From a late-night TV commercial to two transformative years of service, get to know Luke  as he reflects on how the experience shaped his perspective, career and connection to students. 

On Saturday, April 4, 2026, Team Leader Mackenzie Mego led a transformational day of service at Ryan STEM Academy as part of her legacy project. A dedicated group of AmeriCorps members and staff came together to beautify the school’s blacktop, painting vibrant activity spaces that will give students new opportunities to engage in both team and individual play.

City Year AmeriCorps Members recently had the opportunity to participate in an engaging 18-Minute Networking event hosted by our valued partners at Deloitte. This fast-paced, structured networking experience allowed ACMs to connect directly with professionals, practice introducing themselves, and gain confidence in sharing their skills, experiences, and career aspirations.

Meet Thanaa Muhammad, a City Year ’23–’24 alum who turned her year of service into a lasting career path. From recess games to one-on-one student support, her year of service not only shaped her future but also deepened her commitment to helping young people thrive.

In our latest Alumni Corner feature, Vanessa Rivera reflects on the journey from college student to trusted mentor at Horace Cureton Elementary. From building confidence to finding purpose in education, their story is a powerful reminder of the impact national service can have – especially in the face of growing challenges like the defunding of AmeriCorps.

Wolf Reese didn’t expect City Year to change the course of his life—but it did. From navigating culture shock at Cornell to discovering his passion for tech and education equity, Wolf’s journey is a powerful reminder of how one year of service can open unexpected doors and reveal new opportunities. Read on to learn how City Year helped shape his purpose—and his path.

Theki Change served as an ACM with City Year from 2022-2023. Theki is now a Solutions Analyst at Deloitte and, since his time with us, has learned how to transform his passion for service into a meaningful career. Check out this blog post to learn how he used his time at City Year to build critical skills that helped him land a premier job with one of the top consulting firms in the country and what advice he would give to someone considering a year of service with City Year in the Bay Area.

Kailani Bowers, City Year Alum and current Board member reflects on her time with City Year. Learn about her training experiences, surprising moments and advice for incoming ACMs.

This month we sat down with City Year alum Cristian King (Seattle/King County 2014-15) to hear about his life post-graduation, and how his service at City Year has shaped his entire career. 

This month we sat down with City Year alum Cristian Casanova (2017-18) to catch up on what he’s been up to since graduation, and to hear some of his pretty moving reflections on his year of service. Cristian recently returned home from Geneva where he participated in the 2024 Global Shaper Summit at the World Economic Forum. Hear how his time with City Year set him on this changemaker path, and continues to inspire his work at Accenture.

At City Year San Jose/Silicon Valley, we are incredibly proud of our Alumni and strive to provide a continued sense of community as they embark onto the next phase of their journey. This month, we are featuring Caitlin Donnelly, Americorps volunteer for the 2022-2023 school year. Read about Caitlin’s City Year experience below!