As the year draws to a close, many corps members prepare for Life After City Year (something we here at City Year call LACY). Some enter their first year of college while others continue their higher education in grad school. Some follow the dreams they had since their first day of City Year and others have their dreams fundamentally changed by their experiences in City Year. Rachel Duvivier, 2010-2011 City Year Boston alumna, is one of those corps members that fits into the latter description.

Rachel grew up in Los Angeles, California. She attended a small private arts high school called Oakwood Secondary School and later attended University of California, Davis. She studied sociology with an emphasis in social services, which focused largely on social justice. Her studies shed light on the privilege of attending a private school and how different of an educational experience students have in the city of Los Angeles. She was struck by what she believed was the largest social justice issue of this American generation’s time: education.

“I decided that after I graduated, I really wanted to work on the ground to close the achievement gap and help the dropout crisis,” she said.

And so she did. Rachel applied to City Year Boston and, in 2010-2011, she served on the Comcast Team at the Jeremiah E. Burke High School alongside David Jones, Jr. as tutor and mentor in a ninth grade classroom. Before walking through the front doors, Rachel knew the reputation of the Burke. What she found, however, was quite different. Throughout the year, she and her team realized that “part of our job was to be culture-changers.” Changing the reputation of a school does not start with the community, though—it starts with the students. As Rachel watched her students attend four service days with City Year and one of her students speak to a crowd of 500 at last year’s Starry Starry Night, she knew just how powerful her influence for change was rooted in education.

Upon graduating from City Year Boston, Rachel joined Teach for America as a corps member. She is teaching Special Education at Richmond High School in the Bay Area, but the challenges she encounters in her job are nothing she has not encountered before.

“City Year prepared me,” she stopped and corrected herself, “over-prepared me for what I wanted to do; everything from behavior management in my classroom and ideas of what behavior management should look like to how to work with adults and people who are older than you and how to facilitate tough conversations.”

As much as she loves teaching, Rachel saw something in the City Year service model that left an impression on her. “I want to come back to City Year as a Program Manager,” she told me. Rachel’s dream after City Year was not to be a teacher, but to continue her service as a City Year staff member. “My favorite part of City Year was the culture and the sense of community I felt within my team and within the whole organization,” she said. “Everyone really cares a lot about education and the state of education.”

[More: A Community of Learners - Teachers Discuss City Year's Impact]

From City Year founding staff member Kristen Atwood, to Suffolk County Sheriff Andrea J. Cabral, to teacher Diane Stafford, a 28-year veteran of Boston Public Schools, individuals from all over the Boston community dig deep and discuss the impact that City Year has on them personally, on the corps members serving, in schools, in the city, and in the world.

What are your thoughts? Leave comments below.

After almost eight months of service, most of us know all of our “Starfish” after-school students pretty well. However, there is one student in my homework room who I felt I could stand to know a little more about. During my conversation with Peter*, not only did I hear him gush about Minecraft, but I watched as he fell off his chair in total excitement! Read the interview below.

What’s your name and who’s your City Year corps member?

My name’s Peter and Mr. McCabe is my City Year corps member in class.

Peter, what’s one of your favorite things right now? (a book, video game, movie, etc.)

Minecraft! It’s a game where everything in the world is made of blocks and you use the blocks to build sandboxes or anything else you want! Monsters come out at night so you have to build something to protect yourself before that happens.

So what do you like about City Year?

That you guys help us in class every day, and that you give us high-fives every morning before school starts!

[Rewind: Diana Shares a Personal Connection with her Students]

What’s one thing City Year has helped you to accomplish?

I get all my homework done in after-school so I don’t have to worry about it when I get home.

That’s great! What’s your favorite part of the Starfish after-school program? And what makes it special to you?

It’s special because it’s different from other after-school programs I’ve been in. You guys have the City Year store in Starfish and I like that a lot. I get to spend the CY Bux I earn at the store on cool things like new lead pencils and googly-eye glasses. (Holds up his pair of googly-eye glasses)

Wow, I’m jealous. Which club have you enjoyed most in Starfish?

