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HISTORY OF YLLCs IN NASHVILLE

SUMMARY: The first Youth Life Learning Center in Nashville was established in 2001. Since then Youth Life Foundation of TN has added five other centers in Nashville, one in Memphis, and one in Jacksonville, FL. Life Centers are now serving over 350 at-risk children.

INDEPTH: In 2000 a group of local church and business leaders joined together to do something special for inner-city children in Nashville. Helping lead the way in Nashville was Tim Johnson, an NFL all-pro defensive end and member of the Washington Redskin’s 1988 Super Bowl championship team. His close friend and teammate, Darrell Green, had established the first Youth Life Learning Center in 1993 as a faith-based after-school program for children of urban Washington, D.C. Tim Johnson continues to serve as board President of Youth Life Foundation of Tennessee.
The Nashville group incorporated as Youth Life Foundation of Tennessee, Inc. in March 2001 and began the process renovating a 3000 square-foot facility. With the help of the Darrell Green Youth Life Foundation and in partnership with Village West Property Management and other local business leaders, the West Nashville Youth Life Learning Center opened its doors on January 7, 2002.For two years Youth Life Learning Centers focused on developing the program at the West Nashville center, enrolling at-risk children from kindergarten through grade five. Within a couple of years that Life Center had grown to serve a full complement of enrolled students, each being committed to attending the after-school academic program five days a week. In addition to these core students, a significant number of students from all grades regularly dropped in from 3:00 to 4:00 for tutoring and homework assistance. That first Youth Life Learning Center also began sponsoring and/or participating in numerous family support and community service initiatives in the surrounding neighborhood.
In those first two years Youth Life Learning Centers also gained a great deal of community recognition and support from city officials and local foundations. Corporations and business leaders began to get involved both as volunteers and as financial supporters. In the next few years two more Youth Life Learning Centers were opened through a partnership with the Nashville Metro Parks Department. The Kirkpatrick Youth Life Learning Center located in the Kirkpatrick Parks and Recreation Center was established in 2004 and serves students living in the Cayce Homes and surrounding community.
In 2004 James D. Lowe came to Youth Life Foundation of Tennessee as the leader of YLLCs in Nashville and the Regional Director for the Southern Region. The Kirkpatrick Youth Life Learning Center located in the Kirkpatrick Parks and Recreation Center was established in that same year and today serves students living in the Cayce Homes and surrounding community.
In 2005 another partnership with Metro Parks and Recreation paved the way for a Youth Life Learning Center in the Easley Community Center. Yet another Pinnacle Property Management facility houses the Hillside Youth Life Learning Center. The Easley and Hillside centers, both located just south of downtown Nashville, together serve the Edgehill community. The Riverchase Youth Life Learning Center, located in the East Nashville community, was established in 2006, again in partnership with Pinnacle Property Management.
Progress in 2007
Youth Life Foundation of Tennessee moved into its own offices on Trousdale Drive in south Nashville. The decision to move was approved based on increased income, therefore maintaining an annual administration percentage of 17%.
A new Life Center was established in cooperation with Bridges Academy, a tuition-supported private school for inner city boys.
At the urging and support of the respective city governments YLLCs have been established in Memphis and Jacksonville, FL. The Jacksonville center is a partnership with the The Boselli Foundation and the Memphis Life Center in partnership with Pinnacle Property Management.
Through an HHS Capacity Building Grant Youth Life Foundation of Tennessee added additional staff in 2007 to upgrade communications, donor relations, and volunteer coordination.
Youth Life Learning Centers has continued to forge numerous partnerships with corporations, foundations, churches, and individuals creating opportunities for new Learning Centers to be established in other cities. These relationships, combined with a proven track record, a more developed organizational infrastructure, and the addition of experienced program and administrative staff, are enabling Youth Life Learning Centers to continue building on a solid foundation.

Darrell Green

James D. Lowe

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