Tammy, Janet, and Mary met while teaching and providing job counseling at a homeless shelter in Nashville. Having built an educational program that focused on helping students build up their computer skills, practical living skills and job preparation/job search skills, we were amazed at how lives were positively changed by learning things that many of us take for granted.
Buoyed by the success of that experience, we sought to duplicate our efforts in a historically low-income area of Nashville - one that was challenged by poverty and lack of opportunity. So, we established Better Tomorrows Adult Education Center in East Nashville to provide educational services at no charge: where 30% of the population live below the poverty level, 40% of adults are without a high school diploma or GED certificate, and 54% of the families have single heads of household.
Better Tomorrows received its non-profit 501(c)3 designation from the IRS in May 2004 and we began teaching classes in October 2004.
We found the perfect place for our mission: a much neglected yet full-of-promise historic home at 908 Meridian Street that we call the Big Red Schoolhouse. Focused on our mission, we set forth to begin renovation of this old home while beginning to teach out of classrooms across the street from it, at Ray of Hope Community Church. We opened our classroom doors at Ray of Hope in Autumn 2004, offering adult literacy, GED tutoring, life skills, job skills, and cultural learning opportunities. Since then, we have served over 200 adults with the help of hundreds of volunteers. We look forward to continuing this legacy of empowerment, and we ask that you join us.
We strive to provide the best helping hands and hearts possible in empowering adults to live their best for themselves and their families. And we endeavor to do it as effectively and economically as possible.
We ask for your continued help to ensure Better Tomorrows achieves its mission: your prayers, your active service, and your financial contributions are needed. Your financial contributions will help fund the education programs. Your active service will help teach those who want to learn and help complete the renovation on our future home so that we can reach more people. Your prayers will help us to plan according to God's will, help prepare students' minds and hearts, help us find talented and dedicated volunteers, and help us obtain funds and supplies.
We ask that you prayerfully consider supporting Better Tomorrows in any of these ways. We are very thankful for all of you who have supported us over the years and hope that you continue!
If you would like to learn more about BTAEC, contact us at (615) 228-6525 or e-mail us at info@better-tomorrows.com.
All our best,
