were a champion.

18 l cityyear.org l March 2014

ROD’S RUMINATIONS

HR

thoughts by Rod Swain, Regional Recruitment Manager, CYCO

Very simply, being in the front of the line at school is overrated. I mean, think about that line as a train. What is by far the coolest car in any train? The caboose, of course. Sure, you get to the lunch counter first in the front, but you haven’t even given the cafeteria staff the time to really perfect that day’s meal. By the time all of the thinkers at the back of the line get there, the kinks have been worked out and that Salisbury Steak is at the peak of its quality.

You’ve got to give it time to breathe, man. Also, if you have people in line behind you, you’re opening the door to all sorts of school pranks, like the “flat tire”, wherein the person behind you steps on your heel as you walk, removing your shoe! No chance of that happening if you’re bringing up the rear. And with all the people right in front of you, the risk of sneak attack wedgies, noogies, and wet willies is effectively mitigated!

l

l

March 2014 cityyear.org 19

THE

IDEALIST INSPIRE

l

JOEY ISSAC

STARFISH STORIES

M

y starfish is a bigger kid who seems to lumber more than he walks, has a nasty habit of falling asleep in class and gets into a lot of fights. I met my starfish on his first day of high school and I noticed that he walked into class with a certain swagger. I mistook it for an overly proud attitude, but at this point I severely lacked context for my starfish’s life and character.

His swagger came from moving on from middle school where he carried the reputation of a fighter; a reputation that was well earned as he had been suspended a total of 56 days in the eighth grade for fighting. He also got his swagger from finally moving into a home with his family after spending almost the entire summer living in a homeless shelter. Consequently, my starfish started the first few weeks accruing missing assignments, as well as F’s in all of his classes.

D

Unfortunately it took me two weeks to really take an interest in my starfish’s life along with his schoolwork. After one quarter of my starfish’s freshman year he has avoided getting into any fights, even though that has required both of us to spend a few hours walking the halls of the high school. My starfish has also pulled most of his grades up and started paying attention in class. There are still many chapters in the relationship between my starfish and I, but after everything we have gone through during the first quarter, I am sure this story will only get better.

uring my first week with my students, I was still trying to remember their names, and so I often called Sarah by the wrong name as she closely resembled another student in the class. We were off to a bad start and I didn’t think that she would ever be my starfish.

dreams the night before and the embarrassing yet hilarious events that had happened to me.

Although it was often one-sided, I knew that I was getting somewhere. I knew that she started to see me as a mentor more than just another person in the school who is trying to make her work.

Sarah didn’t have confidence in her answers.

Every time I approached her desk to check her work, she’d flip her pencil upside down and start to erase whatever she had written. The pressure marks on her paper were still visible and I could tell that she started the problem correctly. I often wondered why she kept doing this in every class.

Our relationship progressed for the better.

During lunch we played Uno and talked about our hobbies and life in general. She shared that her sister had dropped out of school without finishing the 10th grade. As soon as this information came out of her mouth, she looked at me straight in the eyes and said: “I won’t be like her.” That was the moment I knew she was the one. She would be my starfish.

Every day I checked with her about her courses and each day she grew annoyed with me. Some days I would ask, “What did you think about math today?” and she would silently shrug her shoulders, leaving me with no verbal answers. There were days when I had to pull her out because she was slowly slipping through the cracks. I wanted her to understand that failure is a process; it doesn’t just happen overnight.

In our less formal discussions, as we walked down the hallways to get to the next class, I would make conversation with her about random topics. I’d tell her about my weird

20 l cityyear.org l March 2014

The first semester of the school year was rough, but with the new semester and fresh straight A’s on the board, she has started working without erasing what she has written. She has more confidence, is more open to help, and isn’t easily discouraged by constructive criticism. The occasional, “Ms. Grace, why are you always checking up on me?” question still comes up every now and again, but now it’s with a smile.

We’ve had our tough days and our good days. I am hopeful that our tough days are long gone.

Chris Blum First Year Corps Member City Year Columbus

Sarah had always been the student who just needed a push and instant gratification that she was doing well. Her life at home is not ideal, but she copes with it. No one at home is a proponent of education and she grew up believing that school was another phase in life that just happens. She now comes to school on time, even on days that she is hungry, just so she won’t miss valuable class lessons.

One day she had written me a note saying: “Thank you for being there for me when I was struggling. You are an amazing person. Thank you for keeping me on track.” My Starfish has grown and is ready to swim in the ocean filled with great opportunities. I, in addition, am ready to keep walking down the beach and pick up as many starfish as I can.

Grace Campos First Year Corps Member City Year Columbus

J

ust yesterday my starfish student whispered it to me instead of standing up during our Martin Luther King Jr. celebration.

She won’t admit it to her friends, of which she is the queen bee, who hovers over her worker bees awaiting instruction, but I know and that’s enough. I wouldn’t have thought 5 months ago that she would be volunteering her time in a leadership opportunity or would have invited her best friend to come with her to reflect on Martin Luther King Jr’s dream for the future, but there she was.

“

Ms. Hope, I know you care about me.

“

When we were first introduced, she rolled her

eyes at everything I said. For weeks afterward she would recoil when I came near her stating, “Ms. Hope, go away, I don’t need you.” She would stare at her paper, mental gears churning, but struggling to get her ideas on the page. In English and math class she enjoyed being the center of attention amongst her peers, telling stories about her weekend activities or about her exciting home life.

The first shift came during Freshman Seminar when she put Jack from “Jack and the Beanstalk” on trial. She was one of the prosecuting lawyers.

She was able to transform her natural storytelling abilities into powerful opening statements that had me rooting for Jack to go to jail, even though I was supposed to be objective.

The second shift came in December when she missed a week of school to go on vacation.

When she returned during morning greeting, I screamed and danced as she walked on through, promptly embarrassing her and her younger sister.

In homeroom she scolded me, but with a huge

I

have this student that really hates substitutes and new teachers. So at the beginning of the year, when she was just getting used to City Year and me being in her class all the time, she hated me. If I would attempt to give her a directive or try to speak with her, she would have some smart remark, throw whatever paper I had just given her to the floor, or cuss me out. It was horrible. I could not get one word in with her. She ignored any and every attempt at building a relationship of trust. So when I was given my focus list and was told that she was a student I was meant to work with, I was quite concerned. I had no idea how I would get her to leave the classroom with me, let alone do work with me. So for a while I avoided it.

I wouldn’t take her out of the classroom. I would only say positive things to her. I wouldn’t even give directives, I let the teachers in the classroom do that.

One day we had a substitute in one of her classes. Now as I stated, she hates substitutes. She doesn’t like strangers telling her what she can or cannot do.

