Sat 4/25 @ 6:30PM
This year marks the fourth year City Year’s hosted their annual Rock the Red Jacket Gala, taking place at the Metropolitan at The 9 (2017 E. 9th Street) and honoring Idealist of the Year, Eric S. Gordon, Chief Executive Officer of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. There will be dinner, an awards ceremony and dancing.This evening is affectionately refered to by guests as “a party with a purpose.” Longtime supporter, Bain Capital, will be honored as City Year’s National Gala Sponsor with a donation of $50,000 to all 26 City Year sites nationwide, including Cleveland.
The red jacket symbolizes the City Year uniform, which represents unity and solidarity amongst all City Year AmeriCorps, staff, and alumni.
“This uniform is how we are recognized by the children and communities we serve,” says executive director and vice president Phillip M. Robinson, Jr. “Each year, our AmeriCorps members change but the jacket remains a constant symbol of our idealism and our hope that one day service will be a real expectation and opportunity for young people all around the world.”
City Year is an education-focused, nonprofit organization founded in 1988 that partners with public schools to provide full-time targeted intervention for students most at risk of dropping out. In 26 communities across the United States and through two international affiliates, teams of young AmeriCorps leaders support students by focusing on attendance, behavior and of course performance, through in-class tutoring, mentoring and after-school programs that keep students in school and on track to graduate.
“Almost seven years ago, we shifted our service model to serve 100 percent of the time in schools,” shares Robinson. “We saw the power of ‘near peer’ mentors were having in helping to improve academic outcomes. Currently our 50 AmeriCorps members proudly serve in six Cleveland Metropolitan School District schools with over 1,800 students. Each AmeriCorps member works with a focused list of students in the school they serve on attendance and behavior coaching, as well as tutoring in English Language Arts and Math. We continue to see evidence-based outcomes as a result of our work.”
Some noteworthy examples of these evidence-based outcomes are:
- 77% of high school focus list students improved in English by one grade or more or by assessment
- 69% of focus list students improved scores on math assessments
- 79% of focus list students had a reduction in suspensions by the end of the academic year
- 100% of principals reported being satisfied or very satisfied with the quality of service provided by City Year
Proceeds from the Rock the Red Jacket will go directly to support City Year Cleveland and the AmeriCorps members serving in Cleveland public schools. This investment provides the resources necessary for the AmeriCorps members to serve as tutors, role models and mentors in City Year’s partner schools, funding programs and efforts to potentially grow the number of AmeriCorps members that are deployed locally.
For those who’d like to get involved, coming to the gala is a great place and super fun way to start. There will be dancing, food, a photo booth and music entertainment by Rock the House. For the first time ever, a VIP party from 6:30-7:30pm will be in the Vault of the Metropolitan 9. VIP guests can enjoy a special presentation and hear from partner and Idealist of the Year Honoree Eric Gordon in a more intimate setting. Later in the evening, guests will hear from a City Year corps member about how their work makes a difference in their students’ lives. The evening is guarantee to be a fun one… plus, it’s a party with a purpose!
To purchase tickets online, click HERE. VIP tickets are $250 and individual tickets are $150.
#RockinMyRedJacket
Cleveland, OH 44115