city year chicago: info doc

WELCOME TO CITY YEAR CHICAGO In 1993, City Year, Inc chose Chicago as one of three cities for the first national expansion of the City Year program. Founded in Boston in 1988, City Year has established programs in Boston; Chicago; Cleveland; Columbia, SC; Columbus; Detroit; Little Rock; Louisiana; New Hampshire; New York; Philadelphia; Rhode Island; San Antonio; San Jose; Seattle/King County, South Africa and Washington, D.C. Currently in City Year Chicago, 100 heroic leaders, ages 17-24, have committed a year of their lives to serving in Chicago's communities- serving Chicago's children and youth. Representing the spirit of their generation and the diversity of our country, these "corps members" embody the character of America at its best—in service to others, in support of freedom and in effort to build democracy through national service.

Chicago—a city of nearly 3 million people—is vast and rich in cultural diversity. Divided geographically by the South Side, West Side and North Side, Chicago's citizens are as proud to be Chicagoans as they are to identify with their neighborhood or community of origin. With over 500 parks, 32 beaches, 3,775 miles of streets and a thriving arts, music and theatre scene, visitors to Chicago and Chicagoans alike, continue to learn and delight in the diversity of our city. Just like the city of Chicago, City Year offers a unique experience and culture by granting idealistic young people to engage their communities through transformative service. This document is designed to provide you with information about that culture, the expectations and rewards of being a corps member, in addition to the type of service you may be engaged in. CITY YEAR VALUES AND CULTURE City Year’s unique values and culture infuse our mission and service impact with energy, meaning, standards of excellence and delight. City Year was founded on and continues to be inspired by a strong set of values that provide the context for our daily work and the way in which we lead. These values are celebrated and “operationalized” by City Year’s organizational culture. In keeping with our commitment to the Beloved Community, our culture embraces the traditions and lessons of many ethnicities and civic heroes. Through our service and leadership, City Year corps and staff model and lead the values and traditions of an inclusive and just society. CITY YEAR CITIZEN SERVICE VISION City Year's citizen service vision is that citizens of all ages and backgrounds will unite to serve their community, nation and world, and that one day the most commonly asked question of an eighteen year-old will be: "Where are you going to do your service year?"

City Year's civic leadership vision is that one day every citizen will have the skills, values and inspiration to be a leader for the common good. City Year's social entrepreneurship vision is that one day human inventiveness and compassion will be unleashed systematically to solve the pressing social problems of the day. City Year's mission is to build democracy through citizen service, civic leadership and social entrepreneurship.

City Year Chicago 36 South Wabash, Suite 1500 Chicago, IL 60603 Phone: 312-464-9899 Fax: 312-423-1088 Email: [email protected] 2

OUR SERVICE IN CHICAGO LITERACY PROGRAM City Year Chicago provides strong support for Chicago Public Schools in an effort to educate and develop children and youth. Teams of 10 to12 corps members focus on increasing literacy rates, improving test scores and providing after school enrichment, mentoring youth to aid in positive social development. City Year Chicago provides extraordinary opportunity for youth to develop leadership and team building skills and a commitment to service by working with corps members who serve as positive tutors and mentors. City Year corps members are unique role models. More specifically, children can identify with them because of the closeness of age; yet, the corps members are old enough to mentor, tutor, and teach children the values and ethics of service. Projects led by City Year corps members will:

� Assist students (K-3) in gaining literacy skills and in improving their test scores

