Powerhouse in the White House - Alumni Spotlight on Jason Mayer

Jason Mayer, City Year Alumnus 2002

Soon to be abroad, we caught up with Jason Mayer a decade after serving with City Year in Philadelphia. 

By: Reneé Di Pietro

“There are many people in this world that work hard. Many of them, however, get so caught up in working hard that they forget to enjoy what life has to offer,” says Joie Johnson about Jason Mayer, our summer alumni spotlight. “Not only does Jason have an amazing work ethic, but he still finds time to enjoy and make the most of his life, no matter what hand he is dealt. Perhaps it's balance that makes him different—he successfully balances work, marriage, service and a general enthusiasm for learning new things.”

Jason Mayer grew up outside of Philadelphia in the Lower Merion area. When it was time for college, he applied and was accepted to the University of Pennsylvania for undergraduate degrees in history and international relations. He then moved to New York City for a year to work with a public relations and advertising firm.

“It was a really good job market that year, easy to get a job,” he remembers.

He did not stay long though in New York, he knew his next steps needed to be put in motion for graduate school; yet there was one more thing to do first.

“I had always wanted to do a service year, and it made perfect sense between college and graduate school,” Jason says. “I was introduced to City Year in Philadelphia and was invited to a corps member roundtable when I was in college. I knew right away it would be an amazing place to spend a year.”

Jason can still recall the corps members he met while visiting the City Year Greater Philadelphia office with Joe Banner, City Year Greater Philadelphia’s Board Chair; their testimonials and stories struck Jason deep. 

He applied to the City Year service sites in Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and Chicago. “I wanted to go wherever most needed,” he says.  Philadelphia was very happy to receive him, just as he was happy to begin his service work in the city he truly wanted to give back to. His team was a service learning, office-based team that worked with 8^th graders on addressing stereotypes about their race, age and genders. He still communicates and has a close relationship with the teacher whom he worked with 10 years ago.

“Jason is an exceptionally dedicated person,” says his wife Jennifer Mayer. “He has the strongest and longest lasting friendships of anyone I've ever known. To become friends with Jason is to become an important part of his life forever.  His dedication extends to his professional life and personal endeavors as well.” 

Jason recalls how his team got off to the normal, slow start in the beginning of the year and then through getting to know each other and working together, they grew into a powerhouse. They combated more than stereotypes with their students; they literally put the discussions right into their students’ hands that year, physically. The year culminated with an empowering event on the topic shared with their peers, parents and community members at the National Liberty Museum in downtown Philadelphia. The evening event was covered by the local news stations as the students showed how they cared about each other, their school and they demonstrated how they were overcoming stereotypes through their art projects, music, and history studied that year.

At the end of his service year, Jason felt extremely gratified and proud of the work they had all accomplished together. “To this day it is my proudest accomplishment,” he says.

Aside from the impact his service had on his life, something else happened that year that changed and redirected Jason’s path. Two weeks into his corps year, the attacks of September 11^th gripped the nation. From that event on, Jason knew what he would do with the rest of his life.

“City Year shaped my path indeed and on the day the 9/11 attacks occurred, I knew after that year that I wanted to find a career that combined public service and international relations,” he says. “And I have done so,” he adds.

Jason recently completed a stint on the National Security Staff at the White House and is now beginning his career as a Foreign Service Office with the State Department. He followed his gut into his studies for a masters degree at Georgetown University in international security and a law degree at American University.  He is humble as he speaks about his successes in his career. You have to pull it out of him that not only did he work at the White House but is following his dreams of living and working overseas and representing the United States abroad.

“He is driven, passionate, witty, kind and refreshing,” says Joie Johnson, who met Jason through New York Stock Exchange, Euronext Government Affairs Office. She knows no matter where Jason works, no matter the changes in his life, or how busy he is, he always makes time for the people and things that are important to him. 

With the bright future ahead and the milestone behind, Jason still holds his service year in the highest regards in all that he has accomplished. While living in Washington, D.C., Jason joined and became the co-chair of the City Year alumni board in D.C, as well as member of the City Year Washington D.C. Site Board of Directors. His term with the Alumni Board as their chair just ended this spring.

“City Year really remains the fondest moment of my life. It was a real void to me being away from it, from the service. I was happy to get involved and become closer with some of the board members, and networking with the corps members, having pot luck dinners,” he says as he remembers all the events they did together.

Jason also got his wife Jennifer involved with City Year as a mentor. They met while in law school and Jennifer practices law today.

“She a real lawyer, I’m a fake lawyer,” he laughs. “She defends murderers,” he says, speaking of her with great admiration. He looks forward to their weekly date nights that happen as often as they can. “We were married in August 2009,” he says.

Both of them are now anticipating their move abroad, which is part of Jason’s new job. They are extremely excited for all the different areas of the world they are about to experience. 

Jason’s future goal is to be an ambassador for the United States, “the main guy in the country.” He also could see himself running for public office one day.

When you ask his friends where they see him down the line, good friend and former City Year team member Dallas Shumaker says, “He is unafraid of being himself and he is amazing. He is never afraid to speak his mind and, don't tell him I said so, but he's always right. And somehow, he never makes you feel dumb or silly for being wrong. I could see him being the President of the United States. He is destined to be in such a position.”

Joie also agrees that the options are limitless. “Probably a better question would be, ‘Where do I not see Jason in 10 years?’ The world is his oyster. He will thrive in whatever he chooses to do and will no doubt continue to live a balanced and exciting life.” 

Alumni Highlight Quick Box: Jason Mayer

Q: What is your favorite book or movie? Why?
A: I don’t think I have an absolute favorite movie, but I love Almost Famous.

Q: What was your favorite City Year founding story? Why?
A: I like Stone Soup, because it’s a warm-hearted message and also makes me hungry.

Q: What do you think it takes for a corps member to be successful in an organization like City Year and beyond?

A: Humility and patience. Everyone’s opinion matters. True leaders are those who are humble and put the group’s needs and priorities before their own.

Q: Who taught you humility and patience?

A: My mom for sure—I definitely learned those traits from her—but it took me the better part of my corps year to truly operationalize them.  Coming in to my service year, I had a vision of how I wanted to be perceived but initially it really didn't work out that way.  I am so grateful to City Year that it ingrained in me the importance of team building and working through problems as a group.  The outcome often matters less than the process.

  

Q: How many City Year sites do you predict will be open by 2020? Where would you like to see one?
A: Between 26 and 30. Baltimore.

Q: What has been your proudest moment in life?

A: When I walked into the White House for my first day of work in 2010. 

Q: What advice would you give a new corps member?

Be really, really patient. There are days, weeks that are incredibly frustrating whether kids are not cooperating, team challenges or business. But don’t loose sight of the over all experience … this is really a marathon.

To nominate an amazing alum that you know, please email Reneé Di Pietro at cygpalumni@gmail.com