#Volunteer Spotlight : City Year - @CityYear
The problems surrounding our great city on the lake are vast. The hurdles seem insurmountable at times. Chicagoans are a resilient bunch & City Year has been making a difference in the education of students across the city.
A third of students in Chicago’s public schools drop out. Students who drop out earn roughly $1 million less than high school graduates. Out-of-school, out-of-work youths cost Americans about $1.6 trillion in increased social services and lost earnings and taxes over their lifetimes.
But there is a solution.
Using near-peer mentors in Chicago’s most under-served schools to address specific areas that lead to students dropping out, City Year helps close the gap, between what students need to succeed and what schools are designed to provide.
I’ve been a huge supporter of City Year since I originally did multiple service trips with them throughout high school and college. One of my good friends spent two years in the corps and I saw first-hand what an incredible impact these young leaders they have on the communities they live and work in.
City Year was founded in 1988 by roommates at Harvard Law School, who felt that young people in service could be a powerful resource for addressing America's most pressing issues. City Year corps members focused their efforts on community rehabilitation, beautification of neighborhoods, and developing community awareness in Boston.
Over the years, the organization has expanded, opening sites in 26 cities throughout the U.S., and refocused its mission to help students in under-served schools reach their full potential and graduate high school.
City Year members commit to a ten-month service year, performing a combination of service, leadership development, and civic engagement. It’s the perfect amount of time for the corps members to make an impact and develop social consciousness without straying too much from keeping their future “on track.”
I could only wish that someday our politicians institutes mandatory community service. Until that day, City Year is an incredible outlet for the talents, time and energy of our nation’s youth.