City Year Chicago Graduates! Monday (one day late) Montage…

On Thursday, May 24,2012, City Year Chicago graduated 145 corps members, who served as tutors, mentors and role models to more than 4,000 Chicago students.

Prior to the graduation ceremony, corps members and their parents were welcome to a reception where they could meet one another and hear from Lisa Morrison Butler, City Year Chicago’s Executive Director.

Click here to see a slide show of some of the best photos. City Year Chicago corps members can download the photos from Flickr as well!

Congratulations City Year Chicago Class of 2012!

The Dynamic Duo! | Friday Report from the Field

This week, corps member Nina Holzer of the Northern Trust Team serving at the Sherman School of Excellence sat down with her teacher Mr Eggert to answer questions about educating young minds and having fun in the process!

Whats the best thing about being in a math class?

Mr. Eggert | Watching students solve problems on their own and develop skills and strategies to become critical thinkers and problem solvers.

Nina H. | Math has always been my favorite subject and the subject I excelled the most in during grade school and college. The best part of my being in a math class is sharing my passion for the topic with students and helping students overcome obstacles that may have been hindering their appreciation for the subject. Though I don’t expect to make every kid fall in love with math (like I have), I definitely love helping them get a better understanding for the topic and hopefully make them like it more (or dislike it a little less!)

Whats the most difficult thing about being in a math class?

Mr. Eggert | Working with students who are in middle school who do not know how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide simple 1 and 2 digit numbers.

Nina H. | Just like any other class, the greatest difficulty I have faced comes from a lack of interest in the subject. I think that this hardest part of my job is facing those kids that have given up on the subject and either refuse to do the work, refuse to try to do the work, or refuse to give it another chance. It’s especially difficult with those students who believe themselves to be more ELA-minded than Math- or Science-minded, since they shut down far easier when given work.

Why are you two such an awesome team?

Mr. Eggert | Ms. Nina and I work together and communicate very well. It is helpful having someone in the class who understands and can apply math to a variety of situations. Also, it is great that she can pull small groups and give individualized instruction.

Nina H. | I think that Mr. Eggert and I make a great team because we are very supportive of one another. Any time that I need to get something done for City Year, Mr. Eggert responds with positivity and support! It’s great being in a classroom where I have my teacher’s support and understanding of our work, this allows me to get everything done that I need to get done!

What will be missed most about Ms. H?

Mr. Eggert | Two things: Her helping hands and ears! She is awesome at grading papers, working with small groups, and assisting students who are struggling or just having an off day. Also, it’s great to have a set of ears to listen to my complaints! Secondly, the great treats, food, and positive notes I receive!

What obstacles were in your way in the beginning of the year?
And how did Mr. Eggert help you along the way?

Nina H. | At the beginning of the year it was very hard for me to get one-on-one time with students, but Mr. Eggert helped me out by setting up his classroom in a way that I could meet with all of my students a few times a week and get all of the tutoring time in that I needed.

What’s the best thing about being in Mr. Eggerts class over the other teachers? 

Mr. Eggert has an awesome sense of humor! I love being in his classroom because he always makes me laugh and we have had some very interesting conversations about education. Also, Mr. Eggert is very transparent and I appreciate that he lays everything out for me: I always have lesson plans and a detailed understanding of what we have planned. In all, I believe Mr. Eggert is an amazing teacher and being in his classroom has been a great learning experience for me so far.

Nina Holzer is a first year corps member serving on the Northern Trust Team at the Sherman School of Excellence in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhoods. Nina is originally from Cleveland, OH and a graduate of Ohio University. 

From the Desk of Jim Balfanz, President of City Year

We’ve got a very special announcement from City Year’s President, Jim Balfanz regarding City Year’s Long-Term Impact strategy. Read on to learn more!

I just stepped off the stage at our National Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., where hundreds of City Year stakeholders and partners are gathered as part of our collective commitment to transforming the nation’s most challenged urban schools. I want to share with you what we just announced.

