100 MEMBERS STRONG

100 Corps Members in front of the Cloudgate Sculpture

In order to respond to the multiple challenges facing public education, City Year Chicago´s in-school services implement an integrated, three-part approach:

1. Providing academic support through literacy tutoring that supports active learning within the school while creating self-confidence within the student.

1. Reinforcing a positive school climate where students want to engage in learning.

1. Creating after school programming that supports learning efficacy, such as positive role modeling, school-family connections, and establishing peer relationships.

Diverse teams of corps members will implement this holistic service model at nine Chicago Public Schools. In addition, City Year Chicago boasts a Civic Engagement Team, a Young Heroes Team, and its first ever City Heroes Team, which will engage high school students in service and leadership development.

Be on the look out for these young people, clad in the City Year red jacket. They are ready to change the world.

CITY YEAR CHICAGO LAUNCHES ITS LARGEST CORPS EVER ON OPENING DAY
Engaging Corporate and Community Leaders From Across Chicago and Illinois.

"The single most important thing in changing our world is when one person cares about another person," said Senator Richard J. Durbin during his address to corps members at City Year Chicago's Opening Day Ceremony in September 28, 2007. This marked the third year that City Year Chicago returned to Millennium Park's Wrigley Square.

Senator Durbin receives special honor from City Year Chicago

To kick off their Opening Day, the young City Year leaders put their pledge into action by engaging more than 50 Smith Barney employees in service projects. City Year and Smith Barney teamed up to paint murals, prepare classroom spaces, and read to children in classrooms at service partner schools in the Austin, Bronzeville and North Kenwood/Oakland communities.

The Opening Day ceremony, sponsored nationally by Smith Barney and locally by Comcast, featured remarks by Senator Durbin and Arne Duncan, CEO of Chicago Public Schools before an audience of community, corporate and civic leaders, local citizens, friends and family. Dave Lawrence of the Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service administered the AmeriCorps pledge while Steve Reimer, Senior Vice President of Comcast, Chicago Region administered the City Year pledge of service taken by the corps. Elga Jefferies, State Representative from the Illinois General Assembly and Mike Coleman, Senior Vice President and Branch Manager of Smith Barney also attended the event to address the corps members and praise them for their service.

In his remarks, Arne Duncan, CEO of Chicago Public Schools stressed the value that City Year's diverse corps provides the schools they serve. "There is very little diversity around most of the schools you will be working in," Duncan said to corps and guests. "Our students have to see people who look different from themselves, who look different from each other working together on a team . . . seeing all of you come together gives them an extraordinary glimpse into what the possibilities are."

"You are going to spend a year caring about people, frankly, young people who wonder if anybody cares about them" said Senator Durbin. "The great thing about City Year is that, when it is all over, you are going to be providing a helping hand to a lot of folks and you are going to get more out of it than you give. It is going to change your life in the process, for the better."

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT-MEET KASANI,
2nd Grader at Spencer Math and Science Academy

Kasani, 2nd Grader at Spencer Academy

Kasani is seven years old and was born on August 4th, 2000. Her favorite part of school is eating lunch. She enjoys learning a lot and loves school for that reason. When she grows up, Kasani hopes to be a teacher, so that she will be able to teach other children to love school as much as she does!

This is the first year that City Year Chicago corps members are serving at Spencer Math and Science Academy in the Austin Neighborhood.

CITY YEAR ASSOCIATE BOARD'S WINE TASTING BRINGS OUT 200 YOUNG PROFESSIONALS TO SUPPORT SERVICE

On Thursday, October 11 City Year Chicago's Associate Board hosted Chicago's most enthusiastic and well-connected young professionals at their 2nd Annual Wine Tasting Benefit at Mars Gallery in the West Loop, presented by BMO Capital Markets. With nearly 200 people in attendance and over $20,000 dollars raised to benefit City Year Chicago's service offerings, this year's benefit surpassed last year's event.

Guests were treated to sample a variety wines, supplied by exclusive wine sponsor Beam Global, refreshments, as well as an interesting display of pop art throughout Mars Gallery. Also, "Wine Diva" Christine Blumer returned to provide her expertise so guests would know how to navigate the various types of wines they were sampling that evening.

Associate Board at Wine Tasting Benefit

"The event was a huge success," said Tim Rausch of CNN and a member of the Associate Board. "My wife and I had an incredible time. We can't really imagine a more well-rounded experience as we were surrounded by food, music, art, friends, philanthropy (and wine)."

The City Year Chicago Associate Board was formed for the purpose of supporting the mission of City Year Chicago through fundraising and public relations. The Associate Board is comprised of a highly energized and dedicated team of young professionals who contribute to the mission through volunteer work on at least one fundraising event. If you are interested in learning more about City Year Chicago's Associate board contact Dan Cody, City Year Chicago's Development Manager at (312) 423-1093 or at dcody@cityyear.org.

CORPS MEMBER SPOTLIGHT-MEET AARON GOUGIS
Program Leader of the Northern Trust Team serving at Donoghue Campus Charter School

Aaron Gougis, Senior Corps Member

My name is Aaron Gougis and I am a 21 year old native of Chicago's Southside. I graduated from Chicago Military Academy in Bronzeville for high school and went to the Washburne Culinary Institute for college. I am a self-proclaimed chef. I have quite a culinary history, having a two-page article about me in the Chicago Defender to being a chef's assistant for Advocate Healthcare. I attended culinary programs at Gallery 37 Advance Arts Education Program two years and held various culinary positions and worked with some of Chicago's most famous chefs. I also sold my own baked goods throughout high school and created several desserts that were showcased in the 2005 "Real Men Cook" event.

When people hear of my culinary past they usually say two things: "How old are you?" and "Why aren't you working in a restaurant now?" The truth is I grew tired of cooking. I became frustrated because I never saw the results of my work. I wanted to experience how the people felt when they were eating my food. I wanted to know what they liked about it and what they didn't, so that I could improve.

City Year allowed me to continue my passion for serving others. However, unlike cooking, successes at City Year are never attributed to just one person. We all share the positive results from the work we do. I also get to see the results of what my fellow corps members accomplish first-hand.

Thanks to City Year, I have grown from a quiet young man to an outgoing, hard working (young) man. As a second year, Program Leader, I can continue serving the community that I have grown to love by tutoring and running after-school programs. In addition, I am bringing hope and inspiration to others by engaging community organizations and businesses, and planning high-impact service projects.

I am excited to continue serving with City Year!