bridges fall 2015

INSIDE: CITYterm’s Impact I Teaching for Experience Symposium I Donor Report I Alumni Making a Difference

BRIDGES: Celebrating 20 Years

10th Anniversary Celebration

15th Anniversary Celebration

Table of ContentsLetter from Erica Chapman, Director ...................................... 1

Letter from David Dunbar, Academic Dean & Co-Founder ..... 2

Teaching for Experience Symposium ..................................... 4

20th Anniversary: Save the Date ............................................ 6

Alumni Profiles ....................................................................... 7

Annual Donor Report ............................................................ 14

Meet the Faculty .................................................................. 18

Neighborhood Study ............................................................. 20

Meet Laura Danforth, Head of The Masters School ............. 22

Class Notes .......................................................................... 23

STAFF AND FACULTY

CITYtermErica Chapman, F’99 Director

David Dunbar Academic Dean & Co-Founder

• • •

Isabelle Bedard French Faculty

Jason Hult, F’00 Urban Core Faculty

Jennifer Hughes Spanish Faculty

Erik Johnke Urban Core Faculty & Math, Language, Science Coordinator

Mitchell Krieger Math Faculty

Jálynn Larry Enrollment & Advancement Coordinator

Alyse Ruiz, F’03 Dean of Residential Life

Eva Seligman Urban Core Faculty

Leigh Yakubowski Program Coordinator

The Masters SchoolLaura Danforth Head of School

Adriana Botero Associate Head of School

CITYterm at The Masters School

49 Clinton Avenue Dobbs Ferry, New York 10522

Phone: 914.479.6502 Fax: 914.693.6905 General inquires: [email protected]

www.cityterm.org

Dear Friends of CITYterm,

On January 28, 2016 CITYterm will open its doors to the 40th cohort of students, a remarkable thing for those of us that have watched the idea of CITYterm grow and develop over the past two decades.

To be part of CITYterm — as a student or a faculty member — is to question popular mental models of high school learning. Each semester is a chance to learn more about what high school can be if it is truly centered on deep, transformational student learning experiences. At the center of this exploration have been a series of “what if” questions: What if we use New York City as an interdisciplinary text? What if we are skills based, not primarily content driven? What if we pushed the limit of time and space, breaking down the artificial barriers between school and home and friends? It’s a bold experiment that requires full engagement and a good sense of humor.

When we were brainstorming a theme for this edition of Bridges, we spent a lot of time talking about what 20 years of CITYterm means — what it means to the faculty, to alumni and families and to the world of education. The word that kept bubbling up for me in those conversations was activism. If activism is an action aimed at making a change or challenging the status quo, then I see CITYterm — the very idea of CITYterm, its very existence as a place — as a form of activism.

CITYterm’s activism also includes the work we do with other schools and the work alumni are doing all over the world. For the past 10 years, David Dunbar and I have hosted the Teaching for Experience Workshop to explore the principles of deep, experience-based learning with teachers and school leaders from around the world. And, this past June, we hosted a larger-scale Teaching for Experience Symposium that brought more than 100 people to campus to create a network of educators interested in deep learning. Lastly, the learning students practice at CITYterm extends beyond the sixteen weeks of their experience in New York. CITYterm plants a seed that often lead alumni to become activists in their own right. For more on that, read David Dunbar’s letter on the next page and spend some time reading about the alumni profiled in this magazine.

I hope you enjoy reading this special edition of Bridges. Thank you for the part you have played in creating this place. I am looking forward to celebrating 20 years of CITYterm with you all next June.

All my best,

Erica Chapman, F’99 Director, CITYterm at The Masters School

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Letter from Erica Chapman, Director

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There was a time, after I had been teaching for a while, when I began to think that the learning process could be distilled down to one phrase: challenge and support. While true, this phrase is such an unbelievably hard thing to do in real life. The hardest part of teaching is to actually get the right type and mixture of challenge and support in order to produce transformational change. From the be-ginning, twenty years ago, CITYterm’s mission has been to explore how to create very particular kinds of challenges (and supports) that induce transformation in each learner.

When this transformation occurs (and, given the sixteen-week long semester, its manifestation often happens after the semester is over), the very act of learning becomes a form of ACTIVISM the learner uses to effect change in themselves and their world. Sometimes I think of transformational learning as service learn-

ing on your “self.”

If you can effect a paradigm shift in someone’s world-view, meaning you create a fundamental change in the person’s underlying assumptions, then you have added a level of learning that will be transformational. This is what researchers have called “deep” learning. Deep, transforma-tional learning has a number of recognizable characteristics that teachers can build into daily activities. I have come to see the following as central to facilitating transformational learning: holding contradic-tory ideas simultaneously, being aware of your own thinking while you are constructing ideas (going meta-cognitive and self-implicating), seeing from multiple perspectives and identifying where opposing viewpoints overlap, thinking systemically and engaging the common good rather than only what one believes in as an individual. When this type of learning occurs, the student’s journey shifts: he or she moves from feeling dependent, through feeling independent, until the student arrives at an under-standing of radical interdependence. In short, this kind of learning is not only about what you know, it is about a new way of knowing.

Learning to learn in this way is a kind of activism, in that it increases a person’s capacity for self-transformation. Someone who is able to do this is able to meet the increasingly complex demands our world is throwing at us.

Let me give you two concrete examples of experiences that have the potential to facilitate this kind of paradigm shift.

For the first day classes at CITYterm, students read an excerpt about “wondering and wandering” by Harvard professor John Stilgoe. CITYterm students arrive having done the reading (maybe the night before) and ready to “discuss” the reading. Because it’s the first day of class, some of them are also waiting for an “expectations” sheet to be handed out, including plagiarism and grading policies. But after a few minutes identifying the basic concepts of the reading, the students and teachers head out-side for the rest of the hour to actually DO what Stilgoe is writing about. They literally spend the rest of the hour making increasingly detailed observations about everything on the campus and generating questions and hypotheses about those observations. I know this sounds simple, but it has surprised me how memorable and defining this day becomes for students in their attitude about where learning occurs. This exercise attempts to introduce the physically felt sense of what they will do all semester in New York City.

The second paradigm shift — around one’s relationship to reading - is a bit more complicated. For most juniors and seniors in high school, reading is about decoding an author’s intention. This became clear to me once when the author Junot Diaz was responding to my query as to where he was on his latest book project. He said, “Oh yes, I am just about done, David. All I have to do is go back and put in the symbols.” When I tell students this story, virtually none of them ever laugh. In fact, one

Letter from David Dunbar,Academic Dean and Co-Founder

Learning itself can be a powerful form of activism that a person uses to effect change in themselves and in their world.

Any real change implies the breakup of the world as one has always known it, the loss of all that gave one an identity, the end of safety.

— James Baldwin


of them recently remarked, “That makes a lot of sense because it would be more efficient.” This student’s quip fit her mental model of reading as an act of decoding books for intentionally placed symbols—think of the green light on the end of Daisy’s dock from The Great Gatsby. However, many CITYtermers come to see reading in a new light. At CITYterm, many students come to believe that “to read a book is to author it.” That shift changes the act of reading for them forever--it is truly Coperni-can. It allows them to actively create their own personal understandings of what reading really is and to build dynamic relationships with texts.

We talk a lot about “becoming the author of your own learning” at CITYterm, but, as you can see from the alumni “activists” profiled in this issue of Bridges, the ability to “self-author” is the necessary developmental precursor to becoming your own self-transforming adult activist. Make no mis-take, however, this kind of learning is a compelling feat of activism in itself.

I have found an enormous amount of creativity and joy in empathizing with students, coming to under-stand the mental models they hold, and then designing curriculum that forces paradigmatic shifts in their thinking. For the last twenty years, I have loved doing this with faculty and students at CITYterm. This past summer, we went to the next level by hosting the Teaching for Experience Symposium, an event that engaged teachers and administrators from around the world in exploring the world of deep learning. Creating the Teaching for Experience Symposium is the result of my own paradigm shifts about learning: it has been its own form of activism.

Keep the Faith,

David S. Dunbar Academic Dean and Co-Founder CITYterm at The Masters School

(Read more about the Teaching for Experience Symposium on the next page.)

Learning to learn in this way is a kind of activism, in that it increases a person’s capacity for self-transformation. Someone who is able to do this is able to meet the increasingly

complex demands our world is throwing at us.

— David Dunbar


Building a Network of Educators Focused on Experience-Based, Transformational LearningThis past June CITYterm and The Masters School hosted the Teaching for Experience Symposium, a multi-day event focused on the power of experience-based, transformational learning. The goal of the Symposium was to exchange ideas and build a network of teachers interested in creating

transformative learning in their classrooms and in effecting institutional change in their schools. Lead by Erica Chapman, CITYterm’s Director, and David Dunbar, CITYterm’s Co-Founder and Academic Dean, the Teaching for Experience Sympo-sium brought 100 educators from 41 schools and 4 countries.

The Teaching for Experience Symposium is the outgrowth of the work CITYterm has been doing over the past twenty years. In 2005, Erica and David founded a week-long workshop, called Teaching for Experience (TFE), to begin to share some of CITYterm’s findings with teachers from around the world. The TFE Workshop investigates how and why some types of learning become transformational for both students and teachers. In the past decade, over 150 teachers have come to the TFE Workshop.

HERE ARE A FEW KEY HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE SYMPOSIUM:

• The Symposium included 17 workshops presented by teachers from all over the world who have created successful transformational learning in their classrooms.

o Jason Hult, CITYterm Urban Core Faculty, and Rene Marion, from Bard High School Early College, led an interactive session exploring ways food can act as a pathway for experience.

o Erik Johnke, CITYterm Urban Core Faculty, spoke to a packed room regarding CITYterm’s approach to leadership, collaboration and group projects.