We are launching a Long-Term Impact strategy, which harnesses the talent and energy of City Year’s young leaders as a breakthrough solution for struggling urban schools.  Inspired by a vanguard of high-performing, high-poverty schools that have demonstrated success is possible, we believe national service is a new human capital strategy to advance proven reform strategies and directly support the students who need it most.

Watch to see what’s possible:

Three years ago, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan joined us at our National Leadership Summit to announce the first phase of In School & On Track, City Year’s campaign to dramatically increase the urban graduation pipeline in America. Today, Secretary Duncan joined us again to help us launch the next phase of the campaign.

With our partners we are laying the groundwork to nearly double the number of students on track to graduation by the 10th grade. Through this strategy we will reach the majority of off-track students in our current cities and grow to the cities where the challenge is greatest.

See our media announcement City Year Launches Ten-Year Strategy To Build The Nation’s Urban Graduation Pipeline.

By calling on our nation’s young people to build the urban graduation pipeline, we can ensure all Americans can be contributing members of our democracy. We know every child has potential. Together we can help students and schools succeed and achieve our potential as a nation. I invite you to share this strategy with your networks.

Yours in Service,

Jim Balfanz
President
City Year, Inc.

Tips from the Corps!

With this year’s corps speedily approaching their graduation on May 24, City Year Chicago’s Executive Director, Lisa Morrison Butler, has taken to Facebook over the past few weeks asking our current corps about Chicago livin’ for the incoming corps!

If you’re soon to be a City Year corps member (or are just new to Chicago) check out some of Lisa’s questions, and current and former corps member’s responses below!

White Sox Service Day! | Monday Montage

This past Saturday, City Year Chicago and the Chicago White Sox teamed up for the fourth year in a row to put on one of our biggest and best service days of the year!

The Chicago White Sox Volunteer Corps and even a few Chicago White Sox players joined hundreds of other volunteers in a day of service beautifying Kozminski Community Academy in Hyde Park. Volunteers painted the schools stairwells, added educational and cultural themed murals to hallway walls, constructed bookcases for classrooms and planter beds for the playground, and more!

Despite the rain, our volunteers had a great time brightening up the school and giving back to the community. Plus, meeting some of the White Sox players (and even ol’ Southpaw!) didn’t hurt their morale! We’re excited that this year’s event went so well and will be looking forward to the next White Sox Service Day in 2013!

Check out all the photos from the Chicago White Sox Service Day here!

Once a Mentor, Always a Mentor | Friday Report from the Field

This week’s Report comes from the fearless team leader of the Comcast Team serving at the Howe School of Excellence, Primo Lasana.

The perception of City Year Team Leaders is that we never spend any time with students. Because we are not assigned to a classroom, the assumption is that we do not have any interactions with students. However, in a building filled with students it is quite hard to avoid the occasional conversation, high five, or impromptu tutoring session.

At Howe, our City Year room is located on the 4th floor, right in between the three 3rd grade classrooms. As I sit at my computer or travel the halls to visit my corps members, I see the 3rd grade classes constantly transitioning to and from class.

One afternoon, the 3rd grade teacher, Ms. Jacobsen, asked me if anyone from the City Year team could spare some time to help a few of her students with a Pen Pal assignment. These two students could not read or write as well as their classmates and required individual attention for an assignment like this, and she simply could not ignore the rest of the class to meet their needs.

I volunteered myself and my Program Manager, who happened to be in the building at the time, to help these two students. After reading and writing their letters that afternoon, one of the students took a liking to spending time with me. His teacher approached me later and asked me to come and check in on him from time to time so that he would have a mentor in the building, someone who he knew cared about his success.

I gladly accepted the role of mentor for this bubbly young student and at least once a week he comes bouncing down the halls to ask me to read a story with him, or help him with an assignment. Our relationship benefits the student, myself and his teacher. It has truly been a pleasure to get to know this bright young man and have the privilege of spending time with him.

