Mission Statement:

MISSION STATEMENT:

To use the ARTS as a platform to give youth a positive alternative to drugs, crime and risky behaviors in the inner-city.

Our goal is to find innovative ways to gain the attention and interest of young people. Our method is to provide exciting things that young people love to do, while teaching them how the very thing they enjoy can be beneficial to their lives and others. In three words, we show young people that there is “A BETTER WAY”.

INSTEAD of being a part of a gang, become a part of a team to help save our families and protect our communities.

INSTEAD of acting out in school, act out your feelings on stage through dance and drama.

INSTEAD of tagging public property, make your mark on canvas through painting and graphic design.

INSTEAD of becoming a teen parent, birth a new vision that could change the world and the lives of those around you.

At Moves & Grooves we know that each child has the potential to achieve greatness. With a clear vision, dedication and encouraging team of adults, we are setting our youth up for success!

OBJECTIVES:

The Moves & Grooves objectives are the purpose and foundation in which we operate. They are the outcomes we strive to achieve through our services everyday.

  • Increase the number of first-generation college students.
  • Create opportunities for the youth to "give back" through community service.
  • Publicly recognize and reward positive actions in order to decrease negative behaviors.
  • Uniting youth of various backgrounds, to break-down cultural barriers and stereotypes.
  • Create opportunities for youth to develop skills that can be applied in everyday life.

COMMUNITY NEED:

Children in grades 2-12 born in unstable environments in Metro Nashville are in jeopardy of failure in school. Denied a stable and nurturing environment, most children in this community are subjected to extreme psychosocial trauma including
a thriving drug trade, a spiraling rate of violence and uninhabitable living conditions.

ELIGIBILTY:

Students who qualify for this program are recommended by adult teachers and staff or are the siblings of those who meet the following criteria:

  • Live in low-income housing
  • Come from single-parent homes
  • Suffer low self-esteem
  • Must be ages 8 to 18