MLK Day Recap
A Day of Service and Reflection

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said that “everyone can be great because everyone can serve.” On Monday, January 15, at high-energy events across America, more than 1,500 young people proved the truth of those words by pledging to serve through City Year’s “Young Heroes” program, a citizen service initiative supported by a $1 million contribution from Bank of America and led by City Year corps members.

Members of City Year and Young Heroes Celebrate MLK Day!

In Chicago, 90 City Year Corps members were joined by 110 volunteers, 70 elementary school aged Starfish Corps members, 20 Youth Board members and 125 Young Heroes in remembrance of the life of Dr. King at the Homan Square Park Community Center in Chicago’s North Lawndale Community. Volunteers participated in service that included creating quilt squares for The Linus Project and painting murals on canvases that could be placed in various locations around the community center.

Bank of America’s Aron Levine leads the spirit break!

Service was only one aspect of the day, used as a vehicle for participants to find a common ground. The day’s primary goal was to give participants the opportunity to sit with a diverse group of community members and reflect on the life of Dr. King by reading and discussing “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” One discussion leader, Ms. Rogers Green, a teacher at Anton Dvorak Academy, was greatly encouraged by observing the “young people and high school kids positively discuss their goals and future aspirations.” Ms. Green added, “They seemed so focused and well-intentioned.”

City Year Chicago’s MLK Day of service and reflection also kicked off the service of 125 Young Heroes, middle school students who recited their pledge to serve 100 hours over 10 Saturdays between January and June. Aron Levine, a representative of Bank of America, National Lead Partner for the Young Heroes Program, praised the Young Heroes for their commitment to service, reminding them of the importance of giving to others. “You can be proud of your efforts and satisfied in knowing that you have helped others in life-changing ways. You will meet new people and surmount challenges that will stretch and grow you.”

The day also included lunch donated by Buca di Beppo(located on Grand and Rush) which supplied enough food for all who gathered, an Action Fair where area service organizations provided literature on how participants could continue their service beyond MLK Day, and closing remarks by UIC Professor and former Alderman, Dick Simpson.

Congressman Davis (D-IL) inspires City Year's Young Heroes!

Congressman Danny K. Davis (D-IL) also stopped by to welcome City Year’s corps members and guests and commend the Young Heroes for their commitment to service. Congressman Davis also reflected on the words of Dr. King as he reminisced about an interaction he had with the Reverend. “He always told us, no matter what it is you do in life, try to be the best that you can possibly be. That is what leadership is about—learning how to be the best. . . If you can’t be a highway, just be a trail. If you can’t be a moon, be a star—it’s not by size that you win or fail . . . Be the best of whatever you are.”

Team Service Day Kick-Off
at Cook Elementary

On Monday, February 12, City Year Chicago’s Northern Trust Team hosted the first team service day of the 2006-2007 service year. On a snowy day, corps members were joined by Red Cross Volunteers, Northern Trust employees and City Year Alum to paint murals and beautify classroom spaces at John W. Cook Elementary in the Auburn Gresham Community.

Service continued City Year’s transformation of the facility that began when City Year first partnered with Cook Elementary two years ago. “When we first came to Cook the walls were a harsh orange color,” said Dan Jones, former Senior Corps Member at Cook Elementary. “It’s great to see the change continue with these creative murals. I wish I was here to see the kids’ faces when they see the changes made here today.”

Additional Team Service Days in 2007:

City Year Chicago Team serving at Donoghue Elementary is planning a service day in the Grand Boulevard Community scheduled for Wednesday, March 7, 2007.

The CSX Team serving at Revere Elementary is planning a service day in the Greater Grand Crossing Community scheduled for Friday, March 16, 2007.

The Joseph Freed and Associates Team serving at Howe Elementary is planning a service day in the Austin Community scheduled for Friday, April 20, 2007.

City Year Chicago Team serving at North Kenwood/Oakland Charter School is planning a service day in the Oakland/Kenwood Community scheduled for Wednesday, May 18, 2007. This service day is a component of City Year Chicago’s 100 Hours of Power (100 consecutive hours of service).

