Hands-on Technology Experience for Low-Income Kids

“It...felt great to be a part of something bigger than just my day to day life, which can sometimes feel like a bubble.” - Allison (NY)

Citizen Schools' mission is "Educating Children, Strengthening Communities." Our vision is to close the opportunity and achievement gap for middle school students from low-income communities and move students onto a successful track, heading toward high school graduation, college attainment, and positions of leadership in their careers and communities. Since its inception in Boston in 1995, Citizen Schools has partnered with middle schools and communities to reimagine the learning day and provide all students with rigorous and engaging experiences that connect students’ current learning to their future. We mobilize a second shift of afternoon educators, who provide academic support, leadership development, and apprenticeships - hands-on projects taught by volunteers from business and civic organizations. By focusing on middle school, Citizen Schools capitalizes on this critical developmental period and inflection point, effectively setting students' sights on graduation, college matriculation, and ultimately a successful career. Citizen Schools also seeks to build a strong and skilled pipeline of scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and technology professionals to fill the national gap in qualified STEM professions. In the 2015-16 school year, Citizen Schools served 5,100 students from disadvantaged urban neighborhoods, 96% of whom are children of color. Google remains one of Citizen Schools’ leading supporters – not only through financial contributions but especially through the human capital of Googlers, who teach our students in 10-week, hands-on apprenticeships.

The fall apprenticeship season is underway at Citizen Schools, and Google is well-represented in our classrooms. 24 Googlers are teaching nine apprenticeships in San Jose, CA; Cambridge, MA; and New York. Apprenticeships being taught by Googlers include:

• Lego Robotics - Harry, from the New York office, has returned this fall with four other Googlers to teach students the basics of robotics. In this apprenticeship, students will build robots capable of completing specific tasks.
  
  
• Social Entrepreneurship - Chi-Chi from the Cambridge office is teaching students about how they can earn and use money to help those in need in their communities and around the world. Students in this apprenticeship will form business teams, develop products, market their businesses, sell their products, calculate their business costs, revenue, and profit, and donate a percentage of their business profits to a charity of their choice.
  
  
• Shark Tank - This apprenticeship, taught by four Googlers at the Urban Assembly Academy in New York, puts a musical twist on this core curriculum. Students will pick their favorite musical artist, and pretend to name, market, produce, distribute and launch their next album, as well as learn the costs and profits associated with such an endeavor. They will work in teams, and each is given a specific role to be responsible for within their group (CEO, CMO, CFO, CSO).

Citizen Schools is so grateful for our powerful partnership with Google and its employees. The enthusiasm of Google volunteers continues to inspire children and colleagues alike, as they explore new worlds with students and set them on a course for success in high school, college, and careers.