Youth Encouragement Services (Y.E.S.) enriches the lives of Nashville’s inner-city youth by providing them with a safe place to go where they can engage in social, educational, recreational and spiritual development. Each day, nearly 150 youth (Grades K-12) attend the Y.E.S. after-school programs, which maximize the out-of-school learning that is crucial to bridge the learning gap between low-income families and their high-earning peers. Y.E.S. is currently recruiting mentors for the 2019-20 school year who will be paired with a child enrolled in its after-school program for at least one hour every month for the entire school year (October-May). Mentors will help build confidence in their mentees while encouraging educational and personal development, which may include homework help, sharing hobbies/interests, teaching life and study skills, career exploration, listening and giving advice, playing sports or games, arts/crafts, etc. No prior mentoring experience required and all mentoring takes place at Y.E.S. Centers on weekdays during the after-school program (4pm-6pm). If interested, apply here. Thanks to McKenna Healy (YLC/Junior League Class 2018) for sharing this volunteer opportunity with YLC alumni and future class participants!
In Nashville’s low-income neighborhoods, violence is an everyday fact of life. Gangs recruit the young, stealing their childhood and, often, their life—creating a public health issue for all Nashvillians. Homicide is today the No. 1 cause of death among African-American boys ages 10-24. Nashville Peacemakers was founded by North Nashville resident Clemmie Greenlee after losing her only son Rodriguez in a gang-related shooting. The nonprofit gives youth in distressed neighborhoods the basic life skills and self-worth to choose peaceful alternatives to violence, and to support the mothers whose child has been victimized. Nashville Peacemakers is planning a spring 2020 fundraiser and is looking for volunteer committee members to start planning this September. If interested, contact board chair Deborah Borfitz at debborfitz@gmail.com.
Today’s issue of The Tennessean featured an article by opinion columnist LeBron Hill noting that voters under 35 made up only 9% of early voting for the most recent Nashville mayoral election. To find out what may be keeping more millennials ages 23-38 from voting locally, Hill talked with Charlane Oliver (Class 59), founder of The Equity Alliance, a Nashville-based grassroots non-profit advocacy group that seeks to equip citizens with tools and strategies to engage in the civic process. Oliver thinks the city is lacking in voter education and advertisement where millennials are on social media. For ones who are aware, they find it unappealing and aggressive and therefore, may feel incompetent where there are already so many loud voices. Hill reminds young professionals that “voting is much more than just a civic duty. It is taking ownership of your community. Looking ahead in years to come, issues such as education and housing will be in our hands to handle.” The runoff election for Mayor, four Metropolitan Council At Large and eight District seats in Davidson County is on September 12, with early voting August 23-September 7. Hill encourages millennials that “The only way we can ensure a sustainable and prosperous future is to vote.”
Harry Allen (Class 62) is the featured “Boss” in this week’s Nashville Business Journal. Harry, co-founder and chief relationship manager at Studio Bank, is a Nashville native and one of the business community’s most recognizable young leaders, especially for his philanthropic efforts. In addition to being president of the Rotary Club of Nashville, he’s an advocate and graduate of Metro Nashville Public Schools. He says, “Everything that the community feels is great about Harry Allen is the result of public education…I’ve just had phenomenal experiences, and I know that public education is the most important promise we make for our future.” The Belmont University graduate with both a BBA and MBA, speaks German, which he first learned in seventh grade at Meigs and was able to use it when he studied abroad in Germany for two semesters. If you have a digital subscription to NBJ, you can read the entire article, including what is the most exciting part of his day. (Hint: it definitely involves his family).
The Alumni Board of the Jack C. Massey College of Businessis hosting a Panelist Q&A Discussion with some of Nashville’s top business leaders to learn how to leverage your professional skills and make a difference in our community. Panelists include Angie Adams, CEO & President of PENCIL; Agenia Clark, CEO & President of Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee; Mark Deutschmann, Founder & Chair Emeritus of VILLAGE; Chip Howorth, Managing Principal of S+H Group; and Nicole Tremblett, VP of Strategy at HCA. The event takes place on Wednesday, August 28 at 5pm at Belmont University’s Frist Lecture Hall in the Inman Building. The cost to attend is $5 per person. Tickets will be available for purchase at the door. Thanks to Kyle Kilgore (YLC/Massey Graduate School Alumni Class 2019) for sharing this event with YLC alumni and class participants!
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the world’s leader in the search for a cure for cystic fibrosis, and one of the most innovative and successful organizations of its kind, is seeking a Development Director for the Nashville chapter office. In this position, you’ll develop fundraising plans and budgets; launch new events, campaigns, initiative and/or programs; engage in continuous short-term and long-term revenue planning; and identify prospective individual donors and cultivate new and veteran corporate sponsors, committee members, team leaders, honorees, chairs, and volunteers for assigned events, campaigns and initiatives. The position requires 5+ years of fundraising/sales experience and a four-year degree or equivalent education/experience. If you would you like to go to work every day knowing that your work is important and that you have made a difference, click here to learn more and/or apply for this position.