The DLA Piper/Transwestern Team serving at Bethune Elementary and the City Year Chicago Team serving at Dvorak Academy is planning City Year Chicago’s 3rd Annual Peace Fest in the North Lawndale Community scheduled for Saturday, May 19, 2007. This service day will close out City Year Chicago’s 100 Hours of Power (100 consecutive hours of service) and conclude with the Young Heroes Graduation Ceremony.

The Alter Group Team serving at Marquette Elementary is planning The Marquette Carnival in the Marquette Park Community scheduled for Friday, June 8, 2007.

Interview with Educator from
Dvorak Academy

The City Year Chicago Champion wants to include more stories that feature our service partners and the individuals who work alongside our corps on a regular basis. City Year Chicago is now in its 3rd year of serving Anton Dvorak Math/Science/Technology Academy in the North Lawndale Community. Originally from New York City, Ms. Rogers Green has been at teacher at Dvorak for 18 years, having taught in New York, Massachusetts as well as in Illinois. She is a graduate of Hunters College and holds a graduate degree in clinical psychology from Harvard University.

Ms. Green poses with Pranay Patel at Dvorak Academy

Recently, Ms. Green sat down with City Year Chicago Service Leader, Pranay Patel for a brief interview.

Pranay Patel: Ms. Green, tell me, what is your favorite aspect of teaching here at Dvorak Academy?

Ms. Green: Well Pranay, my favorite aspect of teaching here at Dvorak is getting to know the community and the parents. I enjoy building a relationship with them. I have taught many of the parents and this experience has come full circle for me—teaching both the parents and their children. I have enjoyed seeing that progression.

P. Patel: What sort of impact has City Year had on the Dvorak community?

Ms. Green: I have enjoyed seeing young people from all walks of life coming into an urban environment, like North Lawndale, and helping the young students and teachers. It is inspiring to the students at Dvorak. Corps members not only improve reading scores, help with homework and run a successful after school program, but they also demonstrate how you can change yourself for the better. The contagious nature of City Year is great! You can see the attitude, behavior, and academic change in the kids at Dvorak. You can see how the focus is redirected for kids’ success through teamwork—which is great!

P. Patel: Where would you like to see City Year’s relationship with Dvorak go in the future?

Ms. Green: I would love to see City Year take Dvorak to the top of the mountain! I would also like to see City Year start to include a math component in their service (I am the math specialist).

The Bears, The Bet, and Boxes of Food!
City Year Chicago Corps members help Louisiana Lt. Governor Landrieu make good on bet to Lt. Governor Pat Quinn.

The Bears may have lost the Super Bowl in Miami; however, winning the trip to Miami also allowed for another victory in Illinois—between the Lieutenant Governors of Illinois and Louisiana. Making good on a bet over the outcome of the NFC championship game, Louisiana Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu donned a Chicago Bears jersey on Wednesday, January 31 and joined Illinois Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, several City Year Chicago corps members and dozens of spirited Chicago public high school students in packing emergency food kits at the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

Corps Members take a break to pose with Lt. Governors

Landrieu, a founding board member of City Year Louisiana, arrived at the Chicago Greater Food Depository wearing his City Year Jacket and was immediately greeted by City Year members, Gage Park and Hubbard High School Students as they prepared emergency food boxes, which contain enough food to feed a family of four for a week.

“As a Bears fan, I am delighted that Lt. Gov. Landrieu lost the bet,” Quinn said. “But even more important, I am proud to join him in this opportunity to help hungry families in the Chicago area and bring public attention to the importance of community service and volunteerism, at home and all around our country.”

“The American spirit of service is alive and well in Louisiana, and citizen service is helping to fuel the recovery of the Gulf Coast,” Lt. Governor Landrieu said. “We have declared 2007 as the Year of Service.”

“The opportunity to meet not one, but two Lieutenant Governors in person and serve alongside them was a very memorable experience” said Vicky Chiou, Senior Corps Member. “Their commitment to service enabled me to better understand the power of service and realize that by working with others, we can produce great change in the world, or, in our case, generate over 150 emergency food boxes, which will feed more than 650 people in need.”