So on this particular day with the substitute, she decided she did not like him, that he was mean and that she did not want to be in class. She walked out. Of course I needed to get her back in the classroom and get her to do work. When I went out in the hall and began speaking with her, she responded. She acknowledged my words and listened to me. I guess I was the lesser of two evils. At this point she had seen me in her class every day

smile on her face so I knew she appreciated it.

Her smile was always elusive, but once I realized it existed, I would search for it all the time; when I would hand her a sharpened pencil at the beginning of class or when I would take her on a walk and chat about what was going on at home.

I knew for sure that I had made serious progress when I got sick and missed two days of school in a row. She was one of the first students to run up and throw her arms around me, giving me a deep squeeze. “Ms. Hope, girl, I missed you. Where you been?” Raquel is wonderfully bright, kind and cares about her friends. She worked her tail off in math class and pulled her quarter 1 F to a quarter 2 C, and even though I am still working on having her bring a writing utensil to class every day, I can see the difference I am continuing to make in her life.

Hope Hill Second Year Corps Member City Year Columbus

for weeks, perhaps I am not the bad guy anymore. I got her to agree to sit in the hallway with me and complete the work. I told her that as long as she completed her assignment she didn’t have to go back in the classroom with the substitute that “hates” her. And I think this was the beginning.

After that day she became nicer to me and started speaking to me more. I do not have to deal with getting cursed out or having the things I askd her to complete be thrown on the gound when I give her a directive. At this point, I have begun to take her out for interventions, just the two of us. Our time together has been successful and she is understanding the classwork.

Soon after, just like all of my focus list students, I gave her a survey. The survey asks simple questions: favorite subject, best way for you to learn, etc. Things to help me help her better. Most students answer the favorite subject question with gym or lunch or something like that, but this student answered, “my time with Ms. L”---Ms. L is me! Her favorite part of the school day is when she is with me! We sure have come a long way huh?

Mariah Lowery First Year Corps Member City Year Columbus

l

l

March 2014 cityyear.org 21

THE

IDEALIST INSPIRE l DARCY McCARTHY

THINGS students say City Year is all about the students we serve. Sometimes, while we are serving, our students say funny things. These things make us laugh and help us get through the day. We wanted to share these joys, so we asked corps members to submit the funniest things their student have said to them:

TEACHER: “You can lead a horse to the water but you can’t make him drink it.”

STUDENT 1: ”I thought that was only donkeys.”

STUDENT 2: “No... She’s talking about stallions only.”

STUDENT 1: “What’s a stallion?”

STUDENT 2: “I don’t know, I think she’s calling us horses.”

-submitted by Marvin Demby

“All of these seasonings and you chose to be salty?”

-submitted by Virginia Ivey

STUDENT 1: “Ms. Hope was here last year, right?”

STUDENT 2: “Yeah, she won like the Hunger Games and beat all the other ones to come back.”

STUDENT 1: “Whoa, she’s a thug”.

-submitted by Hope Hill

“My hair hurts. Is this what education feels like?”

-Submitted by Kendra Collins

“Ain’t no one want a big ol’ turtle that look all dry and crusty.”

-submitted by Darcy McCarthy

“Parallel lines are lines that never intercourse.”

-Submitted by Cora Henry

If you have any hilarious student quotes or comics of your own, this is your opportunity to share! Send your funny/wacky/ cute quotes or comics to THE IDEALIST at theidealistcyco@gmail.com and you might see your submission in the next issue of The Idealist.

22 l cityyear.org l March 2014

O I S L H

#

MY STARFISH STUDENT: “I TOLD YOU I WOULDN’T FORGET YOU.. .WHEN I TRIED TO GIVE UP, YOU MOTIVATED ME.” INSPIRED.

#MAKEBETTERHAPPEN STORIES. ONE OFREAL MY STUDENTS INCREASED HER SRI READING SUCCESS.GRADE SCORE REAL BY 1 WHOLE LEVEL AND HER ATTENDANCE IN REAL TIME. HAS DRASTICALLY IMPROVED! #MAKEBETTERHAPPEN

“You guys came from all parts of the country to help regular kids like me, and for that I say thank you” #MAKEBETTERHAPPEN more than just a hashtag

THE

IDEALIST INSPIRE

l

MIRRIA MARTIN

A few of our favorite strategies

Numbers Pyramid

S

omething that a few people on my team use to explain fact families is a pyramid technique. This technique should be used after the student has incrased their number sense through an intervention like a CRA on number realationships.

We first establish a memory pattern for the products of groups of families. For example, if we are learning our 2 times tables, we have the kids repeat verbally 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24. If we were learning 3s, the students would repeat 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, and so on for all the following numbers. The kids practice verbally by repeating after the corps member, then reciting the pattern by themselves.

We then connect the order of these products with the factors they are associated with. We will give the students problems, like 2x1, to which they will answer 2. Next, 2x2, and they will answer 4, and so on. This way the students are still practicing the product number sequence.

We then move onto a more physical explanation, which is the pyramid. We show how the factor (2) is related to any product, such as 4. We form a pyramid or triangle with the product on the top and the factors on the bottom. We can then show them that all the numbers they have either been reciting or listening to are related. 2x2=4, 4/2=2... 2x3=6 6/2=3, 6/3=2.

This is a long intervention and should be done over several times to help students commit these families to memory.

Sarah Lyle First Year Corps Member City Year Columbus

24 l cityyear.org l March 2014

Defining Leadership

A

s Behavior Coordinators, we, Marvin and Kyle, have renamed 50 Acts of Leadership to "Linden Leaders" this school year.

The Kick Off event involved having all of our behavior cohorts come together to discuss leadership within the school and what positive leaders can do, big and small. We used a Frayer model to dissect what qualities leaders have and asked our students to define what a good leader is to them. We framed Linden Leaders as a program that will lead them on a path to becoming not only successful students, but successful members of their community. We also spoke on our MLK service with the Linden Leaders. The students wrote encouraging letters to inmates and put together a timeline of events in Martin Luther King Jr.'s life. The emphasis was that these events, with all the groups together, will help develop a sense of community among the students.

Marvin Demby & Kyle Bialko First Year Corps Members City Year Columbus

Inkinding Tips

T

he key to successful inkinding is building relationships.

Keep track of relationships that already exist for your team. Who has donated before? Who do we know that might be willing to donate (such as second jobs, connections through family members)? Always send out a list to your development team before you make an ask. Frequent or unrefined asks can damage an existing relationship. If you are trying to establish a relationship with a new place, first visit as a customer and wear your uniform. Ask about the donation process, and ask to speak to a manager about it.

Be clear that a future donation does not affect your current purchase. As always, represent yourself as a professional.

The manager will inquire further or deny. (If no, take note of the reason why. Sometimes “no” just means “not now,” rather than “never.”)

When it comes time to cold-call a business for a donation, cast a wide-net of prospects. Your inkinding success rate could be 1 in 2 or even 1 in 50. Build your opportunity for success by increasing the number of places you ask.

