be_ixf;ym_202403 d_19; ct_50 YES! I want to make a difference TODAY!

City Year
San José/
Silicon Valley

San José is home to an ethnically diverse community, booming technology companies and aspiring entrepreneurs. City Year San José/Silicon Valley works alongside teachers and community partners to support students across our city.

Serving in San José

While Silicon Valley is widely known for being a vibrant center for academia, business, tech and medicine, many students in East San José and East Palo Alto do not have access to the learning environments and resources they need to thrive due to systemic inequities.

I serve to remind our students that they are capable. That their defeats during school are not due to their lack of intelligence, but due to a system that is not made for everyone... I serve to remind our students that they are beautiful even though society around them does not make them believe so.

Brittany Hernandez City Year San José/Silicon Valley ’19

Your corps experience

City Year serves in schools that need our support as part of the solution to educational equity, specifically changing the narrative for student outcomes from this area and coaching students to meet their full potential.

City Year is partnered with Alum Rock Union School District in San José and Ravenswood School District in East Palo Alto in creating equitable learning opportunities for all students and develop the city’s future leaders. AmeriCorps members support teachers and staff in delivering instruction that serves the development of the whole child and is responsive to the diverse racial, cultural and linguistic needs of San José youth.

Our AmeriCorps members are truly making an impact in the schools we collaborate with. A family-oriented school community with numerous opportunities to develop both personally and professionally, San José is an ideal place to serve. By engaging students, families and community partners, City Year helps students from East San José and East Palo Alto graduate high school, college and career ready and persist into thriving careers in Silicon Valley.

Serving in San José schools

Serving in schools throughout the East San José and East Palo Alto area, every school site is quite special, not only because of the amazing students and families, but also because of the outdoor layout of most schools. With vibrant blacktop and outdoor spaces, students have plenty of room to play and be outside while having the best view of the beautiful foothills of the Santa Clara Valley in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Most schools are accessible via public transportation and there is an equal balance of AmeriCorps members who carpool in a vehicle or take the light rail and/or bus to commute to schools. Most AmeriCorps members live in South/East San José with others commuting from other parts of Santa Clara County. In addition, many of the teachers and staff you will work with have served in the same school or within their school district for 10+ years, demonstrating their sincere dedication and love for this community.

Working on a team

Work with a committed and diverse group of 6-10 City Year AmeriCorps members who share your passion for service and personal growth. As a team, you will have the opportunity to support students with their academic and social-emotional needs.

Each school team consists of an impact manager and team leader who provide coaching and guidance for all aspects of City Year’s service in schools. An impact manager is a staff member who collaborates closely with school administration and staff to best identify where City Year support is needed. The team leader is a returning AmeriCorps member, often doing a second year of service, who provides direct coaching and strategies to AmeriCorps members related to working with students and school partners.

You will work as a team, all day and every day, forging powerful relationships with one another and your students. City Year teammates often become life-long friendships and connections after your service year experience.

Professional development

In addition to receiving robust training to prepare you for coaching and mentoring students, AmeriCorps members will receive opportunities to develop hard and soft skills necessary for their careers after City Year. We have a dedicated staff member who develops monthly workshops about preparing for graduate school, resume writing, mock interviewing, networking and personal brand and teacher pathway programs. We are grateful for the support of our partner companies, nonprofits, and schools who help us bring this programming to our AmeriCorps members!

Community involvement

When you serve with City Year San José/Silicon Valley and wear the yellow jacket, you stand on the shoulders of 1,500 alumni who dedicated a year of service. In spaces such as schools, community landmarks and City Year partner facilities, you represent service-oriented values and civic engagement throughout the greater San Francisco Bay Area.

Our stories

Education

When I am asked to describe what ‘mentorship’ means to me, I think of City Year. I am reminded of...

Read more about The Value of a Mentor
Education

City Year San José/Silicon Valley spoke with Dr. Robert Balfanz about the importance of social-emotional learning in order for students...

Read more about Social-emotional learning support with Dr. Robert Balfanz
Our Alumni

As employers continue to hire individuals with the right skills for limited positions, how does City Year prepare young adults...

Read more about How Does City Year Prepare Young Adults for Career in Covid-era? The Answer is In the Numbers.
The Corps

How do you practice self-care? If you’re not sure, ask yourself these questions.

Read more about Self-care during hard times

Connect with us to learn more or apply today!

Over the last few years we have built a robust relationship with our partner schools, teachers, families and the community at large. We can’t wait to welcome you.

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City Year San Antonio's Circle of Champions
Our impact

Our AmeriCorps members act as student success coaches positively impacting the students of East San José.

Explore our impact

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Events

Every year we hold events to celebrate and rally support for our corps, students and the community at large.

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Partners

Our amazing institutional and corporate partners help make our work in San José possible.

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National Strategic Partners
National Partners