Welcome to City Year Seattle/King County

2014-2015 Corps Member Guidebook HOW TO

Table of Contents

3 WELCOME

4 PLEDGE

5 IMPORTANT DATES

7 REGISTRATION

8 SERVICE MODEL

9 DAY IN THE LIFE

10 FAQS

11 LONG TERM IMPACT

12 TRAINING

16 SAMPLE BUDGET

17 TRANSPORTATION

18 BENEFITS

20 FOOD STAMPS

22 HOUSING

24 ENTERTAINMENT ON A BUDGET

27 ADVICE

Welcome, future City Year Seattle/King County corps members!

We are the City Year SKC team leaders, a group of corps members who have served for a year be-

fore and now help lead other corps members. We remember a time when we were getting ready to

begin our first year of service. As you get ready to begin your year of service, you probably have a

lot of questions about what to expect and how to prepare for this experience. We remember some

of those things we wished we’d known…

This guidebook is an attempt to ease your anxiety and illuminate some important aspects of City

Year life that probably would otherwise come about much later. In it you will find information about

Seattle neighborhoods and moving in, serving in schools, important things to bring along and

much more. Please keep in mind that some of the included information is subject to change, but all

necessary information and changes will be communicated to you.

We hope this information will prove to be very helpful, and please don’t hesitate to ask us if you

have any further inquiries. We’ll be answering questions on the City Year Seattle/King County 2014-

2015 Facebook group and by email. Get excited for Seattle!

Sincerely,

The City Year Seattle/King County Team Leader Team

The City Year Pledge The City Year pledge is a concise and powerful statement expressing the commitment we make when we

assume the responsibilities and privileges of wearing the Red jacket. Corps Members are required to mem-

orize this pledge within their first weeks at City Year, and recite it publicly for the first time at Opening Day. It

is then said repeatedly at Unity Rallies, community meetings, PT and all major events. It states:

I pledge to serve as a City Year member to the very best of my ability,

To honor the rules and expectations of City Year,

To respect my colleagues and the people and communities we serve,

To provide excellent service,

To lead by example and be a role model to children,

To celebrate the diversity of people, ideas and cultures

around me,

To serve with an open heart and an open mind,

To be quick to help and slow to judge,

To do my best to make a difference in the lives of others,

And to build a stronger community, nation and world for all

of us.

Important Dates These dates below are tentative dates and some reflect dates

from the 13-14 program year, for reference. Dates for the 2014-

2015 program year will be solidified in the summer and will be

shared upon your arrival. These are only examples.

2014-2015 Registration: August 6, 2014*

*Mandatory for all incoming corps members, both in-state and out-of-state

City Year Seattle/King County Headquarters

2203 23rd Ave S, Suite 101 | Seattle, WA 98144

2014-2015 Corps Start date: Monday, August 11, 2014

Opening Day: Friday, September 13, 2013

Thanksgiving Holiday: November 28-29, 2013

Winter Break: December 23rd-January 6th, 2014

MLK Day of Service: Monday, January 20, 2014

Corps Member Graduation: Friday, June 20, 2014

Before you come to City Year Seattle’s Registration Day, you must complete online registration through our on-boarding

system, as well as complete documents that on-board you as an AmeriCorps member.

Registration is a day to meet the staff team and corps members before the start of service. Final paperwork and contracts

are completed on this day and attendance is required.

CYONBOARD (see-why-on-bor’d)

An online on-boarding system that City Year uses to complete hiring paperwork and review legal documents for corps members. You will be

sent an email in the spring with information about logging into this database system. You will need to complete this step within two weeks of

receiving the email. You will submit information about direct deposit, uniforms, citizenship, emergency contact, etc. through this process.

FINGERPRINTS

In the spring, you will receive an email concerning the fingerprinting process. This is a mandatory AmeriCorps standard and you must com-

plete your fingerprinting before registration day.

On registration day, remember to bring the documents listed below:

PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP OR PERMANENT RESIDENCY

Remember, no copies! You must bring originals of all citizenship documents.

Every corps member MUST bring their social security card, as well. If you do not have one, or it is laminat-

ed, please order a new one before registration. No exceptions!

DIRECT DEPOSIT Electronic direct deposit is highly recommended because live checks are no longer offered and the alternative is an ATM card. You will enter

direct deposit information with CYOnboard, so please have your banking information confirmed and available at that point.

