City Year LA Orientation Guide May. 2015 | Page 42
Where will I work?
City Year Los Angeles serves in four neighborhoods in clustered in Southeast LA:
Westlake/ Koreatown, Boyle Heights, South LA, and Watts. For the 2014-2015 school
year, CYLA serves in 25 schools, which are a mix of elementary, middle and high schools
in each neighborhood. There may be variation and additions to the schools CYLA serves
for the 2015-2016 school year.
During your service year you will work with a team of your peers at one of our partner
schools. The placement survey each AmeriCorps Member completes helps the CYLA staff
determine where you will serve, to create diverse and balanced teams. You will find out
what neighborhood you will serve in by July 1st. Specific school placements are
revealed during the 2nd week of training after you service begins on August 3rd.
In addition to your school site, you will occasionally work at the City Year Los Angeles Headquarters office,
which is centrally located downtown. You will come to the office to register for the program as well as for many
trainings days, after-service meetings, and professional development sessions throughout the year.
Where should I live?
In order to find the best living situation, there are multiple factors to consider. It is important to be honest with
yourself when thinking through your housing options, because a difficult living situation can make your City
Year experience more stressful. The only person who can answer these questions for you is you!
How much are you willing to pay for housing? You will likely get around $1000 each month
after taxes for your stipend (your take home amount is dependent on your tax elections, which City Year does
not control and cannot advise you on). When considering rent options, think about what other resources you
might have and how much you are willing to dedicate to housing (suggested rent is $500-$700). This might
seem daunting in a city like LA, but there are definitely options available within this range.
How important is safety? What do you consider “safe”? Any neighborhood in any city can
be dangerous if you act without caution, but some do have higher crime rates than others. Later sections in this
packet offer resources to find some statistics, but always visit a location, if you can, to get a sense of your own
level of comfort there. We do not recommend living in Watts or South LA, while close to our partner schools,
these neighborhoods tend to present safety concerns for members unfamiliar with Los Angeles.
How important is the surrounding location to you? Are you looking for a bustling nightlife
right outside your door? Do you prefer a more suburban setting? Do you want to be close to popular sites?
How far do you want to travel to get to the grocery store?
Once you've found a neighborhood that suits you, before you take the plunge, we recommend you come back
for another visit at night. Some neighborhoods can transform from charming to sketchy as night falls, and if
crime is a concern, consult a LAPD crime map.
42 | C o r p s M e m b e r O r i e n t a t i o n & R e s o u r c e G u i d e
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