Metro Nashville Council Approves Opportunity Grants to 21 Nonprofits

Community groups will work to enhance safety, reduce violence 

Metro Press Release, August 5, 2021 - On August 3, 2021, the Metropolitan Council approved 21 Opportunity Grants to nonprofits working to enhance community safety and reduce violence in Nashville-Davidson County. 

This is the first round of funding from the $2 million Community Safety Partnership Fund, which Metro Nashville created with Governor’s Grant dollars earlier this year. 

“Community safety requires community solutions,” said Mayor John Cooper. “These small grants will have a big impact in helping nonprofits in neighborhoods that need help the most.” 

In voting to provide funding to community groups, the Metro Council acted on the recommendations of the 11-person Community Safety Partnership Advisory Board, which is chaired by former Mayoral Policing Policy Commission member and YWCA President and CEO Sharon Roberson.

“Last year, the Policing Policy Commission highlighted the need for investments in community groups and partnerships,” said Sharon Roberson. “These grants are a first down payment on a much-needed investment.” 

Metro Community Safety Coordinator Ron Johnson will work with selected nonprofits to provide technical assistance. "While overall crime rates have fallen nearly 10 percent across the city this year, violent crimes have increased sharply," said Metro Council Public Safety Chair Jennifer Gamble. "Investing in grassroots organizations that work to provide opportunities and programs for at-risk communities and coordinating those activities with Metro agencies will help make our neighborhoods safer.” 

The Metro Council voted to approve funding to the following nonprofits: 

• $5,000 to The F.I.N.D. (Families in Need of Direction) Design to provide services that promote healing and safety. 
• $5,000 to Raphah Institute to provide resources to support services and programs that address harm and trauma. 
• $5,000 to Why We Can’t Wait to provide services that support anti-violence activities. 
• $5,000 to Backfield in Motion to provide resources to support educational instruction. 
• $5,000 to Dads Against Destruction to provide resources for services and programs supporting incarcerated and formerly incarcerated fathers. 
• $5,000 to Galaxy Star Drug Awareness, d/b/a Nashville Peacemakers to provide resources for services and programs supporting anti-violence activities for Nashville youth. 
• $5,000 to The Infinity Fellowship, Inc. to provide resources for youth arts programs. 
• $5,000 to International Boxing Academy of Nashville IBAN to support anti-violence social skills.
• $5,000 to Jefferson Street Bills Youth Football & Cheer Program to support youth sports. 
• $5,000 to The Brothers Round Table, Inc.to support business; education; civic engagement; and social uplift programs for Nashville residents. 
• $5,000 to HUGGS for Inspirational Men and Women to provide resources for services and programs supporting ex-offenders. 
• $5,000 to Before and After 615 to provide resources for services and programs addressing homelessness and re-entry persons. 
• $5,000 to Positive Inner-City Kids to provide resources for inner city youth programming. 
• $5,000 to BULLETPROOFED, INC. to provide resources for life skills training and development. 
• $5,000 to Creative Girls Rock to provide resources for services and programs that support the education and empowerment of young girls and women. 
• $5,000 to United Brotherhood Ministry, Inc. to provide anti-violence and anti-gang support for Nashville youth. 
• $5,000 to Still Standing to support youth mentoring programs. 
• $5,000 to H.O.P.E. (Home of Potential and Excellence) to provide a safe nurturing environment for elementary school-aged children that fosters academic, social-emotional, and physical engagement. 
• $5,000 to Impact Youth Outreach to provide resources for youth, scholarship, mentorship, community service and educational programming. 
• $5,000 to Transitional Housing & Work Programs of Davidson County, Inc. to support programs providing housing, work, and services for ex-offenders. 
• $5,000 to Gideon’s Army to support programs to keep children safe from gun violence, in school, and out of the prison system. 

“For many years, Impact Youth Outreach and several other community-based nonprofits have been doing the work to create a better tomorrow for our youth, city, and communities,” said Impact Youth Outreach President Robert Sherrill. “While the city is growing, funding opportunities for youth-based organizations are small and the pot is competitive. These funds make a difference and we are beyond grateful.” 

“Creative Girls Rock® is proud to play a role in Nashville’s efforts to promote a sense of safety and belonging for all in our community,” said founder and executive director Charmin Bates. “Through the Opportunity Grant, Creative Girls Rock will be able to develop programming and events to inspire creativity to strengthen connections in Nashville’s diverse communities. We are grateful to Metro Nashville for laying the groundwork for this collaborative effort.” 

Nonprofits must be registered with the federal Internal Revenue Service and the Tennessee Secretary of State in order to be eligible for funding. Groups with budgets of more than $50,000 must also have an audit from the most recent fiscal year. Grant recipients will be required to enter into a contract with Metro and provide a report on expenditures at the end of the calendar year. The Community Safety Partnership Fund will post an application for larger Implementation Grants later this month. The Fund will also do another cycle of Opportunity Grants in the fall.

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