Amazing Kids! is proud to highlight the Amazing Kids! of the Month!

Each month, we showcase kids who are accomplishing amazing things.  We hope that by telling their special stories, we will inspire other kids to accomplish their own amazing achievements. 

"Our goal is to inspire these young people to break down social barriers, to volunteer, become a positive role model for others to follow, and to be inclusive."

"Young Heroes has let me know it is cool to do community service. I have been in the program for two years now. Every year I have met someone different."

This month, Amazing Kids!  is proud to feature the amazing Young Heroes from the Chicago City Year Young Heroes program, Chicago, Illinois.  These caring and dedicated young people are proving just how important young people can be in helping make a difference in our communities. Read their story and who knows?  Maybe you'll want to join a City Year Young Heroes program in your area!
 

Amazing Young Heroes help make a difference 
in the life of a younger kids.

What is City Year and their Young Heroes Program?
From the Young Heroes Website at: http://www.cityyear.org/change/young.html

The Young Heroes program is operated by City Year, which is part of the AmeriCorps national service network.  City Year's mission is to "put idealism to work by tapping the civic power of young people for an annual campaign of idealism." 

Young Heroes is a program that teaches kids about community service and leadership skills.  The program is designed for 6th, 7th and 8th-graders.  Beginning on Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday in January, these amazing young leaders spend 16  Saturdays (wow!) helping to make their communities a better place, while learning more about themselves and developing new skills. 

These Young Heroes are led by City Year corps members (ages 17-24) and volunteers from the community. The Young Heroes program uses the power of diversity in showing kids how they can work together to make a difference in their communities, and help inspire others into service. Young Heroes teaches its members to value service and volunteerism. 

Young Heroes participate in a variety of service projects such as: 

• tutor in after-school programs
• teach peer education curricula
• transform vacant lots into community gardens
• visit with and serve along-side senior citizens
• participate in immunization drives
• promote healthy ways of living
• restore green space
• plant trees
• paint murals
• lead younger children in service

You can find Young Heroes in ten cities across the country including: Boston, MA, Chicago, IL, Cleveland, OH, Columbia, SC, Columbus, OH, Detroit, MI, Philadelphia, PA, Rhode Island, San Jose, CA, and Seattle/King County, WA.

Think you might know a Young Hero? 

Think you might be one?  Want to volunteer?  Contact them for more information:

Phone: (617) 927-2452
Visit the City Year website at: www.cityyear.org
Email Young Heroes at: jburger@cityyear.org

Here is an amazing letter from a Chicago City Year corp member volunteer, telling about her work with the amazing Young Heroes in Chicago:
 

Bulls Team Up Day!

Noël told Amazing Kids! about the latest amazing event that the Chicago City Year Young Heroes participated in, the Bulls Team Up Day!  These amazing Young Heroes actually got a chance to participate in a service project with the Chicago Bulls!  Wow!  Way to go, Young Heroes! 

Not only did they get to help other kids, but they got to meet the Chicago Bulls basketball team too!  And if you're a basketball fan, then that is one very cool opportunity!

A couple of "happy campers" at Camp City Year

The Young Heroes even got a chance to go to camp this year! City Year sponsors camps for children during their Spring and summer vacations.

During the week of April 17th, 2000, Chicago City Year sponsored several fun Spring Break Camps, and nearly 300 Chicago Public Schools students got to participate!  This was the first year that City Year Chicago provided three camps, and they are happy to report, they were all a complete success!

The other Spring camps included:

• The amazing Young Heroes program provided a camp for middle schoolers at Gill Park in Chicago. 
• CYCLE created an overnight camp for grade schoolers at Camp Rosenthal, the Chicago Youth Centers' camp in Michigan.
• The High School Service Learning Academy initiated a high school camp at Humboldt Park in Chicago.

Are you helping others in your own community?  If so, Amazing Kids! wants to hear about it!  Send us your own amazing stories about how you are making a difference to: info@amazing-kids.org
Who knows?  Maybe you'll be our next Amazing Kids! of the Month!

For More Information on How You can Become an Amazing Young Hero:

Visit the Young Heroes website at: http://www.cityyear.org/change/young.html
Phone: (617) 927-2452
Visit the City Year website at: www.cityyear.org
Email Young Heroes at: jburger@cityyear.org

If you live in Chicago, contact the Executive Director of City Year Chicago, Craig Huffman:

Email:  chuffman@cityyear.org

Mail: 545 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611

Phone: 312-464-9899
Fax: 312-464-1736 

"AmeriCorps, the domestic Peace Corps, engages Americans in service to meet the nation's critical needs in areas of education, public safety, the environment, and other human needs. 

AmeriCorps offers opportunities across the nation for individuals of all ages who want to devote a year to service. AmeriCorps members tutor children, serve as mentors for teens, renovate low-income housing, immunize children against preventable diseases, and restore national parks and coastlines. 

In exchange for their year of service, AmeriCorps members can earn a small living allowance and an education award of $4,725 to pay for college or vocational training. Now in its fourth year, AmeriCorps has provided opportunities for more than 90,000 Americans to serve their country. For more information or to apply call 1-800-942-2677 or visit www.americorps.org."