� Provide students a positive and fun environment after school

� Teach students to understand and promote inclusivity

� Give students the skills and the opportunity to make a difference

City Year Chicago is partnering with the University of Chicago’s Center for Urban School Improvement (USI) to implement their unique step assessment-tutoring program. USI will provide ongoing training to the whole corps. City Year Chicago also partners with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) through the selection of partner schools, ongoing training and evaluation tools. CPS will provide ongoing training for corps members throughout the year. Corps members will tutor up to 7 youth per day one on one. The main goals of the tutoring program are to increase the students test scores and get them to their appropriate reading level. After school, teams work with all elementary and middle school grade levels in programs that focus on academic, personal, leadership, social, and cultural skills. After school programs are designed and implemented by the teams at the schools. For more information on the City Year school partners please visit our interactive Google Map at: http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tab=wl STARFISH CORPS Starfish Corps is a service-focused after-school program that cultivates the civic leaders of tomorrow. The Starfish Corps program links issue-based learning, community resources, and hands-on service projects to foster youth leadership and asset development. The program works to expose participants to social issues and asks them to commit to being part of a solution. YOUNG HEROES The mission of Young Heroes is to develop middle school youth into active civic leaders through community service and an interactive curriculum that focuses on the values of courage, compassion, cooperation and commitment. The five-month Young Heroes program is developed and implemented by corps members with community volunteer support. Modeling the City Your corps, these young people come together to work in diverse teams of 8 to 12, serve a minimum of 100 hours and, in the process, earn the President’s Volunteer Service Award. CITY HEROES City Heroes is a weekend leadership development, social awareness, and community service program for high school-aged youth. Working in diverse teams, City Heroes learn how to lead their peers and other community members to tackle real community issues through service, action groups, and other community-based initiatives. On weekends, City Heroes gather together to participate in special trainings on a social issue and to learn the leadership skills that can be used to address is issue. CIVIC ENGAGEMENT TEAM City Year Chicago’s Civic Engagement Team focuses their efforts on building sustainable community partnerships through physical service days, engaging local officials, and local corporations. The Civic Engagement Team also provides site leadership as the Chicago Regional Lead Agency for Youth Service America’s “Global Youth Service Day.”


CORPS MEMBER BENEFITS Joining City Year is an act of faith, commitment, and sacrifice. When presented with a meaningful opportunity, many young people will courageously answer the challenge. For several, however, the opportunity would not be possible without at least a subsistence level of income. City Year provides a weekly stipend, a post-service monetary award, nationally and locally funded scholarship opportunities, basic health care and many other benefits. • STIPEND: First-year, second-year and senior corps members receive a weekly taxable stipend at a rate determined by each City Year site, based on cost-of-living, labor laws and other issues in that locality. The weekly stipend for City Year Chicago corps members in the 2009-2010 program year is $225. • EDUCATIONAL AWARD: Once your service year is completed and you fulfill all the set requirements and graduate from City Year Chicago, you will receive an educational award provided by AmeriCorps for $4,725. • BASIC HEALTH COVERAGE: City Year provides benefits to all corps members to ensure their basic health care and wellness while they are members of the program. Benefits begin on the first day of training at each site. • TIMBERLAND UNIFORM: Thanks to our long-term partnership with The Timberland Company, each City Year corps member (upon completion of training) receives a full uniform free of cost (retail value is more than $1200). Corps members are required to wear the complete uniform during all City Year activities. • CTA PASS: CTA passes are granted to City Year by the Chicago Transit Authority on a year-to-year basis. This pass, provided to all corps members after Basic Training Academy is completed (typically in late October), has a value of approximately $800 and requires corps members to complete a set amount of service hours to the Chicago Transit Authority each month. The pass is available to corps members for travel to City Year sites, as well as for personal use. • T-MOBILE PHONE: Corps members are provided with a T-Mobile cell-phone for their use throughout the duration of their service year. The service plan provides 300 anytime minute, free T-Mobile to T-Mobile calls, and free weekend minutes. • GED INSTRUCTION: Corps members who have not received their high school diploma or GED diploma must agree to work towards a GED diploma during their service year.

• PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CAREER/COLLEGE PREPARATION: In exchange for dedicating ten months to service, corps members receive valuable professional benefits. These include leadership development training, public speaking certification, the opportunity to work with diverse groups of people, and other career enhancing skills. City Year also offers career/college counseling to members. Corps members emerge from their "city year" more effective and involved citizens.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND EDUCATION AWARD MATCHING PROGRAMS: There are many schools and organizations that show their support for young people completing a year of service through scholarships and Education Award Matching Programs.


