Welcome to San José!
San José is home to an ethnically diverse community, booming technology companies and aspiring entrepreneurs. City Year San José/Silicon Valley works alongside teachers and community partners to support students across our city.
Living in San José
San José sits between the picturesque Santa Cruz mountains and the enchanting South Bay. With mild weather and lots of sunshine, residents of San José can enjoy the outdoors—including parks and historical sites—all year round in an ideal place to spend a year making an impact.
A lot of AmeriCorps members tend to live in South and East San José. If you decide to serve with City Year San José/ Silicon Valley, we invite you to join an online cohort of fellow AmeriCorps members for the benefit of building relationships and finding future roommates. Other resources to find housing include Craigslist or the San José housing guide provided by your Service Year Adviser.
AmeriCorps members receive a free VTA bus pass and CalTrain pass each month, which grant access to the buses, light rail and train for free, and the express bus at a discounted rate. It is possible to rely on a bike as a main mode of transportation, but driving provides the most flexibility for travel and housing options.
There are plenty of cheap eats and free activities around the city or look into the Cal Fresh Food Assistance program.
City Year AmeriCorps members support students in public schools in the East San José community.
Learn what it means to serve in San José and how you can make the most of your City Year.
Learn more about City Year San José/ Silicon Valley’s champions, our corps and what makes our site unique.
Helpful links for your City Year in San José
- Visit the Tech Museum of Innovation on the second Sunday of each month for free or check out South First Fridays Art Walk & Special Performances on the first Friday of the month.
- Looking for fun exercise activities? Join the Bike Party while enjoying the view that San José provides or choose from this list of easy access hiking trails.
- Don’t miss out and watch free outdoor movies under the stars every Wednesday during the summer.