Opening Day

City Year launched its year of service with an Opening Day ceremony at Cleveland City Hall. This ceremony kicks off a year of service in six low-performing Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) schools. City of Cleveland’s Mayor Frank G. Jackson, CMSD CEO Eric Gordon, Melissa Pozniak of Deloitte, joined Phillip Robinson, Executive Director and Vice President of City Year Cleveland, and 50 corps members at Cleveland’s City Hall to kick-off the service year.

“We are encouraged by our progress together and are proud to increase our support to help City Year maintain their momentum in addressing the high school dropout rate,” said Deloitte Partner and City Year board member, Melissa Pozniak. “I challenge the community to continue this effort and to help us grow by supporting the work of organizations like City Year.”

With great conviction, Cleveland Metropolitan School District CEO, Eric Gordon led corps members in reciting the City Year Pledge after earning his very own coveted City Year red jacket.  Gordon shared heartfelt remarks of his life’s journey.  “I wasn’t supposed to go to college…I wasn’t supposed to be a Superintendent…I serve to show students that they can be whatever they want to be,” said CMSD CEO Eric Gordon.  

Immediately following the program, corps members led guests to load the CMSD school bus with school supplies collected for the “Supplying Success” campaign.  CMSD CEO Eric Gordon helped lead volunteers to load over 200 boxes of crayons, 2500 pens, 150 boxes of pencils, 200 notebooks, and host of other supplies.  All supplies will go to the six partnering CMSD schools where corps members serve this year.