Remember, the best times to call are before 11am or after 2:30pm. Use a script when making the call. It takes some of the pressure off and also makes it easier for other team members to help you out. For example:

Finally, remember to keep your timeline realistic. Develop your prospect list two months out from your event and begin making calls 7 weeks out. Businesses sometimes have an allotment for donating each month. Keep your prospect tracker updated and follow up on leads weekly. Learn who to ask for, regarding the request. Keep track of all of these details and do everything in a timely manner. Waiting until your event is under a month away provides unnecessary stress and will leave you wishing you started earlier.

“We’re expecting to feed about 80 people but any amount you can give us would really help us out.” (Let them tell you what they’re comfortable giving.)

Always be thankful and considerate. If they donate, send a thank you card. If you have their email address, send pictures from the event in an electronic thank you card.

“Hi, my name is Jason and I’m calling from City Year Columbus. May I speak to a manager about a donation request?”

“Hi, my name is Jason and I serve with City Year, a nonprofit that is combatting the drop-out crisis in our country.

We want to celebrate our honor roll students this month at Mifflin High School with a banquet and we’re hoping Applebees would be able to help us out by donating a side dish.” (Be upbeat and positive, don’t sound desperate.)

Jason Phillips Second Year Corps Member City Year Columbus

l

l

March 2014 cityyear.org 25

THE

IDEALIST SPOTLIGHT Tips for staying in good health during your service year

MOVE ALONG, WINTER. THANKS.

N

o matter where you serve you’ve no doubt seen a fair share of colder than normal, unpleasant weather. Snow that comes each week like clockwork and temperatures that struggle to break the freezing point have made us prisoners of our own homes this year. Even snowdays, once the most cherished of all childhood occurrances, have become more cumbersome than exciting.

Being barricaded in our homes all winter definitely takes a mental toll. Cabin fever quickly has swept through my apartment. There’s only so many new series that I can start (then finish in an embarrassingly quick amount of time) that Netflix has to offer. We need to bask in the sunshine and breath fresh air.

What can we do to stay positive as we ride out what are hopefully the last few weeks of this overstayed-its-welcome winter? First off, take an inventory of what you have been doing all winter long. It’s easy to fall into a routine that involves plopping down on the couch and taking in some television. I am guilty of this. Recently though, I have fought to seek out new adventures. Look at what your city has to offer from museums and aquariums, to indoor trampoline “parks” and rock climbing walls. Look in to wine and paint nights at local establishments to get your creative juices flowing.

MIND

so sick of our surroundings. Making some simple changes around your house can make a surprisingly large difference in your mood.

Try picking up some new candles at the store, maybe something with a tropical feel, to add some ambiance to your living space. Be sure to compliment the candles with something visual like flowers or a plant. Just that little something extra to remind you that this world is hospitable to things other than arctic penguins.

Now that you have some new spring-time decor to show off, why not have some people over? You can’t be the only one itching to get out of your house, so invite some people over and play some board games or make a meal together. Having friends around will take your mind off the temperatures outside and provide a great break from that isolated feeling that comes with being trapped inside.

If all else fails grab a calendar and start marking off the days until Spring. There’s something so satisfying about adding those large red X’s each day, signifying another day closer to long bike rides, long runs, and long days.

Spring, although it may not seem like it now, has to come.

It will come. We will be seeing the first glimpses of green soon, so just hang in there and keep busy with things you enjoy. We’re all in this together!

Making an effort to shake things up a little and get out of the space you’ve been trapped in for the last few months can make a huge difference in your morale. That said, we don’t want to hate coming home everyday because we are

How do you stay healthy during your service year? Do you have any favorite exercises or recipes? Email theidealistcyco@gmail.com your submission

26 l cityyear.org l March 2014

BODY R

unning on the treadmil or using the elliptical are grat excersizes, especially when you can’t get outside. After doing them as the main means of cardio for the last 4 months, however, you’ll be forgiven for dreading the sight of those machines.

There is hope, though!

Be sure to check out the class schedule at your local gym or YMCA. The classes offered range from cycling and dancing to hardcore interval training.

SHAKE UP THE ROUTINE Not only is there a lot of options to choose from, you also have the benefit of having an instructor who knows what they’re doing so you’re likely to get a more well-rounded workout than if you were to work out on your own.

Swapping some of these classes into your weekly routine will keep things fresh and provide some new variety, not to mention the benefits of working out in a group setting.

Personally, I hate being the one taking

a break when no one else is when I’m attending a fitness class. This means that I will push myself harder to keep pace with the others.

Another great thing about taking classes is that you can bring along a friend. Some people are intimidated working out in front of strangers so going along with a friend is an easy way of making the situation a little more comfortable.

CAULIFLOWER PIZZA CRUST Ok, I tried to make this once and it came out as a huge mess, but it did taste good. The trick is to get all of the moisture out of the cauliflower after you cook it so it can crisp up like a doughy crust would!

Ingredients

Directions

• 1/2 head cauliflower, coarsely chopped • 1/2 cup shredded Italian cheese blend • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley • 1 egg • 1 teaspoon chopped garlic salt and ground black pepper to taste

• Preheat an oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicon mat.

• Place cauliflower pieces through the feeding tube of the food processor using the grating blade; pulse until all the cauliflower is shredded.

• Place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to a boil. Add cauliflower, cover, and steam until tender, about 15 minutes. Transfer cauliflower to a large bowl and refrigerate, stirring occasionally, until cooled, about 15 minutes.

• Stir Italian cheese blend, parsley, egg, garlic, salt, and pepper into cauliflower until evenly incorporated. Pour mixture onto the prepared baking sheet; press and shape into a pizza crust.

• Bake in the preheated oven until lightly browned, about 15 minutes.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/cauliflower-pizza-crust/

Zandra Casto First Year Corps Members City Year Columbus

l

l

March 2014 cityyear.org 27

I’M THE PERSON WHO WEARS THE BOOTS AND THE JACKET AND SAYS “I WILL BE HERE FOR YOU. NO MATTER WHAT.”

CITYYEARCOLUMBUS.WORDPRESS

SPOTLIGHT Here at THE IDEALIST, we use our Spotlight section to showcase our unique and individual personalities. Yes, we are here for service, and we serve everyday to fight the dropout crisis - but each of us has our own unique story: where we come from, why we serve, what issues we’re passionate about. We’re all different, and we all bring something different to the table. So in this section, expect to see a little bit about who we are, not just as Corps Members, but as individuals, and hopefully you’ll begin to understand, as we do, just how impressive our Corps really is.

THE

IDEALIST

STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS As corps members we sweat and toil through our service striving to open our students’ eyes to their potential. It’s hard. Some of our students have seen themselves from the negative viewpoint of those around them. Others feel as though the bare minimum is all they can handle with all of the non-academic factors weighing them down. You can work so hard with a student, and then your service year is up. It’s over. We have to trust those who come after us, because it’s up to the corps member who comes after to continue pushing this student to reach the stars.

