SPRING 2025
A Message from COO Dr. John Tupponce
With another school year winding down, City Year is already in the process of recruiting, training and placing new AmeriCorps recruits for the fall semester.
And while we all hope to put the pandemic behind us, new data from The Nation’s Report Card show that in 2024 fourth and eighth graders scored lower in reading and math than in 2019.
There is good news: Many students have made up some ground academically in mathematics from pre-pandemic levels.
By placing near-peer student success coaches in public schools, City Year is laser-focused on lifting those numbers. In this issue you will read about how our mentors recently helped families in natural disaster areas, City Year’s inspiring Why We Matter weekly podcast and what we mean by “student success coach.”
Thank you for supporting City Year’s mission and for helping us celebrate the limitless power and potential of our youth, whether they are K-12 students or City Year AmeriCorps members.
Every contribution makes a difference.
That’s What We Call Dedication
Did you know that one out of four City Year AmeriCorps members returns to serve for a second year as a student success coach?
The reasons they return vary. Some wish to follow the progress of students with whom they’ve connected. Others grow their own leadership skills while receiving a stipend. A good number of these student success coaches follow the path toward the teaching profession.
Estella Chavez served in the school she graduated from and signed up for a third year! “I really loved working with the kids, and I got to see how they developed over time,” Estella said.
What Is a Student Success Coach?
Long before one-room schoolhouses, older peers provided guidance and tutoring to the younger generation … and study after study shows peers can have a strong influence on the growth and development of young people.
City Year AmeriCorps members serve as student success coaches who are proven to bring powerful change to public schools as mentors and tutors. They work with teachers and administrators to address the needs of all students who navigate academic and interpersonal challenges. The person-to-person connections made inside and outside the classroom provide environments where students feel engaged, respected and valued. City Year trains and deploys these student success coaches, who develop leadership skills along the way.
Our Impact: Helping kids succeed in 21 states, 29 cities and 250 schools.
City Year Responds: Supporting Students and Families After the LA Fires and Beyond
With 29 sites located in communities across America and thousands of AmeriCorps members on the ground, City Year can have an impact outside the classroom. The most recent examples of City Year’s activities include helping students recover from the wildfires in Los Angeles and floods in the Carolinas. City Year was there in 2005 following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, providing support to families so that schools and students could mitigate learning losses and maintain graduation rates.
During the school year, City Year student success coaches ensure that young people have the resources, experiences and skills they need to succeed in whatever path they choose and contribute to stronger and more vibrant communities and workplaces.
City Year Alums Continue to Make a Difference
After serving their City Year, alums will often continue on the teacher pathway, fostering a sense of joy and belonging they’ve come to embrace during their tenure. Forty-thousand strong and growing every year, these City Year alums are valued members of the workforce and often use their City Year experience to move into leadership roles.
Macey Amissah-McKinney (Sacramento ‘13, ‘14) is making a difference as the director of one of City Year’s 29 sites: “I serve because there are people who dared to make a difference in my life and it is a privilege to do the same for those who come next.”
Donors to City Year know that their contributions have a multifaceted effect on society. We are grateful for every donation made to support our mission and student success coaches.
Elevating Youth Voices and Leadership
City Year Studios presents Why We Matter, a weekly podcast exploring the power of mentorship, education and youth leadership.
Hosted by Jonathan Raymond and Emily Sullivan, each episode features inspiring conversations with young leaders, policy experts and change-makers.
Tune in to our Spotlight Series, where former student success coaches share firsthand experiences from City Year and partner organizations. Recorded live at City Year Headquarters in Boston, this podcast offers fresh insights and real-world strategies to help students learn, grow and thrive.
Join the conversation — listen to Why We Matter weekly, available wherever you get your podcasts!
Civic Engagement Team Serves Wider Audience
At a growing number of City Year’s 29 sites, we have been piloting a new series of events that extends our impact beyond classrooms and schools: The Civic Engagement team.
We team up with volunteers and organizations to perform much-needed service in local communities, led by City Year alums. For those who’ve already served with City Year, returning as a member of a Civic Engagement team is a fabulous way to continue personal and professional development.
Explore opportunities near you at cityyear.org/events.
What Is a Growth Year?
Many students graduate from high school in May and June and begin college, apprenticeships or work life in the fall. Others want and need more time to discover their next big adventure. Some choose a growth year as an AmeriCorps member.
As City Year student success coaches, they spend 11 months in service at a local school where they meet other talented young people who share their passion for the greater good and personal development. If you know someone who is considering serving during a growth year, we would love to talk with them. Have them visit cityyear.org.
City Year is more than a gap year; City Year is a growth year.
City Year, Inc. is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization (Tax ID Number: 22-2882549) and your donation is tax deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. To claim a donation as a deduction on your U.S. taxes, we will follow up with a tax receipt shortly which will show your tax-deductible portion according to IRS guidelines.
How can I make a gift of stock/securities? If you would like to make a gift of securities, please contact Andrew Kent at [email protected] or (617) 927-2364.
Can I pay through my donor-advised fund? Yes, we ask that you have your donor-advised fund gift sent to: Bank of America Lockbox Services City Year Inc. 412755, MA527-08-07, 2 Morrissey Blvd., Dorchester, MA 02125
Would you like to donate immediately? Click here to be directed to our donation page.
