Statements
Mission
Project Transformation Tennessee's mission is to transform communities by engaging children, college-age young adults and churches in purposeful relationships.
What inspires our mission is what we call Project Transformation's "three C's."
• Children: Our summer and afterschool programs serve children who live in under-resourced neighborhoods by providing literacy and holistic programming to engage the mind, body and spirit.
• College-age Young Adults: Planning and leading these programs are our college-age young adult interns, who serve as mentors and role models to our children. All the while, they are developing as principled Christian leaders and exploring various ministry-related vocations.
• Churches: We partner strategically with churches in changing neighborhoods to provide safe spaces to cement new relationships that invest both in our young people and our community.
Background
Since our founding in 2011, Project Transformation has partnered with churches in under-resourced neighborhoods to provide children with holistic programming that engages the mind, body and spirit. Our summer and afterschool programs provide literacy and social-emotional interventions that equip children to be healthy, whole and successful leaders. Leading these programs are our college interns, who serve as mentors to the children. These interns develop as principled Christian leaders, while exploring various ministry-related vocations, and serving as the high-energy glue to cement new relationships in changing neighborhoods. Since our launch, we have grown to serve more than 4,330 elementary and middle school students through the service of 380 young adults.
Impact
In 2023, Project Transformation served 209 children and youth (grades 1-8) at seven hosting site churches through the ministry of 36 young adults. Our approach nurtures social-emotional health of young people and encourages in them a love for reading. Our holistic program integrates academic progression in literacy, social and emotional learning, and plain old fun. Daily activities include structured physical fitness, creative arts, recreational play, mindfulness activities that target self-management and responsible decision-making, as well as one-on-one reading time with community volunteers who will be connecting with children virtually. Planning and leading these programs are our talented college interns, who serve as mentors and role models to our children. All the while, they are developing as principled Christian leaders and exploring various ministry-related vocations.
Beyond serving young people, Project Transformation connects churches in under-resourced neighborhoods with their changing community. These host churches have the heart and building space for ministry, but not the resources on their own to provide such an evidence-based program. So, by partnering with Project Transformation, these churches offer a critically-needed ministry to their community that furthers their relationships with their neighbors.
Needs
1) Financial support to help us to continue to improve and grow our program.
2) Volunteers to read with children in our summer program, help with homework in our afterschool program, provide meals for interns, and coordinate supply drives.
3) Corporate and organizational partnerships to strengthen our capacity to serve.
CEO Statement
While we celebrate the numbers-- our track record of success-- we know that the power of Project Transformation is in relationships. Between a child and an intern; a student reader and a volunteer; a church member and a church neighbor-- this is how transformation begins. This is how a child is able to dream bigger than realize their potential. This is how a young adult is able to gain a greater sense of self-identify and purpose. Our theory of change is that transformation happens through relationships.
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | Human Services - Children's and Youth Services |
| Secondary Category: | Youth Development - Youth Development Programs |
| Tertiary Category: | Education - Remedial Reading & Encouragement |
Areas Served
Project Transformation's Middle Tennessee sites are strategically located in six distinct high-need areas in Woodbine, Antioch, Madison, Clarksville, Smyrna, and Murfreesboro.
| TN - Davidson |
| TN - Rutherford |
| TN - Montgomery |
