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Community Impact Valerie’s Story - One in five Nashville adults cannot read. Valerie…

Community Impact

Education

Preparing at-risk children for kindergarten and ensuring that kids succeed in school K-12.

By increasing education levels and the graduation rate, young people are more likely to be successful on their own, be healthier, and less likely to need government assistance.

27% of students in the Metro Nashville Public Schools won’t graduate. To help combat this problem, United Way supports 16 tutoring, after-school & healthy choice programs which result in 420 students increasing academic performance and 3,600 students increasing healthy behaviors.

Students are 5 times more likely to graduate if they have supportive adult relationships. They are also 3-4 times more likely to drop out in later years if they enter school without basic literacy skills.

By focusing on two areas, Getting Ready for School and Succeeding in School, United Way of Metropolitan Nashville supports programs from pre-k to high school that give children and young adults the tools they need to be successful not only in school, but also in life.

Focus Areas

Getting Ready for School Programs and Partner Agencies

Ensures that 1,400 pre-school children enter school ready to learn through parent outreach programs, and Read to Succeed, United Way’s early literacy initiative.

Succeeding in School

Ensures that 4,300 middle school children in 11 of Nashville’s lowest performing schools don’t become high school dropouts with quality after-school activities, mentors, tutors and life skills training.

Education Program Partners

Getting Ready for School Partner Agencies

  • Bethlehem Centers Early Childhood Education (Bethlehem Centers of Nashville)
  • Hispanic Family Learning and Nurturing Groups (Catholic Charities of Tenn. Inc)
  • Pre-School Program (Eighteenth Avenue Family Enrichment Center)
  • Fannie Battle Early Childhood Education (Fannie Battle Day Home for Children, Inc.)
  • First Steps Early Childhood Education (First Steps, Inc.)
  • King’s Daughters Day Home Early Childhood Education (King’s Daughter Day Home)
  • Martha O’Bryan Early Childhood Education (Martha O’Bryan Center, Inc.)
  • McNeilly Early Childhood Education (McNeilly Center for Children)
  • St. Luke’s Early Childhood Education (St. Luke’s Community House)
  • St. Mary Villa Child Development Center (St. Mary Villa)
  • Early Childhood Consulting Program (Tennessee Voices for Children)

School Based Family Resource Centers and Lead Partners

  • Bordeaux/Northwest FRC - Advisory Council Fund (PENCIL Foundation)
  • Cole FRC (Conexion Americas)
  • Fall-Hamilton FRC (United Neighborhood Health Services)
  • Maplewood FRC (PENCIL Foundation)
  • Napier FRC (Family & Children’s Service)
  • Pearl Cohn FRC (Vanderbilt University)

Succeeding in School Programs and Partner Agencies

  • Bridge Program (YMCA of Middle TN)
  • Choices, Control and Consequences (STARS Nashville)
  • FACES at McKissack & Napier (Family & Children’s Service)
  • Jobs for Tennessee Graduates (PENCIL Foundation)
  • Lil Sisters/Buffalo Soldiers (YMCA of Middle TN)
  • MATH PARTNERS (PENCIL Foundation)
  • One-To-One Mentoring Program (Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee)
  • Prevention Services (Oasis Center, Inc.)
  • Reading Partners (PENCIL Foundation)
  • Safe at Last (Sexual Assault Center)
  • Salama Institute (Salama Urban Ministries)
  • Student Assistance Services (STARS Nashville)
  • YLLC Success in School (7 YLLC Sites) (Youth Life Learning Center)
  • Youth Development (Martha O’Bryan Center, Inc.)
  • Youth Empowered and Progressive (United Neighborhood Health Services)
  • Youth Services (YWCA)

Valerie’s Story

Valerie’s Story

One in five Nashville adults cannot read. Valerie Brown was one of them until she began working with volunteers at the Nashville…
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