Our mission is supported by an intentionally designed curriculum that challenges students to think critically, to use their imagination, to deepen their emotional intelligence, to be tenacious in the pursuit of excellence, and to act from a deep sense of faith, justice, and compassion.

Our mission is strengthened by our commitment to work in a supportive learning community focused on the spiritual and holistic development of each child.

City Year unites young people of all backgrounds for a year of full-time service, giving them the skills and opportunities to change the world. As tutors, mentors, and role models, these young leaders make a difference in the lives of children and transform schools and neighborhoods across the United States and in South Africa.

In the South Bronx, City Year corps members serve in schools as tutors, mentors, role models and leaders of after-school programs. They serve with PS 48, PS 75, PS 333/335, MS 302, MS 424 Hunts, The Point CDC, and HPAC. Through City Year’s service model – called Whole School, Whole Child – diverse teams of full-time corps members work to help improve student attendance, behavior and course performance – which research confirms are indicators of a student’s likelihood of graduation from high school.

The Whole School, Whole Child model maximizes the ability of corps members to help students and schools succeed and it allows corps members to provide the right interventions to the right students at the right time through:

• academic support
• attendance monitoring and incentives
• positive behavior support
• after-school programming
• in-school programs and activities such as assemblies and celebrations that improve the overall school environment

John is the Vice President of SEBCO Development, a major housing provider in the Hunt’s Point and Longwood section of the Bronx. He began with SEBCO 18 years ago as a social worker, working with formerly homeless families in a recently rehabbed building. Over the years, he has built up the social service programs within SEBCO and today is responsible for overseeing four different social service programs.  Under his leadership, SEBCO also runs two after-school programs, and a summer camp for 50 children and various adult and children groups. He is also the chairperson of the annual Halloween Parade and helps organize the Hunt’s Point Festival and Fish Parade. Prior to working in Hunt’s Point, John was a member of the New York Province of the Society of Jesus for seven years where he taught in Jesuit schools in Puerto Rico and in the Nativity School on the Lower East Side. He also worked a Peace Corps volunteer in the Philippines for two years.

John has been a member of Community Board #2 for the past 8 years and is currently the second vice president. In the past, he was a founding board member of Sustainable South Bronx and has also served on the Board of Interfaith Assembly for Homelessness. He is presently an active member of the Community of San Egidio, an international lay community dedicated to working with the poor and promoting understanding among all religions.

He holds a Masters Degree in Anthropology from Columbia University and a Masters Degree in Social Work from Hunter College. He is a Licensed Master of Social Work in New York State. He is a single dad of an 12-year-old son and presently lives in Morningside Heights.

Wildcat students also participate in a variety of comprehensive internships that provide job skills and employment readiness and complement classroom education. Once such placement is learning the culinary arts in Wildcat Academy’s on-site full professional kitchen.

Roxanne Cardona is the the Principal of PS 48 in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx. Her educational career began 22 years ago when she was given a first grade class. This is where she fell in love with teaching and the community of Hunts Point. Before becoming Assistant Principal, she taught reading and served as staff developer. Always interested in the arts, she trained young dancers for 15 years at the Hunts Point Cultural Arts Center, choreographing dances for the annual May shows.

Roxanne holds a Master of Science degree in reading from Hunter College and a second Masters in supervision and administration from the College of New Rochelle. She is part of a community of poets/writers at the Writer’s Studio in the village, where she takes weekly classes.

Marc Donald, principal of John V. Lindsay Wildcat Academy Charter School, has a strong background in education and leadership in the Hunts Point Community. A founding member of the Bronx site of JVL Wildcat Academy, Mr. Donald was a teacher and assistant principal prior to becoming principal in 2004.

Before arriving in New York City in 2000, Mr. Donald worked with inner city youth in South Carolina as a coach, mentor, and teacher.  He has an Administrative Certificate from Hunter College, a BA from Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, and a Master’s Degree in the Art of Teaching from University of South Carolina.

Mr. Donald has agreed to co-chair the HPAC Mental Health working group, whose aim is to bring quality mental health services to the students in Hunts Point.

Ivy Fairchild is the chief development officer at Urban Health Plan, Inc., where she is responsible for fundraising, communications, marketing and external relations. Prior to joining UHP, Ivy was the director of external affairs and development at the Primary Care Development Corporation and associate vice president of government and community affairs at Columbia University Medical Center.  Ivy has a Bachelor’s degree from Queens College and graduate degrees from Columbia University Teachers College and Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.  She is the proud mom of four children, James, Tyler, Brandon and Bianca.