City Year Memphis

Your corps experience

City Year is a key partner to Shelby County Schools, Frayser Community Schools and Believe Memphis Academy in advancing learning opportunities for all students and developing the city’s future leaders. AmeriCorps members support teachers and staff in delivering instruction that serves the development of the whole child and is responsive to the specific needs of Memphis youth.

With more than 76% of students tutored by AmeriCorps members last year improving their test scores, AmeriCorps members are truly making an impact. A close-knit community with ample opportunities to develop meaningful personal and professional relationships, Memphis is an ideal place to serve. By engaging students, families and community organizations, City Year Memphis helps Shelby County, Frayser Community Schools and Believe Memphis Academy achieve preparation for success in learning, leadership and life through early intervention and support in Whole School initiatives with focus in areas of attendance, behavior, math and English language arts.

Serving in Memphis schools

• Serve in one of six elementary and middle schools throughout the Memphis area
• Work with a committed group of 6–10 City Year AmeriCorps members who share your passion for service and personal growth
• More than 79% of students are economically disadvantaged and Memphis’ proficiency rates fall below the Tennessee state average: elementary and middle schools as a group, 40.4% of students were proficient or advanced in math and 32.6% were proficient or advanced in reading. We work hard to ensure that our AmeriCorps members help students get back on track to graduate on time

Here’s what we do to help students stay on track to graduate:

• Attendance monitoring and engagement: Roadblocks, like lack of transportation and family challenges, make it hard for some students to get to school. That’s why we keep an eye on attendance. This involves everything from talking with students about their challenges to simple gestures such as greeting them on their way into school. And when they aren’t there on time, we’ll make phone calls home.
• Interpersonal support: We act as role models both through example and positive coaching. If students are having a hard time, we pull them aside and address their concerns, transforming their experience into a positive one.
• Support in math and English language arts: We work closely with teachers to identify learning gaps and help differentiate instruction through one-on-one tutoring for students who need it most. We also create after-school programs that help students succeed in math and English to stay on track and graduate with their peers.

Community involvement

• Create a positive climate of high expectations and engagement that ripples throughout the greater Memphis community.
• City Year Memphis is a proud partner of Choose901, a Memphis-based community organization that supports the work and service of local non-profit organizations in the greater Memphis area.
• City Year Memphis invites members of our community to engage and participate in our service projects throughout the city.
• As a proud partner of the MENTOR Memphis Grizzlies program, City Year Memphis works to recruit and place individuals interested in mentoring opportunities in our school sites.