• Gain professional experience while contributing and learning from your involvement in a particular community project.
• Especially in a challenging job market, longer-duration service experience can boost your resume and provide you with a professional job within your field while benefiting your community.
• Make new friends and gain insight into yourself and others.
• Understand the world better.
• Gain a cultural education.
• Work for social justice.
• Develop leadership skills.
• Support community development projects.
• Earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards ($5,815 to put towards your undergraduate or graduate school loans)

Choose one week, 10 to 12 months, or more working in the field of your choice. If you are willing to pay for your experience, you can determine your length of stay in a domestic or international program.

• Most programs are secular and range from one week to four months.
• Long-term domestic programs are typically 10-12 months.
• Most international programs are two years, but several faith-based programs offer one-year international options.

• Housing and food
• Stipend
• Health insurance
• Student loan deferment
• Professional job
• Professional training and development
• AmeriCorps Education Awards for long-term commitments ($5,815 to put towards your undergraduate or graduate school loans)

Typically, secular programs are run by government or private organization, and the service positions may vary greatly.

Faith-based programs range from programs that want applicants to be open to reflecting on their service in a spiritual context and welcome all faith traditions, to programs that specifically require applicants to be comfortable within a certain faith perspective. Most faith-based service programs will not cost you any money except perhaps a small fund-raising amount and fees for any vaccinations needed if traveling internationally.

Secular programs may cost you money because they are for-profit or have paid staff. That does not make these programs any less reputable.

Short-term service programs: Most have a rolling deadline based on your desired date of departure.

Long-term service programs: Most have an application deadline in February, March, or early April of your senior year. So consider applying in January or February of your senior year. In a tight economy, more recent college grads apply, so the earlier the better.

Peace Corps: Apply during the summer between your junior and senior year to depart the summer after you graduate.

Grad school: For a post-graduate service program that involves a master's degree or graduate school credits, the application deadline may be in December or January of your senior year.

Rochester Youth Year is an opportunity to serve in Rochester for 12 months while strengthening your connection to Nazareth College.

Rochester Youth Year (RYY) is an AmeriCorps VISTA-supported program for recent college graduates, placing students with local community-based organizations. RYY recruits talented recent graduates to create or expand initiatives that address the various challenges facing youth and families in Rochester.

RYY is a consortium of seven local colleges: The College at Brockport, Nazareth College, Roberts Wesleyan College, Rochester Institute of Technology, St. John Fisher College, SUNY Geneseo, and the University of Rochester.  

RYY Fellows work to develop measurable, sustainable services and programs that address the self-identified needs of Rochester's youth and build on strengths and assets. As part of the program, RYY fellows work with local colleges including Nazareth to connect college resources with the needs of the host sites.

The Goals:

Alleviating the Effects of Poverty on Youth:
RYY Fellows work with their host organization and necessary stakeholders to develop measurable, sustainable services and programs that address the self-identified needs of Rochester's youth and aim to build on their strengths and assets.

Strengthening Communities:
RYY Fellows work to build the capacity of their host organizations to develop and/or enhance programs that engage youth and families in positive and productive activities and initiatives. Equally important, RYY Fellows work to empower youth and families to take an active role in improving their own neighborhoods.

Promoting Civic Engagement and Community-Centered Leadership:
RYY Fellows create lasting partnerships between the community, their host organizations, and their alma mater. Serving as role models and liaisons, they engage college communities in substantial opportunities to contribute to the life of the Rochester community.

For more information contact Adam Lewandowski through the Center for Civic Engagement at alewand8@naz.edu. Find more information on the Rochester Youth Year website.