Valid US

Passport

The Registration Process

Original Birth

Certificate

Valid State-

issued photo ID

Resident

Alien Card OR OR &

Our Model

Whole School Whole Child

City Year’s school-based model is called Whole School

Whole Child (WSWC). Corps members tutor students,

serve as an additional resource for teachers in class-

rooms and lead after school programs and school-wide

initiatives to improve student achievement and school

culture. As near-peers (younger than most teachers,

but older than pupils) corps members are uniquely

positioned to form a strong bond with students to help

them succeed. City Year works in partnership with

school staff to regularly monitor student performance

on the early warning indicators – attendance, behavior

and course performance, the ABC’s – which research

shows can identify students at risk of dropping out as

early as sixth grade. This continuous process of data-

informed intervention allows City Year to customize the

types and intensity of supports corps members provide

to meet students’ specific needs, academically and

socio-economically. We deliver the right supports to the

right students at the right time.

Attendance monitoring and student engagement: Corps members monitor

attendance and work closely with students to improve attendance through school-

wide initiatives, one-on-one coaching (including phone calls home) and communi-

cation with parents and guardians.

Behavioral support and developmental progress: Through

general instruction, near-peer coaching and engagement pro-

grams, corps members mentor students toward social and self-

management skills and behaviors that reflect a strong, purpose-

driven character.

Course Performance in Math and English: Corps

members tutor students one-on-one and in small groups,

integrating with the school’s academic curricula and

acting as an additional resource for teachers in class-

rooms. Corps members also support whole school initia-

tives and lead out-of-class activities to expand and opti-

mize learning time with before and after school program-

ming to complement in-class instruction, and help put

student on a path towards college.

Diplomas Now

Diplomas Now (DN), an innovative school turnaround

model, pairs City Year’s Whole School Whole Child mod-

el with evidence-based comprehensive school reform

from Talent Development and supports for the highest

need students from Communities in Schools. Diplomas

Now recently won a federal Investing in Innovation (i3)

fund competitive grant for $30 million, enabling it to ex-

pand and to participate in a rigorous randomized control

study of the model’s impact on student achievement and

graduation outcomes. More than 40 of our nation’s most

challenged middle and high schools are partnering with

Diplomas Now during the 2012-2013 school year.

CITY YEAR SEATTLE/KING COUNTY

2013-2014 SERVICE PARTNERS

Aki Kurose Middle School Academy

Denny International Middle School

Emerson Elementary School

Highland Park Elementary School

MLK Jr Elementary School

Roxhill Elementary School

7:30 Arrive at Roxhill Elementary School in West Seattle. Readiness check and

morning circle with entire team.

7:40 Prepare for Homework Club.

8:00 Morning greeting begins, and students are ushered into the cafeteria to

begin Homework Club. Corps Members do one on one and small group

tutoring, play academic-based games to prepare students’ minds for the

school day and check in with students.

8:45 Corps Members eat breakfast with students and form relationships through

conversation.

9:00 All Corps Members go outside for recess which includes facilitating games

and supervision.

9:25 Corps Members head to class with their students and make sure each stu

dent is prepared for the powerful day of learning.

9:35 “Star Intervention” block begins for all students. This is a time set aside by

the school for Corps Members and all staff to engage a group of 5-6 stu

dents in targeted intervention in either Reading or Math.

10:05 Students begin Computer/PE. Corps Members meet with teachers to collab

orate and discuss needs of individual students

10:35 Recess begins! A big part of a Corps Member’s job is behavior manage-

ment and ensuring the students follow the playground rules, but this is also

a time to interact with students informally and just have fun!

11:00 Students go back to class for math mini-lesson with teacher while Corps

Members supports positive behavior and helps students stay on task.

11:30 Corps Members have structured small group tutoring sessions with focus list

students.

12:30 Corps Members have planning period for afterschool programming, student

intervention plans, or event planning.

1:00 Corps Members engage with students during lunch or facilitate a behavior

group.

1:30 Word Study. Corps Members work with a group of students who struggle

with spelling and word comprehension.

1:50 Corps Members support teacher in Reader’s Workshop mini-lesson.

2:20 Corps Members provide students with small group and/or one on one litera

cy tutoring. The program manager might observe this session to provide

coaching and guidance to the corps member

2:55 Take a 30-minute break to each lunch or take care of personal things.

