Statements

Mission

PTM empowers Preston Taylor children and youth to discover and live their God-inspired dreams, develop a love for learning, and build joy-filled friendships that glorify Christ Jesus.

Background

In 1985, Perry McGowan, a Preston Taylor Housing Development resident and recent Pearl-Cohn graduate, saw children in his neighborhood without a safe place to grow and learn. Perry began tutoring 8 children in his mom's living room. As 8 turned into 16, Perry arranged for space in a trailer maintained by the Preston Taylor Management Office and offered tutoring, drug prevention training, Boy Scouts, field trips, fashion shows, and sports opportunities; Preston Taylor parents served as volunteers. In the mid-1990s, Metro Parks hired Perry to run programming at the Preston Taylor Community Center. In 1997, Patrick Hamilton began volunteering at the center. Perry introduced him to students, parents, and community leaders, and Patrick connected church leaders (Warner Durnell, Linda Knott), community leaders (Tim Bryant) and parents (Mark McShand, Paula Thomas) to build on the work Perry had started.
In March 1998, Preston Taylor Ministries was formally incorporated as a nonprofit. PTM offered a summer program at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church with Bible studies, recreation, tutoring, and music instruction. In 1999, PTM moved to First Baptist Church of West Nashville. In addition to summer/afterschool programs, PTM added mentoring programming.
In 2007, PTM moved operations into a building at 4014 Indiana Avenue donated by Martha and Hal Wilson. This permanent space (Wilson Center) provided a base to expand through the launching of satellite sites. In 2008, PTM established a second afterschool site in North Nashville in partnership with Faith United Missionary Baptist Church. In 2010, PTM began serving high school students through the Servant and Leadership Training (SaLT) program, which offers tutoring, life skills and job training, career and college exploration, and service learning. From 2010-2020, PTM added afterschool sites including ones in partnership with St. Luke's Community House (2016) and McGruder Center (2019). Today, PTM can serve up to 300 children/youth in K-13th grade (1 year post high school) at 8 afterschool sites. PTM believes that to be successful, children need to connect to a caring adult, a positive peer group, a purpose, and educational opportunity.

Impact

PTM believes that children need to dream - not dreams that they pick up from their peers or from the adults in their community, not even dreams that they inherit from their families or from PTM volunteers, but dreams that God has given them. Understanding, discovering, and grasping these dreams happens best through Christian friendships and educational achievement. In order to deepen this environment, our most significant goals for this year include 1) having 75% of our students are practicing connectedness by active participation in afterschool programming, growing in literacy skills, in a mentoring relationship with a caring adult, in a positive peer group, and has participated in an enriching experience, 2) add another afterschool program site to serve an additional 20-30 students), and 3) build PTM's staff infrastructure to prepare for future growth. Our most significant accomplishments of the last year include the following: 1) PTM had over 120 students who were practicing connectedness (mentoring, positive peer group, reading development) 2) PTM had over 120 students participate in a sports team, and 3) PTM has had the privilege to hire former students on as staff.

Needs

At Preston Taylor Ministries (PTM), we are dedicated to empowering children and youth to realize the gifts already in them for the advancing of the world. To achieve this mission, PTM has several critical needs: robust financial support to sustain and expand our programs, corporate partners who can extend resources and expertise to help us amplify our impact through providing employment opportunities for PTM youth, passionate volunteers to support the various PTM programs, collaboration with community organizations, schools, and local leaders to deepen community impact,

CEO Statement

In 2012 while interning at a church in Jackson, Mississippi, I realized my love for children and youth leading me to Center for Youth Ministry Training which connected me with Preston Taylor Ministries. For eight years I was a part of PTM's staff helping to lead youth programs and being a part of an organization making an impact in Northwest Nashville before assuming the Executive Director role in 2022.

At Preston Taylor Ministries, our mission is driven by the unwavering passion of our staff, volunteers and families, who believes deeply in the potential of every child and youth, especially those who have traditionally been overlooked. In our communities, many young people face barriers that can make their dreams feel distant and unattainable. PTM's vision is to provide these children with the opportunities and visibility they deserve-empowering them to rise above challenges and become the individuals they were always meant to be. By supporting Preston Taylor Ministries, you become a part of a transformative movement that prioritizes mentorship, education, and holistic development for youth who need it most. Together, we can help illuminate paths of possibility and create a brighter future where every child has the chance to thrive.

Service Categories
Primary Category:	Youth Development  - Youth Development Programs
Secondary Category:	Religion- Related  - Christianity
Tertiary Category:	Education  -

Areas Served

Preston Taylor Ministries serves students and families in North and West Nashville communities, specifically the 37206, 37208 and 37209 areas. In West Nashville, we serve the Nations neighborhood, area surrounding the Historic Preston Taylor Homes and Skyview Apartments. In North Nashville, we serve the Haynes Garden Apartments community in the Whites Creek area of Nashville, and neighborhoods surrounding the McGruder Center in North Nashville.

TN - Davidson