• A panel of distinguished Heads of School talked about the power of experience-based learning in their own lives and about the institutional change they are leading in their schools.

o The panel included Erica Chapman, Director of CITYterm, Maureen Fonseca from The Masters School, Chris Bradford from the African Leadership Academy, Ted Hill from the Chadwick School, Scott Looney from the Hawken School, Skip Mattoon from Avenues, and Sean Murphy from St. Andrew’s Episcopal School.

• David Coleman, President and CEO of the College Board, engaged participants in a dialogue about transformative teaching and learning and the role of standardized tests in education today.

• Dr. Mariko Silver, President of Bennington College, shared her thoughts on the importance of experience-based learning, both in preparing students for college and for creating transformational learning experiences in higher education.

Teaching for Experience Symposium


FEEDBACK FROM TEACHING FOR EXPERIENCE SYMPOSIUM PARTICIPANTS:

The Symposium was transformational for how I see teaching and learning. I am bringing back new visions of what is possible — creative collaboration, urban labs, and ambitious new ways of thinking about teaching and learning. Now the challenge is to implement, implement, implement.

— Adam Machson-Carter, Codman Academy Charter School

It has been my experience that school communities do not often provide spaces where teachers can openly explore our questions and assumptions about learning and teaching and think about how we can create more authentic and meaningful experiences for our students. The Teaching for Experience Symposium is that place where teachers can find a community to question and create together. Because I had the chance to participate in the Symposium, I have already begun to implement more cognitive assessment and reflection in my classes, more effective collaboration strategies, and more experiential learning opportunities.

— Miranda Thorman, Marin Academy

Teaching for Experience Symposium participants included 18 members of the CITYterm community. Ten CITYterm alumni participated alongside present and former faculty members.

Heads of School attended the Symposium and spoke about the importance of creating experience-based, transformational learning opportunities for students.

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Save the Date • Saturday, June 18, 2016 Join the CITYterm community – including faculty

members, alumni and friends of the program – in celebrating CITYterm’s 20th Anniversary.

Events will be hosted in Brooklyn, New York.

HIGHLIGHTS:

· Reconnect with CITYterm classmates and faculty members

· Meet new friends and make new connections

· Celebrate CITYterm with an evening extravaganza at 26 Bridge, an event space in DUMBO, Brooklyn

· Join CITYterm alumni in sounding your

Barbaric Yawp on the Brooklyn Bridge

More details to be announced throughout the year at www.cityterm.org.

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS

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CITYterm alumni — now more than 1,000

strong — are making a significant impact.

As teachers, entrepreneurs, artists, urban planners

and dedicated learners and doers, CITYterm alumni

are scattered across the globe, engaged in

a wide-variety of intriguing, important questions.

This edition of Bridges focuses on alumni in

a variety of fields who are looking to effect change.

These short profiles, written in their own words,

exemplify the powerful work of hundreds of alumni.

Holly returned to New York City and continues to explore the unknown.

CITYterm shaped the trajectory of my intellectual and extracurricular interests. At CITYterm, I learned to appreciate knowledge derived from experience rather than textbooks, and to think critically about whatever was presented as fact within the academy. CITYterm also catalyzed my commitment to social justice — I recall being shocked by my first ever “privilege walk” across the cold Masters School basketball courts, and humbled by Anne Steinert’s lesson on Peggy McIntosh’s “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack.” David Dunbar’s invitation into the “DKDK Zone” made me comfortable with discomfort, a skill that has proved invaluable as I engage in racial and economic justice work as a White, wealthy person.

I am a fellow at the Ford Foundation in New York, where I work with the Program Officer who funds community organizing infrastructure in the U.S. I also volunteer as a Chapter Leader with Resource Generation, an incredible community of young people with access to wealth who want to use their privilege to support movements for social justice.

David Dunbar and CITYterm taught me not to shy away from bold ideas and big questions, even when others think they’re absurd or unreasonable. That’s a perspective I’ll continue to bring to my work, and hopefully it will help sustain my commitment to a more just world, especially at times when my vision for change isn’t particular popular or palatable.

Holly FetterCITYterm, Fall 2007Episcopal School of Dallas, 2009Stanford University, 2013Stanford University, M.A., Sociology, 2014


Cara shares her love for cities—starting with New York!

When I arrived at CITYterm my plan was to attend a school just outside of a city so that I could easily visit without having to live within the chaos and to major in Classics with the goal of becoming a teacher. Given my stubborn belief that I – and the ripe old age of 16 – had my future all figured out, I was underwhelmed by the prospect of CITYterm’s organized college visits. I was convinced it would be a waste of time for me. After all, I would NEVER go to college in Manhattan! However, when I begrudgingly walked onto Columbia’s cam-pus, everything changed. I had that moment that people talk about where suddenly things just fall into place. I had found my college; I had to go there.

Later that year, I was accepted early to Columbia, and though my application had still listed Classics as my intended major, I was already questioning that idea. They always say that you should major in something you’re passionate about, something you love. My time at CITYterm solidified a love of New York. Pouring over the materials and website of my future alma mater, it finally hit me: Urban Studies. I grabbed onto that major and ran with it.

After my time at Columbia, I went on to the University of Pennsylvania and earned my Master of City Planning with a focus in Transportation Planning. Since then I have been working in Connecticut as a Transportation Plan-ner for URS Corporation – an engineering, construction, and technical services consulting firm. In 2012, I passed the exam to become a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) through the American Planning Association. My work has included feasibility studies, alternatives analysis, environmental investigations, and public outreach for rail and transit projects such as streetcars in New Haven, CT and Princeton, NJ; commuter rail extensions in central and western Connecticut; and bus operations enhancements in Brook-lyn, NY and Portland, ME. Most recently, I was a primary author on a Federal TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grant application that successfully won $8.2 million for the New England Central Railroad to upgrade its freight rail infrastructure within Connecticut.

I am currently in the process of becoming a certified Project Manager, and I hope to begin managing transportation planning studies in the not-so-distant future. I look forward to continuing to look at local and regional transportation issues so I can try to find ways to solve the problem and do something to make things better. In 2003, I didn’t even know what a Transportation Planner was, but there is no doubt that that fateful spring day in Morningside Heights started me on the trajectory that landed me where I am now!

Cara (Seabury) RadzinsCITYterm, Spring 2003The Hotchkiss School, 2004Columbia University, BA Urban Studies, 2008University of Pennsylvania, Master of City Planning, 2010


Grace combines her passion for journalism and learning!

After attending CITYterm, I returned to R.J. Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem, N.C. to finish my junior year, convinced I was forever changed and could never be happy there again. I was right on the first count, and, of course, totally wrong on the second. Inspired by the discussions we had at CITYterm about how people learn, I did my high school senior project on experience-based learning. I then surprised myself and went to school not in the Northeast or a big city, but at the University of North Carolina (UNC). Ironically, I don’t think I ever would have gone to school in-state if I hadn’t gone out-of-state as a high school student. One of the greatest gifts of CITYterm was the realization that if I asked the right questions, the familiar can become the unfamiliar in exciting ways. At UNC, I studied history, with a focus on race and education, topics I began thinking deeply about in Dobbs Ferry. Having honed the skill of talking extensively to strangers at CITYterm, I also interned at the Southern Oral History Program at UNC.

I did my Writing History paper on the New York Times, and I kept my interest in journalism through college. During the summers, I did reporting internships, including one internship focused on writing about New York City’s public schools at GothamSchools, which is now Chalkbeat New York. After graduating in May, I moved to Nashville to report on state education policy for Chalkbeat Tennessee.

If I recall correctly, my Writing History was kind of an obituary for journalism. Happily, I was wrong! Chalkbeat is a non-profit news organization focusing on “educational change in the communities that matter most.” It is a really exciting team to be part of (and we’re growing!). Working in the state capitol is interesting, but my favorite part of my job is going into classrooms and seeing the different ways teachers teach and students learn, an interest I definitely developed because of my great teachers at CITYterm. I’m also enjoying exploring Nashville. (Fall ‘08 classmate Daniel Moattar says my Southern accent has gotten stronger since moving here, but I still contend that I don’t have one.)

My CITYterm experience far transcends the four months I spent there. My teachers and classmates at CITYterm instilled in me a desire to ask questions that I use every day, and I’m excited to see the ways my time with them in Fall 2008 will influence me in the future.

Grace TatterCITYterm, Fall 2008R.J. Reynolds High School, 2010University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2014

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Brandon Castillo uses lessons from CITYterm to help Dallas become a “World Class City”.

I was born in Brooklyn but raised in North Texas. Even though I don’t remember much about living in New York City as a baby, I knew I had to get out of the suburbs as soon as possible and get back to my birthplace. CITYterm ignited my passion for cities, exposing me to a life inde-pendent of cars, surrounded by people, and adventure waiting around every corner. I took this energy to Spain after graduating college in order to learn city life in a foreign place. After teaching English in Madrid for a few years, I came back to Dallas inspired to bring everything I’d learned living abroad back to my hometown.

It puzzled me that Dallas didn’t have the frequent outdoor events like New York or Madrid, despite having great weather! I started the Deep Ellum Outdoor Market several years ago in one of Dallas’ most historic, yet neglected, neighborhoods. My two goals were to promote local business-es and artists and create a pedestrian friendly environment.

Since then I’ve formed a consulting firm ASH+LIME Strategies with a few urban planners that works with historic downtowns to create economic development through community development.

The name ASH+LIME comes from two of the main ingredients the ancient Romans used to create concrete, which in many cases has withstood the test of time. We combine simple ingredients that are place specific in order to support long lasting economic development and community strength. Historic downtowns around the nation were built when walking was the primary form of transpor-tation, so it is relatively easy to improve these places as pedestrian oriented destinations that are currently in high demand.

