Meet City Year Detroit Board Member Roz Blanck

My name is Roz Komisar Blanck and I am a relatively new board member. I heard about City Year from a friend when it first started in Detroit, but learned so much more years later when then-CEO Penny Bailer met with a group of volunteer leaders from Bookstock. Penny gave us annual reports, which I read multiple times. I was so impressed with the research that went into creating City Year, how well thought out the various aspects of the program are, how it benefits not only the students in the schools, but teachers and corps members just as much.

Penny told us that each school’s corps members created a literacy program, without funding in the budget to do so. For years now, proceeds from Bookstock’s Used Book & Media Sale have been granted to the City Year corps at each school so that they can dream of and execute a more robust literacy program for its students. The corps members also experience applying for a grant and preparing a follow-up report.

Bookstock – Used Book & Media Sale is having its 20th Anniversary Sale April 7-14, 2024 – see bookstockmi.org. Bookstock is planned and run by hundreds of volunteers, with the proceeds of the Sale distributed to non-profit organizations for education and literacy programs – including City Year!

Through the twenty plus years of being involved in Bookstock, I have become familiar with many organizations in Detroit whose goals include increasing school success. My hope for City Year and these other organizations is that they work more closely together to create a pipeline of success for each student in Detroit. Many relationships are created between all involved in City Year Detroit. I hope that these relationships are leveraged throughout the years and between organizations to create continuing opportunities and experiences leading to a more enriched, productive life for all.

I am honored to be part of City Year Detroit. I look forward to getting more involved in creating relationships – and to seeing you at Bookstock-Used Book and Media Sale!!!