My favorite club so far is the new one I’m in right now. It’s the Science Club and last week, we made rockets! It was really just mixing two things together, alka-seltzer and water, but it made the biggest explosion in the canister and shot up this high! BOOM! (throws hands up and falls off chair)

That sounds like you’re learning a lot of new and exciting things in after-school clubs. What would you say is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned so far from a corps member or City Year in general?

To always do your best even if you don’t understand something. And to always ask someone for help!

* Name changed to protect privacy.

By Nithya Prabhala, City Year AmeriCorps member serving on the CSX Team at the Elihu Greenwood Leadership Academy.

“Don’t ever let anything hold you back!” That is what we, as City Year corps members, wanted to convey to all of our students through our Career Night Event at EGLA held in April. “Go Confidently in the Direction of Your Dreams.”

With this slogan as the theme of our Career Night at the Elihu Greenwood Leadership Academy, our team worked tirelessly to give the E. Greenwood students and their families the opportunity to be exposed to as many different career paths as possible. We wanted the students to become inspired and excited for their future. We wanted to teach them the value of education by opening their young minds to the world of opportunity around them. So how can you plan your own Career Night at your school?

1. First, the set up. Everyone on my team took a lot of initiative to make sure that every detail was taken care of in terms of the set up for the event. From tablecloths to banner-hanging, balloons to chairs and food placement to registration set-up, every detail was meticulously managed. We were lucky enough to have Au Bon Pain generously donate much of the food for this event.

3. The execution. We started the event by hosting a panel discussion. Before students and families broke up into smaller groups to listen to three of our speakers, we wanted to give them an overview of the diverse group of professionals attending the event. Each panelist introduced themselves and answered questions that pertained to their specific career.

4. Extra hands on deck. I was not only happy with all of our speakers, all the work my team had put into the event, but also thankful for the many family and friends that came to help us out. They served as ushers for the day, giving valuable extra support to the small, but mighty, CSX team. My sister, a NYC City Year alum, came to impart her experience with City Year in New York. My personal highlight was my dad coming to support our event by volunteering as a speaker and. Special thanks to my teacher, Tammi Mark, who came and sat in on my dad’s presentation.

Governor Patrick and Dr. Johnson each noted that to them, “the power of red” is evident in the strong relationships City Year Boston corps members forge with the students they  mentor. Prior to the Governor’s remarks, City Year Boston alumna and Civic Engagement Manager Mollie Puskar spoke about the power of physical service and presented an award to Governor Patrick recognizing his tremendous leadership in starting Project 351, which brings together eighth-grade students from every Massachusetts city and town in an annual day of service-learning.

[Flickr: See the special night captured in this photo-album]

City Year Boston corps member Gabe Solis recalled the personal relationships that brought him to serve with City Year and the gains he has seen his students make at the Irving Middle School. Franklin, a student at the English High School says his City Year corps members are “like a brother and sister” and credits them for motivating him to work harder. Franklin started the year with an F in every course. He has since turned it around and has now earned an A, two Bs and two Cs. Neighborhood House Charter School parent Felicia Wood shared stories about her son and the role City Year has played in his life both in and out of school.

City Year Vice President and Dean Charlie Rose closed the program by thanking attendees for their deep investment in corps members like Gabe to support more parents like Felicia and help more students like Franklin succeed.

Read Gabe’s inspirational Starry Starry Night poem and more of his work here.

I interviewed Queenette “Queenie” Santos who is the Unit Director at the Walter Denney Youth Center in Harbor Point in Dorchester. She is dedicated to her job and treats and loves the kids as if they were her own. I notice and appreciate the work she does when I walk students over to the Denney every afternoon. The Denney Center is a member of the Boys & Girls Club of Dorchester and provides afterschool programs to students who attend the Dever-McCormack K-8 School and those who live in Harbor Point.

Tell me about yourself and your past work experience?

I went to college for early childhood education. I have been working in youth development and education for 30 years. I spent 13 years teaching preschool and kindergarten students and 17 years working at the Boys & Girls Club. I wanted to work with a variety of students with different needs so I decided to work at the Boys & Girls Club.

What do you think is the biggest issue affecting youth today?