Our objective at ASH+LIME is to create value by empowering a community to take ownership of a physical area in order to inspire memorable experiences in that place. A city like New York has inspired memories at virtually every corner, but those experiences shouldn’t be limited to the most cosmopolitan of cities. The oldest sections of our existing cities still retain these memories, and it is up to us to uncover and appreciate them. The goal is to leverage this social investment into financial investment that creates wealth for the community.

Brandon CastilloCITYterm, Spring 1999St. Mark’s School of Texas, 2000Pitzer College, 2004

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Abbie takes experiential learning from CITYterm to Tufts to Colombia!

I attended CITYterm during my junior year (Fall 2009) and it fundamen-tally changed my educational trajectory. CITYterm inspired me to learn for learning’s sake. It pushed me to take intellectual risks and challenges that I believe I wouldn’t have taken otherwise. After CITYterm, I returned to my urban public high school in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The curriculum, which included a heavy dose of state-mandated rote memorization and tedious multiple choice exams, frustrated me as it contradicted my creativity and the critical thinking skills I had just developed in Dobbs Ferry. I immediately tried to find ways to continue to tap into everything CITYterm taught me. The next summer, I attended an intensive Spanish program and home-stay in Spain that I’m sure I wouldn’t have gone to if I hadn’t gained the confidence I had at CITYterm. I approached senior year of high school excited for my educational future.

I recently graduated from Tufts University where I studied psychology and education. In my last semester at Tufts, I was accepted by the Experimental College—an interdisciplinary academic department—to teach a freshman seminar. I designed an original curriculum and taught 14 first year students about Boston and Cambridge using an experiential, project-based pedagogy in which students actively explored and researched both cities. This course was based off my experi-ence at CITYterm, specifically the neighborhood study project that profoundly impacted the way I view and learn about urban spaces. My students traveled to a variety of different neighborhoods for home-work and then in class once a week we discussed the underlying themes of these areas, emphasizing history, racial demographics, the socio-economic status of the residents, and the dominant institutions. We juxtaposed certain neighborhoods, often asking: Why do two communities separated by just one street look and feel so different from each other? This unique opportunity allowed me to put into prac-tice my pedagogical belief in participatory education; my classroom was a place of dynamic hands-on learning where I facilitated class discussions and activities. Students, through their explorations and supplemental research and readings, would arrive to class an “expert” on a certain area or neighborhood and then it was up to them to teach their peers. Every member of the classroom was both a “teacher” or “facilitator” as well as a learner. This experience teaching at Tufts was inspired by my novel ways of learning and seeing the world around me that I developed at CITYterm.

After graduating, I received a Fulbright English Teaching Apprenticeship in Colombia at a local university. After Colombia I am sure the work I do will be affected by the learning and skills I have developed since my experience at CITYterm. I am interested in working within education for social justice. I hope to teach in a setting that uses project-based and participatory pedagogy in order to push students to think deeply and creatively. I look forward to the unknown and the possibilities that are on my horizon.

Abbie CohenCITYterm, Fall 2009Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, 2011Tufts University, 2015


Kathlyn takes what she learned at CITYterm to the African Leadership Academy.

Upon leaving CITYterm, I knew I was ready for another adventure. It had ignited something in me. I had always known I was interested in making the world a better place — but CITYterm taught me that I could not learn how to do that in a classroom. To understand issues as complex as inequality, poverty and violent conflict, I needed to see reality at the grassroots for myself, to learn from others. CITYterm taught me to have a mindset of curiosity, courage, explo-ration and empathy.

This mindset led me across the globe. I lived in Panama that summer, with a family who made less than a dollar a day and spoke no English. I worked as a community organizer for the Obama campaign in my hometown of Atlanta. I interned in India, with an NGO that teaches youth to use journalism as a tool for community organizing in slums. I conducted research and interviewed school leaders across Uganda, and wrote my senior thesis about education reform in South Africa. These experiences made me realize what my career should focus on: empowering youth to create social change in their communities, by using schools to do so on a massive scale. I want to enable youth across the developing world to have access to the kind of transformative education that I had at CITYterm — so that they, rather than outsiders, could positively impact their communities.

In order to learn how to do this, I moved to Johannesburg to work at a school reinventing what edu-cation should look like: African Leadership Academy (ALA). In my first year, I assisted the Founder and Dean, and then shifted to teach Writing & Rhetoric. In this role, I helped to develop a new curriculum that integrates English writing and speaking skills with African studies and entrepreneurial leadership concepts. I also designed curriculum for our semester program, in which teenagers across the world study abroad at ALA (recently re-launched as Catalyst Term, in a not-so-subtle homage to CITYterm).

At ALA, I have worked with incredible young people. Following in the footsteps of leaders like Gandhi, MLK or Mandela, they will help solve the challenges of inequality, poverty and violence that many of their communities face. But it is not enough for me to create a transformative education for ALA students. I continue to “live the questions,” as CITYterm taught me to do: What does it take to develop leaders who can effectively disrupt their education systems and drive innovation in schools? To explore this question and others, I plan to write a book about leaders in the education sector across the African continent, integrating the lenses of politics, economics, anthropology and history. I will be moving to Nairobi this year to embark on this dream, to con-duct research and write. After living in Kenya, I plan to go to graduate school in education leadership and continue to work in the education sector in Africa and South Asia. I hope I can play a small part in spreading the kind of powerful learning that happens at CITYterm to schools across the world.

Kathlyn PattilloCITYterm, Fall 2006The Westminster Schools, 2008Wesleyan University, 2012



2014–2015 Annual Report of Donors

This 20th Anniversary edition of Bridges also honors those who participated in CITYterm’s

2014-2015 Annual Fund. The philanthropic support that CITYterm receives from alumni,

parents, faculty and administrators from both the CITYterm and Masters communities, and

friends of the program is instrumental to our success. As a small non-profit organization, your

support is vital to the continued sustainability and growth of CITYterm, enabling us to share the

transformative experience of a semester at CITYterm with students from across the country

and around the world for many years to come. Your gifts are a celebration of 20 successful

years of CITYterm and the impact we have had on the lives of our students and alumni.

Support from loyal friends like you is an endorsement of the power of our educational

model and helps us to ensure the future of CITYterm.

In particular, we want to call special attention to alumni donors from the founding semesters of

CITYterm. We want to offer a heartfelt thank you to students from the first several semesters

of CITYterm, and their families, who continue to support CITYterm year after year. Your

continued generosity is a testament to the power of the CITYterm experience and the

lasting impact of this transformative learning experience, even years later. We would

also like to celebrate the fact that we exceeded our $80,000 goal for the 2014-2015 year,

raising a total of $91,543. The remarkable generosity of our community sustains us as we

celebrate our 20th Anniversary as a program, and look toward many more years to come.

WAYS TO GIVE THIS YEAR…

Give online: www.cityterm.org/giving- cityterm/donate-now/ index.aspx

Call: Dial 914-479-6502 to make your gift over the phone

Mail: Checks may be mailed to CITYterm, 49 Clinton Avenue, Dobbs Ferry, New York 10522

Gifts of Stock: Call 914-479-6502

An envelope is attached for your convenience.


2014 – 2015 ANNUAL FUND CONTRIBUTORSThis year, your generosity totaled $91,543, providing invaluable financial support that allows us to achieve our mission through increased financial aid, program support, and professional development. .

KEY: Alumni Council

Class Agent

2014-2015 Faculty & Administration 3-year consecutive donor*

5-year consecutive donor**

10-year consecutive donor***

EMPIRE STATE BUILDING ($10,000 +)AnonymousStacie and Jeffrey Halpern PF’12, PS’15

CHRYSLER BUILDING ($5,000 - $9,999)Mairi McKeever and Chuck Lewkowitz PF’13Alice Probasco LuptonCarolyn Hunt and William Wilkinson PF’11

HEARST TOWER ($2,500 - $4,999)Nancy Fox and Jon Edwards PF’13Marivi and Darius Nevin PF’08**

WALDORF ASTORIA HOTEL ($1,000 - $2,499)Susannah and David Bailin PS’12**Steven Bercu PS’14Gregory Boulos PF’13Eliot Dash F’02Dash Family FoundationAimee Derbes F’98Derbes Family FoundationBerkeley and Jason Downie PS’15Joanne and Ed Eisler PF’14Helen & William Mazer Foundation

Amy and Howard Klion PF’08**Klion Springwater Coven Family Founda-tion, Inc.**Babette and Peter Loring PS’00, PS’97***Carolyn Orr Mattoon**The Robert and Carolyn Mattoon Fund**Pilzer Family Foundation**Anita and Neal Pilzer PS’07Diane M. Allen and John P. Remmert PF’10**Lynn Pilzer Sobel PF’97, PS’04***

FLATIRON BUILDING ($500 - $999)Bridget and John Barnes PF’11Laurie M. Beach PS’97Mary Catherine Mathews and William Bennett PF’14Steven Kaell and Erica Chapman F’99**Gail and Sean Corcoran PS’14Charlotte Cowles F’01Mary DoiDavid S. Dunbar PF’99, PS’02**Carol and Howard Fine PF’10**Maureen Fonseca**Sidney Hawkins Gargiulo F’97Diane and Donald Gibson PF’10Lillian and Greg Hessel PS’15Lisa and George Katz PS’11Alec Koo PF’12Norbert and Roger Longman PS’05***Susan and Eric Marandett PS’15Jennifer Morrison and Richard Marks PS’07Barbara and Richard Melvoin PF’97Shira Milikowsky F’97Ezra Moser F’04

Laura Kittle and Jeremy Moser PF’04**Marlissa Briggett and Peter Necheles PS’13Christine Grim Neikirk PF’13Diane Pink and Roy Pottle PF’07Ann and Tony Ryan PF’11Isis and David Schwartz PS’15Karen Barbour and David Sheff PF’12The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of BaltimoreHong Xu and Jingfei Yang PF’12

