FY22 Literacy Mid-South Annual Report

Letters of Thanks & What’s to Come from Leadership

Mid-South Partners and Friends,

This has been a year for the record books! Literacy Mid-South took its first steps toward becoming the intermediary presence that Memphis and Shelby County need and deserve. This was only made possible because of the state we found ourselves in and the ways in which we responded.

Shortly after we began our fiscal year, our organization was made aware of the student progress recorded on end-of-year assessments for ELA. Hindered by the learning loss because of the pandemic, these scores made us think of ways we could offer support and partnership in the community. We responded in ways that even surprised us!

SAM O’BRYANT Executive Director

Literacy Mid-South received a $4.5 million grant from the Tennessee Department of Education. This is the largest grant award we have ever received in the 48-year history of our organization. These funds allowed us to establish a relationship with Memphis-Shelby County Schools, in which we will be providing high-dosage tutoring services to approximately 3,000 students for the 22/23 and 23/24 school years. These services are being made available to students in traditional schools and in charter-supported schools.

Our ongoing support of Raleigh as a literacy zone affords us the chance to partner with For The Kingdom and expand our support in their neighborhood. As a result, we were excited to be able to unveil our Read901 book vending machine. While the book vending machine spends much of its time at Scenic Hills Elementary, it does make appearances throughout the community. This represents another option for our book distribution efforts. And while we are discussing book distribution, we are proud to share that Literacy Mid-South distributed more than 100,000 brand-new books to children, families, community partners, and schools during our most recent fiscal year.

Another example of responding to the community is the way we have incorporated Share Your Skill into our adult learning efforts. All too often, adult literacy is coupled with negative examples and deficit thinking. Share Your Skill allows our adult learners to speak up about what they excel at and how they intend to use additional literacy support to enhance that skill. Our Share Your Skill platform has been featured at several library branches across Memphis.

These are just a few examples of how we look to impact literacy across the lifespan. Our work is only made possible by the time and investments that come from our community, our supporters, and our donors. As Literacy Mid-South moves toward becoming a regional literacy intermediary, we ask for your continued support as we continue to work toward our vision of 100% literacy for the Mid-South.

In gratitude,

Sam O’Bryant, Executive Director

901 Friends,

What a year!!! Literacy Mid-South has had an amazing year under the leadership of our first African American Executive Director, Mr. Sam O’Bryant. His experience with education and his passion for literacy have propelled Literacy Mid-South into the epicenter of the educational arena as a true convener for every organization in Memphis driving literacy initiatives.

First, Sam has invigorated our exceptional staff to prepare and implement literacy support across the lifespan. As we unveiled our Read901 Campaign this year, we are proud of the programs and initiatives that fall under the Read901 campaign. From our Bluff City Baby program to the Out-of-School Time support initiative for elementary-aged children, to the Adult Learning Program, all have been integral in continuing our mission of 100 percent literacy in the Mid-South.

Two exciting programs added to this well-established work, include our partnership with MSCS and local charter schools to deliver highimpact during-the-day tutoring to elementary school children. This program was made possible through a $4.5 million TN All Corps Community Partner grant provided by the TN Department of Education. LMS was one of only five organizations across the state to receive this grant, and it is the largest investment in LMS’ history.

CHANDRA ALSTON, EDD Board Chair

Second, LMS has established our first-ever literacy zone in Raleigh. The goal of the literacy zone is to focus the work of our programs and our partners in the Raleigh community, immersing that community with access to literacy resources, programs, tools, and a love of reading through cross-sector partnerships with community-based organizations such as For the Kingdom, local businesses, and schools in the Raleigh area.

To Sam, the LMS Staff, AmeriCorps members, interns, our board of directors, donors, volunteers, and friends, thank you for the time, talents, and resources invested in the work this past year. We’ve come a long way, but we still have a way to go!

Read901 is well underway to attain our goal of 100 percent literacy; however, to reach that goal, we need your commitment to join us in this work. Consider volunteering your time to tutor through our adult learning program, or join one of our out-of-school time partners in supporting children in their reading development, and/or consider a financial gift to allow us to continue the impactful work of ensuring every child and adult has access and opportunity to engage literacy resources throughout the Mid-South.

