I gave because Peer Power gave me the foundation I needed for a successful life.

Our mission is to inspire and empower youth to take control of their academic success through peer tutoring and mentoring.

Peer Power Foundation is a youth development organization that seeks to close equity gaps that exist within the public education system. Since 2004, we have created opportunities for Memphis students to grow into productive adults who contribute to the city and nation in accordance with their passion. 

Peer Power recruits, hires, trains and deploys college-aged students into high school classrooms to decrease the student to teacher ratio and meet the individualized needs of students. We also hire and train 11th and 12th grade students to tutor students in lower grades, helping to close literacy gaps during crucial academic development stages. In addition, Peer Power partners with external organizations to train tutors within for their programming needs. 

In 2015, Peer Power Foundation created the “Memphis Model” in partnership with Memphis- Shelby County Schools (MSCS) and University of Memphis. The program employs more than 150 University of Memphis tutors called “Success Coaches” who are trained and placed within high school classrooms. This unique configuration reduces the student-to-adult ratio from about 30-to-1 down to roughly 10-to-1. Success Coaches are paid, earn college credit, gain professional experience and help MSCS students, while classroom teachers experience higher job satisfaction and retention.

TUTOR + MENTOR = SUCCESS COACH
Success Coaches are trained in subject content knowledge as well as social emotional learning. They are equipped to hone in on the holistic needs of scholars. 

Students with a Success Coach in their class are 3X more likely to show up for school.

Students who participate in ACT Prep University are 1.9X more likely to improve their score.

Students who participate in ACT Prep University are 1.5X more likely to obtain an academic scholarship. 

Students who participate in Peer Power’s ACT Prep University see their composite scores increase by 3.4 points on average and have earned and qualified for more than $3 Million in TN Hope Lottery Scholarships.

We also hire and train 11th and 12th grade students to tutor students in lower grades, helping to close literacy gaps during crucial academic development stages.

More than tutoring. Peer Power specializes in developing creative programs that link school aged students with college students who serve as mentors, tutors and role models for them. Our flexible peer-to-peer model allows us to meet needs and serve students in unorthodox but proven ways. 


Cortney Richardson

The Peer Power Foundation Inc