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Cyzygy '02, City Year's National Convention:
June 4-8

City Year, an AmeriCorps program with nearly 1,000 diverse young people in full-time volunteer service in communities across the country, is holding its annual convention June 4-9 at Penn.

The convention, cyzygy '02: Building Democracy Through National Service, marks the close of another successful year of national service for City Year's 17- to 24-year-old corps members and will unite corporate and community partners, elected officials, civic leaders and alumni in a celebration of the power of service to build a stronger democracy. From the Greek word "syzygy," referring to the rare alignment of celestial bodies, cyzygy celebrates the importance of voluntary national service and youth leadership as powerful vehicles for positive change.

With Penn as the site of most cyzygy events and the temporary home to the conference attendees, the University community may notice heightened activity around campus. The offices of the President, Executive Vice President, Division of Public Safety and VPUL/Perelman Quadrangle have been working for several months with Campus Dining, the Departments of Housing and Conference Services, Facilities, University Communications and Community Affairs to ensure that cyzygy will go smoothly.

Please note these particulars about cyzygy ‘02, as it relates to campus activity:

  • The conference will begin with the arrival of City Year corps members throughout the day, Monday, June 3, and will continue until their departure Sunday, June 9. Events are not open to the public.
  • While University employees should expect additional pedestrian traffic on campus, Cyzygy '02 should not inconvenience their parking or public-transportation commutes, since the youths will arrive on buses and be housed in the Harrison and Harnwell College houses. The youths will take most of their meals in the 1920 Dining Hall.
  • Most events will take place in Irvine Auditorium and Franklin Field and on College Green. There will also be bus excursions to various parts of the city.
  • Among the array of public figures and corporate and community leaders scheduled to speak are former U.S. Sen. Harris Wofford, now chairman of America's Promise; Alma Powell, vice chair of America's Promise and wife of U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell; Mitt Romney, CEO of the Salt Lake City Olympic Organizing Committee and now a Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate; and David Gergen, editor-at-large, U.S. News and World Report.
  • Saturday, June 8, will be a day of service, in which the Corps members will build playgrounds, plant trees, and paint and otherwise spruce up eight schools in West Philadelphia. Members of the Penn community who want to volunteer their time and talents on Service Day should contact City Year at (215) 746-6801. Projects include cleaning, painting walls, fences and murals, landscaping and constructing playgrounds.

About City Year:

  • City Year unites a diverse group of 17- to 24-year-old young people for a year of full-time, rigorous community service, leadership development and civic engagement.
  • After completing their year of national service, City Year corps members earn nearly $5,000 in assistance for college.
  • City Year corps members earn their distinctive red jackets through the service milestones they achieve.
  • Corps members lining up and clapping outside events venues are called "human arrows" and "power greeters."
  • City Year has had a full-time program of service in Philadelphia for five years. There are 13 other City Year sites throughout the country.
  • For more information about City Year, check out www.cityyear.org.

-- Jeff Barta, Director of Sales & Marketing, Conferences Services


Almanac, Vol. 48, No. 35, May 28, 2002

ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS:

Tuesday,
May 28, 2002
Volume 48 Number 35
www.upenn.edu/almanac/

The Law School awards teaching awards, including some new ones.
Two SAS faculty members will be appointed Annenberg Professors.
As the weather warms up outside, the cooling season energy conservation measures are planned for inside campus buildings.
A search committee is formed for the School of Social Work Dean position.
The Alumni Reunion Gifts will provide funds for scholarships and campus enhancements.
It is almost time for the annual Faculty and Staff Appreciation Picnic.
This call is for you….is your entry in the Telephone Directory correct? How to update records if they are incorrect and out-of-date.
City Year, an AmeriCorps program, will have its annual convention at Penn in early June, with a day of service that the Penn community is invited to participate in along with the 1,000 young people from across the U.S.
New Border Security Legislation, Changes in Student Visa Processing and Bioterrorism Legislation are some of the topics in the The Government Affairs Update.
Penn Perspective is a perfect place to ponder this complex place.
Detecting pain in infants and children; understanding a matriarchy; treating severe depression and preparing troops to train with simulated situations.