Twelve years ago, Julia, Abby and I joined City Year on a family service trip to South Africa. We saw City Year in action and the experience was pretty transformational - 7 days, 1000 children served, 10 murals painted and $63,000 raised.

There was so much joy and connection -- something that I experience over and over again here at City Year Boston. At City Year Boston, purpose meets passion in a meaningful way that is transformational for City Year Boston AmeriCorps members and students in Boston Public Schools. 

As a City Year Boston board member and Red Jacket Society member, I see the impact first hand, the transformational system change that allows vulnerable students to thrive and to stay on track to graduate. The tremendous impact City Year Boston has achieved since 2011 is highlighted below. 

We are living through an unprecedented time -- we are apart, but in many ways we have never been more together. Boston’s students & families have been presented with tremendous challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic and City Year is working hand in hand with Superindent Casselius. Schools are closed, but City Year AmeriCorps members are providing academic support in virtual classrooms & assisting teachers navigate this new virtual learning space. City Year is Boston Public's School essential partner and when students do go back to school, they – and teachers – will need all the support we can give them.

Please join me in Ubunto, the South African belief that my humanity is tied to yours, ours to our community. Our BPS community needs us now more than ever. Help create a Bright Spot for our AmericCorps members, BPS students and teachers. Donate today!

x, Lisa

In March, Boston Public Schools (BPS) announced the closure of all 125 schools citywide. These school closures left 50,000 Boston students without access to in-person schooling.  City Year Boston is working closely with BPS to provide innovative distance learning opportunities to students, adapting our Whole School Whole Child program model to suit virtual spaces.

While teachers continue to provide whole-class instruction using platforms like Google Classroom or Zoom, City Year’s AmeriCorps members are providing academic supports in English language arts/literacy and math by facilitating breakout groups, answering questions, and leading enrichment activities.  Our corps members are assisting teachers in planning lessons and reviewing students’ assignments and holding office hours to provide one-on-one and small-group tutoring.  Importantly, our AmeriCorps members are also supporting students’ social-emotional health and placing phone calls home to students and their families as a way to build connectedness, troubleshoot, and communicate updates. 

City Year Boston is one of the only partners to support Boston Public School students throughout the COVID-19 pandemic

City Year’s support of virtual classrooms is a pivotal step in preventing learning loss and generating opportunities for new learning, as well as ensuring greater equity of experience among families who may not otherwise have the ability to facilitate in-home instruction.  Beyond this school year, City Year will continue to engage in the virtual space to support BPS students and will be in schools next year to support students when they will need more than ever.