It was Citizen Schools’ second time leading a workshop at the 2024 Massachusetts Service Alliance Conference on Volunteerism in Dorchester, MA. The day brought together nonprofit leaders and executives, board members, and volunteer administrators to explore new trends in volunteerism, discover new strategies for challenges that nonprofits face, and receive resources to build the capacity of their organizations.
Read MoreWalking onto the vibrant campus of the High Tech Schools, the venue for the Deeper Learning 2024 Conference in San Diego, felt like crossing into a domain where the future of education is both envisioned and actively forged. There was a tangible buzz of anticipation in the air, a collective keenness among us—educators, leaders, and advocates for transformative change—to dive into and spur innovation across the educational spectrum.
Read MoreIt is with profound gratitude that Citizen Schools announces one of the largest unrestricted gifts in its history, an investment of eight million dollars from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. This transformative gift opens up tremendous opportunities for expanding our impact and deepening our commitment to students, educators and communities during a critical moment in public education and in our organization’s evolution.
Read MoreWhen you are serving students during a pandemic, your after-school programming looks a lot different.
Read MoreDuring our three-part series, Elevating Voices For Equity, we learn, engage, and bring together community members to uplift Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) voices. In our first event, K-12 Educational Equity and Access, we hear from: Orlando Watkins, Jean Claude Brizard, Amanda Fernandez, Bing Howell, and Frankline Mardi.
Read MoreIt never crossed my mind that I’d be using my STEM-related skills at an internship with a nonprofit. However, my time with Citizen Schools as an IT Specialist Intern has taught me that STEM is just as essential for nonprofits as it is for science/engineering focused industries.
Read MoreWe are incredibly fortunate to have Michael Keating join us at the start of this fiscal year as the new Chair of Citizen Schools’ National Board of Directors. Mike is currently a Partner at Foley Hoag and former Board Chair of The Boston Foundation. "A lawyer and lifelong advocate for expanded opportunity, Mike Keating is one of Boston and the nation's great civic leaders and we at Citizen Schools are excited to welcome him as the next chair of our Board of Directors," said Eric Schwarz, Co-Founder of Citizen Schools and outgoing Chair of the Board.
We interviewed Mike recently and discussed what inspired him to serve his community and to his new role with Citizen Schools.
Read MoreThe American Student Assistance (ASA) meeting on October 22nd at the Boston Chamber of Commerce brought together educators, nonprofits and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics to drive home the need to engage students early in career exploration and pathways. We also need to evolve collective assumptions that success for students means a four-year college degree. And to engage and motivate students, we should share all the options of technical education, associate’s degrees, certificates, and apprenticeships. All of this work begins early as students disengage starting in ninth grade.
Read MoreThis fall, Danielle Wang, Vice President of Bain Capital and Kristy Cunningham, Chief Marketing Officer of Bright Horizons Family Solutions joined our National Board. Danielle and Kristy are joining a vibrant, diverse group of Citizen Schools advisers and champions. When selecting board members, our Governance Committee looks for a diversity of experience in professional background with a deep belief in our mission.
Read MoreAs we look back on a summer well spent, one of our highlights across our regions is always Summer Institute, during which our incoming Teaching Fellows (TFs) receive training, get to know Citizen Schools and meet other TFs. Our amazing regional staff in Massachusetts, California and New York welcomed each of their new TF cohorts and helped them get ready for the school year ahead.
Read MoreFrom April through June, coast to coast, Citizen Schools celebrated the school year’s apprenticeship programs with two WOW!NOW breakfasts in Massachusetts and New York and a mock-trial themed benefitEd in California. These events mark the culmination of both the 10-week apprenticeships and also the school year.
Read MoreOn June 14th, the Make For All initiative led by Citizen Schools announced more than 50 commitments- new partnerships, initiatives and programs in support of maker-centered learning. These commitments will reach more than 768,000 students over the next three years and span across 149 communities. Organizations and partners making commitments include K-12 schools, community colleges, universities, companies, makerspaces, museums, libraries, non-profit organizations and cities.
Read MoreOn Friday, June 14th the National League of Cities, Make For All and Nation of Makers co-hosted a “Makers Mayor Collaboratory” in Chattanooga, Tennessee, coinciding with NOMCON, the national conference of maker community leaders. The Collaboratory brought together both mayors and maker organizations to identify areas where local elected officials and makers could work together. Mayors came from around the country, including cities and towns like Rexburg, Idaho; Salisbury, Maryland; Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania; and of course a Tennessee contingent of Knoxville, Tennessee and Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Read MoreOn Friday, April, 26th, Citizen Schools staff & students, families, AmeriCorps Teaching Fellows, corporate and community partners came together to celebrate the inspiring and hard work of middle school students, volunteer Citizen Teachers and AmeriCorps Teaching Fellows for our annual WOW!NOW Breakfast fundraising event.
Read MoreKyle Conley joins Citizen Schools as Vice President, Impact on April 23, 2019. In her role, she will focus on driving impact in direct service with Expanded Learning Time and with Catalyst, Citizen Schools’ new teacher support initiative. Kyle will also oversee a national center of excellence around the core input and support for Citizen Schools program models, including talent, curriculum, training and Research and Evaluation. She joins a dynamic and committed team of leaders at both the regional and national level.
Read MoreAmeriCorps Week is a time to salute our AmeriCorps members and alumni for their service!
It is a time to say ‘Thank You’ to our AmeriCorps community partners, and communicate AmeriCorps’ impact on communities and on the lives of those we serve. Each year during AmeriCorps Week, Citizen Schools and the Corporation for National and Community Service recognizes the commitment of AmeriCorps members and alumni by highlighting the remarkable impact AmeriCorps makes across our nation, every day.
Read MoreWhile talent is everywhere, the opportunity to develop the skills, mindsets, and networks needed for success is not. By the time they reach middle school, it has been shown that middle school students from middle-class families have spent 6,000 more hours learning than kids born into poverty. That’s where nonprofit organizations such as Citizen Schools come in, helping young students get the tools and networks that they need to later thrive as adults in a fast-moving economy.
Read MoreHere at Citizen Schools, the work that we do everyday would not be possible without our amazing employees. All who go above and beyond their everyday call of duty to ensure that our young people, schools and communities get the best that they deserve. Each month, we are going to spotlight one amazing Citizen Schools employee. Here is our first one, Lauren Chamberlain
Read MoreThis week, US2020 hosted their tenth bi-annual City Network Convening in Downey, CA, at the Columbia Memorial Space Center. This convening marked the first time representatives from all 22 communities were together since the STEM Coalition Challenge winners and finalists were announced earlier this year.
Read MoreThere is now widespread consensus that young people need much more than proficiency in traditional academic subjects in order to be ready for college, the workplace, and civic life. A richer and deeper definition of readiness includes intra-and inter-personal skills and dispositions such as self-efficacy and growth mindset.
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