After your service year there are days where all you do is question whether or not your student is okay.

In this IDEALIST Spotlight, we have chosen 4 students from Linden-McKinley STEM Academy who have had City Year multiple years, and are now some of the most successful students at LMSA. As an alumni who is still active in the school, it’s been a joy to watch them grow and amaze. I hope you enjoy celebrating their growth.

l

l

March 2014 cityyear.org 31

THE

IDEALIST SPOTLIGHT

l

SARAI EXIL

Cordell

Cordell and Miss Yan during an event called Black History Gallery Walk where Cordell was one of the student leads."

Ms. Molly, Corps Member 2011-2012

Ms. Yan, Corps Member 2012-2013

I was Cordell’s City Year when he was in seventh grade. For the first half of the school year, Cordell had an attendance problem. He did not come to school regularly and it was difficult for me to get him to focus in class. When he did come to school, I would take him out into the hall to go over what he missed. During these tutoring sessions, I began to get to know Cordell. I encouraged him to attend our after school program to help him bring his grades up. Cordell started to come. Once he got involved with our program, I noticed he attended school more often and it was easier for me to get him on task in class. I have not stayed in touch with Cordell, but I hope he is doing well and excelling academically like I know he can!

The first time I saw Cordell in math class, I saw a tall young man; thirteen years old, boisterous and extremely talkative. Initially, thanks to my preexisting biases, I would not have pegged him as an avid scholar. However, within the first week of school, Cordell had sought me out for help. This went on for the rest of the year. “Miss Yan”, he would say insistently, “I need help.

Come help me!” I would feign an exasperated sigh and walk over to his desk.

I soon found out Cordell was a very bright young man, one of the smartest kids in class. However, he often had trouble paying attention. He’d get easily distracted by a friend’s comment, or something that happened to him that day, and his loud laughter would punctuate the classroom. He was fighting, though, I could see that.

32 l cityyear.org l March 2014

Sometimes I’d shoot him a glance and he’d look down with a sheepish, “Sorry, Miss Yan. I’ll stop now.” He would return to his math equations, at least for a short while.

The relationship I established with Cordell was instantaneous. I had never met him before walking into his classroom, yet he knew I was someone he could trust. I was someone who would help him, talk to him, smile at him. He knew all this because every day I came into his room wearing the City Year logo on a red jacket. The red jacket isn’t simply a nifty logo. To students, it’s a visible and comforting symbol that someone is there for them.

I am so proud of Cordell and the progress he has made, thanks to the team of people who support him—and not least to his own efforts.

Mr. Marvin, Corps Member 2013-2014 Cordell and I met at the beginning of the school year. He was one of the most mature ninth graders I’d ever met. It didn’t take long to build a relationship because we had so much in common already. He played varsity football as a freshman, wrestled, and ran track. Everything that he is involved in lies in the tracks of my high school career as well.

I became an assistant football, wrestling, and track coach so even at the beginning of the school year I was familiar with Cordell. My name varied from Coach Marvin on the field to Mr. Marvin in the classroom. Cordell and I would study and work hard all day during school and lift weights after school. He is no stranger to hard work and the idea that he is a student first and an athlete second. Cordell is a very respectful young man who has an abundance of potential to become whatever he desires in life.

DONYELL Ms. Hope, Corps Member 2012-2014 Donyell has grown tremendously in the time I have known her. I remember talking to her about homecoming court and she was so excited about it until she found out about the GPA requirements and she didn’t make the cut. I would remind her occasionally throughout the year that if she wanted to be on homecoming court she would need to work really hard to pull her grades up. She was a student who really struggled to get to class on time and stay in class for the full hour and a half. As time passed, she started to attend class more and more. She was taking notes and participating. If she found herself getting upset at a student or teacher I was hearing, “I’m sorry Ms. Hope” before an explanation about why she did what she had done. A huge shift happened last year during Read

FROM

Across America day, I worked really hard to get her to go on our field trip to Hamilton Elementary and she blew me away with her maturity and poise. From that day on she started working extremely hard to get her missing work in and get focused in her classes. I was so impressed that I chose her to be part of my #makebetterhappen campaign photo shoot and once again, she blew my mind. I remember thinking, “is this the same student from the beginning of the year?” She had gotten her report card and showed me that she had passed her math and English classes and I was so proud that I started crying. I’m so happy at how far she has come and I so appreciate her current corps members who are continuing the legacy I got to be a part of.

44 SUSPENSIONS TO SUSPENSIONS 0

Ms. Kinsey, Corps Member 2013-2014 In school, I often hear, “You should have seen me last year, Ms. Kinsey! I’m a new woman, I’m grown.” Donyell is a DIVA and I love working with her! I’ve watched as Donyell’s work ethic has transformed. It has been a beautiful time getting to build a relationship with Donyell. I can’t wait to see all she accomplishes. Law or medicine is her prerogative and I know with hard work and dedication she can do it. The way only she can.

l

l

March 2014 cityyear.org 33

THE

IDEALIST SPOTLIGHT

l

SARAI EXIL

Ms. Hope, Corps Member 2012-2013 Tiquella would scream every time I would come near her. Nothing profane just noises. She didn’t trust me or want me anywhere near her desk or her work. I can’t put my finger on what changed. One day, in math class, she was working on a worksheet and completed it. The next day she was screaming, but it was because she wanted my help. I remember her freestyle rapping one day in class and it was so funny I had to hold back tears from laughing so hard.

She had this reputation of being very hard and scary and I kept my distance from her at first, but would always say good morning and how happy I was to see her. I like to think that those conversations helped make her feel comfortable to open up and let her inner smartie out for all of us to see. I can’t say that she has stopped screaming, but she has been using her voice for good, standing up for others, trying to quiet down the class or get others on track. I’m really proud of how far she’s come and all the hard work we all have put in to get her where she is today.

Ms. Ashley, Corps Member 2012-2014 Tiquealla is easily one of the most self-motivated, driven students I have worked with over the past two years. Although she struggled to find her footing freshmen year, she is one of the top performing students in her sophomore class. Tiquealla is always the first to get started on her work and always willing to go above and beyond the expectations set for her. In addition to academics, Tiquealla has truly grow as a leader in the school this year. She has volunteered with several City Year events and often aides teachers before and after school.

Mr. Juan, Corps Member 2012-2014 Although I didn't work with Tiquealla last year, I remember frequently seeing her in the hallway and was aware that she wasn't putting in the work to be the best student she could be.

