Tutor Incarcerated Youth Through AmeriCorps

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Tutor incarcerated youth at the Illinois Youth Center in Chicago through the AmeriCorps National Service Program and Literacy Volunteers of Illinois (LVI). The young men incarcerated at the Youth Center range in age from 13 to 20 and academically from non-readers to those doing GED prep. Tutoring is done one-on-one or in a small group in a supervised setting. A teaching background is not required - but the ability to be flexible and non-judgmental is essential. Tutors must show proof of COVID vaccination. Volunteers and students are required to wear masks and physical distancing is observed. These young men need all the help they can get if they are to go on to productive lives and they often thrive with one-on-one attention.

Though AmeriCorps is not an employment program, individuals serving in it receive a bi-weekly living allowance during their one-year term of service. The program offers two service options: Full-time - 1,700 hours and Part-time - 900 hours:

Full-time members generally serve 35 hours a week for a one-year and receive a bi-weekly living allowance ($16,500) per annum), health insurance, and worker's comp coverage from LVI. Childcare assistance and student loan deferrals are also available. Full-time members are also eligible at the end of their service for an educational award of $6,495.

Part-time members generally serve 20 hours a week for one-year and receive a bi-weekly living allowance that is based on $8,000 per annum and worker's comp coverage. Student loan deferrals are available. Part-time members are eligible at the end of their service year for an educational award of $3,247.50.

Members of Literacy Volunteers of Illinois’ AmeriCorps program are also offered a variety of training opportunities to prepare them for later careers, especially in the field of education.

The AmeriCorps year runs from September 1 through August 31. Because the State requires a lengthy background check, candidates are encouraged to submit applications as soon as possible.