Join the LiteracyCorps

Thank you for your interest in Literacy Mid-South's LiteracyCorps program.

We have received a great deal of interest in our available roles.

Recruitment for summer 2024 is closed.

Check out our website & social media for other ways to support our mission & to stay up to date for when recruitment resumes.

If you’ve already applied & scheduled a phone conversation or interview, you are still an applicant & will move forward in the process 

LiteracyCorps: Summer Member

This is a national public service opportunity--a paid volunteer opportunity. Requires 100 hours of service from late May through early August.

Schedule:

  • Monday-Friday, 15ish hours a week, within 10am-4pm typically

  • There is some flexibility in this schedule, but you must complete all hours to receive full benefits.

What is the goal of this program?

Out-of-School Time (OST) LiteracyCorps members seek to increase reading proficiency among children in low-income areas and encourage caregivers' participation to provide a comprehensive structure of support for the whole family. Literacy Mid-South recruits 30 Summer LiteracyCorps AmeriCorps members to support our network of elementary, summer-program providers.

What will I be doing?

Members are trained in LMS’s K-5 literacy interventions, including interactive read-alouds, small group reads, phonemic awareness, and more. Duties include directly engaging with students, leading instruction, supporting recreational activities, providing direct literacy interventions, conducting literacy assessments, developing programming, engaging families, distributing/building literacy resources and more.

How many hours a week will I be serving?

Members will provide approximately 15 hours of service a week.

Where will I be serving?

Literacy Mid-South partners with over a dozen low-to-no-cost summer programs across the Shelby County. Service happens at these locations and our office in midtown. Members will be able to share preferences for certain organizations or parts of town, but it is important to meet all of our partners’ needs. You can view a map of out-of-school time partner locations here.

Recruitment is closed for summer 2024.

Address all comments, questions, or concerns to Johnny Blount. 

    • Work collaboratively with partner staff to facilitate summer programming at assigned subsites

    • Lead groups of youth through literacy activities & other programming

    • Prepare & distribute literacy materials

    • Assist with preparation & logistics of programming

    • Implement evaluation tools like Reading A-Z assessments and/or reading attitude surveys

    • Record and manage student information

    • Compile and/or revise materials and resources to improve reading comprehension skills

    • Support the implementation of literacy intervention tools and evaluation processes

    • Facilitate and/or support community engagement around whole family literacy.

    • Assist with preparation, logistics, and breakdown of community events

    • Develop and/or maintain communication with community surrounding assigned subsites

    • Support families use of Reading Checkup & other whole-family, literacy tools

    • Perform tasks and duties as assigned by the AmeriCorps director, immediate supervisor, and other senior staff members.

    • Support other place-based initiatives of Literacy Mid-South

    • 100 hours

    • Late May - early August

    • Part-time

    • Weekdays

    • At partner location(s)

    • Be at least 17 years of age; have a high school diploma or GED; and be a U.S. citizen, national or lawful permanent resident alien.

    • Documentation of age, education and citizenship are required.

      • Social security number is required to complete I-9 and enroll in the AmeriCorps program.

    • Reside in the Greater Memphis area in order to submit their federal I-9 documents in person and serve on site at Literacy Mid-South and partner programs.

    • Embraces the AmeriCorps Spirit of Service; seeks to serve where needed in order to support Literacy Mid-South and its partners programming & youth participants

    • Effective communication skills such as active listening, body language, clear and concise expectations, etc.

    • Effective interpersonal, intercultural, and leadership abilities

    • Possess strong time management skills and the ability to accurately maintain required program documentation and record keeping

    • Effective computer skills with experience emailing, word processing, entering data, etc.

    • Reliable transportation (public or private)

    • Available 9-5, Monday - Friday

    • Preferred: experience working with elementary students

    • Preferred: experience working in summer programs

    • Physical demands:

      • While performing the duties of this service position, the AmeriCorps member is required to stand, walk, run, sit (in chairs and/or on the ground); use hand to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climbing stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch; talk and hear. The AmeriCorps member must be able to occasionally lift and/or move 20 to 25 pounds unassisted and 75 pounds assisted. Specific vision abilities required by the position include close vision, distance vision.

    • $1,500 stipend divided into bi-weekly pay periods over 10 weeks

    • Qualify for the Segal Education Award: $416.17

    • Qualify for student loan forbearance throughout service term

    • Whole-family literacy trainings

    • Travel reimbursement between service locations

    • Networking: exposure to broad networks of nonprofit, foundation, and public partners

  • Upon accepting an offer to serve:

    • New service members must create an account in the My AmeriCorps Portal.

    • Returning members will need to update their account with any new contact information including email address.

    • Our program will submit an enrollment invitation to the member found in their My AmeriCorps portal (member social security number and birthday needed).

    • Electronically complete and submit required service member onboarding paperwork.

    • Complete required criminal history checks including but not limited to a state & federal fingerprint check and National Sex Offender Public Registry check two weeks prior to service start date.