This year, from the very beginning, Tiquealla showed up looking like she meant business. The first quarter she had good attendance and was staying focused in class, which helped her to earn a GPA above 3.0. I was so amazed and proud of her. Since then, I have been even more delighted and impressed that she has continued to improve her GPA and commitment to school. However, the biggest change that I see in Tiquealla is a shift in her whole attitude to be polite, respectful and positive. Now, she is a star in the classroom and instead of being off task and distracting others, she sets an excellent example and even actively encourages other students to focus and do their work.

34 l cityyear.org l March 2014

Ms. Fevean, Corps Member 2012-2014 This year I have had the honor to work with Tiquella Edwards. My two years serving with City Year have exposed me to many different personalities to say the least. Tiquella is without a doubt, one that I will never forget. During my observation, she was a firecracker. Whatever she said, wherever she went, no one could tell her any different. She was not very positive in my initial encounter with her and seemed very heartless with her comments towards students and staff. Flash-forward to now. She is a completely different person. When I say she has changed, I MEAN IT. I have never seen so much character development and transformation in someone, which makes me so happy to have come back to witness her progress. Our daily interactions are what make my service so powerful.

I will always remember the first day she apologized to me for a rude comment she made in class. That was a pivotal moment because I was beginning to see the person she aspired, yet struggled to be. Tiquella has become a beacon of hope in our classroom. She is always on task and constantly motivating others do get their work done. I know that when I leave Linden she will take care of the students and continue on her journey to success.

TIQUELLA l

l

March 2014 cityyear.org 35

THE

IDEALIST SPOTLIGHT

l

SARAI EXIL

FRED Ms. Ashley, Corps Member 2012-2014 Fred is easily my starfish student from the past two years. He is self-driven and motivated and always looking for ways to better himself. As a freshman, Fred worked to overcome the distractions in the classroom to stay on track. This year, he continues to grow as a leader in the classroom, being a role model for his peers. Although he is still growing, Fred is the first to admit mistakes and work to improve on them. Fred is also becoming a leader outside of the classroom, working with Ms. Kinsey and his Linden Leaders group to improve the school environment. Fred is someone who I always enjoy spending time with, from working together on math homework to hanging out at lunch talking sports. I am excited to see what the future holds for Fred and I am so thankful for the opportunity to help him grow as a student and leader.

Ms. Kinsey, Corps Member 2013-2014 When I first met Fred he immediately showed me the kind of leadership he could demonstrate. During the summer before sophomore year, Fred worked with 4-H doing service projects around his community. It was clear to me that City Year had already started changing his life. His relationship with Ms. Ashley helped me break down walls quickly to start collaborating. Because of this, I expected him to be a leader and he has met me there consistently. Fred is a quiet (sometimes) and intellectual young man committed to changing the world. I wholeheartedly stand with him and behind him in his pursuit.

36 l cityyear.org l March 2014

THE

IDEALIST SPOTLIGHT

SOPHIA ANTOUN first year corps member - mifflin middle school

T

he frequently slippery conditions on stairs and roadways this winter have not kept Sophia Antoun from making her way to Mifflin Middle School each morning to work with her students.

She dedicated her red jacket to them, and her dedication to their success is evident in the way she spends each day of her service year prioritizing students first and collaborating always.

38 l cityyear.org l March 2014

Sophia calls Students First, Collaboration Always “the most relevant and imperative” of City Year’s values. With this foundation, she prioritizes her duties to make the greatest possible impact with her students. This often means using the mornings to take care of clerical tasks in order to free up the rest of the day as a blank canvas for her students, re-working lesson plans and implementing innovative interventions. She can often be found illustrating flashcards to help students remember vocabulary words or setting up games and videos for her pull-outs. She has led school-wide initiatives to foster cultural understanding. For example, she created a decorative celebration of

the Chinese New Year and, working with the students of Mifflin Middle’s after school program, started a pen-pal group where they exchange letters with a class in Taiwan.

Seeing her students develop as indpndent learners drives Sophia.

Sophia’s teammates are quick to point out how much she collaborates on any given day— sharing lesson plans, ideas that worked, and strategies that need improvement.

This kind of teamwork requires intentionality, and Sophia recognizes working in a team is difficult for everyone. For her, collaboration is more than a method for achieving success: it is a paradigm that requires mindfulness and strength of character.

Sophia describes collaboration as “a true shedding of ego.” She explains that “when you work alone, you can convince yourself you’re putting students first when you’re really not. She believes, “It takes a great degree of honesty to collaborate effectively, discerning one’s own intentions while actively listening to understand another’s point of view. It takes self-awareness and clarity of mind to ask whether one’s thoughts are useful or harmful when it comes to promoting meaningful conversation for the benefit of students. Sophia believes that everyone’s

feelings matter, but there are times in the context of putting students first that those feelings are not beneficial.

Good collaboration balances boldness with a willingness to listen and compromise. When teammates are willing to compromise, they make plans that benefit students, not just themselves. This approach to teamwork allows Sophia to minimize collusion and increase her team’s impact on student progress.

Along with her team, Sophia considers her students to be her most valuable partners in the school. While her relationships with teachers and administration are an integral part of her service, she recognizes that student success is not possible without student buy-in. Each of her interventions is a collaborative effort with students that combines her love of teaching with their developing love of learning. This, perhaps, is the purest example of the value Students First, Collaboration Always. When students partner with City Year corps members like Sophia, they participate in their own education, and that’s a beautiful thing.

Ben Jenkins First Year Corps Member City Year Columbus

l

l

March 2014 cityyear.org 39

THE

IDEALIST SPOTLIGHT

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF DIPLOMAS NOW

W

hile in 2012, only two thirds of ninth graders moved on to the next grade, a mere year later, there was a 150% increase in the ninth grade promotion rate. How did South High make such drastic improvements in such a short time? Principal Edmund Baker believes that it is the immediate impact of Diplomas Now (DN), a collaboration between the non-profits Talent Development, City Year, and Communities in Schools, implemented at South High last year. According to the School Transformation Facilitator (STF) William Ragland II, Diplomas Now works because it takes an integrated approach to curriculum and instruction by providing “the right students with the right support at the right time.” Certainly that’s easier said than done, so what does that mean and what does it look like? Let’s spend a day in the life of Diplomas Now at South so you can see for yourself.

By 7am, the City Year corps members, led by Impact Manager Brenda Scott, are at the school entrance doing their morning greetings-- cheering and serenading the students as they walk into the newly remodeled Ann Street building. Knowing that there are unseen hardships at home and within their communities, the greetings celebrate the students, make them feel welcomed, and set a tone of enthusiasm. Furthermore, the morning greetings serve as an attendance check-point for DN. Corps members get a preview of which students are in school, who may be tardy, and who may not come at all on that day.

At 7:30, the bell rings to mark the beginning of period 1. The first of two Diplomas Now Early Warning Indicators (EWI) Meetings take place at this time every Thursday, this one for the 10th grade team, while the 9th grade team will meet at the end of the day. The teams consist of Talent Development staff members, 9th or 10th grade teachers, City Year corps members, and the Communities in Schools Site Coordinator.

