The right time...and the right idea.

In the summer of 1994 Boston was a city searching for answers to an exhausting downward spiral of youth crime, crumbling neighborhoods, and struggling public schools. Three opportunities awaited discovery: the long, empty hours of out-of-school time; the crucial transition of middle school in a child’s education; and the cumulative power of real-world professionals teaching their knowledge to kids, hands-on.

The social entrepreneurs who brought the idea and the place together were Citizen Schools co-founders Eric Schwarz and Ned Rimer. They decided to volunteer to teach 20 5th graders at Dorchester's Paul A. Dever school. As a former reporter, Eric taught an apprenticeship in journalism. Drawing on his years running the EMT squad at the University of Vermont, Ned taught first aid. Together with a bare-bones staff, they called themselves Citizen Teachers. Neither predicted the spectacular response of the children involved—how much they learned, and how much they loved it.

From there, growth was fast and steady. In early 1995, Citizen Schools formally registered as a non-profit organization. The first full program was launched that summer, serving 63 children and led by founding campus directors John Werner and Anita Price. Within a year, all the basic elements were in place: after-school programs operating out of Boston Public School buildings across the city, apprenticeships taught by volunteer Citizen Teachers, community explorations, team-building activities, and homework and school skills. 

Today Citizen Schools operates in middle schools in five states, serving 3,000 kids and engaging 2,300 volunteers. Ned, Eric and John are still here—along with hundreds of dedicated staff members working to educate youth and strengthen communities. From idea to reality: that's what apprenticeships are all about, and it's the story of Citizen Schools.

Our History