WHAT'S NEW

CITY YEAR WASHINGTON, DC IS MOVING SOON!

On November 30, City Year Washington, DC will officially be leaving 918 U Street, NW and moving into the Academy for Educational Development (AED) building near Dupont Circle. Our new address will be: 1875 Connecticut Avenue, NW Suite 1130 Washington, DC 20009. Please update your records accordingly! Our new headquarters is 25% larger than our current home and will accommodate continued growth. In anticipation of our move, we are in need of a few pieces of furniture. Specifically, we are looking for a conference room table and chairs, folding tables and chairs, and a small meeting table. If you have any office furniture to donate, please contact Audra Clark.

Want to see our new place? Don't miss our Grand Opening Reception, sponsored by AED, on December 10th from 6pm to 9pm (with a short program beginning at 7pm). Featured speakers include DC Public Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee, City Year CEO & Co-Founder Michael Brown, and AED President & CEO Stephen Moseley. RSVP to Harry Cheema at hcheema@cityyear.org or 202-742-5265.

HIGHLIGHTS

REMEMBER CITY YEAR THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Remember City Year Washington, DC in your end-of-year giving this holiday season! Your gift will directly impact City Year Washington, DC's ability to continue to help DC children succeed, develop diverse leaders for our city's future, and improve the community. All contributions to City Year are tax deductible. CLICK HERE to make it simple and donate online through our secure website. For more information about donating by mail, phone, or stock, CLICK HERE or contact Audra Clark. In addition, for those interested in donating through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), City Year Washington, DC's CFC number is 37889.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY IS A HUGE SUCCESS!

On Saturday, October 25, City Year partnered with members of the DC deaf community to plan and lead a local service project as a part of the nationwide service event, Make a Difference Day. More than 250 people came out to paint murals and transform Kendall Demonstration Elementary School and the Model Secondary School for the Deaf (located on Gallaudet University's campus) into a more vibrant place for children to grow, live, and learn. The day began with a short program explaining City Year as part of the national service movement, followed by remarks from the Visitors & Partnership Specialist at the Clerc Center for the Deaf, Roberta Gage, about interpreter etiquette and a quick lesson of basic signs for people who did not know American Sign Language. Clerc Center for the Deaf's Director of Student Life Dr. Frank Turk expressed his gratitude for everyone coming out to serve and Serve DC's Executive Director Amy Ward read a Mayoral Proclamation designating Make a Difference Day as a day of service in DC.

Corps member BreAnn Holmes paints a mural 
at Make a Difference Day. Photo by Nan Shearer.

Throughout the day, City Year corps members worked with volunteers from Gonzaga High School, Gallaudet University, and Clerc Center teachers, staff, families, and students to paint over 20 murals and 16 rooms in the schools. In addition to painting, volunteers constructed eight flower boxes, two interpreter stands, and three bird houses. Volunteers also worked together to clean out and organize four rooms and paint blacktop games for students to play outside. Corps members and volunteers worked hard all day and made a real, positive impact on the schools. In addition, for many City Year corps members this was the first time they had led deaf volunteers in service and it was an important day to learn more about the deaf culture. Want to read more about and see pictures from Make a Difference Day? Check out the Inside Gallaudet article on the Gallaudet University website and an article in the Clerc Center's online magazine for teens, World Around You.

Interested in joining City Year for a Saturday service project? City Year organizes service projects once a month and we are always seeking volunteers! Tentative dates for this year's service projects include:

• December 6, 2008
• January 19, 2009 *MLK Day*
• February 21, 2009
• March 14, 2009
• April 25, 2009 *Global Youth Service Day*

To reserve a spot, please contact Lia Payne.

2009-2009 BLOG AND VLOG ARE LAUNCHED

City Year Washington, DC has officially launched the 2008-2009 City Year Washington, DC blog! Written by two senior corps members, the blog is updated bi-weekly with important news and events. It features profiles of current corps members, their teams, and their service. The blog site is also home to City Year Washington, DC's NEW video log (Vlog). The Vlog is a front row view of a "city year" through the eyes of five different corps members. The five video diaries take you through the service year of corps members Anthony Buenafe, Erin Connell, Uno Coons, Orelia Brown, and Neils Ribeiro-Yemofio. Viewers learn about service directly from corps members and get an up-close and personal take on each experience. Check the Vlog every week for an update and learn about the joy and hard work that comes with completing a year of service.

IN THE NEWS

COMCAST FEATURES CITY YEAR WASHINGTON, DC'S OPENING DAY

Comcast, one of City Year's National Leadership Sponsors, has produced a video highlighting our Opening Day Ceremony on September 26, 2008. This "Red Carpet" segment ran several times a day on CNN Headline News in the District from October 27 through November 3. Missed it? CLICK HERE to watch the video online.

CITY YEAR WASHINGTON, DC CORP MEMBER TESTIFIES AT DC COUNCIL YOUTH HEARING AND IS FEATURED IN COUNCIL NEWSLETTER

On Saturday, October 11, DC Council Chairman Vince Gray held a hearing on youth issues where young people were invited to testify about current issues facing DC youth.

Corps member Becky Battistelli gives her testimony
at the September DC Council Youth Hearing.

Corps member Becky Batistelli, who serves on the CityBridge Foundation team serving at DC Preparatory Academy, testified about her experience being adopted and growing up in Metro DC. She told Chairman Gray that she thinks programs like City Year are important because they give children a supportive adult outside their home to help them succeed both in school and in life. Becky's story and testimony was featured in the latest newsletter from Chairman Gray's office.

THE ATLANTIC WEBSITE HIGHLIGHTS CITY YEAR

Starting Wednesday, October 8, the prestigious publication, The Atlantic, generously donated space on their website (www.theatlantic.com) to run City Year banner ads.

City Year ads on The Atlantic website.

When users see the ad and click on it, they are directed to City Year's new Public Service Announcements. The banner ads will run through the end of December and are valued at approximately $40,000. Thank you Atlantic Media Company!