Curious about serving with City Year in Kansas City, Little Rock, Memphis or Philadelphia?

Deciding where you want to live is important for figuring out where you want to serve. Each City Year site is unique because each city we serve is one-of-a-kind—all with different geographies, climates and cultures.

Luckily, City Year has 29 U.S. cities where you can make a difference in students’ lives!

As an AmeriCorps member, you’ll serve as a student success coach, helping students build on their strengths and cultivate social, emotional and academic skills that are important in school and in life, whether that’s mastering division or learning how to collaborate with their classmates. And, of course, you’ll become a part of their vibrant and thriving communities.

You’ll learn to love your city’s eclectic patchwork of neighbors, its local restaurants, public parks and so much more! If you want to support students in the classroom—and dedicate yourself to a lively new community—here are four cities worth considering:

Serve in Kansas City as an AmeriCorps member

Serving in Kansas City is special, and we can list plenty of reasons! It draws in people from all over the country, has a growing creative scene, and is an incredibly affordable place to live.

Are you a public art and architecture lover? Well, Kansas City has more public fountains than any other city in the world with the exception of Rome.

Maybe, you’re a sports lover. Kansas City boasts a rich sports culture. With championship-winning teams like the Chiefs, Royals, and Sporting Kansas City. The city’s mega-fans are so vocally passionate about their teams that Arrowhead Stadium is proudly hailed as the loudest stadium in the world. AmeriCorps members serving with Kansas City often receive free ticks to Chiefs and Royals games!

And if you like a little history with your sports, be sure to pay a visit to the Negro League Baseball Museum.

You’ll spend your days serving at schools across Kansas City Public Schools, which serves 15,000 students. Within that network of school communities, more than 50 languages are spoken by students, reflective of Kansas City’s diversity.

City Year Kansas City AmeriCorps members also receive unique benefits like a free membership to the Chiefs Fit Gym, free public transportation, discounts at local restaurants and coffee shops, and free therapy and counseling sessions from Cornerstones of Care—just to name a few!

Check out City Year Little Rock

Nature, arts, history and a great food scene—all on a budget! Who wouldn’t love that? Little Rock has so much to offer, and City Year AmeriCorps members have had the privilege of serving this iconic southern city since 2004.

Did you know that Arkansas is known as “The Natural State?” Explore Little Rock’s great outdoors by taking a trip to Pinnacle Mountain State Park. It offers paddling, hiking and rock climbing on the weekends, and the Arkansas River Trail will take you over the Big Dam Bridge and along 15 miles of trails.

If the theater is more your speed, the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts in the heart of downtown Little Rock is home to a world-class art collection, theater company, art classes and other educational programs. There’s no shortage of things to do in this town!

City Year Little Rock works with four partner schools in the Little Rock School District, reaching around 3,400 students each day. You’ll be serving alongside your teammates to creating equitable learning opportunities for all students and helping develop the city’s future leaders through tutoring, mentorship, and whole school initiatives.

And don’t just take our word for it! Here’s what one City Year alum and Little Rock native has to say about serving his hometown

“Joining City Year Little Rock and being a part of a larger community gave me the opportunity to interact with different people like my students and their parents. It was a pretty awesome experience.” – Anthony Agee, CY Little Rock ‘18

Philadelphia: a great place for young professionals

Philadelphia is a fascinating place to live and serve. There’s something for everyone, but history and museum lovers should especially rejoice!

You can explore Independence Hall, where the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence. Or, if you want to visit a classic museum, check out the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Like oddities? The Mütter Museum should be at the top of your list! And if you’re really brave, you’ll visit the Eastern State Penitentiary Museum on Halloween night!

Did we forget to mention that it’s the home of several professional sports teams, including the Philadelphia Eagles, 76s, Phillies, Flyers and Union. The stadiums are all located right next to each other in South Philly, so you’ll always be able to catch a game on the weekend, just a subway ride away!

Looking for a weekend day trip or getaway? Philadelphia is an easy drive or transit ride to New York City, Washington D.C., beaches, and nature.

City Year Philadelphia supports 200 AmeriCorps members and over 10,000 students throughout the city. And while you help students attain their goals and reach their full potential, you’ll get that same level of support from the City Year Philly staff.

Here’s what David Guzman Program Manager, Community Resource Corps, City of Philadelphia (CY Philadelphia ’14, ’15 alum) has to say:

“I’m originally from California, and City Year was instrumental in not only introducing me to Philadelphia, but also to the education system within the city. I was originally supposed to be here for one year and then go back to California, but here I am eight years later.”

Check out what Memphis has to offer

Fantastic food, music and affordability come to mind when we think of Memphis!

Of course, the city’s world-famous BBQ is the main staple, and you’ll have no shortage of restaurants to try out. Music lovers, all you need to do is walk down Beale Street and pick a place—but make an effort to visit BB King’s Blue’s Club at least once!

And for folks like AmeriCorps members living on a budget, you’ll be happy to know that Memphis is an affordable place to live. The average rental cost for a two-bedroom apartment ranges between $600–$900 per month.

As an AmeriCorps member with City Year Memphis, you’ll serve one of six elementary and middle schools throughout the area. As a part of a wider community of caring adults, you’ll help create equitable learning environments for the students you serve!

Interested in learning more about serving with City Year? Connect with us today:

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