City Year

AmeriCorps Members

This year P.S 268 is once again thrilled to have City Year in our building along with their staff from AmeriCorps. P.S. 268 was designated as a Community School and City Year is the Community Based Organization that we have paired with.

To learn more about City Year and the impact that they have had in the schools they have been part of, please visit their website https://www.cityyear.org/

To find out more about the benefits of Community Schools in NYC please look at this video.

Below you can find brief bios of some of the staff that will be at our school this year.

Hello! My name is Francillia Samuel, the new City Year Community School Director here at Emma Lazarus! As a first generation Afro-Caribbean American, I was born and raised in Brooklyn. I am the eldest of three and grew up in Flatbush; where I learned to appreciate the quote “it takes a village to raise a child”. Throughout my academic career, I have traveled to many countries, met many amazing people, but there is nothing like New York. I have spent 20 years working with youth and families, because my heart belongs to the communities within which I dwelled and later served.

This year, Emma Lazarus has partnered with City Year, to become a Community School. In following the community school model, I will work closely with Emma Lazarus Leadership to organize resources and cultivate a space where “academics, health, youth development and family engagement are integrated into the fabric of our school.” We accomplish these goals through implementation of in-house academic support, after school programming, as well as family and community engagement pieces. City Year firmly believes in schools nurturing the success and growth of the whole child. Our school is rich with diverse families and cultures, embedded in community that deserves all the chances to thrive. I look forward to you joining us, in making this year YOUR year of success….in all ways possible.

Name: Keara Wylie (keara.wylie@cityyear.org)

Hometown: Tom Bean, TX

Education: High School Graduate

Why I Serve: I serve because youth and angst are more based on wisdom than adulthood. I serve to empower young people to believe in their feelings and ideas rather than diminish and discourage them. I serve because youth is our only chance to change the trajectory of our World. My name is Keara Wylie from Texas, and I proudly serve as an Americorps member at Emma Lazarus in Brooklyn, New York.

Career Goal: Research Scientist

Favorite Color - Purple

Favorite Quote: "The greatest misfortune is not to be unloved, but not to love.", Albert Camus

Name: Grace Joseph (grace.joseph@cityyear.org)

Hometown: DeWitt, Michigan

Education: B.A. in Psychology from Michigan State University

Why I serve: I serve because there are too many children that haven’t been taught how to advocate for themselves – how to take control and be the driver that moves forth their education, dreams, and futures. I serve because sometimes you need that one person who believes in you and tells you so. I serve to remind children to hold onto their imaginative dreaming, even as the harder realities of life set in. My name is Grace Joseph, and I am from Michigan, and I proudly serve as an AmeriCorps Member at P.S 286 Emma Lazarus Middle School in Brooklyn with City Year New York.

Career Goal: My career goal is to get my MSW and use my degree to advocate for children’s mental health in public policy!

Favorite Color: Dark/Jungle Green

Favorite Quote: “I realized, through it all, that, in the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger, something better, pushing right back” – Albert Camus

Name: Jennifer Quevedo (jennifer.quevedo@cityyear.org)

Hometown: Brooklyn Carroll Gardens, New York

Education: Brooklyn New School of Collaborative Studies

Why I Serve: I serve because I want to have a positive impact on children so they can reach their full potential. I serve because I was always told that I can work with kids but never knew where to start. I serve kids because kids are our future, and I have developed a passion for helping kids learn. I serve because working with kids has taught me patience and empathy. I serve because I want to show kids that they can make learning fun and enjoyable experience. I serve because I want to inspire the next generation to achieve their goals. My name is Jennifer Quevedo from Brooklyn NY, and I proudly serve as an AmeriCorps Member at P.S 268 Emma Lazarus Elementary School in Brooklyn.

Career Goal: Work with children with special needs. Become the best version of myself.

Favorite Color: Rose Gold/Pink

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