Statements
Mission
Corner to Corner is a community-led nonprofit, co-creating meaningful economic growth with historically underestimated Nashvillians through knowledge, tools, and networks.
Background
Corner to Corner was founded by Will and Tiffany Acuff in 2011. Compelled by the invitation of Jesus to 'love our neighbors as we love ourselves,' Will and Tiffany sought to create a relationship-centered nonprofit that focused on seeing neighbors flourish on their own terms. In partnership with the community, the first program was aimed at equipping the justice-involved with the necessary skills to gain meaningful employment. As our relationship with the community deepend, we learned of a need with early learners. Over 55% of the students in the district are reading below grade level - a problem compounded by the poverty that affects over 78% of high school students. We began coordinating an after-school tutoring program to engage students in literacy.
Since these early experiences, we have had the opportunity to build intentional relationships with communities across Nashville. Our programs have changed as we have grown in our knowledge and understanding of the historical and current economic disadvantages in our community. A median Black family has one tenth the wealth of a median white family, with a higher rate of downward mobility. This has a negative impact on all American communities, especially here in Nashville. That's why we co-create economic participation and growth with underestimated Nashvillians through knowledge, tools and networks. This isn't about "us" or "them." We believe it's "we."
Impact
2021-2022 Accomplishments
- Grew our Script to Screen partnerships to include new programs and new schools
- Premiered five new short films in Spring 2022 alone!
- Installed a new Executive Director (who started as an entrepreneur in The Academy)
- Graduated 237 entrepreneurs from The Academy (and 100% of them would recommend the program to a friend)
- Our alumni collectively put over $14 million back into the local economy
- Twelve alumni received small business loans through The Academy Invested
2022 - 2023 Goals
- Graduate 300 new entrepreneurs from The Academy
- Expand The Academy Amplified programs to support 200 alumni
- Develop evaluation of our emerging programs (Academy Amplified & Script to Screen)
- Grow The Academy Invested - a 1% interest lending program - from an initial seed round of $17,000 to $75,000
- Offer Script to Screen at five sites in the fall ('22) and six in the spring ('23)
Needs
Funding to support expansion of current programming and ongoing logistics
Entrepreneurs and local business leaders who will serve as guest speakers and mentors for students & graduates of The Academy
Corporate Sponsors
Volunteers from the local filmmaking community to share their expertise with young creators in Script to Screen
Service Categories |
|
| Primary Category: | Community Improvement, Capacity Building - Economic Development |
| Secondary Category: | Education - Elementary & Secondary Schools |
| Tertiary Category: | Religion- Related - Christianity |
Areas Served
Our programs target community residents in East Nashville, North Nashville, and South Nashville (Davidson Districts 5, 17, 19 and 21). Most recently available data shows that these are the four areas of Nashville with the highest rates of poverty (all over 30%). Our partners include community hubs such as McGruder Family Resource Center, New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, Martha O'Bryan, Preston Taylor Ministries, and many more.
| TN - Davidson |