During these meetings, the teams, whose members have different relationships with students due to the context of their interactions, discuss signs that students are falling

40 l cityyear.org l March 2014

off track and put their insights together to tailor a specific intervention for each student.

Simultaneous to the Diplomas Now 10th grade EWI team meeting, one 9th grade cohort and its respective City Year corps members attend Freshman Seminar, a course unique to Talent Development’s curriculum. In response to the overwhelming number of city school students entering high school without the necessary social and academic skills needed to progress through and graduate, Freshman Seminar teaches effective strategies for note taking, emotional management, conflict resolution, and other social and human relations skills. According to Johns Hopkins University, DN schools report fewer fights, fewer disciplinary events, and fewer absences after offering the Freshman Seminar course.

The highlight of Diplomas Now is the academic support City Year crops members implement. It is virtually impossible for a teacher to prepare a lesson plan that meets the unique needs of every student in a South High classroom due the diversity of prior preparation and individual capabilities. Corps members remedy this shortcoming through their push-in and pull-out tutoring sessions. During a push-in, corps members, in collaboration with teachers, divide the class into small groups-- creating small classrooms within the classroom-- in order to meet student groups where they are and provide instruction consistent with their needs. During a pull-out session, corps members take DN-targeted students out of class in small groups or individually and provide the academic intervention prescribed at the EWI meetings. While corps members may not be as skilled and experienced as teachers, they are equipped with countless instructional resources, strategies, and tactics by their Talent Development coaches.

During periods 5 and 6, the influence of Diplomas Now is showcased by Girls Group, a girl empowerment club implemented by Communities in Schools Site Coordinator Melanie Poulson. During lunch periods, she congregates a group of girls and discusses topics such as body image issues, dating, bullying, peer conflict resolution, and online reputation management. Many of the girls at South do not have mentors at home or in their communities who cover these topics; therefore, the guidance and support Communities in Schools provides through these facilitated discussions further enable these girls to successfully navigate the high school experience.

While 9th and 10th grade students may make a resounding

argument for lunch in the cafeteria, the 614 Ambassadors program is the most noteworthy event that takes place during the school day from a Diplomas Now perspective. In collaboration with the Lebron James Family Foundation, City Year Impact, Manager Brenda Scott envisioned an innovative behavioral intervention program which utilizes positive reinforcement and leadership to redirect student energy towards scholastic productivity and model citizenship.

Targeted students are bestowed responsibility in the form of leadership positions, giving them the sense of ownership over their high school experience, which elicits further commitment to South High. More importantly, the 614 Ambassadors boasts a curriculum

guided by City Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 50 Acts of Leadership, which utilizes engagement to redirect negative behavior.

Recently, Diplomas Now extended their academic support at South to the 7th and 8th grade. This commitment is manifested through the tutoring and mentoring done by City Year corps members in several middle schools classes during periods 8 and 9, concurrent to the 9th grade Early Warning Indicators Meeting. The middle school interventions, as well as the EWI meeting, conclude at 2:30 PM, the end of period 9 and the school day at South.

Pierre Lucien First Year Corps Member City Year Columbus

l

l

March 2014 cityyear.org 41

ADERO R THE

IDEALIST SPOTLIGHT

l

SARAI EXIL

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS - CITY YEAR COLUMBUS

Q A

that was hard-working, passionate, and dedicated to helping our students improve. We also were able to contribute to the overall culture of the school in several ways. For example our team was able to organize and implement a “Peaceful Playground” program that included structured methods of play for the students.

Welcome back to City Year, Adero! Did you miss us?

Yes, it’s been over 18 years since I donned the Red Jacket and Timberland boots!

Second Avenue was our flagship site but we reached out to others in the community which helped build key partnerships that enhanced our service experience.

Some of these partners included the Short Stop Teen Center, Westminster Thurber retirement home, local churches and other non-profits. Other projects in this community included graffiti removal, playground builds and community cleanups.

Now, you were a corps member back in the day. What year(s) did you serve, and what did City Year look like then? (like what types of projects did you do, were you mainly in schools, how big was your team, what was your focus, etc.)

Q

A

I served back in 1995-96 which was during the Columbus Corps’ second year of existence. I served on the Foundations Team that worked at the original Second Avenue Elementary School in the Short North. Since City Year was relatively new to the school, there were some initial growing pains concerning the role of corps members in the classroom. Once there was a clear understanding of the value corps members for the teachers and students, the work became very similar to what corps members are currently doing in the classroom. I was assigned to a 5th grade classroom where I helped students primarily with reading and math, but I also worked with them on other subjects.

42 l cityyear.org l March 2014

Q A

During my service year, we had a very strong team

Many of our readers are corps members who are getting ready for the workforce or City Year alum who are in the workforce. What steps or experiences did you take to become Director of Operations?

I’ve been fortunate to experience a career that is multifaceted. If you can name it, I’ve probably done it. From supervising staff, writing grants, developing budgets, running after-school programs, creating marketing materials, conducting workshops and designing websites to driving students to college visits, loading boxes, working late nights and weekends, interacting with gang members, and riding along with police officers . . . I’ve experienced a lot!

All of these experiences have provided me with skills that are transferrable for any type of profession.

Working with non-profits that positively impact the community has been my passion and I’ve sought opportunities that allow me to feed that passion. Each one of these experiences has taught me a few things that, as a youth basketball coach I’ve used to teach the game:

OBINSON • Practice and Preparation Prevents Poor Performance: I always tell my teams, if you want to be good at something, practice it over and over. A great jump shooter takes hundreds of shots per day so it eventually becomes second nature.

• Relationships are important: While it is very important to be knowledgeable, competent, trustworthy, etc., building strong relationships with others is essential. You may not be great friends with all of your teammates but a solid relationship with each of them will make you a better person and a better team.

what you’re doing isn’t working, it’s time to switch it up. If your jump shot is constantly missing to the right, maybe you should fix your shooting form or take 100 extra shots after practice.

• Have more than one talent: Be strong with what you are really good at but make sure you work hard on other aspects of your game. When it’s your time to enter the game, the coach should be confidant that you can produce in numerous ways.

Q A

What excites you most about being back with City Year?

• Always be in learn mode: Ask a lot of questions. Seek out a mentor if possible. Watch and listen – see where others succeed and where they make mistakes. Take what you’ve learned, practice it and make changes when needed. Have a “coach” observe and make suggestions.

• Understand the basics and don’t skip any steps: Be OK starting at the ground floor doing the grunt work, because it always pays off down the line. Don’t try a crossover, behind-the-back, through-the-legs move if you never learned how to dribble without watching the ball. Once you get those basics, the other stuff gets easier – plus others will notice and want your skills on their team.

