Literacy Volunteers of Illinois

Supporting Volunteer Literacy In Illinois Since 1979

Donate

The central goal of the VOCAL—Volunteer Outreach for Community Action in Literacy—program is to expand the volunteer base of community and faith-based adult literacy programs by recruiting, placing and training AmeriCorps members to serve as Literacy Specialists in adult literacy programs throughout the state.

AmeriCorps members serve as one-to-one and small group tutors and are involved with volunteer recruitment and retention activities and help to secure other resources for their host site, including books and program materials. Members are also involved in special events to generate awareness and support.

The VOCAL program is funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service through the Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service (SERVE Illinois).

Position Description

VOCAL Host Sites

We are currently recruiting members for 300 and 450 hour term commitments for our "Summer of Service"

300 hour members will earn a $3000 stipend/living allowance and a $1,459 Segal Education Award upon completion of service
450 hour members will earn a $4500 stipend/living allowance and a $1,824 Segal Education Award upon completion of service

Thanks to our funding agency, Serve Illinois, we are offering additional benefits to members who join during the 2024 Summer of Service including:

300 hour members will earn a $750 bonus after 60 day of service and $750 upon completion of 300 hours
450 hour members will earn $1,000 bonus after 60 days of service and $750 upon completion of 450 hours

Apply on the AmeriCorps National Portal

Although applications are not yet live on the AmeriCorps National Portal, we are still currently recruiting members for Full Time (1700 hour), Part Time (900 hour), Quarter Time (450 Hour) and Minimum Time (300 Hour) roles that begin September 1st 2024.

All members will earn a living allowance and stipend. Exact figures will be released soon. For reference, in the 2023 Program Year, the living allowance and stipend were as follows:

Full-time: 1700 hours; $18,000 Living Allowance; $6,895 Education Award
Half Time: 900 hours; $9,000 Living Allowance; $3447 Education Award
Quarter Time: 450 Hours; $4,500 Living Allowance; $1,824 Education Award
Minimum Time: 300 hours; $3,000 Living Allowance; $1,459 Education Award

*Benefits increase each program year

Interested applicants should send their application and cover letter to lvi@lvillinois.org with the subject like "Year of Service Application."

“[Olivia] heard about AmeriCorps through her college. She worked at a public school but it was not her preferred environment, she enjoys working with adults. It is these adults that make up an environment where relationships can thrive. One of the highlights of Olivia’s work is the relationships she has made with her students and with fellow AmeriCorps members. She loves seeing her students feel proud of themselves as they both learn more about each other and the world.”

Olivia Langdon, Instituto Del Progreso Latino

“Miriam joined AmeriCorps because it was a great way to continue and advance the community work with which she was already engaged. One of the most rewarding aspects of her work with Centro Sin Fronteras is when she is able to see the students of the community attend college, and it is even more rewarding when she is able to connect students with her passion for health education. During her time at Centro Sin Fronteras, Miriam has enjoyed seeing the program expand and grow.”

Miriam Perez, Centro Sin Fronteras

“Timothy joined AmeriCorps to help serve at-risk youth and enjoyed being part of a community that wants to make a difference in the world. He served as part of LVI’s Jump Start: Unbound College Bound program. His tasks were to provide youth within the Illinois Youth Centers (IYC) and those recently released with educational knowledge, success building, financial literacy and life skills. He treasured being able to help incarcerated youth to succeed and have a future.”

Timothy White, Literacy Volunteers of Illinois

VOCAL*AmeriCorps

Full-Time Member - 1700 Hours

Benefits Include:

Bi-weekly living allowance of $18,000 a year

Health insurance and (income-based) childcare

Student Loan Deferment & Interest Accrual Waiver

Initial, in-service and hands-on "job" training

Post-service educational award of $6,895

Application

Part-Time Member - 900 Hours

Benefits Include

Bi-weekly living allowance of $9,000 a year

Student Loan Deferment & Interest Accrual Waiver

Initial, in-service and hands-on "job" training

Post-service educational award of $3,447

Application

Olivia Langdon, Instituto Del Progreso Latino

Miriam Perez, Centro Sin Fronteras

Timothy White, Literacy Volunteers of Illinois

If you are a representative of a community-based or faith-based nonprofit that provides programs that align with VOCAL’s ojbectives of adult education, workforce development, and volunteer generation, we encourage you to apply to host a VOCALAmeriCorps to serve between 25-35 hours during this year’s Summer of Service (May-July2024 or June-August 2024) or between 8-35 hours during the upcoming 24-25 Program Year.

Call for Host Sites

Host Site Application Summer of Service 2024

Host Site Application 2024-2025

ABOUT US

LVI began by working with just four LVA programs, and today provides an array of resources and services to staff, tutors, and students in adult literacy programs statewide.

CONTACT US

Literacy Volunteers of Illinois
100 S. State St, Suite 437
Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-857-1582
Email: lvi@lvillinois.org