LiteracyCorps: Lit Street Team Volunteer (Bert Ferguson)

Literacy Mid-South • Memphis, TN

9d • Onsite

About The Position

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.

Requirements

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Meet AmeriCorps eligibility requirements.
• Successfully complete required eligibility verification and the National Service Criminal History Check before beginning service.
• Be able to complete the required 300-hour service term.
• Be available for the regularly scheduled Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday service activities.
• Be dependable, patient, encouraging, professional, and comfortable working with children and youth.
• Be able to maintain accurate attendance, participation, and service records.
• Participate in required orientation, training, coaching, check-ins, and reflection activities.

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience working with children or youth.
• Experience as a tutor, mentor, youth worker, educator, volunteer, or in another youth-serving role.
• Interest in education, literacy, youth development, community service, or family engagement.
• Interest in elementary education, youth literacy, or community-based programming.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Comfort facilitating individual, small-group, and activity-based learning experiences.

Responsibilities

• Provide homework help and academic support for children and youth at Bert Ferguson.
• Lead or support structured literacy activities for elementary-age children during adult ELL programming.
• Support an additional youth literacy/enrichment day for older youth, likely ages 10–15.
• Use reading, writing, discussion, games, creative activities, and book-based engagement to strengthen literacy skills.
• Help create a safe, welcoming, consistent, and youth-centered learning environment.
• Coordinate with Bert Ferguson staff regarding room use, youth expectations, meals/snacks, sign-in procedures, and program flow.
• Coordinate with the Adult ELL Tutor when youth programming overlaps with adult ELL classes.
• Track attendance, participation, reading engagement, and other required program/service records.
• Participate in LiteracyCorps orientation, site-specific training, check-ins, coaching, and reflection.
• Communicate regularly with Literacy Mid-South staff regarding youth needs, attendance patterns, site updates, and materials needed.
• Accurately record service hours and comply with LiteracyCorps and AmeriCorps timekeeping requirements.
• Follow applicable Literacy Mid-South, LiteracyCorps, AmeriCorps, and service-site policies, safety expectations, confidentiality requirements, and standards of conduct.

Benefits

• AmeriCorps living allowance, amount to be confirmed based on the 300-hour term.
• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion of service.
• Youth literacy and engagement training.
• Experience serving children and youth in a community center setting.
• AmeriCorps gear and community networking opportunities.
• Opportunity to contribute to a family literacy model supporting both adult learners and their children.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED