Statements
Mission
The New Beginnings Center's mission is to empower women and teenage girls to discover their strength, both inside and out, through personalized coaching in fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, regardless of income or ability to pay.
Background
The rate of obesity in America has increased by 214 percent since World War II. Currently, only one in five Americans has a healthy body mass. By one estimate, the health care costs of obesity are responsible for nearly 21 percent of total health care spending in the U.S. (Cawley J, Meyerhoefer C. The medical care costs of obesity: an instrumental variables approach. J Health Econ. 2012; 31:219-30.) Looking ahead, researchers have estimated that by 2030, if obesity trends continue unchecked, obesity-related medical costs alone could rise by $48 to $66 billion a year in the U.S. (Wang CY, McPherson K, Marsh T, Gortmaker S, Brown M. Health and economic burden of the projected obesity trends in the USA and the UK. Lancet. 2011; 378:815-25). These statistics are even worse in the low-income population as median income correlates importantly with obesity rates. When TNBC first began offering classes in its new facility in 2013, Tennessee ranked 4th in the U.S. for obesity. At present we are the 19th most obese state with 35.9% of adults being overweight and 31.2% having obesity (State of Childhood Obesity, an Initiative of the Rober Wood Johnson Foundation). These statistics underline the urgent need for exactly the kind of program TNBC offers, one designed to help low-income women and teenage girls fight the cycle of poverty and obesity.
TNBC programming is innovative because we are providing individualized wellness coaching to low-income women and teenage girls who do not have access to this level of training and, as a result, our clients are reversing diseases related to obesity and sustaining these results over the long-term. TNBC realizes that lifestyle change is a skill that requires practice to develop. We go beyond simply providing information on how to live a healthier life. We coach women through the process of change and into the practice of new behaviors. Our CEO and co-founder, Tash Weddle, was a collegiate strength and conditioning coach for 18 years and brings a wealth of fitness, nutrition and coaching expertise to New Beginnings. Tash has designed progressive workouts that achieve outstanding results without putting women and girls at risk of injury. She has developed a nutrition program that is culturally sensitive and offers practical tips for incorporating nutrient rich foods on a budget.
Impact
The New Beginnings Center was incorporated as a non-profit organization on 6/21/2011. The agency received its non-profit determination letter from the IRS on 11/20/2011. Our agency has secured funding from over 15 foundations, 75 corporations, and hundreds of individuals and will continue to grow our donor base by demonstrating sustainable results through our clients.
In 2022, TNBC expanded its reach to include teenage girls as a new demographic. Iron Souls is a holistic wellness program designed specifically for this age group, to give them the knowledge and tools to put them on a path to healthy living. Emotional well-being, relationships and resilience building strategies are a big part of this program. Coaches also cover nutrition best practices and do hands on meal and snack prep with participants. All classes include a strength and conditioning workout where participants use gym equipment, and learn strength training techniques. In addition to the physical benefits of the workouts, girls develop self-confidence and pride in themselves as they accomplish things they never thought they could.
Our adult women clients have accomplished and sustained the following results on average: Weight reduction 5-10%, BMI reduction 2 points. Additionally, over 50% of women have stopped taking prescription medication for diabetes and hypertension or reduced their dosage, 85% of graduates reported improved self-concept and confidence, have increased physical activity in their daily lives, experienced a decrease in pain and physical limitations, and all graduates have improved strength and mobility. These women are exercising regularly and meet up with other women at local greenways and community centers to support their new active lifestyles. All the graduates have gained knowledge of important nutritional concepts and practices that will sustain them throughout the rest of their lives. These changes, both physical and mental, counteract the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) now known to be causal factors in obesity. Reducing the impact of the ACEs and strengthening women's capacity for positive health has a direct and positive impact on their children, families, and community. We are honored that we can help women create these measurable outcomes.
We have also expanded the ability to reach low-income clients with monthly workshops that are designed to supplement our preventative wellness programming: food preparation classes, hearing screenings, conquering clutter for clarity, creating vision boards, life hacks for more energy, less stress, to move better and hurt less, financial wellness, artful meditation, women's health forum, breast health, self-defense and many more.
TNBC has enhanced its program offerings to include a social entrepreneurial collaboration - TNBFitness. TNBFitness offers personal training sessions at market rates to clients who can afford to pay for these programs and a portion of each session fee is donated to TNBC for low-income client scholarships. Since its inception, TNBFitness has sponsored over 350 women through TNBC programs. This allows market rate clients to learn about and relate to the low-income population that cannot afford coaching and training needed to improve their wellness and gives these clients a way to contribute and interact with the scholarship clients. TNBFitness members have become board members of TNBC and donors and have helped our agency grow our corporate and non-profit partnerships. Community volunteers include volunteers that are helping the agency though collaborative projects such as facility enhancement, event planning, administration, operations, scholarship client recruitment, nutrition education, strategic planning, and financial planning.
Needs
Sponsorship Funding for Low Income and Elderly Clients -$385,000
General Operating Funding - $140,250
Marketing and Public Outreach - $24,750
Volunteers - $0
CEO Statement
New Beginnings offers graduated levels of strength training and conditioning programs tailored to each client's specific ability and needs. The programs begin at a basic/novice level and advance to intermediate and advanced levels. A client must complete an entire training level and pass respective tests in order to graduate and advance to the next level. It may be necessary for a client to repeat the same level more than once to ensure that their body has made the appropriate adaptations in order for them to safely advance. Before beginning a training program clients are tested for functional movement ability, muscular strength and endurance and cardiovascular endurance. They must also provide a release signed by a doctor saying it is safe for them to begin an exercise program and listing any contraindications necessary. These tests will be used to determine the appropriate level at which each client should begin. The results will also be used to determine the specific exercises to be prescribed to address each individual's weakness, imbalances or asymmetries. Clients train in small groups and are coached by certified strength and conditioning specialists who have been thoroughly trained in the New Beginnings training philosophy and protocols. Measurements and surveys of results are taken regularly throughout the 12-month long program and are monitored and evaluated by trainers. New Beginnings is able to offer programs specifically designed for senior clients and those with physical disabilities as well. We will always strive to meet the needs of our clients and find a way around any obstacle in order to offer each and every individual in our care the opportunity to fulfill their physical, mental and spiritual goals. All programs offered at New Beginnings are designed to not only improve each client's physical health and daily performance, but also to reveal to each individual their inner strength. We strive to build authentic self-confidence and empower each individual to take responsibility and initiative for their own personal growth and apply this new awareness to their daily life and pay it forward.
Board Chair Statement
Our goal is to serve 600 women and 60 teenage girls this fiscal year and to reduce the cost of publicly funded medical costs by over $1 million per year. TNBC programs are provided at no cost to scholarship clients and are individualized, holistic, and targeted to achieve measurable results and to empower the client to take responsibility for their own wellness. We will continue to expand our partnerships and client base to reach more of the targeted low-income and elderly populations and to evaluate growth into other segments of the community. As our client, partnership, and donor base have grown, we are now able to offer satellite programs at St. Luke's Community House, the McGruder Family Resource Center, Gilda's Club of Middle Tennessee, Bethlehem Center, and the SE Branch of the Nashville Public Library in Antioch. We plan to continue to grow our satellite programs to include 2-4 additional locations over the next 3 years. We also partner with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Middle TN to bring wellness programming to their parents and residents.
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | Human Services - Senior Centers/Services |
| Secondary Category: | Community Improvement, Capacity Building - |
| Tertiary Category: | Public & Societal Benefit - Leadership Development |
Areas Served
| TN - Davidson |
