Michael Brown (City Year)
Encyclopedia
Michael Brown, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, City Year
, Inc.
Michael Brown (born December 28, 1960) is Co-Founder and CEO of City Year, an education-focused, nonprofit organization. In partnership with public schools, City Year deploys teams of City Year AmeriCorps members to schools to help keep off-track students in school and on track to graduation. In communities across the U.S. and through two international affiliates, City Year's young leaders provide full-time, targeted interventions to support students by focusing on attendance, behavior and course performance through in-class tutoring, mentoring and after-school programs.
and Harvard Law School, where he served as editor of the Harvard Law Review. Prior to founding City Year, he served as a legislative assistant to then Congressman Leon Panetta
and as a clerk for Federal Judge Stephen Breyer
.
was founded in 1988 by Michael Brown and Alan Khazei
, then-roommates at Harvard Law School
, who felt strongly that young people in service could be a powerful resource for addressing America's most pressing issues. They built City Year with the conviction that one person can make a difference; and since its inception, City Year has promoted the vision of service as a common expectation – and a real opportunity – for citizens all around the world.
City Year is focused on fighting the national dropout crisis. City Year has committed to leverage the talent, energy and idealism of its young adults, called corps members, to serve as tutors, mentors and role models in schools to help students stay on track – and get back on track – to graduate.
In 2009, Brown announced "In School & On Track:A National Challenge," City Year's national initiative designed to bring City Year corps members to 50% of all of the students falling off track in City Year’s 21 U.S. locations, which requires expanding the number of corps members to 6,000 and engaging school districts, the private sector and the federal government through AmeriCorps as partners.
Since City Year's founding, 15,100 corps members have completed some 26 million hours of service.
enlisted the help of Brown, Khazei and others to establish AmeriCorps
through the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993. Since then, more than 575,000 AmeriCorps members have contributed upwards of 700 million hours of public service. City Year, along with thousands of other non-profit organizations, is a member of the AmeriCorps network.
In June 2003, AmeriCorps funding was cut by 80 percent. Brown and other service leaders organized the "Save AmeriCorps" act, a grassroots campaign culminating in a 100 hour hearing in the Capitol. At this hearing, more than 700 AmeriCorps supporters testified. This campaign led to half of the AmeriCorps funding being restored in 2003 and to all of the previous funding plus a $100 million increase appropriated for 2004. As a result of the increased funding, the AmeriCorps program was able to engage 25,000 more corps members in service.
Brown's efforts have been integral through the passage of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act
, and the creation of Voices for National Service.
For his work developing City Year, Brown has been awarded several distinctions, including the Reebok Human Rights Award
, the National Caring Award, the Samuel S. Beard Jefferson Award of the American Institute for Public Service, the Boston Bar Association's Public Service Award, the Harvard Law School Association Award, and four honorary degrees, including a Doctorate of Public Service from Northeastern University.
In 2008, Michael delivered the commencement address at the University of New Hampshire
.
City Year
City Year is an education-focused nonprofit organization that partners with public schools to provide full-time targeted intervention keeping students in school and on track to graduate...
, Inc.
Michael Brown (born December 28, 1960) is Co-Founder and CEO of City Year, an education-focused, nonprofit organization. In partnership with public schools, City Year deploys teams of City Year AmeriCorps members to schools to help keep off-track students in school and on track to graduation. In communities across the U.S. and through two international affiliates, City Year's young leaders provide full-time, targeted interventions to support students by focusing on attendance, behavior and course performance through in-class tutoring, mentoring and after-school programs.
Education and Early Career
Brown is a graduate of Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and Harvard Law School, where he served as editor of the Harvard Law Review. Prior to founding City Year, he served as a legislative assistant to then Congressman Leon Panetta
Leon Panetta
Leon Edward Panetta is the 23rd and current United States Secretary of Defense, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama since 2011. Prior to taking office, he served as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency...
and as a clerk for Federal Judge Stephen Breyer
Stephen Breyer
Stephen Gerald Breyer is an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1994, and known for his pragmatic approach to constitutional law, Breyer is generally associated with the more liberal side of the Court....
.
City Year
City YearCity Year
City Year is an education-focused nonprofit organization that partners with public schools to provide full-time targeted intervention keeping students in school and on track to graduate...
was founded in 1988 by Michael Brown and Alan Khazei
Alan Khazei
Alan Khazei is an American social entrepreneur. He is the founder and chief executive officer of Be the Change, Inc., a Boston-based group dedicated to building national coalitions of non-profit organizations and citizens to enact legislation on issues such as poverty and education...
, then-roommates at Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
, who felt strongly that young people in service could be a powerful resource for addressing America's most pressing issues. They built City Year with the conviction that one person can make a difference; and since its inception, City Year has promoted the vision of service as a common expectation – and a real opportunity – for citizens all around the world.
City Year is focused on fighting the national dropout crisis. City Year has committed to leverage the talent, energy and idealism of its young adults, called corps members, to serve as tutors, mentors and role models in schools to help students stay on track – and get back on track – to graduate.
In 2009, Brown announced "In School & On Track:A National Challenge," City Year's national initiative designed to bring City Year corps members to 50% of all of the students falling off track in City Year’s 21 U.S. locations, which requires expanding the number of corps members to 6,000 and engaging school districts, the private sector and the federal government through AmeriCorps as partners.
Since City Year's founding, 15,100 corps members have completed some 26 million hours of service.
National Service Leadership
Inspired by a visit with City Year during his 1992 run for presidency, President Bill ClintonBill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
enlisted the help of Brown, Khazei and others to establish AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps is a U.S. federal government program that was created under President Bill Clinton by the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993 and later expanded by 50 percent under President George W. Bush...
through the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993. Since then, more than 575,000 AmeriCorps members have contributed upwards of 700 million hours of public service. City Year, along with thousands of other non-profit organizations, is a member of the AmeriCorps network.
In June 2003, AmeriCorps funding was cut by 80 percent. Brown and other service leaders organized the "Save AmeriCorps" act, a grassroots campaign culminating in a 100 hour hearing in the Capitol. At this hearing, more than 700 AmeriCorps supporters testified. This campaign led to half of the AmeriCorps funding being restored in 2003 and to all of the previous funding plus a $100 million increase appropriated for 2004. As a result of the increased funding, the AmeriCorps program was able to engage 25,000 more corps members in service.
Brown's efforts have been integral through the passage of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act
Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act
The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act or Serve America Act was introduced in the United States House of Representatives on March 9, 2009, by Representative Carolyn McCarthy of New York. Originally titled the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act , the bill reauthorizes and...
, and the creation of Voices for National Service.
Awards and Recognitions
Brown was named one of America's Best Leaders by the US News and World Report and an Executive of the Year by NonProfit Times for his leadership role in ServiceNation and the passage of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act.For his work developing City Year, Brown has been awarded several distinctions, including the Reebok Human Rights Award
Reebok Human Rights Award
The Reebok Human Rights Award honours activists under the age of 30 who fight for human rights through non-violent means. Each year, the award is given to four or five individuals. Each receives a grant of US$50,000 that must be used to support their human rights work. The awards are underwritten...
, the National Caring Award, the Samuel S. Beard Jefferson Award of the American Institute for Public Service, the Boston Bar Association's Public Service Award, the Harvard Law School Association Award, and four honorary degrees, including a Doctorate of Public Service from Northeastern University.
In 2008, Michael delivered the commencement address at the University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire is a public university in the University System of New Hampshire , United States. The main campus is in Durham, New Hampshire. An additional campus is located in Manchester. With over 15,000 students, UNH is the largest university in New Hampshire. The university is...
.