WOOLWORTH BUILDING ($100 - $499)AnonymousKathleen Adams S’05Linda Bradley-Adams and Ronald Adams PS’05David Adelberg PF’14Linda Adelberg PF’14Braden Barrett F’06Jack Bathke S’05Paula and William Bathke PS’05The Benfield GroupMarika and Rich Bergsund PF’12BoeingThe Boston Foundation**Corey Briskin S’05***Mary Rothchild and Dan Bruggeman PF’05, PS’10Anna D’Andrea and Keith Burke PF’14Adrienne Campbell-Holt S’97**Zoe Carter F’99Diana Kennedy and Jack Chernick PS’14Pamela J. ClarkeAbbie Cohen F’09James Patrick Collins F’97

Donari Copperidge F’96Elizabeth and Thomas Crane PF’10Katie and Andy Cutler PS’15Elizabeth C. DoiMicah Dornfeld F’08**Marianne and Richard Dornfeld PF’08Douglas M. Dunbar F’99**Walker M. Dunbar S’02**Margaret Edwards F’13Melissa and Dominic Eisinger PF’13Piper Evans S’98Holly Fetter F’07Bryson Hopkins and Tracy Floyd PS’15Paula and Gareth Fracchia PS’99Andrew Freedman S’97Kerri Goldfarb F’96Betty Miller and David Gootnick PS’13Amy and Norman Gorin PS’06**Greater Kansas City Community FoundationHeidi Berke and Jeffrey Halperin PF’14Meg and Doug Hart PF’14William Heron F’99Lexi and Ben Hoffman PS’13Holly and Peter Howe PS’15Mary and Timothy Hult PF’00**David Jacoby S’97**Jean Marie and Doug Jamieson PF’10**Victoria Jamieson F’10Acadia Klain S’00Carolyn Lackey and Bill Knopp PF’10Andrew A. Kryzak S’00Heidi Cheris and Phillip Levine PF’14Jane and James Levitt PS’10, PS’12**Virginia and Mark Ling PS’11Susan and Edward Lovelace PS’13

CONSTITUENT NUMBER OF DONORS DOLLARS RAISED

All Students 122 $10,011

Students from Last Academic Year 30 $593

All Other Alumni 92 $9,419

All Parents 111 $59,613

Parents from Last Academic Year 23 $6,650

Parents of Alumni 88 $52,963

Faculty, Friends, and Foundations 36 $21,919

TOTAL 269 $91,543

2014-2015 CITYTERM DONORS BY GROUP


Clare Martin and Terrence Lyons PS’14Marie and Tom Lyons PS’13Louise and Michael Malakoff PF’96**Elise Marlin F’14Chris McCarrell F’08Ann Mitchell PF’99, PS’02**Katharine NemecEthlyn O’Garro PF’14Grace Lee-Park and Eric Park PF’14Anne and Paul Parker PF’10Barbara and Robert PickelMary and Chip Pollard PF’14Susan Warden and Les Porter PS’11**Stephanie and Phil Ritter PF’11Stephanie Rountree F’14Deborah Saul PF’14Mary and Carl Schellhorn PF’06**Kelly J. Schryver F’05Susan and Glenn Shea PF’12Alison and John Shulman PS’14Zack Sigal S’05**David Simons S’01**Stephen Thomas PF’02Frances and Robin Thompson PF’14Antoinette Tomai PF’99**UBS Investment BankWellCall, Inc.Robin Frederick Whitten PF’01Nathaniel Wright F’98Cynthia Yang F’96Michelle Zak and William Zak PS’14

CARNEGIE HALL ($50 - $99)Claudia Parducci and Peter Alexander PF’14Tess Brustein F’03**Sarah CanbergGabriela Castillo S’11**Sharon Nechis Castillo PS’11**Jennifer Weigel and Arthur Chin PS’12Lucy Crane F’10**Graham Cuddy S’14

Joy and Peter Cutrone PS’14Heather and Sam Folgert PF’14Caroline Gambell S’02Madeline Goldstein S’15GoogleMindy Hastie PS’07**Kristin Hendriksen F’04Jason Hult F’00**Beth George and Timothy KaneStephen J. Kessler PF’97Claire Kessler-Bradner F’97Nanci and John Kryzak PS’00**Christina Ludovici F’08**Myra Lyles and Raymond Ratliff PF’05Genevieve Malkin F’08Emma Marks S’07Sarah and Kevin McGarghan PS’10Ryann McQuilton S’04Katherine and Frank Mihm PF’12Nguhi Muturi F’11Irene and Peter Muturi PF’11Ann Pallotta Nagin and Rick Nagin PS’08Alexa Natanson F’04Nik Nevin F’08Joy N. Ojeh PS’13Elizabeth Slotnick and Christopher Pouler PF’14Hillary Scott-Hansen RepikNina Restuccia S’99Suzanne and David Sandbank PS’13Brendan M. Sweet F’05Darlene Bojrab-Taylor and Alan Taylor PS’98, PS’01Susan and Bill Townsley PF’13, PF’14Julia TraversLeigh Turner S’98Alexander S. Urquhart S’03Caroline van Allen S’12Barbara and Peter van Allen PS’12Laura Weisberg and David Wong PS’04Thomas Yaps F’98

Semester Number Dollars of Donors Raised

2014-2015 ALUMNI GIVING

Fall 1996 3 $625

Spring 1997 3 $350

Fall 1997 4 $1,300

Spring 1998 3 $550

Fall 1998 3 $900

Spring 1999 1 $50

Fall 1999 4 $870

Spring 2000 2 $275

Fall 2000 1 $50

Spring 2001 1 $100

Fall 2001 1 $500

Spring 2002 2 $150

Fall 2002 1 $500

Spring 2003 1 $50

Fall 2003 2 $70

Spring 2004 1 $50

Fall 2004 4 $392

Spring 2005 4 $450

Fall 2005 4 $155

Spring 2006 2 $35

Fall 2006 1 $100

Spring 2007 1 $50

Fall 2007 1 $200

Spring 2008 0 $0

Fall 2008 16 $638

Spring 2009 1 $20

Fall 2009 3 $170

Spring 2010 2 $20

Fall 2010 2 $255

Spring 2011 1 $50

Fall 2011 5 $111

Spring 2012 3 $75

Fall 2012 0 $0

Spring 2013 3 $70

Fall 2013 3 $138

Spring 2014 3 $100

Fall 2014 20 $423

Spring 2015 10 $170

Many thanks to all the alumni who gave generously to the 2014-15 Annual Fund. Together, you raised over $10,000!


CITY HALL ($1 - $49)Anonymous (5)Ashley Adelberg F’14Lindsey Alpaugh F’14Annabel Barnes F’11Carrie Bell-Hoerth F’05Emily Bell-Hoerth F’08Anna Bennett F’14Ben Berke-Halperin F’14Madeline Bowen F’14Marjorie Bowen PF’12, PF’14Jesse Brown F’04Courtney A. Camps**Rachel Cantor S’15Alexis Cheney S’10Haley Coghill S’06Emma Daniels F’08Deborah Davidson PS’14Judith DonaldSam Downie S’15Ladane du BoulayAlanna Duncan F’08Madeline Eisler F’14Isabel Floyd S’15Hayden Folgert F’14Eliana Gottesman F’11Tristan Grant S’09Austin Halpern S’15Brittany Hamzy F’08Cynthia and Ghassan Harb PF’12Rachel Hartman F’09

Armando Herreria F’14Rankin Hobbs F’14Penelope Hoopes S’15Jennifer HughesEmma Bruggeman Iacono F’05Siobhan Masterson and Erik JohnkeAmelia Jones S’15Barbara and Kenneth Kalter PS’97***Jessica Klion F’08Mitchell KriegerBarbara Laco S’12Jálynn C. LarryAlison Leung F’08Natalia Lindsey F’14Summer LongElissa Lowenthal F’11Henry Lyons S’13Rachel Marandett S’15Jacqui and Kevin McGettiganRuby S. Miller-Gootnick S’13Christopher Neikirk F’13Chase Ott F’11Georgia Panitch F’14Hannah Park F’14Amy Hozid and Thomas Plancon PS’08Danielle Pohlen F’14Charlotte Pollard F’14Hannah Pouler F’14Alyse Ruiz F’03Isabelle Saul-Hughes F’14Lilian Schorr S’06

Eva SeligmanMaria Quiroga and Alvin Shiggs PS’01**Jessica Singer F’08Peyton E. Steurer S’13Lindsay Szper F’09Grace Tatter F’08Davison Thompson F’14Emily Torrey F’08William Townsley F’13David Triplett S’12Allison Wade PS’14Adon Wade-Currie S’14Jerald Watson F’08Gracie White S’15Miles Williams S’15Christina Wohler PF’05**Darren Wood

HONORARY GIFTSThe following donors chose to honor a member of our CITYterm community with their gifts.Kathleen Adams S’05Linda Bradley-Adams and Ronald Adams PS’05

Erica Chapman F’99Sarah Canberg

Lisa Doi and her wonderful CITYterm colleaguesMary Doi

David Dunbar PF’99, S’02Bridget and John Barnes PF’11Antoinette Tomai PF’99

Douglas Dunbar F’99Ann Mitchell PF’99, S’02

Walker Dunbar S’02Ann Mitchell PF’99, S’02

Thomas Carter Burleigh Howe S’15Holly and Peter Howe PS’15

Rachel Marandett S’15Susan and Eric Marandett PS’15

Caroline Porter S’11Susan Warden and Les Porter PS’11

Cliff Ritter F’11Stephanie and Phil Ritter PF’11

Alyse Ruiz F’03Frances and Robin Thompson PF’14

Veronica Yang F’12Hong Xu and Jingfei Yang PF’12

GIFTS IN KIND The following donors generously contributed to CITYterm in 2014-2015 with gifts of their time, space, and energy to help further CITYterm’s mission.Chris and Marjorie Bowen (PF’12, PF’14)Larry and Susie Mondry (PS’14) Mr. Eric Liberman and Ms. Donna Olpe-Liberman (PF’13)


Meet the Faculty

The CITYterm team is an eclectic mix of collaborative educators from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines.