3:25 Corps member and program manager meet to discuss the tutoring session

and share feedback and ideas.

3:55 Students are released from school day. Afterschool participants join Corps

Members on the playground. This is a time for recess, snack, and home

work help.

4:30 Corps Members facilitate afterschool program lesson and activities.

5:00 Corps Members dismiss students from Afterschool program and make sure

that each student gets home safely.

5:15 Corps Members come together for final circle and reflection for the day.

5:30 Corps Members break and end their day.

A DAY WITH WHOLE SCHOOL, WHOLE CHILD THIS SCHEDULE REPRESENTS ONE CORPS MEMBER’S SCHEDULE, VARIES DAY TO DATE AND WEEK TO WEEK

FAQs: City Year Basics

CORPS?

Pronounced “core.” (No “P” sound.) This refers to a large formation or

an administrative grouping of troops with a common function, may al-

so refer to a particular unit or branch of service. “Corps” comes from

the Latin corpus, meaning “body.”

I'VE BEEN WONDERING ABOUT MY SERVICE. HOW WILL I

BE PLACED ON A TEAM?

During Basic Training Academy, you will be placed on

a permanent team for the year. You will have a chance

to rank your interest in different grade levels and ex-

plain your reasoning, but this does not guarantee you

a spot on any specific team. Program staff members

choose the teams based on skill sets, interests, back-

ground, and the needs of our students and service

partners. Ultimately, you will serve at the location you

are most needed.

Long Term Impact

By 2023, City Year plans to

1

Work in the cities that account for

two-thirds of the nation’s urban drop

outs

2

Reach 50% of the off-track students

in the markets we serve 3

Ensure that at least 80% of the stu-

dents in schools we serve reach 10th

grade on track and on time

City Year has a plan to partner with schools and communities to nearly dou-

ble the rate of students who reach 10th grade on track and on time making

them four times more likely to graduate. 2x

ONE MILLION students in the US drop out of school every year. 50% come from just 12% of schools.

Training & Development

JUL

AUG

OCT

NOV

DEC

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

Basic Training Academy

Mid-Year Summit

SEPT

Learning &

Development Days:

Corps members attend

training days on a weekly

or bi-weekly basis.

Our rigorous program is designed to:

1. Improve our effectiveness in schools:

Corps members are trained in how to implement research-based practices City Year uses to

Intervene with students who are at risk of dropping out.

2. Develop our corps members into strong leaders and professionals:

Corps members learn about the national dropout crisis and its causes, receive leadership training

and gain valuable professional skills they’ll use after their year of service.

Corps members learn through practice and real world application. Some training topics include:

Training for school-based service

Data informed instructional planning

Building positive culture, in school and class

Intervention strategies for math and literacy

Coaching and mentoring

Engaging parents, families and diverse communities

Leadership Training

Relationship building

Teamwork and collaboration

Problem solving

Public speaking

Managing difficult conversations

Trainers include

City Year training staff

School leadership

School district professional development experts

External experts

Training Schedule

City Year corps members receive more

than 340 hours of professional training

during their year of service.

FAQs: City Year Culture

WHAT IS A UNITY RALLY? WHY DO WE DO IT?

When we meet as an entire corps on Fridays, we begin our mornings with Unity Rally. This is a great way to prepare for a powerful day of

service in a unified way by exchanging announcements and performing Physical Training, or PT, a few light calisthenics to get our minds and

bodies ready for the day while bringing awareness to community members. A Daily Briefing is used to communicate news, site

announcements, and team highlights.

WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH THE UNIFORM? WHAT SHOULD I WEAR UNTIL I RECEIVE MY UNIFORM?

Corps members will “earn” their uniform parts throughout Basic Training Academy. At the time of publication, your uniform will consist of

shirts (1 pique polo, and 3 long-sleeve dress shirts), a vest, cardigan, professional sweatshirt, a bomber jacket, an all weather jacket, one pair

of boots, and two name tags. You will need to provide your own khakis (more information to come,) socks (white, wool, or black) and “winter

wear” (warm hat, mittens, gloves, scarves), which must be solid black, white or red to be uniform approved. We strongly encourage corps

members to plan on purchasing or bringing their own solid black shoes.

The uniform represents your dedication to City Year and your service. The uniforms are donated to each corps member by two of our

Sponsors: Timberland and ARAMARK. Many of the uniform parts will have the City Year and AmeriCorps logo embroidered on them. Your

shirts will always need to be tucked in, your pants hemmed and ironed, and you should always be wearing your name tag. Once you receive

your uniform you will get to wear it everyday.

