Liberty for Memphis : Access to Support Services

Here's the problem: The quality of education in our low-income communities is becoming more diminished every day due to a lack of support and individualization in planning and services. Students and families need individual support that surpasses the reach that school districts can effectively provide on an individualized plan. Most services offered are located outside economically disadvantaged areas and would be a significantly prohibitive average cost, $50-$100 / hr, to families that are already overextended financially. Even more during a global pandemic. Therefore, limiting the access to those in most need. And lastly, parental involvement is lacking because of four major factors including but not limited to limited time, poor experiences with the local education systems, illiteracy, and lack of capacity from traditional education systems.  

Demographic data show that areas in Memphis have a large population of people that never complete their primary/secondary education. Liberty Memphis will reignite and redirect the community’s desire to engage in their own as well as their family’s pursuit of knowledge. 

Statistics show that South Memphis has a disproportionately large population of people that have been incarcerated.  The goal is to present quality academic and social family support services to upend poverty, crime, and incarceration rates that affect the Greater Memphis Community. 

Demographics also show that the South Memphis area is the most impoverished in the city. Programs will aid the community in truly building themselves by changing the mindset and experience for future generations.

School closures during the pandemic have illustrated the need to invest in student supports and family capacity to support them. Liberty Memphis uses research-based strategies to support the district by assisting its students and educating the whole child. 

Historically there has been a rise in focusing on the individual and not the collective. Liberty Memphis will use partnerships and programs to demonstrate the importance of community and collaboration.  Children and families will achieve economic and social growth through their access to educational equity.

In order to support a community, the first responsibility is to those that make up the community, families. On a deeper level, our mission is to provide educational opportunities that attract, develop and activate social and economic growth. Therefore, addressing the academic and social needs of students and families, our program provides support for developing a work ethic and positive cultural norms. Liberty Memphis, Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit, structured to connect students and families with valuable resources, insights, and support for educational and social successes that will help them prosper long term in the community through the Family Educational Support Service Program.

Students and Families receive a cumulative of 3 hours of service per week.  Based on the family’s needs assessment, academic student supports are prioritized to meet student needs. Once students have achieved core subject growth and academic organizational development service hours are then prioritized parental skill development. Academic support continues for student participants. All children in the family receive a snack to aid in continued focus throughout the support period.

Execution of this service is only attainable through hiring and training program staff to support the program's goals. To forward equity through access, the program staffing model elicits committed volunteer community members to incubate, train, and empower them to serve families within the greater Memphis community. Their volunteer service prepares them for potential long-term employment as program staff. This model creates sustainability and positive outcomes for students, families, and communities for long-term success and access to education and economic opportunities.

Liberty Memphis needs this investment to help hire more Family Support Specialists, and increase our curriculum platform capacity.  The need was identified before COVID-19 and has since been amplified. Parents are requesting in-home assistance; however, no one is offering this type of support for free or at all. Access to academic support can be extremely expensive and rarely accessible in communities of color. Community partnerships that help provide the capacity to execute program goals with fidelity currently include Chef Tam’s Underground restaurant, Feed the Children, Health Tech, Advance Memphis, New Hope Church – Orange Mound, and the Brotherhood-Boys to Men Mentoring Program.  Furthermore, program and organizational efforts are supported through annual board giving and in-kind donations (time, goods, services). Liberty Memphis’ greatest asset is the ability to serve students and families in their homes. 

The organization's founder, CEO, and a woman of color in leadership has the unique qualifications to execute the vision and mission projected for Liberty Memphis, she possesses over 15 years of experience in public, private, independent, and for-profit education, as a mother, administrator, and educator. She has mastered coursework in education and leadership. And she serves Liberty Memphis with the entirety of her skill, experiences, and passion for families. All Board of Directors have a passion for education. It is proven through their personal and professional connections within the community. The board is invested in the success of the Memphis community through their legacy, professional experience, and ownership of community businesses in real estate, landscape architecture, education, marketing, community engagement, and entertainment. They collectively represent a diverse range of leaders of color with cross-sector experiences that directly translate to the needs of Memphis’s education systems. They have developed structures of investment and commitment across the organization, from leadership to participants and volunteers. Board members engage by contributing expertise, funding, as well as participation in the operation, planning, coaching, & PD. The Board is committed to the city’s growth and success.  In order to impact the world, one has to empower minds right here in Memphis.  Knowledge is freedom. Education is a way out. Not a way out of the city, but a pathway to educational equity, economic viability, opportunities, and resources.