About Us

Literacy Mid-South is a nonprofit organization committed to creating a community actively engaged in continuous learning. Since January 1, 2010 Literacy Mid-South (LMS) has successfully merged the operations of Mid South Reads and the Memphis Literacy Council.  Both organizations have a past history of excellence and have merged to strengthen their mission and foster more collaborative literacy work throughout the community.  Some of the services LMS offers are:  Adult Learning in Basic Literacy, PreGED, English as a Second Language using private tutoring, classes, and computer-aided instruction; Family Literacy Workshops, Tutor Training and support, community awareness campaigns, advocacy, and more.  

History of Memphis Literacy Council

Memphis Literacy Council (MLC) was founded in 1974 by a small group of concerned citizens who wanted to help people learn how to read and write. The organization grew from a volunteer tutoring program to an educational organization that provided a wide range of services for low-literate adults as well as parent training and books for disadvantaged families.

As the demand for literacy grew, so did the services offered by Memphis Literacy Council. The organization expanded by developing new curriculum for adults, English classes for immigrants, and special interest workshops for at-risk populations. MLC welcomed the partnership and support of local government, schools, churches, businesses, civic groups, and others who shared our vision of building a more literate community. 

MLC Mission

The mission of Memphis Literacy Council was to help people attain the literacy skills they need to become confident, productive, self-sufficient citizens. 

MLC believed that literacy was essential in today’s world of information and technology. People with limited literacy skills had fewer opportunities to participate fully at work, at home, and in the community. 

MLC believed in the value of lifelong learning. The adult program served people from age eighteen to eighty who wanted to improve their basic reading, writing, and math skills. The majority of the adults enrolled in this program entered with less than third grade reading skills. Each adult received tutoring and classes that addressed their individual needs and personal goals.

MLC believed that literacy began at home. The family program gave parents the strategies and tools required to nurture the education of their children. One objective of this program was to supply low income families with books to read aloud to preschool-aged children.

History of Mid South Reads

Since 1998, The Assisi Foundation served as the principle catalyst in bringing together representatives from businesses, education, and community agencies to form and strengthen the “It’s Time to Read” Coalition.  It’s Time to Read addressed a 1997 national challenge by America Reads.  In May of 2003, the Mid South Reading Alliance, Inc. was formed creating a partnership between the Mid South Reads (MSR) Coalition and the University of Memphis with the vision of…Greater Memphis-A Reading Community.

The MSR Coalition of over 70 member agencies, businesses, and educational systems joined together to collectively promote reading and life long learning in the Greater Memphis area.  Its vision was to create a fully literate Mid-South community and its mission was to take the necessary steps to realize this vision.  Since 1998, those who had an interest and a stake in working toward this goal met monthly at the Assisi Foundation.  During this time the membership increased in diversity and size representing the Mid South Region.  Coalition membership was open to everyone who believed reading and life-long learning were the foundations to success and desired to build a great community of literate citizens.  With the partnership with The University of Memphis, MSR utilized both community and university resources, provided services, research and professional development opportunities to assist in creating and maintaining environments where learning happens.

The MSR coalition was one of 65 literacy coalitions in the US. MSR supported family literacy, workforce literacy, English as a Second Language (ESL), financial literacy, health literacy and more. By working with its member agencies, MSR was able to reach out to new groups not currently being served and increased the awareness of literacy needs in the greater Memphis area.