Isabelle Bedard is CITYterm’s French teacher. A French native, Isabelle worked as a French teacher at The Brearley School in the Middle School and Upper School,

teaching 5th, 6th, 7th and 10th grades. She also taught at the Upper School of Horace Mann School, teaching 9th through 12th Grade. Isabelle received her B.A. in Teach-ing French as a Foreign Language and her M.A. in American Literature from Institut d’Anglais Charles V, Université de Paris VII, France. Outside the classroom, Isabelle en-joys spending time with her son and being a part of the New York City art scene.

Erica Chapman is CITYterm’s Director. She has a long, unique relationship with CITYterm. She is a CITYterm alumna (Fall 1999), a former faculty member and the co-facilita-

tor, along with David Dunbar, in creating Teaching for Experience, a workshop that introduces teachers to the principles of ex-perience-based learning. Erica holds a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College, where she studied history, literature, psychology and writing with an interdisciplinary lens, and a M.S. from the University of Pennsylvania in non-profit leadership. Erica has held leader-ship positions at Achievement First Charter Schools, New Leaders for New Schools and at the New York City Department of Educa-tion. In each role, Erica’s aim has been to improve student learning experiences by advancing and supporting the effectiveness of teachers. Erica lives on-campus, along with her husband, Steve, and their son, Theo.

David Dunbar is CITYterm’s Co-Founder and Academic Dean. He is also the Coordi-nator of Teaching and Learning Initiatives for The Masters School. David earned his B.A. from Amherst College, his M.A.R from Yale University Divinity School and is a former Woodrow Wilson Fellow and Japan Fulbright Fellow. He has taught at Deerfield Academy, Milton Academy, and Albuquerque Academy. In 1996, he co-founded CITYterm. David is the editor, with Kenneth T. Jackson of Colum-bia University, of Empire City: New York Through the Centuries. Each summer David and Erica run the Teaching for Experience workshop for educators from all over the country who are interested in engaging in experience-based learning techniques. In addition, David consults with private and public schools.

Jennifer Hughes is CITYterm’s Spanish Teacher. A native of Chile, she has enjoyed teaching Spanish, French, and Italian at public and indepen-dent schools for seventeen years. This will be Jennifer’s third year teaching at CITYterm. Jennifer’s passion for languages began at a young age, studying English in grade school, French in middle school, and Italian in college in Italy. She also studied in France and Switzerland. Her three children are bilingual. She enjoys assisting foreign students, riding her bicycle, and walking her sweet dog, Princess.

Jason Hult is an Urban Core Teacher at CITYterm. This will be Jason’s eighth year as a member of the faculty and residential team. He attended Concord Academy and is a CITYterm alumnus (Fall 2000). Jason earned a B.A. study-ing history at Davidson College and spent semesters abroad at the Univer-sity of Edinburgh, and the University of Cape Town. After graduation, he joined Teach For America and was placed at the Sisulu-Walker Charter School of Harlem. Jason spent two years teaching elementary school while also earning a M.S. in Education from Bank Street College of Education. Jason also has a M.S. in Environmental Policy and Sus-tainability Management from the New School for Public Engagement.

Erik Johnke is the Math and Language Coordinator at CITYterm. In addition, he teaches Math and is part of the Urban Core faculty. Erik has been a member of the CITYterm faculty for the past twelve years. He received a B.A. from Haver-ford College and completed an MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College.

He served as both the Math and Theater Depart-ment Chairs at The Solebury School, and taught at The Pennington School and at Friends School in New Jersey. Additionally, Erik has written about a dozen plays and mu-sicals. His musical “God’s Country” was performed at the New York Musical Theater Festival in July 2013.

Mitchell Krieger is a Math Teacher at CITYterm. He is also a member of the residen-tial team. Mitch grew up in a suburb of Detroit, Michigan where he graduated from Oakland Early College in 2011, and more re-cently he graduated from Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts. His main inter-ests include the role of technology in educa-

tion, progressive and experimental pedagogy, residen-tial education and de-stigmatizing math. In his free time, Mitch enjoys rock climbing and exploring all that life has to offer. He spends his summers working at camps in a variety of roles. Mitch is thrilled to be a part of the CITYterm team and is excited to explore New York with students.

Jálynn Larry is CITYterm’s Enrollment and Advancement Coordinator. She is also a member of the residential team. A graduate of Pomona College, Jálynn holds a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in French. During her time at Pomona, Jálynn was an active member of the Office of Admissions serving as a tour guide, Minority Student Action Program (MSAP) Intern, and Senior Interviewer. During the spring of her junior year, she

studied abroad at the Université Paul-Valéry, Montpellier III in southern France. Jálynn inherited her wanderlust and love of food from her family and enjoys exploring New York City by foot and by fork.

Alyse Ruiz is CITYterm’s Dean of Resi-dential Life. She is a member of the res-idential team and a CITYterm alumna (Fall 2003). She graduated from Brown University in 2009, earning a B.A. in Urban Studies. During the five years fol-lowing graduation, Alyse taught English at the high school level in Miami, Florida. After earning an M.S. from Nova Southeastern University in Educational Leadership, Alyse served as the English Department Chair. In that role, she oversaw the building and strengthening of the English curriculum within her school as well as within the school’s larger charter school network. In her free time, Alyse serves as President of the Brown University Latino Alumni Council and enjoys traveling and running.

Eva Seligman is an Urban Core teacher at CITYterm. She is also a member of the residential team. Eva earned a B.A. with a double major in Religion and Gender Studies at Oberlin College. After graduation, she taught high school in Romania for two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Eva has a Masters in the Art of Teaching

from Bard College and spent three years teaching writing and history at the Bedford Stuyvesant Collegiate Charter School in Brooklyn. She is deeply excited to share her profound love of New York City history and culture. When she is not teaching, Eva can usually be found with her nose in a book, on a yoga mat, or trying to spark an impromptu dance party.

Leigh Yakubowski is CITYterm’s Program Coordinator. In the classroom, Leigh brings her positive energy, socio-logical imagination, and fearless rugby background together. She has taught middle school English with The Fresh Air Fund and Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation, as well as at The Cloud Forest School in Costa Rica. A graduate of Vassar College, she was awarded for her leadership of the Vassar English Language Learner Outreach Program. Leigh is happy to continue devoting her work to the support of authentic and meaningful educational communities at CITYterm. In her spare time, Leigh enjoys cat cuddling, the ocean, and outdoor adventures.



20 Years of Neighborhood Study

With the exception of the very first CITYterm, every semester has participated in Neighborhood

Study. Working in a group of fifteen, students spend a week investigating a single New York

City neighborhood. At the end of the week the group presents their best understanding of

the neighborhood through a formal presentation and a walking tour. The Neighborhood

Study project asks CITYterm students to use a range of skills they have practiced during the

semester in a single project, including critical thinking, reading, inquiry, research and

collaborative strategies.

Over the past 20 years, CITYterm’s Neighborhood Study Projects have traced changes in New

York City in remarkable ways. Take a look at the neighborhood choices from fifteen years ago

and the ones from the past two or three semesters. What do you notice?

Play along at home! Based on what you know about CITYterm and New York City, can you predict Fall 2015 and Spring 2016’s neighborhood study choices?

Email Erica Chapman at [email protected] with your prediction! If you are right, CITYterm will send you a care package of CITYterm swag.

Neighborhoods for Fall 2015 will be revealed on Facebook on Sunday, November 15, 2015. Spring 2016 neighborhoods will be revealed on Sunday, April 24, 2016.

Which neighborhoods will be next?

Below: Spring 2013 students collaborated to create a presentation on Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.


Laura Danforth, Head of School, joins The Masters School

Laura Danforth has joined CITYterm’s extended team by

becoming the Head of The Masters School.

About Laura Danforth

Laura comes to Masters with a wealth of experience as an

educator and an administrator. She was most recently the

Principal of the Upper School at Ethical Culture Fieldston School

in Riverdale, NY, a position she has held since 2012. Prior to this,

she served for nine years as Associate Head of School at Miss

Porter’s School, a boarding school in Farmington, CT. Earlier in

her career, Laura worked at Suffield Academy, Ethel Walker School, and St. Paul’s School. In

the course of her 30-year career in independent schools,

Laura has been a teacher, a counselor, a dean, a coach, and a dorm parent.

Laura received her B.A. from Colby-Sawyer College and a Master of Arts in Counseling

Psychology from Lesley University. She is married to Dr. Paula Chu, a psychotherapist,

former college dean and independent school administrator. They have three grown children.

When asked about her impressions of CITYterm and its role at The Masters School, Laura said:

“I’ve been nudging students toward CITYterm for many years, confident that they will return,

as each one has, glowing with a newfound sense of self and connection to the world. It is such

a bonus to have CITYterm here at Masters — and to observe up close the impassioned work of

Erica and her stellar team. CITYterm at The Masters School has become the flagship of urban

experiential learning, and I’m honored to support that ship on its noble journey.”

The CITYterm faculty has warmly welcomed Laura and looking forward to working

with her for years to come.

When asked about her impressions of CITYterm and its role at The Masters School, Laura said: “I’ve been nudging students toward CITYterm for many years, confident that they will return, as each one has, glowing with a newfound sense of self and connection to the world…CITYterm at The Masters School has become the flagship of urban experiential learning, and I’m honored to support that ship on its noble journey.”