FAQs: Life at City Year WHAT SHOULD I DO ABOUT MY STUDENT LOANS?

In most cases, corps members defer their public student loans during their year of service (most private loans are not eligible for deferment–

check with your lender about AmeriCorps.) As a City Year Corps Member, any interest that has accrued during your year of service will be

paid for by AmeriCorps upon successful completion of your term of service. City Year will provide you with a letter that supports your claim.

More information about qualifying loans for deferment will be given at the beginning of the year. Loan deferment is facilitated by AmeriCorps,

and not specifically City Year. If you have just graduated college, you receive a six months grace period to pay back your student loans. You

may begin paying off your loans in the fall, or you can contact your loan officer about qualifying for loan deferment. You will be responsible for

obtaining deferment in conjunction with AmeriCorps (not City Year) once you’re enrolled in August. If you have any questions, contact the

City Year Seattle Admissions Department.

It is important to note that it takes 30 days for your enrollment with AmeriCorps to be finalized, so loan deferment will take about six weeks to

fully process– Please plan your payments accordingly.

WHAT BANKS HAVE BRANCHES IN SEATTLE?

Most major banks have branches in Seattle. Some of the largest are Wells Fargo, Bank of America and Chase Bank. We strongly encourage

corps members to have a bank account with a bank that has at least one local branch. Feel free to look into other regional banks or credit

unions (Boeing Employees Credit Union) or ask someone from the recruitment department if you have questions.

HOW DO PEOPLE REALLY LIVE ON THE STIPEND?

This is a very popular question and every year, we graduate nearly 2,200 national corps members who successfully lived on their stipend.

During your service year, you’ll receive tips and resources to budget appropriately. The stipend you will receive bi-weekly (every 2 weeks) will

be $564 (before taxes). The stipend is designed to pay for the cost of housing and food, leaving a modest amount left over for other things. It

is recommended that people budget one of the two stipends per month to cover housing costs, which leaves one for other expenses.

Because the living stipend is not considered a salary, corps members are eligible to receive food stamps from the state to help with the cost

of living. Corps members that apply for food stamps and are accepted will receive about $200 a month in the form of a debit card to use on

groceries. While food stamps aren’t needed to survive on the stipend, it provides greater flexibility. Corps members can also apply for other

assistance programs such as heating or electrical assistance.

If possible, we also recommend that people save some money before the start of the program. While the stipend is enough to live on, saving

money beforehand will allow for re-location costs (first/last month’s rent, etc.) $1,500 is a good number to shoot for.

Sample Living Budget INCOME FIXED INCOME Appx. monthly amt. City Year stipend $564/bi-week City Year stipend (after taxes) $500-$510/bi-weekly Total Income $1000/month EXPENSES FIXED EXPENSES Appx. monthly amt. Rent $450 (usually $350-$550) Utilities (electric, gas, water) $60 Cable/Internet $25 Cell Phone $60 Bus Pass ($90/month) Free Total Fixed Expenses $595 FLEXIBLE EXPENSES Groceries (Often covered by appx ($189) $200 from food stamps) Dining out and entertainment $70 Car (if you have one; gas, parking) $100 Other (prescriptions, personal items etc.) $40 Total Flexible Expenses $210 Total Monthly Expenses $805

SAVINGS

Total Savings per month $195

Transportation in Seattle WHAT IS TRANSPORTATION LIKE IN SEATTLE?

The most popular methods of transportation in Seattle are bussing or biking. Monthly bus passes are provided to corps members with

unlimited travel (which includes the weekends,) valued at $90/month. The bus system is very nice, very comprehensive and can take you well

outside city limits, if you desire.

Seattle is a very “bike friendly” city. Surprising to many cyclist, though, are the hills. Think San Francisco. Start working on those muscles

and you’ll be rewarded with city streets that are very bike friendly and safe.

Corps members are allowed to drive to and from work. It can be difficult to find and afford parking in some parts of Seattle, though all of our

schools have adequate parking. If you’re going to bring your car, it would be wise to take advantage of the bus system whenever possible.

The Link Light Rail runs from the SeaTac airport to downtown. It is a very convenient way to fly to/from Seattle, costing $2.50 one way.