CITY YEAR CALENDAR, SERVICE, STANDARDS, AND BENEFITS ATTENDANCE POLICY AND SCHEDULE

� Full-Time: Corps members work 5 days per week, Monday through Friday, at least 9.5 hours per day (roughly 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. plus additional hours for special projects, which sometimes includes Saturday service projects.

� Calendar: The service year begins on Tuesday, September 1, 2009 and ends Thursday, June 17, 2010.

� Breaks/Holidays: Corps members are allowed up to 10 excused absences (paid) over the program year, to be used at the discretion of the Program/Service Director. These absences may include sick days, doctor’s appointments, childcare, emergencies, personal days, observances of religious holidays, etc. In addition, there are at least 6 organizational holidays during the program year and a 5-day winter holiday break. While you are allowed to take these personal paid absences, you may be required to engage in additional service in order to secure the required 1700 hours of service within 10 months.

REGISTRATION AND BASIC TRAINING ACADEMY: Your 10 months will begin in late August with a non-paid Registration Day, where all your preliminary paperwork will be completed. It is critical that you bring the following documentation to the orientation (failure to bring these documents will result in delay of pay and benefits):

� Birth Certificate and Photo Identification or Passport

� Social Security Card

� Proof of TB Skin Test The dates for Registration will be announced in Spring 2009. BASIC TRAINING ACADEMY (BTA) Basic Training Academy (BTA) will begin after the orientation and is intended to be a month long process where you will deepen your relationship and understanding of City Year culture, values and policies, City Year Chicago’s current service model for the coming year, and some of the social and political issues that pertain to the City of Chicago and the communities where your teams will be deployed. During BTA corps members receive more in-depth information regarding the service projects. Corps members will then have the opportunity to indicate their service location preference. City Year will look at this preference, along with the individual’s skill and experience to place the corps member in a project and on a specific team. The placement process begins once an applicant is invited to join the corps and accepts that invitation; however, final decisions are not made until Basic Training Retreat (BTR) the third week in September. During the course of BTA you will receive your uniform. Uniform parts will be distributed as they are made available. CTA passes will be made available to corps members in late October. OPENING DAY Opening Day is an important day in the life of City Year Chicago’s corps and staff. It is a day to celebrate the 10 month commitment you are making to Chicago and National Service. Corps Members are strongly encouraged to invite their family members, friends, mentors, and other interested parties to join in the celebration of their commitment. UNITY RALLY AND PHYSICAL TRAINING (PT) Every Monday at Unity Rally, City Year corps members begin their mornings with a regimen of high-spirited calisthenics to prepare themselves for a day of excellent service. Physical training, or “PT,” generates excitement and enthusiasm from the corps and members of the community who often watch the powerful routines. After their "community huddle," corps members - in distinctive red, tan and black uniforms - fan out in teams to serve their community.


ADVANCED TRAINING ACADEMY After returning to service in January from your winter break, corps members and staff are expected to return for Advanced Training Academy (ATA). This is a time for the staff and corps to reconnect and prepare for the remainder of the service year. Sessions are designed to revitalize and inspire corps members as their service intensifies during the remaining months. Attendance is required. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY While many organizations view this holiday as a day off, for City Year, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is viewed as a Day On. City Year corps members plan a full day of service, workshops, and reflection in honor of the accomplishments Dr. King made during his life as a pioneer in the civil rights movement. CAMP CITY YEAR While Chicago Public Schools close for a week of spring break, City Year Chicago plans a week of spring camps for students who are not in school. This is a valuable opportunity for some students to travel out of the city, connect with other students within their age group for a series of team building activities, service projects, and some outdoors fun. CYZYGY City Year’s Annual Convention of Idealism unites the national City Year corps and the extended City Year community for several days of service, learning, idealism, and community building, to inspire the nation to commit to a life-time of service. Cyzygy usually convenes during the last week of May or the first week of June at one of the City Year sites. Cyzygy is derived from the word syzygy, which refers to the rare cosmic occurrence when celestial bodies are aligned. GRADUATION Usually planned for late June, Graduation is a time to celebrate the accomplishments of the current City Year corps. By this time, corps members will have completed their 1700 hours of service, in order to receive their education award, and the additional requirements that City Year Chicago has placed for them to achieve. Friends, family, and other people who have supported the corps member during their journey are encouraged to attend.


