Why I Serve

City Year Seattle/King County corps member, Anna Akers-Pecht, serves with the Microsoft Diplomas Now team at Aki Kurose Middle School. In her blog below, she explains how her experience growing up in rural Southern Virginia inspired her to make an impact in public education, work to break down racial barriers and commit a year to service.

City Year Seattle/King County corps member, Anna Akers-Pecht, serves with the Microsoft Diplomas Now team at Aki Kurose Middle School.

I serve because, while Brown v. Board of Education desegregated schools, it never fully integrated them. Growing up in rural Southern Virginia, I experienced firsthand the lasting, harmful effects of segregation. After the Brown v. Board ruling, U.S. Senator Harry F. Byrd, Sr., called for a campaign of “Massive Resistance” in Virginia, during which white Virginians resisted desegregation at all costs. Rather than integrate, a neighboring county, Prince Edward, shut down its entire public school system for five years. In my own county, Brunswick, many white parents created a private academy that still exists today.

I attended the public school system, where the student population was roughly 80 percent African-American. The majority of students qualified for free and reduced lunch, and our school system constantly struggled to meet federal benchmarks on standardized tests. I was always frustrated that my school never received the full community support it deserved, as many local businesses support the academy and not the public schools. Perhaps most frustrating to me were the teachers who worked in the public school system, yet sent their own children to the academy. One day after school in the tenth grade, I was talking to my English teacher’s daughter, who attended the academy. As we spoke in the hallways, she told me, “Mama doesn’t like me hanging around here after school,” expressing concern about drugs and violence. I felt hurt and infuriated that my own teacher would characterize our school in such a negative way.

Growing up, I only thought about how the academy’s existence negatively affected the public school system. Now, however, I realize the academy is only a symptom of the lingering, underlying racism that has seeped down like a poison through the generations. Beyond the schools, this poison has prevented our entire community from growing and reaching its full potential.

Making the distinction between desegregation and true integration, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., said, “Desegregation will break down legal barriers, and bring men together physically. But something must happen so as to touch the hearts and souls of men that they will come together, not because the law says it, but because it is natural and right.”  I serve to break down these destructive barriers between groups of people, so that our country will one day fulfill Dr. King’s dream of “a truly brotherly society…a beloved community.”

City Year Celebrates Opening Day 2012!

City Year Seattle/King County corps member, Becka Gross, is serving with the JPMorgan Chase Diplomas Now team at Denny International Middle School. Below she recounts the power of City Year’s Opening Day.

On Friday, September 21, the 2012-13 City Year Seattle/King County corps ran through the doors of City Hall joining an audience of friends, family, board members, donors, and elected officials to officially kick off the start of full-time service in schools. City Year Executive Director, Simon Amiel, fired up the audience and corps, leading them in a chant: “More kids, in school, and on track to succeed!”

City Year corps members, staff, elected officials, donors and community members came together to celebrate Opening Day.

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn shared his support for City Year and the impact he believes our service has on the community. Comcast sponsor and City Year board member, Steve Holmes, also shared his gratitude for the incoming corps, stating that the work of City Year is “changing the forecast for a generation to one of hope.” Another highlight from the event’s program was Jessica Silye, a City Year alumna, who shared the stage with a former student she worked with, Sam Martin. Together they described how both of their lives were profoundly impacted by their experiences together and the work of City Year.

City Year alumna, Jessica Silye, and her former student, Sam Martin, talk about the experience they shared together through City Year.

The keynote address came from corps member and recent graduate of Garfield High School, Mohamed Adan, who inspired the crowd with his life story and passion for service.  After fleeing chaos and violence in Somalia, Adan’s family sought refuge in Kenya and eventually was granted political asylum in the United States. Adan entered Seattle’s public school system at six years old and found in the years to follow that the new language and culture created great barriers against his academic success. While recalling teachers suggesting to his class that they ask their parents for homework help, Adan said with a grin, “my parents didn’t speak a lick of English and attempting to solicit their help on my homework would have resulted in blank stares or a whole lot of head scratching.” Though his teachers were supportive and dedicated, they did not have the resources to provide the individualized support necessary to foster each student.

City Year corps member, Mohamed Adan, shares his experience of growing up in Seattle and what inspired him to serve his community.