In

gratitude, Chandra Alston, EdD, Board Chair

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2022-2023

CHANDRA ALSTON, EDD

University of Tennessee Health Science Center

JOHN BARKER, PHD

Memphis-Shelby County Schools

KATHERINE BRYAN, MSW The Urban Child Institute

CRYSTAL COOK, EDD Memphis-Shelby County Schools

MEGHAN CULLEN University of Memphis

EDITH GNANADASS, PHD University of Memphis

JEANNE HERMANN-PETRIN, PHD University of Tennessee Health Science Center

ERIN HILLIS, PHD Rhodes College

SHENIKA HUDSON, EDD University of Tennessee Health Science Center

ASHLEY JOHNSON, EDD Memphis-Shelby County Schools

LAURIE MACGILLIVRAY, EDD University of Memphis

CHERHONDA MASON-AYERS, MA American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC) St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

DANA MIGLIACCIO, JD International Paper

JOHN NICHOLS, BS St. Mary’s School

TIM STAKEM AutoZone

PATRICE THOMAS

Memphis-Shelby County Schools

CHANDRA TUGGLE University of Tennessee Health Science Center

MARC VAN LIESHOUT International Paper

HERB WELLS FedEx

STAFF

SAM O’BRYANT Executive Director

ELISABETH F. LEE Senior Director of Strategy & Innovation

JEANETTE O’BRYANT Development Director

STACY EARLY Adult Program Director

ANASA FRANKLIN Community Impact Director

JOHNNY BLOUNT Collaborative Action Director

MICHAEL E. KING TN ALL Corps Program Director

WESLEY BROOKINS Data & Evaluation Manager

JEREMEE DEMOIR Tutor Support Manager

CANDACE FREEMAN Tutor Support Manager

JENNIFER HEPLER Tutor Support Manager

DIANA TOWNSEND Tutor Support Manager

LEE CHASE IV Adult Program Coordinator

LUCY HUGHES Operations Coordinator

SEAN MOORE Family Literacy Coordinator

OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAM

Through the Out-of-School Time Program, Literacy Mid-South provides literacy resources to community partners focused on serving K-5 students. We partner with community-based organizations to coordinate and align elementary literacy efforts, interventions, and programs across the city. Our Out-of-School Time (OST) Team supports our partner organizations’ efforts to incorporate literacy education into their afterschool and summer programs.

Faced with the challenges of COVID-19, Literacy Mid-South pivoted our focus to providing resources to our partners so that they can provide academically and emotionally enriching spaces for students—virtual or not. Resources include our Virtual Summer program, thousands of Lit Bags distributed over the summer, and personnel support through our AmeriCorps members.

• 5000+ STUDENTS across 100 partner locations

• CREATED 7 WEEKS OF INTERACTIVE READ ALOUD VIDEOS to promote reading strategies at home

• SUPPORTED BY 21 AMERICORPS Summer Associates spread across the city

• OVER 100,000 new, culturally relevant books distributed to students and families

• OVER 22,000 LIT BAGS DISTRIBUTED in 6 weeks to build & support family literacy and resilience

• 18 PARTNERS participating in the summer learning program increased community impact:

Love of the Truth

The Andy Project

Over 100 locations were supported through our summer literacy resource support and community efforts.

The Welcome Bluff City Baby Program through Literacy MidSouth gifts parents and caregivers with backpacks filled with books and resources that support early and family literacy for every family of newborns at discharge at Methodist South and Regional One hospital.

While continuing to support WBCB (Welcome Bluff City Baby) at Methodist South with 85 backpacks monthly, we onboarded Regional One as an additional distribution site for WBCB with 250 backpacks.

As an ongoing champion of early literacy, Literacy Mid-South distributed 3,125 Welcome Bluff City Baby backpacks during this reporting period.

ADULT

PROGRAM

Literacy Mid-South’s Adult Learning Program provides learners over the age of 18 in the Mid-South with basic education and English language learning services. Our Adult Learning Program is the only program providing Adult Basic Education (reading level below 6th grade) services in Memphis. Learners come to Literacy Mid-South to achieve life goals and prepare for better employment opportunities. The Adult Learning Program offers an innovative and collaborative approach to adult literacy education. Our 100 trained volunteer tutors provide one-on-one and group learning sessions in reading, math, and English Language Learning. This approach allows learners to set their learning pace and connect with other learners in a classroom environment. To meet the needs of our community, Literacy Mid-South also seeks to build classroom opportunities in other community-based organizations.

