A week of community engagement, a block party and more from February 26 - March 1
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – February 15, 2024 – City Year Jacksonville announced today it will be hosting “City Year Jacksonville Red Jacket Week,” a weeklong community celebration in honor of its 10th anniversary and the people and partners who have supported their work in providing every young person mentorship to help them reach their full potential. Named after City Year Jacksonville’s iconic red jackets, festivities kick off on February 26 with a mayoral proclamation announcing to the city of Jacksonville that February 26 to March 1, 2024 will signify “City Year Jacksonville Red Jacket Week.”
“City Year Jacksonville Red Jacket Week celebrates 10 years of hard work and dedication from our supporters, staff, and Student Success Coaches that have changed countless lives and the very fabric of our city, by creating a cycle of opportunity for young people. This cycle starts with students in the third grade, continues with every 18-25-year-old who serves as a Student Success Coach to strengthen our community schools, and concludes as they join the workforce becoming our citizens, employees, and leaders,” said Allishia Bauman, Senior Vice President and Executive Director of City Year Jacksonville. “It has been ten years of growth, impact and commitment, and we are gearing up for the next ten to be even more effective, as we lean into what we have learned and Jacksonville’s changing needs.”
Each day of “Red Jacket Week'' will feature a theme that aligns with events, awareness building and community engagement. Please see below for a lineup of planned events:
Landmark Monday: On February 26, Downtown Jacksonville will light up red in honor of the “Red Jacket Week” kickoff. Everbank Stadium, the Acosta Bridge, and the Florida Blue building will all be ablaze in City Year’s signature color of red to raise awareness about the work the organization does to support youth in the area. The mayoral proclamation announcement will take place this day. Students at 10 of the schools City Year Jacksonville partners with throughout Duval County will be celebrating on their campuses with a contest to decorate a “City Year” themed wall or door that embodies the spirit of City Year.
Trajectory Tuesday and Our Why Wednesday: Student Success Coaches will celebrate at their schools by dressing up like its 2013 on February 27, and they will don all red on February 28. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the organization will blast social media with data to raise awareness about their mission in mentoring students at schools in underserved communities to help close education gaps and allow every child to reach their full potential.
Trailblazing Thursday: Leap into the Street: City Year Jacksonville’s 10 Year Celebration starts at 6 p.m on February 29. This community block party at the Phoenix Arts & Innovation District will feature food trucks, drinks and live music by Chillula and student musicians from the Jacksonville Arts and Music School (JAMS). It will be a family friendly event for the city to join in some fun and celebrate the decade of impact and all those who made it possible.
Flashback Friday: Over the past 10 years, over 500 City Year Student Success Coaches have provided mentorship to students in Duval County Public Schools. On Friday, March 1, these alumni are invited to an alumni reunion celebrating their service and all that they have accomplished since. In the spirit of gratitude, students attending 10 of the schools City Year Jacksonville serves will celebrate the organization with “Dress Like City Year Day.” Students, teachers, administrators and Student Success Coaches alike will all sport red to show unity and thanks for the incredible impact the organization has made on the youth in our community.
For more information on City Year Jacksonville and “Red Jacket Week” events, visit cityyear.org,
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About City Year Jacksonville:
City Year helps students and schools succeed, while preparing the next generation of civically engaged leaders who can work across lines of difference. Diverse teams of City Year Student Success Coaches provide holistic support to students, classrooms and the whole school. A 2020 study shows that the more time students spend with Student Success Coaches, the more they improve on social, emotional and academic skills – skills that help students thrive in school and contribute to their community.
A proud member of the AmeriCorps national service network, City Year is supported by AmeriCorps, local school districts and private philanthropy. City Year partners with public schools in 29 communities across the U.S. and through international affiliates in the U.K. and South Africa. Learn more about City Year Jacksonville at https://www.cityyear.org/jacksonville.