Washington state has the biggest ferry system in the United States and the third biggest in the world. While you won’t typically need a ferry to

commute regularly, it makes for a great weekend adventure.

Groups like Car2Go and Zipcar can be helpful resources if you need a car temporarily. Both are very affordable and easy to get started.

FAQs: City Year Benefits WHAT TYPE OF HEALTH INSURANCE WILL I GET? All corps members who are not covered by a health care policy (i.e. associated with their parents) at the time they begin serving with City Year will be automatically enrolled in a plan that meets the following minimum benefits:

The plan currently in use does not cover routine optical exams or dental visits (unless a tooth is injured in a non-service related accident.) In addition to the medical coverage, all active corps members have free access to City Year’s Employee Assistance Program, Health Resources, Inc., which is a confidential intervention and referral resource for help with personal issues (i.e. covering up to six visits to approved mental health professionals.) This can be an excellent source of support for corps members. Health care coverage begins on your first day actively serving as a corps member and will continue through the last day of any month in which you actively serve (June 30th for members who graduate.) If you are covered by another plan and wish to retain that coverage, you must enter this information into cyOnboard (online on-boarding system) when prompted and bring a copy of your insurance ID card to registration. As an AmeriCorps participant and not a City Year employee, you will not be eligible for COBRA benefits after graduation. As such, corps members who are already enrolled in a plan when they begin with City Year may wish to remain so in order to ensure continuous coverage after graduation.

WHAT ARE OUR EXACT VACATION DAYS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR? You will receive a detailed explanation of this during Basic Training Academy, but here is a quick answer. We must carefully count all of the weeks in the year to make sure that corps members have enough time to complete their 1,700 hours of service . Each corps member is granted 10 total personal days. Corps members will also receive about two weeks off for their winter break, as well as most federal holidays off, including Thanksgiving.

Many corps members assume that we will be off work when schools are off. This is not necessarily the case. During these breaks, the corps will be supporting Seattle Public Schools standardized test preparation camps, going through Advanced Training Academy or participating in physical service projects.

Physician services for illness or injury

Hospital room and board

Emergency room

X-Ray and laboratory

Prescription drugs

Limited medical/nervous disorders

Limited substance abuse coverage

An annual deductible of no more than $250 charges per member

No more than $1,000 total annual out-of-pocket per member

A 20% co-pay or comparable fixed fee with the exception of a 50% co-pay for mental and substance abuse care

A maximum benefit of at least $50,000 per occurrence or cause

FAQs: City Year Benefits

THE EDUCATION AWARD

Corps members receive an education award of $5,674 upon graduating from City Year. To receive the award, corps members must serve a

minimum of 1,700 hours of service and fulfill all program requirements. The award can be used to pay off graduate and undergraduate

student loans or future qualified student loans. The AmeriCorps

Education Award must be used within seven years from the date

of graduation, and it is taxable in the year it is used. A school is

qualified if it is a Title IV institution of higher education. More

information will be provided at the end of your service year on

accessing and utilizing this award. It is facilitated by AmeriCorps

and not City Year, specifically.

GIVE A YEAR PARTNERSHIPS

Through give a year Partnerships, colleges and universities

highlight their commitment to service by providing financial

scholarships and recognition to students who give a year or more

of service to their communities through City Year. These

colleges, graduate, medical and law schools offer significant

scholarships (25%-100% tuition waivers) to City Year corps

members and alumni at an array of institutions, covering many

different programs. These scholarships are good for the lifetime

of the alumnus, for whenever you decide to access them. Visit

alumni.cityyear.org/giveayearpartners for specific information

about the benefits and processes for each school and program.

Affording Basic Needs As a City Year corps member you will quickly learn that money is tight and needs to be budgeted. You may not save money during your year

of service, but most members find the living allowance to be adequate to cover their needs. While corps members are encouraged to save

money before service, budget and shop wisely, there are resources that can be accessed. You may find that you qualify for Food Stamps.

WHAT ARE FOOD STAMPS?

Food stamps are a type of government assistance to help low-income households and individuals in Washington state buy food if they cannot

otherwise afford the cost of groceries. Food stamps can be used to buy almost any food item in any store where you usually shop for food,

with minor exceptions such as prepared foods. Your Food Stamps will be given to you each month on a debit card called Electronic Benefit

Transfer card (EBT card). You will use this card like a debit card when checking out at the grocery store and enter a PIN when making

purchases. Keep in mind, in Seattle, nearly 70 corps members do this each year and across the county nearly 2,500 other corps members

are doing the same thing. Food stamps are designed to support programs like AmeriCorps and their corps members, however, applying is

optional.