POWERFUL UNIFORMS The City Year uniform is a symbol of our full-time commitment to service. Each time we put on the uniform, we identify ourselves as representatives of City Year, and we become trustees of the relationship between the greater City Year organization and the community. By wearing the uniform our members assume the responsibility of representing City Year and inspiring others.

� To establish a sense of excellence, discipline and purpose in all City Year members.

� To instill a sense of pride in City Year and what it represents.

� To establish a feeling of connection between different “generations” of City Year members and a sense of stewardship for the organization’s relationship with the community

� To build a feeling of unity and spirit across the organization.

� To identify ourselves as City Year members—a recognizable symbol of hope and inspiration.

� To express to ourselves and to others our full-time commitment to solving social problems, training outstanding new leaders, and building a more beloved and just community and nation.

UNIFORM POLICIES AND DRESS CODE Thanks to the generosity of the Timberland Company, City Year corps members receive a full uniform to wear during all City Year activities. The uniform consists of sharply pressed khaki pants, a variety of white shirts with an embroidered logo over the left chest, a red pull-over for additional warmth, both dress and work boots, the red City Year Bomber Jacket and Parka containing both the City Year logo and the American Flag, and various other accessories. Expected behavior while in uniform: All staff and corps members represent the organization and its mission whenever they are on City Year business, and most visibly when they are in uniform. Small children, for instance, frequently point and call out excitedly to the “City Years” that they see on the streets or in the schools, or during PT (physical training) in the communities across the network. As community leaders and as role models, particularly for children, staff and corps members, whether in uniform or in professional attire, are responsible for maintaining that positive public image by adhering to the following expectations:

� NO GUM CHEWING while in City Year uniform or while conducting City Year business.

� NO TOBACCO CHEWING OR SMOKING.

� NO PURCHASING OR CONSUMING ALCOHOL while in City Year uniform.

� NO JAYWALKING while in City Year uniform.

� STANDING UP ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION for all other riders if seats are unavailable.

� NO LISTENING TO HEADPHONES while in City Year uniform. *Failure to adhere to these standards is subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.


JEWELRY POLICY We adhere to a minimal distraction jewelry policy for the following reasons: 1. To promote diversity based on life experience and not on external appearance. 2. To promote professionalism and a professional environment. 3. To promote safety in our work with children. 4. To promote safety during physical service. SPECIFIC JEWELRY POLICY

� No facial or inner-mouth piercing jewelry

� One stud earring in each ear – maximum

� No hoop or dangle earrings or ear disks

� One finger on each hand gets a ring(s) – maximum

� One bracelet or watch on each arm

� No visible necklaces

� No distracting or unprofessional hairstyles or colors

� No scarves, bandannas, buttons, pins anywhere, including the service pack

� No headdresses or wraps. RULES OF CONDUCT

� City Year corps members demonstrate professional, courteous conduct and a can-do attitude at all times.

� City Year corps members attend work consistently.

� City Year corps members arrive at activities on time and ready to serve and learn.

� City Year corps members wear a uniform that is neat, clean and complete, and follows the uniform policy outlined in the handbook.

� City Year corps members participate fully in the morning program, service projects, team meetings, and other activities.

� City Year corps members do not drive during City Year hours or while engaging in City Year business unless appropriately authorized; due to the terms of our insurance, authorization will only be given in rare and limited circumstances.

� City Year corps members do not fraternize with staff members.

� City Year corps members do not engage in theft, destruction of property, or violence.

� City Year corps members do not possess, deal or use drugs or alcohol.

� City Year corps members do not carry weapons.

� City Year corps members do not smoke during work time or anytime while in uniform. In addition, during their service hours, corps members must refrain from activities prohibited by AmeriCorps legislation, including: fund-raising (for non-service related events); engaging in religious activities; assisting or deterring union activity; efforts to influence legislation; organizing protests, petitions, boycotts or strikes; or aiding political organizations or businesses organized for profit.

city year chicago: info doc

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