• Be confident: Don’t be afraid to make mistakes or experience shortfalls. When teaching kids how to shoot a basketball I always preach confidence.

Understand that you’re going to miss sometimes.

I tell them to practice and prepare, plus take good shots but when you miss, don’t pout or hold your head down. Be confident that the next one is going in, or the next one, and so on.

• If it’s not working, try something different: If

Q A

What really excites me is seeing the impact that corps members have on students. I’ve always appreciated the “on the ground, in the trenches” type of impact City Year provides. While there are some students who aren’t able to connect with a City Year corps member, those that do will remember the experience for a lifetime. City year is truly a unique and rewarding experience.

It feels good to be at out in public and have someone approach you to say, “Hey Mr. Robinson, do you remember me? You were my “City Year” when I was in the 5th grade! You taught me how to shoot a basketball. I remember all the fun we had at camp. Those reading groups were fun!”

It’s also interesting to see how City Year is utilizing real-time data to assist students where they need help the most. I think this is integral for achieving long-term impact and growth.

Q A

What does the City Year value “Students First, Collaboration Always” mean to you?

I’ve been fortunate to work with youths throughout my career. While it isn’t always easy, I think that if you show a young person that you are genuine, trustworthy, honest, and

straightforward and that you know what you’re talking about, you can have a positive impact on that person. As a basketball coach, I always work to put my players in a position to see what success looks like, to experience that success and praise them when they achieve it. It’s always important to foster a team environment that is collaborative in nature which always seems to help players with different talents and resources learn from each other.

Lastly, Adero, as corps members, we are all striving to be idealists, what is some advice you are willing to share?

SomSometimes you’ll hear critics say that idealists are dreamers, overly optimistic, not rooted in reality. Or you may hear someone say, “That can’t be done,” “It’ll never work,” “It isn’t practical,” of “Others have tried and failed.” On the contrary, I would argue that every significant and successful movement has been started by idealists.

In this era of increased accountability, data, and outcomes it can be frustrating to stay idealistic while swimming in a sea of red tape. While those things will always come into play, I always continue to remind myself why I got into this work to begin with – because of the opportunity to work with others to help them improve their lives. For example, while working on a particularly difficult project that involved long hours and other stressful situations, several of the teens in our youth program entered my office to tell me how much they appreciated the program we developed for them. The more I spoke with the students, the more I forgot about my frustration and remembered, “this is why I am here.”

l

l

March 2014 cityyear.org 43

EVENTS: CITY YEAR COLUMBUS March 2-3

All Sites: Read Across America Day/Dr. Seuss’ Birthday

Corps members volunteer at various elementary schools to read to students and celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday.

March 14

All Sites: Pi Day

A celebration of a mathematical constant! Check out CY Connect for Pi Day resources and tweet #CYPiDay

March 18

All Sites: Bus Operator Appreciation Day

City Year Columbus will celebrate its partnership with COTA by thanking the COTA drivers and taking to social media to show their support.

March 25

Linden McKinley STEM Academy: Blood Drive

City Year serves the Red Cross and helps to save lives, 2 pints at a time.

March 26 6-8 p.m.

April 3-5

Mifflin High School: Family Math Night

Join Mifflin High School as we host an after-school math family engagement event.

Students and their families are invited to participate in a series of math games built around the game show “Survivor.” At these stations, they can compete against each other and earn points towards becoming the “Ultimate Survivor.” Food is provided to all participants. Students who complete all the stations with success can win additional prizes.

Mifflin High School: Youth in Government

This event allows high school students to experience what life is like for a politician by drafting and presenting a bill at the Ohio State House.

April 5

6-9 p.m.

May 5

Red Jacket Ball

Join City Year Columbus for their annual Red Jacket Ball Gala honoring AT&T (see ad on page 5) Linden McKinley STEM Academy: Field Day

City Year corps members will help promote health and wellness while connecting students to summer programs

Q A

Introduce yourselves! What do you all do?

Where are you from? Do you have any experience in service to the community?

• To connect corps members with people or

proud to serve as founding co-chairs of the Parent Engagement Group. We are the parents of Dani Moses, a 2nd year corps member serving at South High School, and Alana Moses, a clinical psychology doctoral student in New York. Susan has been a child therapist/clinical social worker for many years, specializing in work with divorcing families. She

begun to host “Breakfast of Champions” by providing

experiences in Columbus

funds to purchase occasional breakfasts on-site to

• To raise the profile of City Year’s work in

corps members at their schools.

Columbus.

We are Susan Steinman (originally from California) and Larry Moses (originally from Indiana) and we are

P ARENT E NGAGEMENT GROUP Q&A

What was the inspiration for creating a group such as this? (Why and when did you both decide to create PEG?)

Q A

As we learned more about the “on the ground” work of the City Year corps with their students from our daughter, Dani—the challenges that so many students face and how significantly corps members can engage

directed a Divorce Service Program at Nationwide

them and build their confidence and self-esteem—

Children’s Hospital from 1987 until 2011, and has

we wanted to support this work by supporting

also worked extensively with the Bexley Schools and

the corps on a more personal level. Their work is

other child agencies on bullying prevention. More

intense, challenging, and they often don’t have much

recently, Susan is involved in the choir and as a board

discretionary time or money to explore Columbus or

member of the Harmony Project—an arts and service

personal life beyond work.

Q A Q A

community service. Larry is a community organizer, teacher, and foundation executive, who has served for almost three decades on the professional staff of the Wexner Foundation, including President for 11 years.

He is currently the foundation’s Senior Philanthropic Advisor.

Q A

What is the purpose/mission/initiative of PEG? The purpose of PEG is to: • On behalf of the Columbus community generally,

and parents of corps members specifically, to support and demonstrate appreciation to corps members for their very significant work with young people who are at risk in inner city schools.

The greatest challenge is broadening the support base and finding interesting ways for parents and the greater community to support corps members.

What are some future goals/plans of PEG in the coming years?

We recently hosted a Sunday evening dinner at our home for corps members to relax, visit outside of work, and enjoy a home cooked meal. Several parents have contributed to breakfasts once a month for each of the teams at school, and breakfasts throughout the community service week. There will undoubtedly be

organization dedicated to building bridges between very diverse people through the performing arts and

What can corps members look forward to from PEG in these last months of the service year?

How were you all able to gain support of other parents?

other home hospitality through the remaining months

We offered “parent support” for the program to

We look forward to building a broader system to

Executive Director Todd Tuney during the fall of 2012

provide information, referrals, and other assistance

and began eliciting ideas from staff, corps members

to corps members beginning prior to their service

and other parents as to what would be useful.

year—such as help with finding housing, doctors, etc.

Q A

of service.

Additionally, we hope to develop opportunities for

What challenges have you all experienced through the process of creating a support group?

Q A

PEG is still in the initial stages of development.

