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Five helpful facts about serving as a City Year AmeriCorps member

One of the most frequent questions that City Year AmeriCorps members, alums and staff are asked is: what is it really like to serve with City Year as a student success coach?

What are the good parts and the not-so-good parts?

We wanted to answer these questions and share a realistic picture of the highs and lows of service. We know that working long hours in schools isn’t for everyone, and that choosing to serve is a big decision—and we want you to be informed and empowered.

Here’s a mash up of ideas, quotes and stories we’ve collected from former AmeriCorps members:

Things to know about serving with City Year:

1. Every City Year site is different!

While our goals are the same throughout the organization: supporting the growth, well-being and development of ɫ��� and our AmeriCorps members, service can look very different from site to site, city to city, school district to district.

That’s because we serve hundreds of schools across 29 U.S. cities, in 20 states plus Washington D.C., working with elementary, middle and high school ɫ���. Supporting elementary school ɫ��� might include a high-energy Morning Greeting; mentoring middle school ɫ��� might mean you launch a lunch club to give ɫ��� yet another point of connection and community; and tutoring a high school student might mean you have to brush up on some ELA or math skills.

Regional cultures and local contexts are different in Little Rock, Cleveland, Miami and Denver, which will also influence your service experience. Maybe you want to serve in your hometown, or maybe you’re eager to move to a new place.

Either way, we’ve got you covered and we are offering relocation assistance to corps members who move more than 50 miles away from where they currently live.

2. You’ll become part of a hard-working AmeriCorps team.

City Year’s service is team-based. When you serve in schools, you serve alongside a group of your peers, sharing ups and downs and leaning on one another throughout the year.

You’ll have additional support, like an impact manager, who provides coaching and feedback throughout the academic year. An impact manager is a full time City Year staff member who provides you with support and guidance once you begin service.

“First and foremost, I am there to serve as the main support for AmeriCorps members. Whenever they need assistance, whether that’s with a personal issue or something happening in the school, I’m there for them,” says City Year Milwaukee Impact Manager Sam Sowell.

And you’ll have site staff, some of whom will facilitate weekly professional development sessions designed to help you navigate the year and provide academic and interpersonal support to ɫ���.

3. You won’t make a lot of money and will live on a tight budget.

Serving with City Year as an AmeriCorps member doesn’t mean big paychecks. You’ll receive a modest bi-weekly stipend to help cover basic living expenses, health insurance, and some localized benefits, depending on your location.

Yes, living on a tight budget can be tough. Many corps members end up living together as roommates to save money and become expert in pocket-book friendly recipes for meals.

But it is possible to budget wisely and still enjoy your year of service.

“The first piece of advice I can offer is to budget, budget, budget! As a recent college graduate, this is the first time in my life that I am working a full-time job and almost completely financially independent, forcing me to be responsible about what I choose to spend my money on.

“Monthly budgeting truly transformed the way that I perceive my spending. I change my budget each month to adjust from the previous and this gives me a good idea of how much I am anticipating spending or saving.”—Claire Nakayama, City Year San Antonio AmeriCorps member, who served at Rhodes Middle School

4. But ….. you’ll be eligible for several benefits both during and after your service that will help you build your career and future.

City Year also offers many benefits, including fully paid health insurance, access to wellness and mental health resources, a network of more than 42,000 alums, career support from corporate partners, and access to education grants and exclusive scholarships.

For example, upon completion of your service year, you’ll be eligible for a Segal Education Award, worth $7,395, that can be used for future postsecondary education, past student loans, and even educational travel.

City Year also has partnerships with universities around the country that offer City Year corps members and alums exclusive scholarships and corporate sponsors who offer internships, networking opportunities and other career support.

5. You’ll make a big impact and build valuable skills.

Despite the challenges, many alums say that their “City Year” was one of the most formative of their lives and that even some low points taught them important lessons, they now look back on with appreciation

“My time with City Year has simultaneously been the hardest and most rewarding year of my life. The long exhausting days have been balanced by the hundreds of moments that reminded me why I was there.” Ariane Farris, who served as a City Year Sacramento AmeriCorps member at Leataata Floyd Elementary

City Year alums make a positive impact on the ɫ��� they serve, their partner teachers and their teammates.

But your service year is also a key growth and experimentation year for you, too.

A 2024 research project, City Year Alumni Bridging Study, explores the workforce, civic and life skills gained through serving with City Year, and these skills are many of the same ones most in demand by employers today.

All the basic group skills that I felt that were lacking on my professional side I developed in City Year.” – City Year alum

Closing thoughts:

At the end of the day, like any job, the people you work with most closely have a big effect on your overall experience. Many times, lifelong friendships start at City Year. We even have a bunch of love stories.

But everyone’s experience is different. If there are frictions on your team, you likely will experience those same challenges. Like any job, your City Year manager and your partner teacher can shape your professional experience.

City Year is working to continuously improve our work environment—in schools, at the sites and at headquarters—and you will have support throughout the year.

We hope you’ll explore opportunities to serve with us at one of our U.S. sites!