Service in Schools Initiative
Table of Contents
What is NYC Service?
What is Service in Schools?
How Service benefits our youth
Potential planning variables for Service in Schools
Service Highlights
NYC Civic Corps
Support organizations you can contact*
Points of Contact
*Non-exhaustive list of support organizations; principals or school leaders are free to contact
community service organizations that are not shown on the presentation, provided that the
organizations comply with NYC DOE regulations and standards.
What is NYC Service?
NYC Service is an initiative launched by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg in
April 2009 to promote service and volunteerism throughout New York City.
NYC Service will set a standard for how cities tap the power of their people
to tackle their most pressing needs.
Strengthening Communities
Helping Neighbors in Need
NYC Service focuses on
six impact areas
Education
Environment
Health
Emergency Preparedness
More information can be found at www.nyc.gov/service.
What is Service in Schools?
Service
Schools
Empowered
Students
Integrating service, service-learning, and civic responsibility in to
every New York City public school empowers students to use their
voices in the service of others. Service in Schools provides young
people with transformative opportunities to effect positive change
in their communities.
Service and Service-Learning
What is SERVICE?
What is SERVICE-LEARNING?

Beneficial acts to the community


Example: Students plant a tree in the
local park

Community service linked with
academic curricula
Example: Science students identify and
analyze the parts of a tree, plant the
tree and learn about tree stewardship
Schools may receive training, technical assistance and support from the
Department of Education's Civic Corps team as well as from many
education and community-based organizations. A partial list of these
organizations is provided later.
How Service Benefits Our Youth
Higher
academic
achievement
Increased
interest in
furthering their
education
Increased
sense of selfefficacy
Enhanced civic
engagement
attitudes, skills,
and behaviors
Source: RMC Research Corporation. 2008; Learn and Serve 2007
3
The Benefits of Service-Learning
 Over 80% of students who participated in
service-learning said they had more positive
feelings about attending high school.
 Over 75% of service-learning students said
that service-learning had motivated them to
work hard.
Source: RMC Research Corporation. 2008; Learn and Serve 2007
Potential Planning Variables for Service in Schools
Depth

Whole School

Grade level(s)

Individual classrooms

Other
Frequency

Weekly

Monthly

Quarterly

Semester

Annual
Types of Projects

Fundraisers

Community Development

Advocacy and awareness

Mentorship's

First Aid

Education

Environmental
Themes

Health and nutrition

Tolerance and diversity

Senior care and kindness

Global issues

AIDS and HIV awareness

Body Image and Self Esteem

Education and literacy

Disaster relief

Poverty , Hunger, and Drug awareness

Military/Civil servant support and
appreciation
SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS
To learn more about successful service programs at New
York City’s public schools, please visit the Service in
Schools website at:
http://schools.nyc.gov/community/sis/default.htm
NYC Civic Corps

The NYC Civic Corps is a 10-month program dedicated to promoting civic
engagement and the importance of community service in New York City agencies
and nonprofit organizations. Seven Civic Corps members are assigned to work
with the New York City Department of Education to assist clusters develop
strategies to address service and service-learning in schools.

NYC Civic Corps members will:

Help schools develop and implement sustainable community partnerships
that increase service within the school communities.

Educate principals and school leadership teams on various service and
service-learning options.

Promote the best practices across the public school system.

Facilitate training opportunities on service-learning curriculum.
Supporting organizations you can contact (1/2)
www.childrenforchildren.org
www.globalkids.org
www.theleague.org
www.milliontreesnyc.org
www.keepachildalive.org
www.teachunicef.org
www.heifer.org
www.telavision.tv
www.youthnoise.org
www.aspca.org
Supporting organizations you can contact (2/2)
One Hen
www.commoncents.org
www.coro.org
www.onehen.org
www.citymealsonwheels.org
Justice Resource
Center
www.onebrick.org
www.vote18.org
http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_a
bout/parks_divisions/greenapple_
corps
www.readnyc.org
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/ht
ml/home/home.shtml
http://www.jrcnyc.org/
programPages/projec
tCitizen.html
BEST
BUDDIES
www.bestbuddies.org
www.buildon.org
Points of Contact
NYC Department of Education
NYC Service – Civic Corps
Gregg Betheil
Executive Director, Division of School
Support & Instruction
(212) 374-0465
gbetheil@schools.nyc.gov
Aaron Miner
Project Lead, Portfolio Manager
aminer@cityhall.nyc.gov
Matt McKenna
Civic Corps member, Cluster #5
mmckenna@schools.nyc.gov
Rob DiRenzo
Civic Corps member, Cluster #1
rdirenzo@schools.nyc.gov
Ugonna Igweatu
Civic Corps member, Cluster #6
uigweata@schools.nyc.gov
Sharifa Shorter
Civic Corps member, Cluster #2
sshorter@schools.nyc.gov
Gabby James
Civic Corps member, Central
Elizabeth Gelber
Office of School Programs and
Partnerships
212-374-7640
egelber@schools.nyc.gov
Rory Sasson
Civic Corps member, Cluster #3
rsasson@schools.nyc.gov
Ryan Wiley
Civic Corps member, Cluster #4,
Central
rwiley@schools.nyc.gov