As an 8th grade-student it’s sometimes hard to fathom the idea of college, and what it actually means. You’re constantly reminded of how important grades are and what they mean for your future, but for struggling students in often under-served communities, it’s hard to stay motivated when you aren’t seeing real-life success stories. Corps member Michael Casciari serving on the City Year team at Maria Saucedo Academy saw an opportunity to change this. For the past several weeks, the 8th grade students have been reading Urrea’s first book “Across The Wire: Life & Times on the Mexican Border.” With the help of his teacher, Mrs. Mendoza, corps member Michael Casciari thought it would be a great idea if he could get the author to visit the school. After several emails, and constant communication, Casciari’s idea came to fruition.   Continue reading →