Fall 1996: Class Agent is Sarah SearsBright Tate Vandervoet writes: Me and my wonderful husband Tim live in Tucson, AZ. I’m a Registered Nurse working in the Emergency Department at our universi-ty hospital. We welcomed our incredibly strong and clever daughter Clara into the world this year. YAWP! and love to all my fellow CITYtermers!Zanada Joyner writes: I just moved to Athens, Georgia. I’m a law librarian at UGA Law School. Miss NOLA terribly but the professional opportunity could not be passed up. I’m in touch with Jermaine and he promises to come paint some rooms in my home, but only after he works on the campaign and Hilary wins in November.Kate Halsey writes: Hello Fellow Pioneer Class! I just moved to Phoenix, AZ where I start a new job as a school social worker at a private school much like the Masters School. I am excited to be working with teenagers and it reminds how we were as teens exploring the city getting to see Rent, go on scavenger hunts and who can forget Mountain Day? It is certainly hot out here, but the desert sunsets, mountains and wildlife more than make up for it! Hoping all of you are healthy and happy.Abby Sugahara writes: Our little girl is one - I thought that by now I’d have figured out how things work, but every day is different! I’ve started working for my family business, looking at startup investments for them from home in MN, and I get to visit NYC now and

then. I signed myself up for a figure skating competition this fall. I’m pretty terrified of the public performance part, which is one of the reasons I’m doing it. Another big reason is the rhinestones.

Spring 1997: Class Agent is Lauren Levin Epstein OdellAdrienne Campbell-Holt writes: Happily living in Brooklyn and running a theater company (ColtCoeur.org), freelance direct-ing in NYC and around the world (got to go to Santiago, Chile for a week this year for work!) and exploring film & TV. Made a sa-tirical PSA promoting gender parity this past spring called #makeitfair that surprisingly and delightfully went viral. Colt Coeur’s next show is called How to Live on Earth and is inspired by the Mars One mission - it runs September 13 - October 3 in NYC. I also stay in touch with many CITYtermers of many different semesters: Sarah McGuire, Lindsey Megrue, Eben Ellertson, Tamara Knox, my cousin Katie Clancy. Looking forward to the 20th!!David Jacoby writes: I’m going through a big transition right now. I just left my job of 14 years and am starting a business in the hospitality industry! It specifically has to do with home sharing (eg: Airbnb). We are creating a platform to help hosts create an online guidebook so that their guests can have a richer, more personal travel ex-perience. We are currently a team of four; we are looking for additional employees (especially engineers) and will be looking to raise some seed money. Any questions, comments, or leads are welcome!

Max is 3 and Olivia is 2, and they are quite the handful. The terrible 2s seem to extend to 3, so we’re right in the thick of things! They are a constant reminder of ques-tioning everything and experiential educa-tion...I wish I could learn at the rate they’re learning!In the CITYterm and home sharing spirit, we have an extra guest room in San Fran-cisco in our house near Golden Gate Park, and all CITYterm alum are always welcome if they are visiting SF and need a place to stay. Just let me know!

Fall 1997: Class Agent is Patrick CollinsPatrick Collins writes: Our twin girls, Del-phine Augusta Collins and Petra Ann Collins were born on February 5th, 2015. Our son Patrick Ford Collins (goes by Ford) will turn three in August. We are having a blast with our suddenly very large family, though it has been quite an adjustment. We still live in Dallas where I started my oil and gas exploration company a few years ago, but we travel quite a bit, both for fun and often for art fairs and other events related to contemporary art, as collecting and supporting the work of young artists is a passion of ours. We have taken our son all over the world with us, and we hope to continue this with the girls, but I’m sure traveling with the whole crew will be an interesting experience. I hope to bring them all to NYC and CITYterm sometime soon.Shira Milikowsky writes: This summer I gleefully moved back to NYC after five (!)

Class Notes Please send your updates to your Class Agent or email Leigh Yakubowski ([email protected]).

Email Leigh Yakubowski (leigh.yakubowski@ cityterm.org). and we’ll send you a CITYterm onesie!

Left: Bright Vandervoet F’96 with her daughter, Clara Right: Luciana Sofia and Henry Bruce, children of Mia Parker Feldman F’96 and Stephen Parker


Had a Baby?

years away -- one year in Seoul, South Ko-rea, and four years in Cambridge, MA. I’m still working part-time at the American Rep-ertory Theater in Cambridge, but spending more time on my freelance work here in New York. (And quickly falling in love with my new Brooklyn neighborhood.) I am the associate director of INVISIBLE THREAD, a new musical that will open Off-Broadway at Second Stage Theatre in December. Claire Kessler-Bradner writes: I felt lucky to return to CITYterm this summer for the first time in 18 years. Attending the Teaching for Experience Symposium as an educator was deeply energizing and excit-ing professionally, and it brought back all that was energizing and exciting about the program for me in my student experience. I was delighted to share my return with my term-mate Lizzie Devereaux. I am teaching middle school art in the SF Bay Area these days, and I can’t wait to bring some of that CITYterm energy back to my classroom with me this fall.

Spring 1998: Class Agent is Piper Evans

Fall 1998: Class Agent is Katiana AngladeAimée Derbes writes: I have spent the last five years immersed in acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutrition, and the healing arts. This spring, I completed a MS in Tradi-tional Chinese Medicine and opened my acupuncture and herbal medicine practice in Manhattan. While working towards my doctorate at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, I am having an incredible time working in service to my patients’ health and wellness goals.Tonysha Taylor writes: It was nice re-connecting with Rachel Steller who was director when I was enrolled. We’re both in

Boston working in independent schools.

Spring 1999: Class Agent is Nikki WilliamsNikki Williams writes: After living in New York City for close to 12 years, I decided to leave for some adventures this year. I spent two months traveling with my husband, primarily in New Zealand, and then relocat-ed to a small town in Maine. I’ll be moving into Portland at the end of September and looking forward to eating local food and learning about small city government and urban planning. Adriana Fracchia writes: Happy to report that I’m back in the Bay Area after finish-ing a graduate degree at Pratt institute in design management over a year ago. Rescued a sweet Jack Russell terrier mix named Alda who has one eye and is blind in the other--but she’s still as sweet as can be! Would love to connect with any CITYtermers in the Bay Area—let’s make it happen!

Fall 1999: Class Agent is Zoe CarterErica Chapman writes: I am starting my 4th year at CITYterm’s Director and still pinch-ing myself that I get to have such a cool job. I LOVED having Zoe back on campus last Spring to talk to students about the college process and having Matt back on campus in June to attend the Teaching for Experi-ence Symposium that David and I hosted. My son is almost a year and a half old and certainly thinks of CITYterm as home. He’s not alone. I hope to see classmates at the 20th Anniversary on June 18, 2016!Sonya Hammons writes: I’ve been traveling the world non-stop working on sustainable agriculture projects for the United Nations while trying to squeeze in time for textile art projects on the side. But

I just resigned from that job and am now on a series of hiking and biking trips in Italy - experiencing and reflecting before my next move!

Spring 2000: Class Agent is Acadia KlainJohanna Ferguson Goulding writes: I’m living in Charlestown, MA and working at Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP as a corporate associate. My husband Matt and I had a daughter, Emma, in June of 2014. I recent-ly saw Selena Fletcher (also my class at CITYterm) out on Nantucket. Alan Cohen has recently become Assistant Superintendent over Early Childhood Ed-ucation for the Dallas Independent School District.Caitlin Dunklee founded a new grassroots organization in Texas. Texas Advocates for Justice is on a mission to end the criminal-ization of our communities, to break down barriers to reentry in Texas, and to demolish the legacy of racism in the criminal justice system. TAJ unites formerly incarcerated in-dividuals, their families, people of faith, and allies to build safe and resilient communi-ties through organizing, leadership training, and linkages to community resources. Check us out at facebook.com/texasadvo-catesforjustice.Acadia Klain writes: I began a new job at a small architecture firm a year ago that focuses on local residential and cultural projects here in Pittsburgh. Current projects include a car and carriage museum, literacy center, and a live/work loft. I achieved a childhood goal of mine this spring and ran the 2015 Boston Marathon. What a great experience! I’m hanging my marathon shoes up for a while though, because my husband and I are expecting our first child in March.

Fall 2000: needs a Class Agent. If you’re interested in helping out please contact Leigh Yakubowski ([email protected]).

Spring 2001: Class Agent is David SimonsRenan Snowden is back in Washington, DC, after two great years in Minneapolis getting her Master’s degree in urban plan-ning. Renan now works on economic de-velopment, real estate, and transportation issues for a business improvement district. She’s also performing regularly with her improv comedy troupe, Prettier Than You. David Simons writes: I’m still living in NYC and working at Boies, Schiller & Flex-ner LLP as an associate. When I’m not working, I try to enjoy as much time out in the city as I can. In December, I caught up with Karla Ch’ien at a wedding in Atlanta. I


hope to see fellow Spring ‘01ers at the 20th anniversary party next year!

Fall 2001: Class Agent is Charlotte CowlesA note from Erica: Charlotte Cowles got married this September! In lieu of gifts, she generously invited her guests to give to CITYterm. We are so grateful and honored that Charlotte thought of CITYterm as she kicks off her married life! Thank you, Charlotte!

Spring 2002: Class Agents are Caroline Gambell and Nick Levy

Fall 2002 needs a Class Agent. If you’re interested in helping out please contact Leigh Yakubowski ([email protected]).

Spring 2003: Class Agent is Sarah Patrick MorgeseCara Radzins writes: After more than five years as a transportation planning consul-tant, I recently switched over to the public sector. I am now the Principal Transit Planner for the Capitol Region Council of Governments, which is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for Hartford and the surrounding 37 towns. I’m loving the new job and am excited to be in a posi-tion to make transit a more viable transpor-tation option in Connecticut!

