Statements
Mission
The mission of The HELP Center is to provide ex-offenders, offenders, low income individuals support to restructure their lives and achieve success with counseling, educational, employment, and supportive services.
Background
It gives us vast pleasure to present one of Nashville newest non-profit organizations, The HELP Center. The mission of The HELP Center is to provide ex-offenders, offenders, low income individuals support to restructure their lives and achieve success with counseling, educational, employment, and supportive services. Ex-offenders, even after they have served their sentences, may find that they are deprived of many important civil and constitutional rights and commonly accepted privileges of citizenship. A criminal conviction doesn't have to be the end of your career road - not by a long shot. If a person has recently been released from jail or prison - or are likely to be released soon - transitional work programs can help find work immediately, and apply for jobs with employers who won't discriminate against them based on your criminal record. Many offenders have difficulty finding permanent, unsubsidized, well-paid employment after release because they lack job-seeking experience, a work history, and occupational skills; furthermore, many employers refuse to hire individuals with criminal records. These circumstances seriously affect an ex-offender's stability because unemployment is consistently associated with high recidivism rates.
Impact
The HELP Center opened to Davidson County and surrounding counties on February 8, 2015 since our doors have been open to the public we have served over two hundred (200) clients successfully with employment and/or housing. We have started a new program beginning January 2017 The HELP Center Food Pantry and has provided food for 643 individuals. Founder, Tamika Braden, has a deep history working in the community through social services and other state run programs. When Braden conceived the idea for The HELP Center, she knew she wanted to reach out to individuals in the community that are typically forgotten. "While working in the field, I have met many smart individuals and who have criminal records. Most are educated and deserving individuals who cannot land successful employment because of their past," says Braden.The HELP Center can only achieve its goals with the assistance of generous donations from members of our community. Without these donations, serving those in our area would not be possible. Donations help sustain our organization and benefit the community we serve.
Needs
The HELP Center (THC) wants success for our job seekers that come to our office. The population that THC serves have barriers such as transportation, housing, and felony backgrounds. THC wants to assist with some barriers so that our job seekers can become self sufficient and job ready.THC need support from our community funds to purchase bus passes for our job seekers as while as food donations or monetary donation to purchase for our food pantry. The HELP Center is organized to support a great cause to help the needy and underprivileged people of our city. This year we endeavor to provide services for ex-offenders such as job readiness, resume writing, basic computer operation, computer software navigation, housing, food assistance, uniform assistance, utility assistance, driver's license reinstatements, transportation services, GED preparation along with in-house testing, just to name a few. The HELP Center can only achieve its goals with the assistance of generous donations from members of our community. Without these donations, serving those in our area would not be possible. Donations help sustain our organization and benefit the community we serve.
CEO Statement
Tamika Braden is the founding incorporator, serves as CEO/Executive Director for The HELP Center. Braden has over ten years' experience in Quality Control and Case Management with a track record of producing extraordinary results in both areas and a commitment to human development and community service. With considerable years' experience in workforce experience including Operations Supervisor for ResCare, Case Manager for Maximus, Child Support and other contracts for the State of Tennessee. Tamika is heavily involved with establishing the relationships with public and community partners. Tamika believes that everyone deserves a Second Chance that's why The HELP Center was born.
Board Chair Statement
Reflecting on the quote instilled in many of us as children, "It take a village to raise a child," is the approach of compassion and understanding the leaders of The Help Center take on a daily basis. Establishing a strong team that understands the mission as I, Ramon Johnson, possess has been an easy task. When like-minded individuals come together to work towards a common goals of serving our community of ex-offenders and low-income individuals truly has its challenges. Providing financial support to the center and programs is a constant dream, long term. The center provides a great benefit to the population that we provide services for. We have seen measurable success and we are now seeking to expand the services of The HELP Center to address the needs of all at risk offenders, ex-offenders and low-income individuals in the Middle Tennessee area. We believe that we need to be the change that we aspire to see in our community, therefore we are here to ensure that Nashville receives the ultimate benefit of The Help Center.
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | Human Services - Centers to Support the Independence of Specific Populations |
| Secondary Category: | Human Services - |
| Tertiary Category: | - |
Areas Served
The HELP Center provides services for Davidson County residents. THC office is located in Davidson county located at 3918 Dickerson PK suite E Nashville, TN 37207.
| TN - Davidson |
