City Year Los Angeles Announces Bill Thompson as New Executive Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 2025
City Year Los Angeles Announces Bill Thompson
as New Executive Director
Experienced nonprofit leader and youth advocate tapped to guide
City Year’s next chapter in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA — December 11, 2025 — After an extensive national search, City Year LosÂ
Angeles announced that Bill Thompson will serve as its next Senior Vice President and
Executive Director, effective January 5, 2026.
Thompson brings nearly 20 years of executive leadership experience in youth development and arts education. He currently serves as President and Head of Growth at Young Storytellers, where he also spent 15 years as Executive Director, leading the organization through significant expansion, increased sustainability, and national recognition. His work has centered on creativity, mentorship, and elevating youth voice—values deeply aligned with City Year’s mission to support Â鶹ąú˛ú in schools across Los Angeles.
City Year partnered with Shelli Herman and Associates, Inc. on the search, evaluating more
than 215 prospective candidates from 159 institutions. The search committee was impressed by
Thompson’s collaborative leadership style, his track record of building diverse partnerships
across education, entertainment, and philanthropy, and his commitment to equity, student
opportunity, and community-centered work.
“We are thrilled to welcome Bill to City Year Los Angeles,” said Glenn Gritzner, Board Chair and
member of the Executive Director Search Committee. “From his earliest conversations with us,
Bill demonstrated a deep understanding of our mission and an inspiring vision for the future. His
passion for young people, his record of transformational leadership, and his strong relationships
across L.A. make him the right leader for this moment.”
“Bill brings a tremendous depth of experience and a powerful commitment to youth development,” said Tracy Schwartz-Ward, board member and Chair of the Executive Director Search Committee. “We are confident that his leadership will position City Year Los Angeles for even greater impact in the years ahead.”
“Bill is deeply committed to helping young people thrive, and he has built his career around empowering underserved communities to find and use their voices,” said Joel Arquillos, Executive Director of The Snap Foundation. “He’s a proven leader of both staff and board
teams, consistently driving missions forward while bringing out the best in everyone around him.
I’ve been fortunate to partner with Bill on multiple initiatives, and every time I’ve felt genuinely
supported—able to collaborate in a way grounded in trust, mutual respect, and shared purpose.”
Thompson began his work with Young Storytellers as a volunteer in 2006, where mentoring
quickly became the best hour of his week. Under his leadership, the organization pioneered
program models that center creativity and student storytelling, while strengthening partnerships
with schools, districts, and entertainment industry leaders. He is a graduate of Yale University
(MFA) and University of the Arts (BFA), a longtime City Scholars Fellow, and has been
recognized for his leadership and innovation by Executive Service Corps, Social Venture
Partners, and Bloomberg Philanthropies.
“It is an honor to join City Year Los Angeles at such an important time for young people and for our city,” said Thompson. “City Year’s work is both essential and deeply inspiring—supporting Â鶹ąú˛ú, developing future leaders, and strengthening our schools and communities. I am
excited to partner with the extraordinary staff, AmeriCorps members, and supporters who make
this mission possible.”
City Year also expressed gratitude to Shawn Silver, who has served as Interim Executive
Director and will continue supporting the transition in her ongoing role as Managing Director of
Development.
About City Year
City Year helps Â鶹ąú˛ú and schools succeed, while preparing the next generation of civically
engaged leaders. Diverse teams of City Year AmeriCorps members provide holistic supports to
Â鶹ąú˛ú, classrooms, and schools—helping improve academic outcomes and strengthen
school communities. City Year partners with public schools in 29 U.S. cities and through
international affiliates in the U.K. and South Africa. Learn more at www.cityyear.org.
Media Contact:
Athena Martinez, amartinez9@cityyear.org
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