City Year New Hampshire

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City Year was founded in 1988 to demonstrate that young people in service could be a powerful resource for addressing our nation's most pressing issues. Over the years, City Year has been built on the belief that one person can make a difference, and with the vision that one day service will be a common expectation and a real opportunity – for citizens all around the world. Key elements of City Year’s program include cultivating a culture of ethnic, educational, and socio-economic “inclusivity” and a lifelong sense of civic commitment among diverse corps members.

Who We Are One of sixteen sites in the City Year, Inc. national network and part of the AmeriCorps National Service network, City Year New Hampshire was launched on October 11, 2000 as the first non-urban City Year site. Now in its seventh year, City Year has made the following impact in New Hampshire:

 175,000    corps member hours in service to New Hampshire
 6,800      middle school youth served in after school programs and community service projects
 17,000     hours from volunteers engaged through City Year
 200        Service Partners, schools, community organizations, and youth agencies with whom  
            we partner to meet the needs of the community
 $560,000+  in scholarships earned by City Year’s graduates.

What We Do City Year’s mission is to build democracy through citizen service, civic leadership, and social entrepreneurship by fostering citizen participation in communities. In New Hampshire we accomplish this by leading and mentoring young people and providing opportunities for citizens of all ages to become engaged in their communities. Whether it is rebuilding a local park, volunteering at a nursing home, or mentoring students, City Year is building democracy, fostering social capital and strengthening New Hampshire communities. City Year’s vision is to serve the children in every New Hampshire community and to inspire citizens of all ages to engage in service for the common good of all.

City Year New Hampshire is part of AmeriCorps, the national service organization that helps fund citizens willing to give a year of full time service to their fellow Americans. AmeriCorps members help meet critical needs in education, public safety, health and the environment in hundreds of communities across the country. City Year NH mobilizes young adults ages 17-24 for a year of service to New Hampshire with a focus on tutoring and mentoring Middle School students.

Middle School can be such a tough transition. Students enter as children and leave as teenagers. Popular culture pushes them to grow up too fast. Peer pressure is intense. Being a kid, making good decisions and feeling good about themselves are real challenges. If that is not enough, drugs, tobacco, alcohol and sex become part of their landscape. Making the wrong decision or losing faith in themselves can have serious consequences. Kids at this age need a lot of guidance and support but parents and teachers can’t always be there. Sadly, some parents are never there. That’s why City Year NH is so important.

City Year NH members are talented, energetic and caring young leaders. They have traveled from all across the country and committed at least a year of their lives for this opportunity to make difference in our kids’ lives. And as young adults, they are uniquely positioned to have an impact. They’re mature enough to be positive role models but young enough to really relate and communicate. They really understand what these kids have to deal with, appreciate who they are and have the insight to help them stay safe and grow.

City Year NH members become a familiar and trusted presence in the cafeterias, the hallways, the classrooms and perhaps most importantly, in the crucial after school hours when too many young people begin to experiment with drugs, alcohol and crime. City Year NH members are a tremendous resource for our kids.

City Year members help give kids the information and confidence they need to make smart, healthy decisions about their lives. It’s a brilliant strategy. City Year is an organization that needs and deserves our support. City Year Website City Year New Hampshire Website