Statements

Mission

At Rocklife Youth, our mission is to empower and support youth in Nashville-Davidson County through targeted justice-involved mentoring and enriching after-school programs. We are dedicated to fostering a safe and inclusive environment where students can develop essential life skills, set meaningful goals, and connect with mentors who inspire positive change. Through collaboration with community partners, we aim to ignite passion, creativity, and resilience in every young person we serve, helping them build brighter futures.

Background

Rocklife Youth provides targeted justice-involved mentoring through our "Just Us" program at alternative schools, focusing on helping youth navigate challenges after encountering the justice system. Our program assists them in developing essential life skills, setting short- and long-term goals, and connecting them with specific mentors who guide them on their journey. These mentors play a crucial role in empowering youth to gain the tools and confidence needed to build positive futures.

In addition to our mentoring program, Rocklife Youth has served grades K-8 in Nashville-Davidson County for the past four years, partnering with Nashville Classical Charter School and Strive Collegiate Academy. During the summer, we host an eight-week camp for youth ages 10-14, where high school volunteers earn community service hours.

Rocklife Youth offers a variety of after-school activities, including meal time, homework assistance, arts and crafts, and performing arts. We collaborate with organizations like Girls Write Nashville and Nashville Children's Theatre to enhance our program. This focus on youth interests helps us build trusting relationships.

Over 90% of our students are minorities, with many from single-parent households. We ensure our staff reflects this diversity, fostering a safe and relatable environment. For many, Rocklife Youth is the highlight of their day, providing a space to connect with friends and staff.

Impact

Rocklife Youth positively impacts the lives of over 200 youth in Nashville-Davidson County each year. Through our "Just Us" mentoring program, we provide crucial support to justice-involved youth, helping them develop essential life skills and connect with dedicated mentors who guide them in setting and achieving meaningful goals. Our comprehensive after-school programs offer a safe and engaging environment, where students enjoy nutritious meals, homework assistance, and enriching activities that spark creativity and foster personal growth. By prioritizing diversity and inclusivity, we strive to create a community where every young person feels valued, understood, and empowered to build a brighter future.

Needs

Two of the most pressing needs for us are transportation and funding for performance arts. Performing arts has statistically shown to benefit students heavily when it comes to attendance and engagement in afterschool programming. We would love to place more of an investment toward performing arts. Funding would help us with equipment and staff pay. We also need assistance with transportation. During the summer months many students cannot come to our program as much as they would like due to lack of transportation. We would like to add transportation to our program to ensure that every student has the opportunity to be present at our program.

We would also like to see more investments toward STEM resources for students, professional development for staff, and create more benefits for part time staff. We are seeking $50,000 in funding to provide the needs listed.

CEO Statement

Here's a more polished version of your statement:

---

My journey began as a police officer with Metro Nashville Davidson County, where I worked downtown and frequently interacted with juveniles during after-school hours. In these encounters, I often met young teens who had just committed offenses, and I was struck by how much they reminded me of myself at that age. The key difference was that I had access to a supportive after-school environment-whether at home, in sports, or while running errands with my parents.

As I engaged with these young minority teens, I couldn't help but think about the impact of providing them with a safe place to go after school-somewhere they could explore their interests without the pressure to conform or the risk of danger. I envisioned how much they could thrive in an environment that nurtured their passions, whether in sports or the performing arts.

In 2019, I made the decision to leave my position as an officer and establish both the mentoring and after-school program I had always imagined. The greatest joy of this journey has been building trusting relationships with students who feel safe with me because they know I understand their experiences. I emphasize to my staff that our primary responsibility is to ensure that at least one student feels trust and safety in our presence, allowing them to be vulnerable and transparent.

I am excited for the future and eager to see the continued impact we can make in Nashville.

- Caleb Rogan

Board Chair Statement

Our vision for establishing an after-school program centers on enriching the lives of youth in Nashville. We aim to create a nurturing environment that fosters positive relationships and enables young people to thrive. Our goal is to build character, confidence, and enhance educational outcomes for every participant. We recognize that our impact on one child extends to their entire family, ultimately contributing to stronger communities.

- Nicole Taylor

Service Categories
Primary Category:	Community Improvement, Capacity Building  - Community & Neighborhood Development
Secondary Category:	Religion- Related  - Religion-Related NEC
Tertiary Category:	-

Areas Served

TN - Davidson