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City Year and Brandeis University

Brandeis, Continued.
By Riko Bol, Brandeis Alum ‘09
Photo by Andy Dean

Life after Brandeis is not always as you would expect it to be while cramming for those famous Brandeisan exams. As a graduate, I never thought I would be working with young adults as the man in charge. It is mind-boggling to realize the great responsibilities I have at such a young age; and no—I don't own my own company. I work for City Year.
 
City Year is a national non-profit organization that is part of AmeriCorps. It is a community-oriented service organization that provides diverse individuals ages 17-24 the opportunity to give a year of full time service working in inner-city schools as tutors, mentors, and role models. City Year is currently focusing on addressing the nation’s high school dropout crisis, which is growing at an alarming rate. City Year gives corps members like me the skills they need to make a positive change in the lives of today’s youth, empowering youth to address social justice issues that affect them on a daily basis.
 
Like Brandeis, City Year is a relatively young institution that has grown to create the impact it does today.  It started in 1988 in Boston with 50 individuals who were looking to change the world. Now, it has 19 other sites all over the United States as well as one in South Africa—and more to come. What started as a small idea is now a grand reality of idealism and the possibility of change realized.
 
Daily while in my City Year uniform (the red coat, khakis, and Timberland boots), curious individuals approach me, wondering what City Year is and asking why I have dedicated myself to a year of service. Each time I answer this question my response comes out differently, but the main reasons stay the same. The reasons I joined City Year are that I believe in providing youth with a voice and that age has no merit when it comes to changing the world. These are the same beliefs I came to develop and know while attending Brandeis.  
 
At Brandeis, much like at City Year, it is not difficult to find an individual who is passionate about social justice issues, nor is it difficult to find a strong community support system. City Year is a place where even the administrators are involved with the corps members on a daily basis.  It is a community in which individuals can speak to one of the founders as if he is a good friend.  It is also a place where, like Brandeis, the community works diligently towards creating a more equitable world.   
 
As strange as the real world sounded to me as I listened to stories told to me by previous alums, the transition from Brandeis to City Year has been all too familiar. Through my Brandeis experience, I was able to challenge myself to change the world while benefiting from the support systems that helped me to succeed. Brandeis gave me the urge to address social justice issues concretely and immediately, and it led me to an organization where I am doing just that every day—City Year.
 
To find out more about City Year and apply online, visit www.cityyear.org. City Year's first application deadline for the 2010-2011 service year is November 30th!

City Year at Brandeis (sponsored by the Hiatt Career Center)

• Coffee Chat with City Year - November 12, 2009 10 - 12:30pm at Einstein Bagels, Shapiro Campus Center

• 3rd Annual Year in Service Program – November 18, 2009 6- 7:30pm at Ridgewood Commons, South

• City Year Brown Bag Lunch Session – November 19, 2009 12:00 - 1:00pm at Hiatt Career Center

• City Year Interviews at Brandeis – December 2, 2009 at Hiatt Career Center from 1-4:00pm (Application deadline for the 2010-2011 service year is November 30. Submit your application online via Hiatt Nacelink).

Register for this events via Hiatt Nacelink.