Fall 2003: Class Agent is Zanny Alter Rosie Ellis writes: I’m living in Manhattan, working on the marketing team at Uber and still walk across the Brooklyn Bridge as often as possible. Anna Harris writes: I’m currently living in Stockholm, Sweden - a big change from New York City! But worth the move for my then Swedish boyfriend (now fiancé). Finished my Master’s in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management this year and got a job shortly before graduating at Spoti-fy on their Growth team. Traveling a ton and always trying to expand my mind :) if ever in Scandinavia, visitors are welcome!Maureen West writes: This is my 6th year in the NYC area and I’m still loving it. I graduated from a Master’s program last year at Columbia and now I’m about to begin my second year as a school counsel-or in Newark. Alyse Ruiz writes: I wrapped up my first year on faculty here at CITYterm. It was great getting to be a part of crafting this experience with students and colleagues. For the summer, I took a road trip down to Florida and New Orleans with my boyfriend to see family and friends. We had an awe-some time! I’m looking forward to another

year here at CITYterm and hope to see my fellow Fall ‘03 people in June for the 20th Anniversary.Rachel Hussey writes: I had the privilege of meeting up with Alyse in Newport, RI some weeks ago, and it felt like no time had passed! Not much new going on in RI, but I’m enrolling in an ESL certification course and could be jet setting to teach English abroad within the next 6-9 months. That’s the goal, anyway, but until then I’m enjoying the coastline as much as possible - just attended the Newport Jazz Fest last weekend! Also hoping to make it to the Big Apple for some CITYterm anniversary celebrations this year… We’ll see!

Spring 2004: Class Agents are Emeric Harney and Claire Eustis Becky Hauss writes: I’ve been living in Durham, NC for the past year with my fian-ce and our dog, Binx. I’ve started my new career as a nurse practitioner and currently work at pediatric primary care office in rural North Carolina.

Fall 2004: Class Agent is Erin GreeneEzra Moser writes: Last October I began a new job as an Urban Planner at the NYC Department of City Planning. I work on a variety of development projects, neighbor-hood studies and city-initiated re-zonings from Midtown down to the Flatiron District. I get to use my CITYterm lens on a daily basis to think critically about NYC’s built environment. A note from Erica: Last year Ez met with CITYterm students to talk about Public Space! Amazing!

Spring 2005: Class Agent is Corey Briskin Corey Briskin is still enjoying his work prosecuting DWI cases at the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office. He is also looking forward to getting married in March 2016!Sara Chimene-Weiss is moving back to Cambridge, MA in August to start a new job as a legal aid lawyer in Lawrence, MA. In her spare time, she likes to hang out with Molly B. Johnsen, Hannah Longman, and Corey Briskin, and recently had the plea-sure of catching up with David Krebs (all Spring ‘05). She also hangs out with Jere-my Chimene-Weiss (Spring ‘13) from time to time.Cassie Pruyn has been writing, teaching, and exploring for the last five years in New Orleans. She is currently working on a book of poetry, as well as a book-length narrative history of a particular New Orleans water-body, Bayou St. John, and the neighbor-hoods that have grown up around it since the city’s founding. A note from Erica: Last year Cassie met with CITYterm students over skype to talk about poetry and creativi-ty! She was fantastic!Kathleen Adams is excited to start a new journey in her life. She helped open a new restaurant called Angel of Harlem, where she is the marketing partner. She is excited to be fusing her passion for the hospitality industry with her marketing background. Additionally, her non-profit organization, Momma’s Hip Hop Kitchen is going strong. The organization just celebrated its 8th year anniversary.


Fall 2005: Class Agent is Natalia TorresEmma Iacono writes: In the last year I completed my Master’s degree in Edu-cational Leadership from Mills College in Oakland, California. Pretty immediately af-ter this, my husband and I decided to move back to his home in Montezuma, Costa Rica to run his family business. We are now living here in Costa Rica running Ylang Ylang Beach Resort, a beach front resort, restaurant, yoga studio and spa. We welcome any friends to come visit!

Spring 2006: Class Agents are Haley Coghill, Jake Loewenthal, and Lily Schorr

Fall 2006: Class Agent is Tenisha WilliamsHaley Baron writes: After living in Wash-ington, DC with my boyfriend for the past three years, we moved to Brooklyn in June. Upon arrival, I started farming at Brook-lyn Grange, a rooftop farm in the Brook-lyn Navy Yard while continuing to work remotely for a food consulting company, Food Works Group. Come September, I will start NYU’s Masters in Food Studies program to explore and develop my interest in sustainable food business and social entrepreneurship. I absolutely love being back in New York City after so many years. Every week CITYterm memories come flooding back to me as I explore and walk/bike the streets of the city. The best was finding myself at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge, standing on the ferry dock and re-reading the Whitman quote along the railing. Megan Foster writes: I will be graduating in August from Smith College School for Social Work with an MSW and likely moving to Denver, CO in the fall.

Spring 2007: Class Agent is Hannah AllenEmma Marks writes: After working as an assistant teacher for two years at an inte-grated preschool, I started attending Bank Street College of Education in NYC in fall 2014 to get a Masters in Early Childhood Special and General Education. In addition to being a full-time student, I was also an assistant teacher in a first grade classroom at an independent school. I have two more years of my program and then hope to teach in my own classroom. I am planning on volunteering in a kinder-garten classroom in a NYC public school next year. All of my experiences so far have been amazing and rewarding. I look forward to my continuation in education!

Fall 2007: Class Agent is Katherine Tapper

Spring 2008: Class Agent is Ezra PlanconAlice Kamens lives in Manhattan and works as a Program Manager for Cities of Service, a national nonprofit supporting mayors to activate city-led, citizen-powered programs that target specific needs and achieve measurable outcomes.Kathryn Alsman writes: Shortly after graduating from Johns Hopkins in 2013, I worked on a few film productions before moving to Los Angeles to work for producer, Lawrence Bender. I started this year trav-eling a bit to England and Ireland with my family. But I eventually had to stop traveling to start my new job working at Mandeville Films/TV on the Walt Disney Studios lot!

Fall 2008: Class Agent is Alanna DuncanChristina Ludovici writes: I’m still working at CounselWorks in Manhattan as a busi-ness development analyst. I also adopted an adorable Chihuahua named Diva in January. I went on a solo trip to Hawaii - and it was the greatest thing I could have ever done!

Spring 2009 – Class Agent is Allie BriskinAllie Briskin started working on the NBC Universal Team at 360i in July, as so con-tinues to pursue her career in Digital Media Planning. Currently, she resides in the Financial District and loves exploring new areas of Manhattan and other neighboring boroughs. She is excited to head to Thailand in September and is hoping to see all of her Spring ‘09 friends at reunion next year. Over the past year, she has kept in close contact with fellow alumnus, Ellie Broad-man, Danny Carlin and Shira Karsen, as well as those who are not in the near vicinity.

Fall 2009 – Class Agent is Lindsay SzperLindsay Szper finished College at Carleton and landed a nonprofit job in Brooklyn the day before graduation. She’s living the CITYterm dream: doing reception and case management at New York Peace Institute Monday-Friday, exploring the City on nights and weekends, and, best of all, rooming with Murphy Anne Carter (Fall ’09). Come visit us in South Slope!Edwin Chalumeau is working at Oxfam America as an Information Systems Coordi-nator in Boston, MA.

Spring 2010: Class Agent is Rachel Moss Jennifer Ngo writes: I recently graduated from Barnard College of Columbia Universi-ty with an Economics major. After interning at Ralph Lauren through their Corporate Program last summer, I was fortunate enough to have been extended a return offer and am currently working full-time at Ralph Lauren as an Associate Planner. I’m currently living in Astoria, Queens and am loving every moment of it! (If CITYterm has any alumni or students who are or are interested in working in the fashion industry, I’d love to be connected!)Alexis Cheney spent seven months in Paris studying abroad and then doing an internship at an NGO dedicated to helping victims of sex trafficking. She fell in love with Paris but is looking forward to her senior year at Connecticut College.

Fall 2010: Class Agent is Gracie HallLara Lieberman writes: I am about to enter my senior year of college at The George Washington University in Washington, DC. Over the past year, I spent four months studying abroad in Rome, Italy and travel-ing around Europe.Abby Cali writes: I’m currently running the OC student garden in Oberlin, Ohio and getting ready to start my junior year. I’m majoring in Environmental Studies and Education, and working on a project to dis-tribute educational materials to local public schools about the ecology, geology, and history of the Vermilion River watershed.

Spring 2011: Class Agent is Damion Miller

Fall 2011: Class Agent is Elissa LowenthalHey everyone from F’11, this is Orion Krause. My past year has been pretty eventful - in January I learned how to scuba dive and at the beginning of the summer I took a trip to Ghana to learn about African drumming/rhythms. I spent the rest of the summer in Maine eating blueberries. I’m still studying music at Oberlin Conserva-tory and just returned to school a few days ago - very glad to be back! Anyways, I’m sorry I haven’t kept in touch with everyone but I love you all and hope everyone is doing well!! If you ever want to catch up just give me a call or message me on Face-book! Maggie Wilkinson writes: I spent last semester abroad in Prague and traveled all over Europe, which was incredible! As for now, I just moved into my first apartment in New York to start my junior year at NYU.


Annie Brennen writes: I’m a current junior at Northwestern University double majoring in Theatre and Psychology and completing a minor in Anthropology as well. This year I’m going to be junior director of a chil-dren’s repertory performance group called Griffin’s Tale. We take stories written by Chicagoland elementary school children and adapt them into songs, dances and sketches which we then perform back at their schools. Former NU graduates took the concept and founded Story Pirates in NYC (which would be a great place to take CITYtermers)!Eli Chanoff has started a new twitter account called “Wise Sayings” in which he comes up with things that sound like say-ings but aren’t. Examples: “When in doubt, look to the ocean; it contains more water than you ever will,” and, “Learn like you won’t be graded; poop like it doesn’t make a sound.” Cat Silverstein checking in! I’m still living in Vail, Colorado (feel free to come visit!!) and going to school full time while working at a really lovely French restaurant part time and a pizza place part time. I’ve switched my major to graphic design (who knows how long this will last) and I am currently applying to an internship with a ski compa-ny here in Vail! In the spring, I’m hoping to chase winter down to Australia, so if you have any tips, let me know!

