Students who graduate from North Carolina Central University have many options – now including the opportunity to assist schools in struggling communities around the United States.
NCCU has partnered with City Year, an education nonprofit that is dedicated to helping students and schools succeed.
“We’re looking for people who are civically minded and committed to service,” said Emerald Anderson-Ford, a City Year coordinator based in North Carolina. “City Year is an opportunity to serve other people, with the understanding that there are causes out there bigger than those that directly affect you. That’s something students already get if they attend NCCU, where the motto is Truth and Service.”
The program is affiliated with the Corporation for National and Community Service, a public-private partnership that also oversees the AmeriCorps program and other community based initiatives.
Anderson-Ford will be at NCCU for an interest meeting on May 9 during the 10:40 a.m. break. She will be meeting with graduating seniors who have an interest in learning more about the program.
City Year may be an especially good fit for students who are graduating yet unsure about what comes next, said Calleen Herbert, interim director of the Office of Academic Community Service Learning at NCCU.
“Students might choose to do a service year to gain real-world experience before starting their careers,” Herbert said. “It can help them find what they are passionate about, while they gain leadership, team-building, communications and many other skills.”
In addition to valuable experience, the program pays its members a monthly stipend of $1,200 for basic living expenses throughout the year of service, along with a $5,777 lump sum at the end of the service year that may be used for post-graduate education or to pay off existing student loans. Existing student loan payments will also be waived during the service period.
City Year members may choose from 28 sites across the U.S. - from Washington D.C., to Los Angeles - where they will serve as aides and mentors in public schools. Each location has a City Year office as well as a permanent staff.
Anderson-Ford said top City Year candidates will show a willingness to listen and learn from others in the communities they serve, be highly adaptable and demonstrate a passion for social justice.
“Flexibility is required, because they will be working in schools with students between third and ninth grade,” she added. “At the end of the day – no matter how much you plan – things may not go the way you want them to.”
In engaging with students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, it’s also important for City Year members to understand just how issues such as lack of adequate healthcare or food insecurity may impact educational success, Anderson-Ford said.
For more information about City Year opportunities through NCCU, contact Herbert at cherbert@nccu.edu or (919) 530-6143.
Posted By: How May I Help You NC
Monday, May 15th 2017 at 1:05PM
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