HOW MUCH WOULD I RECEIVE?

Food Stamp benefits depend on household size, income and expenses. Typically, an eligible corps

member would receive about $200 each month. The amount you do not use rolls over into the next

month. You would receive food stamps on a schedule day each month. Approval is for six months

and you will be notified when you need to reapply (January or so.)

HOW DO I APPLY?

We will have time set aside on registration day to apply for Food Stamps collectively. If, for some

reason, you would like to apply earlier than this, (you’re moving to Seattle before the summer) The Department of Social and Health Services

(DSHS) is in charge of the food stamps program in Washington State. There are DSHS offices throughout Seattle. Their number is 1-877-501-

2233. All applications begin via the state online benefits platform: Washington connection (www.washingtonconnection.org).

WHAT DOCUMENTS WILL BE REQUIRED?

To be finalized and approved, eventually you may need proof of identity (social security card and/or birth certificate is recommended),

household income, and household expenses, a signed letter of income for a City Year staff member (you’ll get this at registration.) You may

also need a copy of your lease, copy of a recent bank statement and a copy of each of your most recent utility bills.

FAQs: Life at City Year

WILL I BE ABLE TO HAVE A SECOND JOB OR TAKE CLASSES WHILE WORKING FOR CITY YEAR?

Yes. Corps members are allowed to take classes or have a second job as long as it does not interfere with their service. On average each

corps member works 10-12 hours a day, five days a week. In Seattle, corps members will work around 45-50 hours a week, which helps to

ensure that they complete 1700 hours of service for the graduation requirement. This year is demanding– you are spending 10 months to

better the lives of children and communities. For many corps members, it becomes more than “a 9-5 day;” they spend many extra hours

planning and leading projects for the communities they serve. In addition, corps members should come prepared to occasionally work early

mornings, late evenings, and some weekends.

When considering taking classes or a second job, you will want to consider how it could potentially interfere with your service and your ability

to maintain adequate self care. If you are able to find a job or class that fits your schedule, go for it. But please be aware that you cannot

leave service early for a job or class. It is the children in your school and after-school program that suffer if you cannot meet your City Year

commitment.

WHAT IS SUGGESTED FOR FINDING ROOMMATES AND HOUSING?

A great way to keep up with City Year information is through our Facebook group. This is an easy way for folks to connect, post questions

and concerns, find roommates or housing opportunities. City Year corps members are advised to live with at least 2-3 other people. We

encourage incoming corps members to live with one another because it forms friendships early in the year and allows for you to share

common budgets and housing finances. However, you can look for housing on your own, and it is your choice if you choose to live with

someone from City Year. (Sometimes it’s nice to take a break from City Year with non-CY folks.)

While City Year does not provide housing for its corps members, we will provide assistance to corps members searching for housing. This

may include a list of available apartments in the area, contact information for quality rental agencies, recommendations of neighborhoods in

which to live or access to other corps members who are also in need of housing. A survey will be shared with you of information and

suggestions from our current corps members living in their neighborhoods (do they recommend them? Will they have an available room you

could rent next summer?) We will do this primarily through our Facebook page.

Where do Corps Members Live? RAINIER VALLEY Rainier Valley is an amalgamation of several areas– West Beacon Hill, Rainier Valley, New Holly, Columbia City, Hillman City, MLK Vista. This is the area directly south of the City Year office and north/east of our southeast school zone. This is a very affordable and exciting part of town– many families and young adults live in this part of Seattle. Along MLK Jr. Way, you can catch the Link Light Rail for easy downtown or school access. Rainier Ave has loads of ethnic food, small businesses, and traffic. Be cautious of housing in a three-block radius from the corner of Henderson and Rainier Ave, as like most cities, we have some areas in town that aren’t as safe as others. Buses and parking are both plentiful and most of our corps members choose to live here.

BEACON HILL Originally settled primarily by immigrants, Beacon Hill is still enormously culturally diverse. Depending on where you are on BH, you’ll get vastly different feels– farther north is faster paced and more populated, and south is quieter and, well, farther south. Families, singles, seniors, our students and corps members all live here. Parking is very easy, bus lines generally go north/south (along Beacon Ave) into downtown and any shopping needs are relatively close, especially if you’re willing to shop in an international grocery store! Many corps members live here due to proximity to our “southeast school” zone and the ease of finding a small house to share.

