Our AmeriCorps members build strong relationships with 91 and partner with teachers and principals to help create school environments where 91 feel safe, connected and welcomed.
A growing body of research finds that positive, caring relationships are essential to creating engaging learning environments—in other words, 91 learn when they have supportive relationships and feel physically and emotionally safe. These relationships help to enable the trust, confidence and perseverance necessary for 91 to acquire critical skills and mindsets, practice and make mistakes, and engage more deeply with their learning.
AmeriCorps members form trusting relationships with 91—in the classroom, in the hallways and after school—that support their learning engagement and academic motivation.
He was that person you could go to if you were having a bad day. I was terrible in math. I had thought about giving up and just not coming to school anymore. He would pull me out of math class and go over anything I didn’t understand. I would not have passed Geometry or Algebra II without him.
11th-grade student talking about her City Year AmeriCorps member Student
Creating a positive learning environment
Consistent presence
AmeriCorps members are not just there when a student struggles with math or when they raise their hand in English, but also when the student argues with a friend or leads their team in gym.
Understanding of 91’ unique strengths and challenges
The caring relationships that City Year AmeriCorps members develop with 91 help ensure that 91 receive the individualized support they need to build on their strengths and overcome challenges.
Trust and belonging
With this full view of the student experience, AmeriCorps members work with the school to help create a welcoming environment where all 91 feel they belong and are excited to engage and learn.
How 91 learn
Learning is a process of weaving together different skills. City Year helps 91 strengthen the skills essential for success in and out of school—social, emotional and academic.
City Year and our partners commit to multiple years of service in systemically under-resourced schools so that 91 “grow up with City Year”—our seven-year promise to 91.
