Program: Literacy Mid-South | LiteracyCorps AmeriCorps Program Type: AmeriCorps State/National Service Term: 300-hour, minimum-time AmeriCorps service term Service Location: Bert Ferguson Community Center, 8505 Trinity Road, Cordova, TN 38018 Start Date: 10/19/26 - 7/30/27
Expected Weekly Commitment: 7–9 hours per week Number of Positions: 1 Age Requirement: 18+
About Literacy Mid-South
For more than 50 years, Literacy Mid-South (LMS) has remained committed to one core belief: literacy changes lives. Founded in 1974 to help adults strengthen essential reading skills, LMS has expanded to serve learners of all ages across the Mid-South.
Our mission is to ensure that individuals and families have access to the literacy skills needed to thrive—academically, economically, and personally. Through direct programming and regional collaboration, LMS works to break cycles of limited literacy and expand opportunity for generations to come.
At LMS, literacy is not simply an educational outcome—it is a pathway to empowerment, equity, and long-term community transformation.
About AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps is the federal agency for national service and volunteerism in the United States. Through partnerships with nonprofit organizations, schools, public agencies, and community groups, AmeriCorps members commit to services that address critical community needs such as education, economic opportunity, disaster response, environmental stewardship, and public health.
Members serve in structured programs designed to strengthen communities while gaining valuable professional experience, leadership skills, and workforce development opportunities. In return for their service, members may receive a living allowance, professional development, and an education award to support future educational goals.
Memphis is home to several AmeriCorps programs working collaboratively to strengthen the community, including programs such as Teach For America, City Year, and AmeriCorps VISTA, all of which contribute to addressing critical community needs through national service.
About LiteracyCorps
LiteracyCorps is LMS’s AmeriCorps program that provides valuable service opportunities for members who are passionate about improving literacy in Memphis. Through the program, we provide individuals with the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of families and children by working with community organizations, schools, and other literacy partners.
The program is designed to advance literacy equity across our region. Members work directly with elementary students in low-to-no-cost programs to prevent learning loss and strengthen foundational reading skills through structured, evidence-based interventions.
Position Summary
The LiteracyCorps: Lit Street Team Volunteer will serve children and youth at Bert Ferguson Community Center through Lit Meets Rec programming. The Volunteer will support homework help, literacy intervention, reading engagement, and literacy-rich enrichment while adult learners participate in ELL classes and while older youth participate in a third-day literacy enrichment option.
This role supports LMS’s family literacy and community-based service model by helping children and youth build reading confidence, complete homework, and participate in engaging literacy-rich activities.
During adult ELL programming, the Volunteer will support children of adult learners through structured activities that may include snack time, homework help, elementary literacy intervention, read-alouds, phonics games, vocabulary activities, book engagement, and small-group reading support.
The Volunteer will also support an additional weekly youth literacy/enrichment day at Bert Ferguson, likely serving youth ages 10–15. Activities may include makers’ projects, tabletop or trading-card games, manga/anime club, hobby exploration, or other literacy-connected activities that build reading, communication, creativity, and confidence.
Service Schedule
Consistent attendance, dependability, and timely completion of service hours and documentation are essential to successfully completing the service term.
Essential Service Responsibilities
Youth Safety and Professional Conduct
This position involves direct service with children and youth. Volunteers are expected to maintain appropriate professional boundaries, protect confidential information, follow site safety procedures, and promptly report incidents or safety concerns.
LMS requires individuals working with children to maintain active supervision, protect confidential student information, follow safety procedures, and comply with applicable reporting requirements.
AmeriCorps members may not displace or duplicate the work of paid employees or existing volunteers and must comply with all AmeriCorps prohibited-activity requirements. Training on prohibited activities is provided during orientation.
Minimum Qualifications and Eligibility
Applicants must:
The National Service Criminal History Check includes the National Sex Offender Public Website check, applicable state criminal history checks, and an FBI fingerprint-based criminal history check.
Preferred Qualifications
The original position also welcomes college students, recent graduates, gap-year students, future educators, youth workers, tutors, mentors, Memphis residents passionate about community service and literacy equity, and individuals who are dependable, patient, encouraging, and comfortable working with children and youth.
Training Provided
Skills and Experience Gained
AmeriCorps Member Benefits
The AmeriCorps living allowance is not an hourly wage and is distributed in regular installments according to LiteracyCorps program requirements.
Volunteers who successfully complete their required service hours may be eligible for the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award following verification by the LiteracyCorps Director.
Service Environment
Service takes place at Bert Ferguson Community Center, a Memphis Parks site located in Cordova where youth literacy support will occur during adult ELL programming and through an additional weekly enrichment day for older youth. The program is designed to create a safe, structured, literacy-rich space for children and youth in a community center setting.
Equal Opportunity, Non-Discrimination, and Accessibility
LMS LiteracyCorps is committed to an environment free from discrimination and harassment. The program prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, parental status, political affiliation, military service, or any other legally protected characteristic.
LMS LiteracyCorps is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified members, applicants, service recipients, and staff with known disabilities to support full participation in programs and activities.
This position description summarizes the primary responsibilities and requirements of the LiteracyCorps: Lit Street Team Volunteer service opportunity. Service is governed by the Volunteer Service Agreement, LiteracyCorps policies and procedures, applicable Literacy Mid-South policies, service-site requirements, and AmeriCorps rules and regulations.
Job details are sourced from the employer's original posting.
Open job postingAbout the company
Literacy Mid-South is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving literacy rates in the Mid-South region. They work to provide resources and support for individuals and communities to enhance reading and writing skills.