Better Tomorrows.com - Our Partners

• Ray of Hope Community Church, an active member of the neighborhood for 8 years, partners with us by providing a long-term $1 per year lease on a 6000-square-foot historic house for our future home. While extensive renovation progresses on the property, Ray of Hope provides free classroom and office space, volunteers and encouragement.

• The Regional Transit Authority assists our students with public transportation to classes, job interviews and the first few weeks of employment.

• Bank of America, United Methodist Publishing House, and McKendree United Methodist Church are providing volunteer teachers and tutors. Plans include enlisting a significant number of churches, civic organizations, and local businesses to provide volunteer, financial and prayer support.

• As a member of Cleveland Park Neighborhood Association, we participate in the community and encourage our neighbors toward improving themselves and their families via our educational programs.

• Ujima House (a domestic violence shelter) encourages clients to strengthen themselves via BTAEC programs.

• We work in partnership with Nashville Auto Diesel College to prepare their candidates for their entrance exams.

• The Nashville Workforce Resource Center (NWRC) works with senior citizens 55+ in helping them re-enter the workforce. We partner with NWRC by providing GED preparation and Computer and Office Skills classes to those senior citizens who want to achieve these goals on their way to obtaining gainful employment. We also have developed an intern position called an Office Communications Coordinator, in which a senior citizen from NWRC works in our office, learning and applying the computer and office skills. After interning 6 weeks or so, it is the goal of the intern program that the senior is prepared for a full-time full-pay position.

• Through our partnership with the Tennessee Literacy Coalition, BTAEC enlisted a VISTA volunteer to assist with fundraising and volunteer recruitment for our GED and literacy programs.

• Dress For Success works with us to outfit women students in our Finders Keepers employment class for interviews and starting a job.

• We partner with Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency (MDHA), Cohn Adult High School, Martha OBryan Center, and the Salvation Army Magness Potter Center to serve adults in Nashville who are preparing for the GED exam.

• Salvation Army Red Shield Program functions as the area Family Resource Center. As a partner, Better Tomorrows staff attends monthly roundtable meetings at which area organizations work together to meet area needs.

• Longer-term plans include working with local universities to develop continuing education opportunities for our students.

• Area churches, including Kingston Springs United Methodist, Hillcrest United Methodist, McKendree United Methodist Church, and Ray of Hope Community Church, have provided volunteer support.

• The Davidson County Sheriffs Office has assisted in the initial clean-up efforts of our renovation using minimum security prisoners. Plans are to utilize their help when feasible throughout the renovation process.

• Metro Historical Commission, MTSU Center for Historic Preservation, and the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area are assisting with research and recommendations for the renovation and application to the National Register of Historic Places.

• Tennessee Preservation Trust is assisting with research, recommendations, and volunteer recruitment.

• Gresham, Smith and Partners is an architectural firm in Nashville that provided us the resources to draw up plans from which we are designing the renovation.

• Wallace J. Hutcherson Construction Company serves as our renovation manager.