I think today some of the issues troubling the youth are substance abuse, inadequate housing and violence. Kids today don’t have a clear direction so they end up making poor choices or getting involved in things they are clueless about like drinking or street life. They are exposed to too much at an early age. I look at Harbor Point, the Denney, and welcome center as places where kids can have a safe place that provides activities and a place to meet other kids and discuss problems they may have. That is something that has benefited the community.

What actions can youth take to make a difference?

The youth today need to rally for what they believe in and the things that they need. Adults are making all of the decisions that impact kids, but the voices of the kids aren’t being heard. The best way for kids to do this is by being assertive but respectful at the same time. The youth have to let people know how they could benefit from a program or a certain individual who comes to the school twice a week.

What has been an experience that impacted your life?

Growing up in the housing project, because most people assume that you have no goals or that this will be the only life you will ever know. That wasn’t the case for me and the people around me. There were people who knew that I and others could be better so we fought for what we needed and believed in. There were people and organizations that came into the projects not to view us like a research study but to take a chance and help us improve our situation and future. Boston Against Drugs was an example because they gave people a safe place and I used to attend the meetings just to hear what others had to say and what was going on in their lives.

What advice do you have for someone who works/wants to work with youth?

Have patience because if you do not have that then this job is not for you. Always look for the good in the kids and do not focus on the bad. Do not be judgmental because that will impact how you view the kids and may impede on progress being made.

What’s something interesting that most people don’t know about you?

I’m an awesome cook!

What’s your connection to City Year?

City Year has performed many service days here at the Denney.

What has impressed you about City Year?

Seeing those red jackets and Timberland boots walk across the street and bringing the students to the Denney Center is such a joy. I know that just like me and the staff at the Denney, City Year is committed to the youth and making a difference in their lives. That brings a smile to my face.

As a senior in high school applying for colleges, I was woefully ignorant of the other options available to me. I had always been a straight shooter in life, destined to go directly from high school to a decent university, continue on to graduate level work, and then settle down into the daily grind of the working world. Sure, I had a vague understanding of what AmeriCorps was and heard mentions of City Year from NPR and my mother – who, interestingly enough, has spent most of her career working in New Haven Public Schools researching the very same attendance, behavior, and coursework interventions that I carry out here at City Year Boston. It is probable that if I weren’t so stubbornly set on following my pre-conceived “normal” educational track, I would have listened to my mother’s suggestions of taking a gap year after high school into greater consideration. Looking back on that time, I wish I had.

Bank of America Team serving at Young Achievers Science and Mathematics K-8 Pilot School

Fortunately, my path eventually did end up crossing City Year, after an successful semester-long stint in college. I entered City Year as a nineteen-year-old college dropout.

City Year has a habit of attracting passionate people—people who desperately want to change the world (see above). I am one of those people, but before joining the ranks of the Red Jacketed and khaki clad City Year corps members, I certainly did not possess the necessary skills to carry out this life mission. I did not have the organizational or logistical knowledge necessary to plan and execute an event. I did not possess the discipline to get up at 7:00AM and not get home until 9:30PM in pursuit of the change I wanted to see in the world. I did not have the perseverance to push onward when progress was non-existent, or even sliding in a negative direction.

City Year has given me these qualities – or more precisely, City Year has facilitated personal growth for me in many areas. Through the powerful City Year community, structured environment, rigorous training, and strong leadership teams, I have grown in more ways than I ever would have imagined possible in eight short months. Personally, I feel that every American citizen should give a year of service, not just to help improve the lives of others, but also to better themselves as individuals.

I entered City Year as a nineteen-year-old college dropout. I will be leaving City Year as an empowered individual with the tools necessary to successfully complete my education and launch powerfully into a life-long mission to positively change the world.

The task of engaging a group of 8^th graders can sometimes be a bit daunting, especially when it comes to mentoring lunches. It is for this reason that I often challenge myself to think about new ways to keep my students interested in meeting with me to talk about their leadership development. One of the best ways that I have discovered is creating themed lunches with personalized invitations.

