Heroes with Red Jackets

City Year: Give a Year and Help Change The World

Last week during my routine drive to school tuned in to WLRN (FM 91.3) for all the news head lines and recent issues in the U.S. and the world, I heard about this great organization called City Year. What they are is basically a volunteer organization trying to help out society and eventually how they say it "help change the world" by going to schools and working with kids to help them improve their skills and involvement in class. This organization was founded in 1988 in the city of Boston, MA. Today it works in more than 21 states across the U.S. and the Miami Division was just opened this January 19, 2009.

These young men and women are true Heroes, raging from ages from 17 to 24 years old, they give a year of their lives in order to help out their communities and the less fortunate ones.

The thing I liked the most about this when I heard about it, is that it is a daily routine! You are giving to your community every day. It is not just about hours or 2-days-a-week gigs. These Heroes are working everyday "just like the super heroes in the movies" as current Miami Group Leader said.

Here's a brief description I took from their "About us section" in their website:

Please visit their website and read through it:

www.cityyear.org

Jose

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City Year unites young people of all backgrounds for a year of full-time service, giving them the skills and opportunities to change the world.

As tutors, mentors and role models, these young leaders make a difference in the lives of children, and transform schools and neighborhoods in 18 U.S. locations and Johannesburg, South Africa. Just as important, during their year of service corps members develop civic leadership skills they can use throughout a lifetime of community service.

Major corporations and businesses participate in our mission by serving as strategic partners, team sponsors, and national leadership sponsors.

Together we’re building a citizen service movement that is larger than our organization, our lifetime, and ourselves.

"Nothing means more to me than providing New York’s children with the tools they need to succeed in the classroom and in life, and no organization has done a better job of helping me achieve this goal than City Year."

– Michael Bloomberg, Mayor, New York City