In 2021-2022, the Adult Learner Council:

• Planned community events for the public

• Built community amongst learners and volunteers around literacy and lifelong learning

• Shared their stories and testimonials as part of LMS outreach

SPOTLIGHT

VOLUNTEER TUTOR AND LEARNER SPOTLIGHT

“My wonderful student from Peru, Viviana, makes me feel that the work we are doing is making a positive difference in her life in this country. Viviana says she is improving both in her conversation and comprehension skills, and I am learning more about her background and culture. While we are both learning, we are also laughing and having fun through the process each week. Tutoring for LMS is a rewarding experience!”

~RENEE, English Language

SHARE YOUR SKILL HIGHLIGHT

#SHAREYOURSKILL901

In May 2022, the ALP (Adult Learning Program) launched a campaign called #ShareYourSkill 901 with the purpose of working to eradicate the stigma around low literacy for adults. The concept is...the participant writes or draws a skill or talent they are proud of and would like to share on a bookmark. On the back of the bookmark, they can also scan a QR code, and call or text the phone number listed, to share their skill. The goal is to do a community art project with bookmarks to highlight the numerous skills and talents representative of all the zip codes in the Memphis area. Everyone has value, and #ShareYourSkill901 will spread this message and encourage others to adopt this model to empower and advocate for adult learners.

Learner (ELL) Tutor

STORYBOARD MEMPHIS

StoryBoard Memphis is a local quarterly publication that focuses on telling local stories through authentic voices and they invited the ALP (Adult Learning Program) Learner Council to contribute to their fall issue. Each member, including the learners in an English Language Learning class, was able to share a piece of personal history in their own words. In addition to being published in writing, the learners also provided video testimonials to bring the experience full circle. Like the #ShareYourSkill901 campaign, the StoryBoard Memphis project highlights the power, strength, and right to be heard by every voice.

STORYBOARD LEARNER INTERVIEWS

SPECIAL THANKS to our dedicated sponsors for Literatini 2022 and YOUR support in helping Literacy Mid-South as we continue to spread Literacy throughout Memphis and the MidSouth. Without YOUR support, this event would not be possible! THANK YOU! We look forward to celebrating together next year.

2022 DONOR LIST

THE TOLKIEN ALLIANCE

($75,000-$149,999) International Paper Urban Child Institute

THE HURSTON FELLOWSHIP ($10,000-$74,999)

Barker, John Blue Cross Blue Shield Bouldin, Earl Randle** Community Trust Community Foundation of Greater Memphis* Meeks, Logan Edward** Ostner, Jr., Max B.** Plough Foundation Regional One Health Quinn, Robert J.** Shah, Kushal**

THE HUGHES COMMUNITY ($2,500-$9,999)

Alston, Dr. Chandra Assisi Foundation* Bennett, Jonathan Chase III, Nancy & Lee** Garnett, Natalie Goodlett Foundation Memphis Grizzlies Migliaccio, Dana

THE AUSTEN ASSOCIATION ($500-$2,499)

Baldwin, Katherine Bashir, Ahsan Blankinship, Patrick Brown, Beth Bryan, Katherine Christian Community Foundation of Memphis and the Mid-South, INC. Cook, Crystal Courtney, Rebecca

Cullum, Christopher Deaderick, Mike Dean, Kevin Dempsey, Erin DiBianca, Kay Diebold, Lynn Dulberger, Reid Heppel, Scott* Hayden, Jane Hermann-Petrin, Jeanne Hillis, Erin Hudson, Shenika Jhaveri, Dhiren Jones, Joyce Justice, Wilson Lee, Rene Leslie, Reagan McCaskill, Vincent McFalls, Alan

Memphis Library Foundation McCormick, Inc. Nichols, John & Jenna Payne, Linda Pointer, Dana Renaissance Charitable - DAF Program Rieman, Thomas Robinson, Robert Salzgeber, Pamela Schwab Charitable* Wight F. Boggs** Snider, Laura Svoboda, Robert Whitman, C. Van Lieshout, Marc Yaun, Dr. & Mrs. Jason

THE FAULKNER FOLK

($-$499)

Allen, Alice Alpert, Jeanne Armor, Timothy Bailey, Constance Ballin, Renelle Barnett, Bert