Last week, on a whim I invited four of my students to our team space for a fancy tea party at lunch. I saw it as an opportunity to share something very important to me while learning about my students at the same time. Little did I know that most of the students I invited were also avid tea drinkers. One of them even brought a huge thermos of an African milk tea and a box of donuts to share with the group. It was such a huge success that they requested we continue having weekly tea parties for the rest of the year! I am so excited to have found such a personal way to reach out my students and I can’t wait to see the connections that fancy tea continues to bring us.

[More from Epiphany: City Year jackets the latest craze among middle schoolers]

You know what they say, April showers bring May flowers! Here are some great places to visit in Boston in both the rainy and sunny springtime weather. Looking to take your students on a field trip? Wait no more.

What’s your favorite Boston attraction? Take the poll below!

5.) Arnold Arboretum

Located in the Jamaica Plain and Roslindale neighborhoods of Boston, the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University is the oldest public arboretum in North America!  With its mission to “increase the knowledge of the evolution and biology of woody plants”, the Arnold Arboretum is a great place to visit on a sunny spring day. Spend an afternoon here on a docent or self-guided tour or bring along friends and food for a picnic!

The Arnold Arboretum is easily accessible from the Forest Hills MBTA station on the Orange Line, or the Monument stop on the #35 MBTA bus route.

4.) Museum of Science

The Museum of Science (MOS) is the perfect place to visit when April showers threaten to keep you cooped up at home. The MOS exhibit halls house both permanent and temporary exhibits. Current exhibits include Geckos: Tails to Toepads, Natural Mysteries, and Dinosaurs: Modeling the Mesozoic.  The MOS also has a Planetarium and Butterfly Garden, and even boasts a five story tall IMAX dome screen located in the Mugar Omni Theater. With admission available to just one or all of these great options, the Museum of Science will make you forget all about the rainy weather outside.

The MOS is available via MBTA at the Science Park stop on the Green E Line.
*For other indoor attractions, check out the New England Aquarium and Museum of Fine Arts!

3.) Freedom Trail

The city of Boston is rich with history of the beginning of our nation. The Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile brick walking trail, will lead you to sixteen nationally significant historical sites, including Paul Revere’s House, the Old South Meeting House, and Faneuil Hall.  For those looking to exercise their bodies as well as their minds, there is a Freedom Trail 5k run every Saturday and Sunday morning at 8:30.  Or, take a more leisurely stroll and learn all about Boston’s role in the American Revolution.  The Freedom Trail “begins” at the Boston Common and “ends” at the USS Constitution, but you can start your journey at any stop along the way!

2.) Fenway Park 

Home to the Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use, and celebrates its 100^th birthday on April 20! Score tickets to a Red Sox game if you’re lucky, or take a guided tour!

Fenway Park is easily accessible from the Kenmore stop via the MBTA B, C, or D Green Line trains, as well as by the #8, 19, 57, 60 or 65 bus routes

1.)   Boston Common and Public Garden

The Boston Common is the oldest park in the country, and is a great spot to visit to throw a ball around, have a picnic, read a book, and just enjoy being outside.  On an especially hot spring day, take a run through the fountain at the Frog Pond.  Or, visit the Boston Public Garden and take a ride on the Swan Boats and visit the Make Way for Ducklings statues.

The Boston Common and Public Garden are within walking distance from the Park Street Station via the MBTA Red or Green lines.

These attractions are just few of the many that Boston has to offer. We are lucky to have the MBTA as one of City Year Boston‘s sponsors. They make it easy to get around this great city, so get out there and go! Thank you, MBTA!

On Wednesday, April 4, the Westfield Capital Management Team at the Neighborhood House Charter School (NHCS) hosted a day-long College Fair for the whole school. Students from grades one through eight stopped by to participate in activities, speak to visiting college representatives, learn about the 40 colleges represented at our fair and have their photos taken as college graduates, diplomas in hand. The fair was a huge success for students of all ages; the 3rd graders, instead of playing their usual games of tag and “celebrity” at recess, devised a new game called “college.” See slideshow here.

[More from Sam: Five Reasons Why Students at NHCS Love City Year]

Click to view slideshow.