Spring 2012: Class Agent is Hyacinth ParkerZeke Reffe-Hogan writes: I graduated from Deep Springs College in the fall, a small two year school formed on the three pillars of labor, academics, and self-governance.

This was - for lack of space to give the words - the most important experience of my life. I do not recognize the person I was two years ago. I feel delightfully unmoored, on fire, and so confused as I move against/into the future. I’ve spent July making a video/poem with a dear friend, past teacher, and American poet Katie Peterson about Emily Dickinson going Boston to get eye surgery. I spent August learning Spanish in Colombia. I’m finishing my undergraduate education at Brown University starting this fall. At this very moment, actually, I’m leaving New York - headed to New Jersey to see a close friend who I met at CITYterm.

Fall 2012: Class Agent is Claudia MihmMarney Kline writes: My year has been a mixed bag. I did an internship at Hearst this summer working in online journalism for magazines like Cosmo and Esquire. Living alone in New York for 2 months was unfortunately extremely lonely, but there are still aspects of the urban jungle that I find beautiful. I return to Middlebury this fall as a junior American Studies major (same as David Dunbar)! At Middlebury, I run the yoga club, write for the campus blog, and have a beautiful boyfriend named Sebas-tian who likes to act and sing. Seriously, he is gorgeous. Yemi Olorunwunmi writes: I am about to start my second year at Columbia and am excited to pursue opportunities that focus on the intersections between technology and the humanities, human rights and the sciences. I will be a resident advisor this year as well as Legacy chair of the African

Students Association. I still live candid-ly; I still find ways to insert my CITYterm experience into conversations; I still use photography as an avenue to deeply under-stand our collective human experience. I’m wishing Fall ‘12 all the best.

Spring 2013: Class Agents are Abigail McLean and Sara EismontJared Burk writes: This summer I have been interning for Cardinal Health in Waukegan, Illinois (about an hour and a half train ride north of Chicago). I love the work I’m doing, and getting to explore Chicago has been awesome. Otherwise, I’ve been doing some preparation to start my junior year at Indiana University and to apply to study abroad in Sevilla, Spain this spring. Ruby Miller-Gootnick writes: I just finished my first year at Oberlin College, which was a fantastic experience. However, as much as I enjoyed Oberlin, in the fall I’m transfer-ring to Brown University, and spending my first semester abroad at the University of Edinburgh. At Oberlin I had declared a So-ciology major, but at Brown I’m thinking of concentrating in Education Studies, possi-bly keeping Sociology as well. This summer I spent working as a barista at Rare Sweets Bakery in DC, and took a bunch of little trips visiting friends (most notably visiting my CITYterm friends)!

Fall 2013: Class Agent is Margaret EdwardsCal Neikirk writes: I’m eagerly awaiting the start of my freshman year at Pomona Col-lege, and I can’t wait to spend as much time as I can wandering and wondering through downtown Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica!

Spring 2014: Class Agents are Elisabeth Zak and Gabby RothschildAllie Williamson spent her summer going on road trips throughout Texas and continu-ing her internship with Central Track, as a concert photographer and writer. She has trips planned to see CITYtermers in DC and Philadelphia before packing up to head off to University of St Andrews at the start of September. Lauren Cunfer spent this year using her CITYterm skills to explore a new city – Phil-adelphia - with help from Graham Cuddy. After spending her summer as a camp counselor in Vermont, she is finally heading back to the one true love of her life - New York City - to start as a freshman at NYU. Calla Rosenfeld writes: I graduated from high school in June and spent my summer living and working in Brooklyn on a rooftop farm. I have learned a lot about urban agri-


culture and have continued my exploration of the city. I’m starting at Colorado College in the fall, where I’m very excited to learn how to ski and apply many of lessons I learned at CITYterm.After spending 20 days backpacking in the wilderness, Elisabeth Zak (finally) gradu-ated from Chadwick School. This summer she spent her time working at Chadwick’s summer camp, and can’t wait to start off this coming fall as part of NYU’s class of 2019. Go Violets! Adon Wade-Currie writes: I recently started working through the City of Boston with the Youth Conservation Corps at City Natives, an Urban Garden in Mattapan. We practice organic farming techniques - we don’t use pesticides or fertilizers - so that we can grow and harvest healthy food to give to food pantries in neighborhoods with less access to affordable fresh fruits and vegetables. My work crew and I have all been thinking a lot about the benefits and drawbacks of the fairly recent surge in urban gardens. Other-wise I’ve been packing up my belongings to move out for college out west.Céline Gauchey just finished up an intern-ship with an Edtech start-up in San Fran-

cisco and she will be heading to Barnard College at the end of August. She is very excited to head back to NYC!

Fall 2014: Class Agent is Maddie BowenElise Marlin writes: Since CITYterm, I’ve started an awesome internship with an entertainment group learning to market for and promote concerts. I’m hoping to go to NYU for music business next fall. Over the course of just this summer ten people from my semester have flown to San Francisco to see me! We just wrapped up a reunion of six of us this past weekend.Stephanie Rountree writes: After reuniting with Elise, Hannah, April and Madeline in San Francisco, I launched my school’s first political publication, Dulaney on Democ-racy! I’m excited to provide this new outlet for expression as well as taking on edi-tor-in-chief duties for Dulaney’s newspaper.Charlotte Pollard writes: After my fall semester at CITYterm I had over a month before I started school again, during which time I worked at an after school program for kids in downtown Boston, and was amazed at their curiosity and eye for wonder. During my spring semester at Winsor I took a phenomenal Middle Eastern literature and

history course with another CITYterm alum (Natalia Lindsey) and played lacrosse. This summer I was fortunate to have been able to go on a month-long NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) backpack-ing course in Olympic National Park. Even though I had never spent a night outside before the course started, I felt very much at home at NOLS because, being an expe-riential learning program, it required many of the same tools that CITYterm does. As senior year rapidly approaches and I seem to have countless college essays to write, staying grounded in the self-aware-ness and curiosity that CITYterm fostered in me seems more important than ever.

Spring 2015: Class Agents are Rachel Cantor and Meredith Hessel Meredith Hessel writes: I was able to kick-off my summer back in NYC through an intense journalism workshop at Columbia. In July, I was busy this summer interning for GAIA empowered women, a business which helps refugees from the IRC learn how to live and work in America. My August was filled with meetings for honor council, student council, newspaper and ambassa-dors to ensure a great school year at ESD.


Rachel Cantor is feeling very nostalgic about her CITYterm experience. She loves her internship at Chicago Ideas, an organization that brings leaders to Chica-go for Chicago Ideas Week, a seven day ideas celebration with over 200 well known speakers. She works on planning labs, which are hands-on, behind-the-scenes experiences at Chicago-based businesses and organizations. When she is not working, she enjoys exploring Chicago and continuing her never-ending search for street art. She is currently creating a podcast about explora-tion and the creative process. She has seen a few CITYterm friends and has even made some new ones from previous semesters! Although nothing compares to CITYterm, Rachel is looking forward to her senior year at North Shore Country Day School. Mercer Malakoff spent her summer traveling and exploring big cities such as LA and Chicago. She attended the UCLA

photography session where her work was in a gallery and attended the School of the Art Institute for film. She’s excited for senior year and exploring even more in Texas. B. James Bagans writes: Since CITYterm, I have been involved in quite a few things this summer. I participated in an inten-sive swim training program. I also gave a speech in front of 300 people and a live on-line audience at Teen Missions International in Florida. Afterwards, I had dinner with the director and his wife. I attended a summer program at Emory University called GLUE, which is part of a research study funded by the National Science Foundation. After that, I went on a 10-day missions trip to Veracruz, Mexico, a mountainous area in which my team worked with the descendants of the Aztec Indians. I was immersed in the language and culture, and was able to work as a translator. To-morrow, I begin my final summer adventure: a 10-day program through Emory University

called HUES (Hughes Undergraduates Excelling in Science).Julia Cary writes: I got out of CITYterm in May, and went directly to Incarnation Camp to begin my summer living in the woods with a bunch of crazy, amazing, and inspir-ing kids working as a counselor assistant. It was the most amazing experience, and I am blessed to have had the opportunity to have done it so close to CITYterm. After having an experience like CITYterm that helped me evolve, I am now given the opportunity to use my “post-CITYterm” self to help kids grow up and learn to be amazing people. I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else. When I get home I will be applying to college, bussing tables, and finishing senior year in my home city getting ready for my next adventure.


Our mission is to encourage students to

engage fully in learning and thinking for

themselves, about themselves and about

who and what is beyond themselves.

Our goal is for students to leave CITYterm

with the intellectual tools they need to

understand and express the complexity

of New York City and the emotional and

social tools to participate constructively

in their community.

Live the questions

CITYterm at The Masters School 914.479.6502 | [email protected] | www.cityterm.org

CITYterm at The Masters School 49 Clinton Avenue Dobbs Ferry, New York 10522

UPCOMING EVENTS Join CITYterm this year!

Teaching for Experience Workshop June 26 – July 1, 2016

A week-long intensive in experience-based, deep learning with David Dunbar and Erica Chapman. (maximum of 16 participants)

Teaching for Experience Symposium July 12 – July 15, 2016

Join 100 teachers and administrators from around the world come together to share experiments and successes from their schools.

FOR CITYTERM ALUMNI11.1.15 Marathon Viewing Party in NYC

11.20.15 Neighborhood Study Presentations

11.21.15 Neighborhood Study Walking Tour

2.16.16 Applications Due for Fall 2016 and Spring 2017

4.29.16 Neighborhood Study Presentations

4.30.16 Neighborhood Study Walking Tour

6.18.16 20th Anniversary Celebration

FOR INTERESTED EDUCATORS

Check out www.cityterm.org for more details!

bridges fall 2015

Documents