Because only a small percentage of current corps members have parents/family in Columbus, we are working to develop ways for out of town parents

• To provide home hospitality, as well as information

to participate. Local parents have been able to host

about the Columbus community, to corps members—

several dinners, a graduation party, and a welcoming

most of whom are new to the city.

pool party. Several out of town parents have already

individuals in the community interested in knowing more directly about the work of City Year to connect with corps members personally—to be helpful to corps members and create greater community engagement with the organization.

Q A

How can parents get involved?

Parents, or interested community members, can become involved by contacting Susan Steinman or Judith Cockrell to learn more about PEG.

l

l

March 2014 cityyear.org 45

THE

IDEALIST SPOTLIGHT

l

SARAI EXIL

B OA R D MEMBER Q&A

Deloitte which ran for 10 years and partnered our professionals with elementary school students at near-by Columbus public schools. It is through this work in the community that I feel personally fulfilled.

TANYA CRAWFORD

Q A

What are your roles and responsibilities on our Site Board?

As a new member since August 2013, I assist Todd and the Site Board with financial matters including reviewing the financial results of the Site and ensuring adherence to the annual budget. As a CPA, I’ve served as the Treasurer for many not-for-profit organizations in our community and am really excited to be working with such a dynamic staff and Site Board at City Year Columbus.

My other role with City Year Columbus is serving on the Host Committee for the Red Jacket Ball. I started in that role last year and it was through that Committee that I knew I wanted to become more involved with the organization and its mission.

Q A

What is your favorite quote or saying, and why?

We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.

- Sir Winston Churchill One of my passions is helping to counsel and mentor both colleagues at Deloitte as well as younger people in our community. As the Women’s Initiative and Inclusion leader for Deloitte’s Columbus office, I help provide programs for our women and diverse professionals to be able to succeed. I want to make sure that I “pay forward” all the help and advice that others have given to me in my career.

This philosophy of “paying it forward” has also manifested itself for me in being actively engaged in the community. Over the years, I have served on the Boards of the Dublin Arts Council, the Worthington Arts Council, The Columbus Urban League, Black Tie Ball, Inc. benefitting Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the Japan-America Society of Central Ohio among others. I also started a tutoring program within

46 l cityyear.org l March 2014

Making all of my work possible is my terrific family. My husband, Brian, and sons, Hunter, 11, and Chase, 8, give me daily inspiration and support.

Q A

If you had one piece of advice to give a person just starting out in the work force, what would it be?

I couldn’t pick just one piece of advice, so here are my top two – 1) Understand the importance of self-promotion and 2) Take control of your own destiny.

In terms of self-promotion, I’m not talking about being a braggart or trying to “show of..” Self-promotion in the business world is a useful tool in that it helps others understand what you’ve accomplished and what you are capable of. All too often, I see people not take credit for work they’ve accomplished because they believe they’re doing just what is “expected” of them. For Corps members, this means explaining to potential employers all the great things you’ve done during your Year(s) of Service in terms of leading projects, communicating in difficult situations, problem-solving, etc. When you share your accomplishments in an authentic manner, others will see your potential which can translate into a job offer as well as raises and promotions down the road.

As to taking control of your own destiny, the key here is that you first need to take time to reflect on your career goals and know what direction you want to head. Then you need to communicate these goals to your supervisors and company management. It’s amazing how other people will help you achieve your goals if they know what you’re striving for.

Case in point, when I first started at Deloitte, I knew that an immediate goal was to have an international assignment. I discussed this with the leadership of my office and they shared with me the projects that would most easily lead to a global assignment….and they put me on those projects. They also sent me to the related training sessions and within 3 years of beginning with the firm, I was assigned to work in Toronto. A year later, I had an offer to work either in Brussels, Belgium or Duesseldorf, Germany. But none of this would have happened if I hadn’t communicated my career goals.

CYCO ALUMNI Q&A

Q A

What was your favorite part of service?

When I served as a Corps Member, City Year was different. Today, most, if not all, Corps Members serve one goal: to address the drop out crisis by serving directly in some of the lowest performing schools in the communities in which City Year serves. Although most Corps Members served in schools when I was a Corps Member, some Corps Members, like me, were not assigned to schools. I served as the Young Heroes Service Leader, in which I co-led a team of Corps Members in recruiting a diverse group of middle school students from the Greater Columbus area for a service learning program that took place over 15 Saturdays from January through May. After recruiting, I led the team in the planning and implementation of programming and service projects for each Young Heroes Saturday, which topics included topics like homelessness, poverty, animal rights, aging awareness, and disability rights. Each Young Heroes Saturday, I was inspired to see a truly diverse group of middle school students come together to learn about issues affecting their community, both through programming and through service. So, for me, each Young Heroes Saturday was the favorite part of my service.

Q A

Why do you continue to partner/serve with City Year?

When I initially reconnected with City Year Columbus in 2009, I did so to give back to my community by serving with an organization with which I was familiar. I was amazed to see how different City Year was from when I served. With the focus being exclusively on addressing the drop out crisis through service in the schools, I felt like I could not personally identify with current Corps Members. But, I saw the results that my fellow Corps Members had on the students they served, which helped me appreciate that City Year was focusing its resources on one goal: to address the drop out crisis by identifying off-track students and helping them get back on track to graduate. The importance and enormity of City Year’s mission is why I continue to partner and serve with City Year. Also, I really enjoy the people that make up the City Year community.

NICK BARNES

Q A

How does the Local Alumni board differ from being on the National Board?

The National Alumni Advisory Board is comprised of 2 Co-Chairs and all of the Board Chairs from each Local Alumni Board. As a Co-Chair of the National Alumni Board, I work with my Co-Chair and Alumni leadership from City Year Headquarters to develop, lead the strategic direction of, and execute the annual goals of the Alumni Association. Our purpose, at the national level, is to connect, equip, and mobilize our network of Alumni Board Chairs so that they know City Year’s strategic goals and have the resources necessary to engage their local alumni communities in support of City Year’s Long-Term Impact strategy to build the nation’s urban graduation pipeline. The Local Alumni boards have the difficult task of finding and connecting to alumni, planning and implementing events for alumni in their communities, and to generally help build City Year’s alumni community.

Q A

What are some ways alum can get involved with City Year for their 25th Anniversary?

Re-connect with City Year through your local alumni board, and re-connect others from your service year to our local board. To me, the 25th Anniversary is about building the City Year alumni community by re-connecting and re-engaging alumni from all corps years to each other and to City Year and, once connected, to educate them about City Year’s enormous mission and how alumni can help support that mission moving forward. Please take the time to re-connect to your local alumni board and recruit others from your corps year to re-connect as well.

l

l

March 2014 cityyear.org 47

YOUR CITY YEAR GRADUATION APPROACHES. LEAVE IT ALL IN THE CLASSROOM.