Our stories
Read a collection of stories and learn from the perspectives and experiences of our City Year AmeriCorps members, students, partners and alums.
![](https://disco.cityyear.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Lily-Photo-585x332.png)
I’m Lily Proudman and from 2018 to 2020, I served as an AmeriCorps member with City Year Chicago. I…
Read the story![City Year in person and virtual learning](https://disco.cityyear.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/CY-VirtualLearning_101_gray_uniform-585x332.jpg)
Learn more about City Year’s emphasis on mentorship. Becoming a good mentor takes practice, listening and reflection.
Read the story![Photoof of Jasmine](https://disco.cityyear.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/CJ-Pic-456x332.png)
As a queer woman of color, my identities are something that I think about all the time; in every aspect…
Read the story![Hector and his team](https://disco.cityyear.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/2-1-400x332.jpg)
“My students have impacted me, as much as I have impacted them because they help me to understand what students…
Read the story![a student smiles and looks at an AmeriCorps member as they sit together at a table doing work](https://disco.cityyear.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/CYBR-09.18-collinrichie-109-585x332.jpg)
In January 2020, I was given the task of helping a student out in English, who could not grasp the…
Read the story![The City Year Chicago Team serving at Lovett Elementary School Lovett](https://disco.cityyear.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/C1AFB848-3F64-47BE-8CFD-4FC35B0295C2-585x332.jpeg)
“Do you have any experience working on a team?” was one of the first questions I was asked in my…
Read the story![AmeriCorps Member and student working at white board](https://disco.cityyear.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Milwaukee_05.18_ElliotHaney_IS-0026_e-585x332.jpg)
City Year Chicago AmeriCorps member Anthony Ortiz shares what Ubuntu means to them and for their service year at Dett…
Read the storyAs we celebrate City Year AmeriCorps Member Appreciation Month, Women’s History Month is also underway. Marketing and Communications Intern Kia Smith…
Read the storyA year of service—what does that even mean? Looking into what a year of service is, I think digging into…
Read the story![AmeriCorps member stands on a busy street looking up at the city.](https://disco.cityyear.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Stormie-BackFacingCity-Chicago-elliothaney-MBH2014-1-585x332.jpg)
City Year AmeriCorps members have been serving Chicago for the last 25 years. Read on to learn what City Year…
Read the story![](https://disco.cityyear.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/VFF_SLAM_Blog-585x332.jpg)
A 2017 study found that having just one black teacher in elementary school (third, fourth or fifth grade) reduced the…
Read the story![A group of AmeriCorps members jump and cheer in front of the city skyline.](https://disco.cityyear.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/CYChi-CityPortaits-10.18-ehaney-114-1-585x332.jpg)
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, the eight of us who comprise the team reflect on why we are thankful to…
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