CENTRAL DISTRICT The “CD” is primarily residential (easy parking) and borders Capitol Hill, First Hill and Madison Valley– making most shopping needs relatively convenient. Small houses and apartments are affordable for rent and you may live next door to any number of families, singles, young artists or senior native Seattleites. Bus lines are convenient to the southeast schools with a transfer downtown still necessary for the southwest schools.

DELRIDGE/HIGH POINT This part of West Seattle is where our southwest schools are located and where most of those families live. It is about a 20-30 minute bus ride to downtown and can be very out of the way from other “Seattle” happenings. However it is very residential and has some shopping centers– a car will be almost necessary for living in this area and living here would only be helpful if you’re serving in the southwest schools. It’s eclectic and very affordable with plenty of homes and apartments available in CMs’ budgets.

Central District

Beacon Hill

Rainier Valley

Indicates a school we serve

Delridge/High Point

Where do Corps Members Live? FIRST HILL The attitude of this area is “stay close to the action!” It’s an easy bus ride or walk downtown and it has its own little section of businesses along Madison Avenue that provide plenty of opportunities for dining, shopping and people-watching. First Hill mostly has condos and almost no houses, costly apartments but you can occasionally find a good deal. Tons of buses serve the area and parking can be very difficult. This is very central to both school zones.

CAPITOL HILL Capitol Hill is funky and fast-paced, with an endless number of cool blocks and thrift stores to explore and, unfortunately, a limited number of parking spaces. It is walking distance to downtown, has several large parks and is home to a large LGBT population. Apartments are rarely affordable unless two peo-ple share a studio or 1BR, and parking is very difficult.

UNIVERSITY DISTRICT The University of Washington is a large, beautiful ‘city within a city.’ The U-District is a hub for public transportation and has a large outdoor mall, University Village. The Ave (University Ave) has hundreds of small shops and retail centers and is where most college students spend their time. The U-District mostly has rentable houses and apartments– sometimes of varying quality– that are affordable and rent on a student’s schedule (August-June.) The U-District is the farthest north we’d recommend living (and is almost too far north.) Buses run at inconvenient times for City Year service, so if you’re planning on utilizing public transit, we strongly discourage living here. Plenty of parking and lots to do.

First Hill

Capitol HIll

U-District

20 THINGS TO DO UNDER $20

1 Museums 2 Public Parks and Green Spaces 3 Sporting

Events 4 Ferries 5 Fremont Outdoor Movies 6 Swing Dancing

7 Imax 8 Seattle Center 9 Pike’s Place Market 10 The

Aquarium 11 Jet City Improv 12 YMCA 13 Kayaking/

Canoeing 14 Underground Tour 15 Farmer’s Markets 16

Zoo 17 Public Libraries 18 Hiking 19 Golden Gardens Beach

20 Theo Chocolate Factory Tour

1. Every first Thursday of the month, local museums offer free admissions. To name a few: Seattle Art

Museum (SAM), Experience Music Project (EMP), Wing Luke Museum, Science Fiction Museum,

Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI), and Museum of Flight.

2. They don’t call Seattle The Emerald City for nothing! There are tons of green spaces to explore and

enjoy– over 400 parks! Including lakes and pools– even a salt water pool! Check out Volunteer Park,

Discovery Park, Gas Works Park, Seward Park and the Olympic Sculpture Park. Pack a picnic, grab a

book and enjoy!

3. Look for cheap seats in the back at the Mariners, Sounders, Storm, and Husky games.

4. Washington state has the largest ferry system in the United States. Hop on a ferry to Bainbridge Island

and go for a scenic hike, or enjoy some local food and scenery on Vashon Island.

5. Enjoy movies under the stars at Freemont Outdoor Theater! Get there early and bring a snack! (only

during summer months.)

6. Swing (or Salsa) dance at Century Ballroom in Capitol Hill for $7 per person. Beginners welcome!

7. Go see a movie on the BIG Screen! At the Pacific Science Center, or check out Cinerama– a renovated

old-school theater (project by Microsoft’s Paul Allen!) which isn’t so IMAX as much as vintage!