Adan reminisced about the people in his life who believed in him, helped him overcome the setbacks he encountered, and ensured his success. People in his school and community “who dedicated themselves to education. Who believed in the potential of every student to succeed, and who worked hard in difficult situations and with limited resources because they knew the tremendous impact education could have upon their students.”

The community support, words of encouragement, and palpable enthusiasm of Adan reminded the corps, and each member of the audience, of the vital importance of the mission they are embarking upon. We can’t wait to see the impact that each of our 67 corps members makes this year!

*To see more photos from Opening Day, click here.

Highland Park Elementary School Walks to School with Mayor McGinn

On a beautiful, crisp fall morning, City Year corps members serving at Highland Park Elementary School had the opportunity to walk to school with Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn. As part of International Walk to School Day, the Mayor kicked things off with a brief dedication of a newly installed crosswalk located on SW Holden Street. Just five blocks away from the school, this busy street has been difficult to cross in the past, but not any longer!

As Mayor McGinn addresses the crowd, corps members William and John provide a helpful hand.

Community members joined the “walking school bus” as it made its way to Highland Park Elementary School, and cheers of support were extended from neighbors who
waived to the bus from front porches.

The Walking School Bus uses the new crosswalk while making its way to Highland Park Elementary School.

Upon reaching the school, the “walking school bus” was joined by additional students
and parents. Energy and excitement filled the air as students eagerly asked Mayor McGinn questions and proudly showed off their vibrant playground.

Alongside Mayor McGinn, corps member William engages with a Highland Park parent and student.

City Year corps members talked with parents and community members throughout the morning. City Year is proud to be part of the Highland Park community!

Russell Investments Employees Give Back

Not only is Russell Investments a global leader in the financial industry with a stated purpose to improve financial security for people, but Russell is also committed to community involvement, associate empowerment and education.

Russell’s generous donation of 70 backpacks to Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School as a result of the employee championed, Back to School Backpack Challenge.

These values were clearly exemplified at the start of the school year, when Russell associates came together for their first ever “Back to School Backpack Challenge” to
ensure that over 200 students in King and Pierce Counties started the school year
equipped with backpacks filled with essential school supplies that their family
might not otherwise be able to afford. These supplies included crayons, scissors, rulers, folders, paper, notebooks, colored pencils, tissue, glue, hand sanitizer, snacks and more.

Russell employee, John Gilman, meets with Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School Principal, Cothron McMillian, and City Year team members after making the backpack delivery on the first day of school.

One of the schools lucky enough to be the recipient of Russell’s generosity was
City Year partner school, Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary. This vibrant elementary school has a mission that every child is able to achieve at high levels and that every adult is accountable for their success and is composed of a student body where 83% of students qualify for free and reduced lunch. Promptly following their delivery the morning of the first day of school, the backpacks were already making a difference in students’ lives. Concerned students and parents met with Principal McMillian explaining their lack of supplies and were immediately relieved to be the recipient of Russell’s donation.

Martin Luther King Elementary School celebrates their First Day of School Assembly with teachers, administrators and the City Year team. Seventy fortunate students will be the recipients of Russell’s Backpack Challenge.

Thank you, Russell, for your investment in our community – you are changing lives!

Safeco Insurance and DML Insurance Services Host City Year to The Storm!

City Year Seattle/King County corps members were treated to a night at Key Arena by
two local supporters, Safeco Insurance and DML Insurance Services, Inc.  After arriving to Seattle just two weeks ago, the corps members excitedly cheered on one of the most skilled sports team in their new hometown while getting to know each other as teammates.

Thanks to the generosity of Safeco Insurance and DML Insurance, City Year corps members cheer on the Seattle Storm!

As Mike Lahoda, second year corps member who assumes the role of Team Leader at Denny International Middle School, stated, the evening was “a wonderful opportunity for our corps to bond in an excited and passionate environment.”

After the All City Matching Band delivered an impressive halftime show, Safeco Insurance presented City Year with a $500 check on behalf of DML Insurance Services.  Both companies have championed City Year for several years, continually providing generous support that directly enables City Year corps members to uniquely tutor and mentor students in Seattle that need extra support and attention. Dena Levine, of DML and a former City Year board member, nearly shouted from the rooftops her admiration and respect for the corps!