AmeriCorps provides the opportunity to put idealism to work. In AmeriCorps, members learn teamwork, communication, responsibility and other essential skills that help them be successful throughout their lives. Members also gain the personal satisfaction of taking on a challenge and seeing results. Over 10,000 Illinois residents have answered the challenge. Are you up to it?

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.

As Literacy Specialists, AmeriCorps members serve as one-to-one and small group tutors, are involved with volunteer recruitment and retention activities and help to secure other resources for their host site, including books, program materials, and "give -away" items for tutor and student celebrations. Members are also involved in special events to generate awareness of and support for the literacy activities of the agency.

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

If you are interested in submitting an application to be an AmeriCorps member, click below to go to the AmeriCorps website to submit an application along with two references electronically.

If you do not have Internet access, you can download and complete the application below and submit it, along with two references to Literacy Volunteers of Illinois, 100 South State St., Suite 437, Chicago, IL 60603-5523  

Our program year begins on September 1, 2022 and continues through August 31st, 2023.

• Bi-weekly living allowance of $16,502 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 $6,495

• Bi-weekly living allowance of $8,500 a year

• Student Loan Deferment & Interest Accrual Waiver

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

• Post-service educational award of $3,247.50

“[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