Literacy Mid-South hosted a sold-out crowd at its 2nd Annual Leading in Literacy Luncheon & Awards on Friday, Nov. 14 at the Hilton Memphis, honoring local and national leaders advancing literacy and educational equity across the Mid-South.
With the theme “From Literacy to Liberation: Reclaiming the Power of Reading in Our Community,” this year’s luncheon centered on literacy as a pathway to empowerment, civic participation and opportunity. The event brought together more than 500 supporters, educators and advocates committed to strengthening literacy outcomes from early childhood through adulthood.
The program featured Erica Armstrong Dunbar, nationally renowned historian, author and co-executive producer of HBO’s “The Gilded Age,” the 1880s drama about wealth, ambition and shifting power. Armstrong Dunbar, the National Leading in Literacy Honoree, was joined on stage by Gloria Ladson-Billings, Ph.D., a celebrated scholar in education equity who served as Thought Partner, and Charles McKinney, Ph.D., a Rhodes College historian who moderated the keynote conversation. Radio personality Stormy Taylor emceed the event.
Local recognition went to International Paper, named the 2025 Local Leading in Literacy Honoree for its longstanding corporate commitment to expanding literacy access, promoting book equity and supporting education through philanthropy and volunteerism.
“Literacy is more than reading — it is the foundation for liberation, opportunity and community sustainability,” said Ameshica Linsey, Ph.D., CEO of Literacy Mid-South. “We are proud to recognize those whose leadership and commitment continue to expand literacy access and equity for children and families across Memphis.”
Highlighting the organization’s collaborative approach, Jeanette O’Bryant, senior director of development and marketing at Literacy Mid-South, emphasized the collective power behind Memphis’ literacy movement.
“The strength of our city lies in how we work together. When we unite as partners in this work, we do more than promote literacy — we build pathways for equity, economic stability and the future of our children,” said O’Bryant.
Founded in 1974, Literacy Mid-South has evolved into one of the region’s most impactful literacy organizations, serving more than 165,000 children and adults annually through programs such as Tutor901, Adult Learning and Book Vending Machines. Its mission has stretched beyond assisting low-literacy adults to include family literacy, early-grade reading and community-wide collaboration — all rooted in the belief that literacy is a right, not a privilege.
The organization’s 50-year legacy is anchored by generations of volunteer tutors, educators and community partners — from a foreign missionary whose teaching method shaped early programming to the many people and organizations who have continued the work. Today, Literacy Mid-South serves as a convener for more than 30 literacy-focused partners across the region.
For more information on Literacy Mid-South or to support its work, visit literacymidsouth.org.