Beck, Connie Bell, Dolores Berhe-Hunt, Annette Blount, John Bonds, Ashley Branch, Marcus & Sonji Briggs, Kayla Brooks, Kayla Burrows, Julie Butler-Hughes, Sandi Campbell, Regina Capooth, Bryan Carter, Gary Clark, Shirlee Cook, Amanda Crenshaw, Susan Curry, Lauren Daughters of the American RevolutionChief Piomingo Chapter Dean, Samantha DeBon, Margaret Drabant, Patricia Drummond, James Dudek, Amy Elite Literary Book Club Evans, Lawrence Facebook Fidelity Charitable* Faulkner, Gayle Flick, Daniel Franklin, Anasa Giles, Laura Gnanadass, Edith Goetz, Philip D.** Goldstein, Sharon Goldwin, Dorothy Goodman, Peggy Hart,Patricia Hartsfield, Felicia Havens, Becky Hewitt, Nathan Holder, Janice Hunt, Brookye Jack, Shirley Johnson, Michael

Johnson, James Johnson, Angelia Jones, Jane Jones, Thomas Kallaher, Debra Keita, Amara Kerr, Suzanne Kiel, Janis King, Andrea Kornberg, Toba Kroger Laskowski, Daralene Lazarov, Stuart Lazarov, Debbie Lee, Timothy Lee, Moriah Leon, Angela Linton, Michele Lobianco, Sam Mabury, William Madden, Elizabeth Madewell Marsh, Tom Martin, Linda Mason-Ayers, Cherhonda Massey, Jeffrey Mayes, Megan McCaa, Mary McDonald, Daniel McKee, Francesca Mclean, Leigh Messinger, Kathryn Minard, Christine Mirvis, David Murray, Gail Murrell, Dan H. & Vicki Nemetz, Paul Nguyen, Nhu Ogata-James, Trudy Palilla, Christina Parker, William Paydar, Margaret Phillips, John Phipps, Marisa Donation*

Pierce, Janice Pirtle, Penny Pivnick, Lilla Prillaman, Nancy Ray, Charles Richardson, Rita Risher, Carol Rose, Rachel Ryan, Thomas Schmitt, Keith Schuhlein, Shannon Shulkin, Barry Sink, Jennifer Smith, Bryce Sparks, Shannon Stamm, John St. John Missionary Baptist Church Stillwagon, Janet United Way of the Mid-South* LaRose Coffey ** Usmani, Kulsoom VanAusdall, Ginny VanAusdall, Mackenzie Wellford, Dabney Wellford, Karen Williamson, Page Woodside, Emily Wright, David Yaffe, Carol Zimmerman, David Zoblotsky, Todd

The AmeriCorps Vista Program at Literacy MidSouth was discontinued after six years. Numerous AmeriCorps participants have stayed at Literacy Mid-South since 2016. They have played a key role in helping to build capacity with our “Out-OfSchool-Time” partners in their individual after-school and summer programs. Together, these AmeriCorps participants have given the Memphis community several thousand hours of volunteer work.

We would like to extend a special “Thank You” from the staff and board of directors of Literacy MidSouth to our AmeriCorps Vista members, Mentors, and many volunteers who continue to donate their time and resources to this vital work.

Honorariums + Memorials

Gifts received by Literacy Mid-South from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022, in memory and honor of many loved ones.

In Honor of Katherine Bryan Yaun, Jason

In Honor of The Bell Bonds Family Phillips, John Honoring LMS Staff and Board Rose, Rachel

In Honor of Charlie Dudek Dudek, Amy

In Honor of Amanda Cook Daughters of the American RevolutionChief Piomingo Chapter

In Honor of Lou Stefan Clark, Shirlee

In Honor of Sam O’Bryant Dean, Kevin McCaskill, Vincent

In Honor of Molly Polatty Madden, Elizabeth

In Honor of Barrie Wurzburg Alpert, Jeanne Ballin, Renelle Goldstein, Sharon Goldwin, Dorothy Goodman, Peggy Lazarov, Debbie Mclean, Leigh Yaffe, Carol

In Memory of Philip William Hermann Wright, David

In Memory of Robert K. Jones Jones, Jane

In Memory of Lori J. McFalls Kerr, Suzanne McFalls, Alan

In Memory of Louis B. Stefan Laskowski, Daralene Stillwagon, Janet Nemetz, Paul

Scan the QR code to donate.

In Memory of Lou Stefan Briggs, Kayla Drabant, Patricia Jhaveri, Dhiren Mayes, Megan Nguyen, Nhu