By Paul Riley | Manager of Corporate Engagement
“We decided to become Citizen Teachers because we saw Citizen Schools as a unique forum for us to directly invest in the lives of youth in our community by using the skills we bring to our clients at work every day. To be honest, we weren't sure what to expect as first time Citizen Teachers, but we quickly found that our sessions with the students were extremely rewarding and fun..” - Citizen Teachers, Illinois
For this report, I’d like to share a message that the CEO of Citizen Schools, Em McCann, recently shared with our organization’s supporters. You can read her full remarks here, but I’ve excerpted some key parts of her piece below.
“Winter marks a set of important anniversaries for Citizen Schools: the anniversary of our incorporation on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1995; the anniversary of Black History Month, which offers the country an important reminder of the perseverance and resilience necessary to forge a more just and equitable society; and, now, my first year anniversary as our CEO. I am proud to stand on the shoulders of giants in fulfilling our mission to close opportunity gaps to restore economic mobility in this country - and every student’s shot at the American Dream.
I had the chance to celebrate all three of these milestones in my favorite way - with our kids. I participated in our annual interview day with our 8th Grade students at the Orchard Gardens School in Boston, alongside over 60 General Electric volunteers. These days are designed to support 8th graders in their preparation for the high school application process in Boston. I wrapped the afternoon in discussion a confident young girl with bright eyes and a penchant for painting. I asked her how others would describe her. She was quick to respond. “I am a hard working, strong leader.” “What makes you strong?” I asked. “Loss,” she said. “I have lost a lot in my life - a lot of people and things - but every challenge builds strength. I am 13 now and one of the strongest people I know.”
It is with this mindset that we have approached this last year - one of the most violent and divisive in recent memory. Political election marked by dislocation; cities bruised by battles between black and blue lives. For our students, for whom adolescence is already a confusing time, this was particularly hard terrain to navigate. And for our staff, one third of whom are AmeriCorps service members, this was a year that tested their faith in democracy. But, each day, alongside our amazing volunteers, they delivered inspiration for our students, chipping away at the opportunity gap.”
“I chose to serve with Americorps as a Teaching Fellow because I believe that each child deserves to be believed in. I wanted to impact my students the same way that I was impacted by my greatest teachers, with love, patience, and understanding. … Service has shown me that there is an abundance of children who need love, confidence, and someone to invest in them, the way someone invested in me.” - AmeriCorps Teaching Fellow, North Carolina
Our AmeriCorps service members and our volunteers are only able to do this important work because of supporters like you. We are so grateful for your commitment to our efforts to close the opportunity gap.
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