8. Seattle center has many entertaining options- $18 to go to the top of the Space Needle (A must for ALL

Seattleites at least once– make sure you go on a sunny day!) Spring and summer in Seattle bring tons

of free festivals including VegFest (Vegetarian exploration!), Folk Life Festival, Seattle Festivas Patrias

and many other cultural free festivals.

9. Visit Pike’s Place Market and grab some famous Beecher’s Mac-n-Cheese for $7-$10. Then mosey on

over to grab a cup of coffee from the very first Starbucks.

10.The aquarium– come see the fish, but leave your bathing suit at home.

11. Visit Jet City and catch a show for less than $10, or test out your own improv skills at Monday Night

Improv Dojo. If you sign up and become a volunteer, you can do both for free and even get pop

corn!

12. Stay fit and join the YMCA for $12-$20/month. Buddy up and join a Zumba class with friends!

13. Take a day trip to lake Washington, and while you’re out there, go kayaking or canoeing. Agua

Verde (in the U-District) rents kayaks for $15/hour and has an amazing taco menu!

14. The Underground Tour is a must-see for all. Did you know Seattle burned down TWICE and we rebuilt

right on top of it? The streets below ground lead to treasures and great historical stories.

15. Wake up early and go to your neighborhood Farmer’s Market, which are “EBT” friendly. Note that

the day varies by neighborhood with the U-District and West Seattle markets open year-round.

16. Always fun for all ages: The Zoo!

17. Explore your neighborhood Seattle Library (remember to pick up your library card!) They’re

arcitecturally beautiful and unique to each neighborhood.

18. Take a hiking trip to Mt. Rainier! Beautiful wildflowers and many different hikes to explore.

19. Golden Gardens Beach is located in Ballard on Puget Sound and has great views of the Olympic

Mountains and the sound. Bon fires and volleyball are popular on this beach. (The Ballard Locks are

nearby– watch the boats come from the sound to Lake Union/Washington through the Locks–

dropping/rising as much as 26 feet; and in August/September, catch the salmon jumping the fish lad

der!)

20. Theo Chocolate is a nationally-renowned chocolatier and offers tours of their factory in Fremont. Best

to grab a reservation if you’re going on the weekend and drop $6 for a great tour and tons of

“free” chocolate.

Things We Wish We Knew Even with this booklet as your guide, there are some things about being a corps member that you won’t know until you experience them

yourself. Here are some of the most important things to remember:

1. The weather: Seattle has light rain and will be gray and dark in the winter, but the temperature doesn’t usually drop below 40 degrees.

2. Get familiar with the bus routes: You can go just about anywhere on a bus. When you drive, make sure to always check parking availability

and prices beforehand.

3. Be prepared to not have your benefits (bus passes, food stamps, uniforms) kick in immediately. Give it some time, it’s worth the wait.

4. Keep an open mind about City Year’s culture. Push to understand “the why.”

5. You will work harder than you thought you could- at least 50 hours a week. City Year provides you with experiences and opportunities

beyond tutoring in the classroom, such as lesson plan writing, event planning– and working on a diverse team.

6. You will build countless relationships– with teachers who will mentor you; with teammates who’ll be your best friends; with your program

manager who will challenge you and inspire you to grow more than you thought you could. Great ready for those relationships.

7. City Year works hard to help its corps members grow as leaders. Take advantage of opportunities as they arise, both within and outside of

the organization.

8. Make sure to pack professional dress attire, as well as black or white socks and black winter gear (gloves, hats) to wear while in uniform.

9. Don’t let the location of the schools we serve influence your housing. You will not know what school you serve in right away. Instead, look

for places with good bus routes and neighborhoods that fit your budget and interests.

10. Having a second job will be tough– but if you want one, the weekends will be the best time– City Year can have some long nights.

11. Get to know the city! Sign up for Groupon and check out Seattle Weekly Magazine and The Stranger for local events/happenings.

12. The children will idolize you, so be aware that they are always watching you.

13. Your service is what you make of it. Take on leadership opportunities, try new things. Don’t sit back and watch.

JOIN CITY YEAR SEATTLE/KING COUNTY’S ONLINE COMMUNITY

blog: cityyearseattle.wordpress.com

twitter: @CityYearSeattle

facebook group: City Year Seattle/King County

This booklet was written and produced

by CYSKC team leaders and

the Recruitment Department at City Year

Seattle/King County.