| SUMMARY |
| The
first Youth Life Learning Center in Nashville was established in 2001.
Since then Youth Life Foundation of TN has added five other centers
in Nashville, one in Memphis, and one in Jacksonville, FL. Life Centers
are now serving over 350 at-risk children. |
|
| INDEPTH |
| In
2000 a group of local church and business leaders joined together
to do something special for inner-city children in Nashville. Helping
lead the way in Nashville was Tim Johnson, an NFL all-pro defensive
end and member of the Washington Redskin’s 1988 Super Bowl championship
team. His close friend and teammate, Darrell Green, had established
the first Youth Life Learning Center in 1993 as a faith-based after-school
program for children of urban Washington, D.C. Tim Johnson continues
to serve as board President of Youth Life Foundation of Tennessee. |
| The Nashville group incorporated as Youth Life Foundation of Tennessee,
Inc. in March 2001 and began the process renovating a 3000 square-foot
facility. With the help of the Darrell Green Youth Life Foundation
and in partnership with Village West Property Management and other
local business leaders, the West Nashville Youth Life Learning Center
opened its doors on January 7, 2002. |
| For
two years Youth Life Learning Centers focused on developing the program
at the West Nashville center, enrolling at-risk children from kindergarten
through grade five. Within a couple of years that Life Center had
grown to serve a full complement of enrolled students, each being
committed to attending the after-school academic program five days
a week. In addition to these core students, a significant number of
students from all grades regularly dropped in from 3:00 to 4:00 for
tutoring and homework assistance. That first Youth Life Learning Center
also began sponsoring and/or participating in numerous family support
and community service initiatives in the surrounding neighborhood. |
| In those first two years Youth Life Learning Centers also gained a
great deal of community recognition and support from city officials
and local foundations. Corporations and business leaders began to
get involved both as volunteers and as financial supporters. In the
next few years two more Youth Life Learning Centers were opened through
a partnership with the Nashville Metro Parks Department. The Kirkpatrick
Youth Life Learning Center located in the Kirkpatrick Parks and Recreation
Center was established in 2004 and serves students living in the Cayce
Homes and surrounding community. |
| In 2004 James D. Lowe came to Youth Life Foundation of Tennessee as
the leader of YLLCs in Nashville and the Regional Director for the
Southern Region. The Kirkpatrick Youth Life Learning Center located
in the Kirkpatrick Parks and Recreation Center was established in
that same year and today serves students living in the Cayce Homes
and surrounding community. |
| In 2005 another partnership with Metro Parks and Recreation paved
the way for a Youth Life Learning Center in the Easley Community Center.
Yet another Pinnacle Property Management facility houses the Hillside
Youth Life Learning Center. The Easley and Hillside centers, both
located just south of downtown Nashville, together serve the Edgehill
community. |
| The
Riverchase Youth Life Learning Center, located in the East Nashville
community, was established in 2006, again in partnership with Pinnacle
Property Management. |
| Progress in 2007: |
| Youth
Life Foundation of Tennessee moved into its own offices on Trousdale
Drive in south Nashville. The decision to move was approved based
on increased income, therefore maintaining an annual administration
percentage of 17%. |
| At the urging and support of the respective city governments YLLCs
have been established in Memphis and Jacksonville, FL. The Jacksonville
center is a partnership with the The Boselli Foundation and the Memphis
Life Center in partnership with Pinnacle Property Management. |
| Through an HHS Capacity Building Grant Youth Life Foundation of Tennessee
added additional staff in 2007 to upgrade communications, donor relations,
and volunteer coordination. |
| Youth Life Learning Centers has continued to forge numerous partnerships
with corporations, foundations, churches, and individuals creating
opportunities for new Learning Centers to be established in other
cities. These relationships, combined with a proven track record,
a more developed organizational infrastructure, and the addition of
experienced program and administrative staff, are enabling Youth Life
Learning Centers to continue building on a solid foundation. |
