Oasis Center began in 1969 as a drop-in center for young people in crisis. Over the past four decades it has evolved into one  of  the nation’s leading youth-serving organizations, offering safety and intervention to our city’s most vulnerable youth, while also seeking to teach young people how to transform the conditions that create problems for them in the first place. To this end, we provide award-winning residential, counseling and youth engagement services.
 
 As important as this mission is, we also know our vision calls us to something equally critical—that we work to create a loving community where all young people are safe, valued, connected with caring adults, and prepared for productive and fulfilling lives. Therefore, our work each day finds us providing emotional and physical supports now, as well as leading social change that will improve the odds for greater success for more youth in the future.
 
Collectively, Oasis Center programs provide life-changing, intensive opportunities to more than 1,900 youth and their families each year. Our young people represent the diversity of Nashville’s residents, and hail from more than 60 different schools and homes that speak 26 different languages. Oasis also reaches an additional 9,500+ youth and adults through educational projects and presentations.

In 2007, Oasis Center was recognized by the National Network for Youth as its national “Agency of the Year,” and was also one of 10 national finalists for the Peter F. Drucker Award for “innovative programming that makes a difference.”