I have spent time with many of our students at Howe, whether it is at City Year Homework Help, City Year Spring Break Camp, during morning greeting, passing in the hall or in the classroom. I recently started volunteering with a 3rd and 4th grade soccer program after school at Howe and look forward to growing many new relationships!

Primo Lasana is a second year corps member leading the Comcast Team at the Howe School of Excellence in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. Primo is originally from Greenich Village, NY and is a graduate of CUNY Hunger College.

White Sox Service Day Countdown!

City Year Chicago’s annual White Sox Service Day (happening May 12 at Kozminski Academy in Hyde Park) is fast approaching so let’s take a look back at one of City Year Chicago’s most treasured partnerships!

Originally, City Year’s Care Force planned and implemented the service day for the Chicago White Sox, but slowly the service reins were handed over to City Year Chicago.  In 2010, City Year Chicago took full ownership over planning and executing the service day for the Chicago White Sox Volunteer Corps. In the three years since then, we have engaged almost 1,500 volunteers in service!

During the 2010-2011 corps year, The Chicago White Sox for the first time became a team sponsor for the City Year Team serving at Paul Robeson High School.  This event has always been a great opportunity for City Year and the Chicago White Sox to work together to make the community of Chicago a more beautiful place.

Be sure to check back on Monday when we’ll feature photos from Saturday’s event!

Meet the Incoming Corps! | Monday Montage

With City Year Chicago’s graduation of it’s 2011-2012 corps coming up soon on May 24, we’ve been hard at work making sure we’ve got an all new batch of idealistic and motivated young people to take their spot for another impactful year of service to Chicago Public School students.

New corps members were recently given their first assignment to take a photo of themselves with a City Year patch and tell us about what inspires them to serve. Photos have been rolling in since the beginning of the month and we’re expecting plenty more. Take a look at our current submissions here and be sure to check back periodically as new corps member photos are added to the newest page featured on the blog menu above!

A Lasting Impact | Friday Report from the Field

This week’s story of service direct from our corps members comes from Team Leader Jaymie Jenks at the Johnson School of Excellence.

I had the unique privilege of returning to Johnson for a second year of service, this time as a team leader. Though, I was no longer working one-on-one with students, I do have the opportunity to see the 7th grade students I worked with last year, now running the school as 8th graders. When the year began, I had one student in particular that I was eager to talk to. When I began at the school last year, he had mostly D’s and F’s and rarely completed his homework. Together, we created an organizational system that allowed him to keep better track of his work. I tutored him regularly to help him understand the material and taught him techniques that would help him study. I was so proud when he began getting A’s and B’s on his tests and finally raised his English grade to a C!

During my first week back at Johnson this September, I was thrilled to discover that I had something in my mailbox. It was a test, taken by this student a week earlier. He had received a B. I was so proud of him for accomplishing this all on his own. I know these skills of staying organized and studying well will be a huge asset to him when he enters high school. As I am preparing to finish my time with City Year, I am comforted with the knowledge that the work my team did this year will have a lasting impact on our students.

Jaymie Jenks is the Team Leader of the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago Impact Fund, a McCormick Foundation Fund Team at the Johnson School of Excellence. Jaymie is originally from Kansas City and attended Kansas State University.

Congratulations to Vy Nguyen, Winner in the Art of Idealism!

One of City Year Chicago’s very own was a winner in City Year’s first ever art competition, The Art of Idealism! Vy Nguyen’s art was one of 24 selected from over 400 submissions to the contest. As a winner, Vy’s artwork will appear in an upcoming Founding Stories hardbound book and she will also receive a paint kit (acrylic or watercolor) from Artist & Craftsman Supply, one Copic sketch marker, and stationary/gift set.

Vy’s piece for the founding story, Everyone Can Be Great, was made with batik (wax and dye) and she has this to say about it: “The idea behind this piece is not “everybody can be great,” but rather the process of how one becomes great. Greatness starts with a small dormant seed that is cultivated, nourished, and loved—though that alone cannot make one great. Greatness may start at the hands of others but what prolongs and strengthens it is intrinsic and must come from within.”