Statements
Mission
We provide access and opportunities for youth in urban areas to experience watersports, outdoor adventure, and educational resources, resulting in confident and empowered leaders who are ready to walk on the rough waters of life.
Background
When Water Walkers was founded in 2016, all we had was a boat and a dream of making a difference. Today, we're providing year-round education and adventure-based youth development programs that have served over 100 youth in the Edgehill Apartments near downtown Nashville, where 85% of residents are classified as extremely low income. The majority of the students we serve attend under-resourced public schools, where fewer than 4 in 10 third graders are reading on grade level. Furthermore, safety concerns create barriers to accessing local parks. Eighteen percent of residents in the Edgehill Governmental Housing have witnessed a homicide, and 50% of parents do not feel comfortable taking their children to the park.
Impact
Water Walkers' VISION is to narrow the achievement gap by showing youth they're capable of overcoming obstacles with persistence and creating the future they see for themselves.
We are doing that by providing youth with two things that greatly increase their chances of success:
First, we're equipping them with the mindset and skills they need to work hard, work smart, and persevere.
Second, we're providing a positive environment for youth to build trusting, consistent, long-term relationships with adult and peer mentors during the critical transition to adulthood.
During the school year, Water Walkers provides after-school tutoring and enrichment programs Monday-Friday. Students learn how to think critically, embrace challenges, and keep going in the face of setbacks. During out-of-school time, we provide outdoor recreation and watersports-based development programs that give young people opportunities to share new experiences, face and overcome self-doubt, and discover their strengths.
Water Walkers builds its programming on five key pillars:
1) Outdoor Adventure -- providing access to outdoor recreation and mentorship for all youth in our program.
2) Educational Enrichment -- improving their levels of literacy, math, and science.
3) Mental Wellness -- providing clinical support to help our children better cope with Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).
4) Basic Needs -- providing necessary resources to maintain their personal hygiene and eat nutritiously.
5) Leadership Development -- training older teens to lead, make wise choices, and prepare for the job market.
Needs
Water Walkers consistently has the following needs:
1) Volunteers -- By volunteering a few hours each month, you can provide tutoring in the after-school program and/or assist during outdoor adventure activities. Join us in impacting young lives!
More specifically, volunteer photographers and videographers are needed.
2) Financial Support -- Your contributions enable us to keep providing life-changing opportunities for youth needing extra guidance and support. In particular, contributions are needed to hire additional staff members.
CEO Statement
I am thrilled to introduce you to our impactful nonprofit organization! As the leader of this life-changing endeavor, based in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee, I am honored to extend this letter to you. Our nonprofit operates under the esteemed status of a 501(c)(3) organization, ensuring our commitment to serving the community without profit motives. We focus our efforts on empowering the youth and families residing in low-income areas, particularly those within the governmental housing communities of Nashville.
One of our hallmarks is our dedication to accessibility. We proudly offer our programs free of charge to all participants, ensuring that financial barriers do not impede access to vital resources and opportunities. At our core, we recognize the pressing need to support individuals facing significant challenges daily. Therefore, we have meticulously designed a comprehensive program centered around five pillars of programming. These pillars form the backbone of our daily operations, with activities and initiatives tailored to meet the diverse needs of our participants. Our program operates five days a week, 46 weeks a year, ensuring consistent support and engagement for our community members.
Through our structured curriculum, we aim to foster essential skills and knowledge in literacy, mathematics proficiency, financial literacy, and environmental conservation. In particular, our Water Walkers initiative embodies our commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability. We empower our participants to actively contribute to the preservation of our planet, instilling a sense of responsibility and environmental consciousness.
As we continue our mission to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve, we invite you to join us in our journey. Together, we can inspire positive change, empower individuals, and build a brighter future for our community. Thank you for considering our organization, and we eagerly anticipate the opportunity to collaborate with you in the pursuit of our shared goals.
Board Chair Statement
I grew up in the 12 South/Edgehill Community. My evenings and summers there were spent playing baseball and basketball, both organized and unorganized. I have lifelong friendships that were fostered in this community. I believe we are supposed to walk through life with one hand reaching up to achieve goals and success, and another hand reaching back to pull those behind us as we climb.
I joined this organization to extend that hand of assistance to kids living the same existence that developed me. I see myself and my friends in the eyes of these children, and it engenders a great responsibility to help them achieve what might have seemed out of reach because of their circumstances.
The work Water Walkers executes to enrich the academic lives of the children we serve is nothing short of phenomenal. The care each child receives through the five pillars of wholistic programming speaks to specific areas of need that all children require as foundational for lifelong, healthy success. The curiosity ignited when the children are exposed to activities that are out of the norm for many in their social circles spurs a fascination with the environment and a connection with Mother Nature.
I am so proud to be a Water Walker. I am grateful to serve in a capacity that furthers the mission of empowering children with the tools needed to make a positive impact on their own communities--like this neighborhood gave me when I once roamed these streets at their ages.
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | Youth Development - Youth Development Programs |
| Secondary Category: | Education - Educational Services |
| Tertiary Category: | Recreation & Sports - Recreation & Sports NEC |
Areas Served
Water Walkers serves youth living in the Edgehill Apartments, a subsidized housing community in Nashville, TN where 100% of residents are low-income according to HUD Area Median Income standards. The average household income is $9,749, and 85% of residents are classified as extremely low income (30% or below the AMI).
| TN - Davidson |
