Oasis Center

Kick Butts: Lives Cut Short

oasisstaff — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:54:38 +0000

The Tennessee Department of Mental Health, along with the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office, the Tennessee Department of Health, and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture have teamed up with Oasis Center to reduce the sale and consumption of tobacco to youth!

In Tennessee, many lives are cut short due to tobacco usage. In order to show our support for National “Kick Butts Day”, TN’s Tobacco Coordinators are asked to have students paint/decorate a facsimile of “shorts” in honor of a life cut short.

• The canvas of the shorts will be provided along with a set of simple instructions on what to do and the pre-paid return mailers will be provided. We know your time is valuable so we hope this is a meaningful and easy service project.

• Monetary prizes will be given for the top 3 entries!

The shorts will be displayed in Legislative Plaza on March 21, 2012. The display will then tour other Nashville venues.

Please help us send the message to all Tennesseans that tobacco destroys lives!!

This project is supported through the Alcohol and Drug Prevention Grants provided by the Department of Mental Health, Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services.

Click HERE for their facebook page: Kick Butts: Lives Cut Shor t

“Some Assembly Required” on WPLN!

oasisstaff — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:42:23 +0000

Our very own two-wheelin’ hero, Dan Furbish, has carved out a niche for empowering young people through “The Workshop” here at Oasis Center. WPLN, Nashville Public Radio, recently featured the bike workshop program and revealed Dan’s passion for providing young people with more than spokes and handlebars. Get the rest of the story here!

SHOWTIME! Sat.,Feb. 4th “The Interrupters”

oasisstaff — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:00:53 +0000

Join us right here at the YOC on Saturday, Feb. 4th for a community viewing of “The Interrupters“!

This powerful short film tells the stories of 3 “violence interrupters” who, with bravado, humility, and a bit of humor try to protect their Chicago communities from the violence they once participated in.

Don’t miss this very special opportunity to see this important and informative view of creating change. Plan to join in a discussion hosted by Ron Johnson with the R.E.A.L. program following the film.

Doors at 4pm, film starts at 5pm.

Teen Safety Summit, Jan. 28th at The YOC!

oasisstaff — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:50:54 +0000

We are so excited about this inaugural event here at The Oasis Center! On January 28th, all metro Nashville high school students are invited to participate in this very interactive forum from 10am-2pm. You’ll get FREE lunch and have the opportunity to share your view point on how to best address teen pregnancy, sexual health, the rise in STI rates, and much more! For more information, call 615.983.6862.

Oasis Receives Grant from Baptist Healing Trust!

oasisstaff — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:44:03 +0000

Thank you going out to Baptist Healing Trust for their generous grant award to The Oasis Center in the amount of $40,000! We appreciate their support of the work we do here at Oasis! To learn more about how they are cultivating compassion for vulnerable & typically under-served in our community, visit them online at www.baptisthealingtrust.org!

MLK Celebration!!

oasisstaff — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:55:46 +0000

Join us on Monday, Jan. 16th for “Wake Up, Stand Up, Speak Up!” with keynote speaker Howard Gentry as we celebrate Martin Luther King Day! We’ll be at TSU’s Kean Hall from 2-4pm and are accepting gently worn shoes for Soles4Souls! We have some awesome door prizes too!!

Just Conversations About Peace……

oasisstaff — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 18:16:23 +0000

Our Learning Center here at the YOC is not your traditional classroom environment. Liz Workman, our staff instructor, has the task of not only providing a curriculum that helps our young people stay current on their school work, but she also finds opportunities to blend academia with their Oasis experience. Last week here at Oasis, Liz helped the students create a “Humanities” holiday tree, complete with decorations that generated conversation about the topics of peace, freedom, religious expression, violence, and bullying. Feel free to come by and see it!

Adopt-An-Oasis Family!

oasisstaff — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 22:36:05 +0000

Think about it. Everyday life is often stressful enough. But toss in losing a job, illness, and perhaps a foreclosure or eviction that stems from lack of employment, and the stress level instantly escalates. And then there’s all that pressure to be “happy” during the holiday season, to provide for a family……things can feel out of control quickly and easily.

Why Oasis? Because our “Adopt-A-Family” program helps the families we are already working with to get through this difficult season with a sigh of relief. Families in our program have created wish lists with specific sizes of clothing and personal items. Donations of gift cards for Kroger, Walmart, and Target are also badly needed.

If you, your organization, club or group would like to Adopt-A-Family for the holidays, or pitch in with another to take care of the needs of an Oasis family, email asuitter@oasiscenter.org, call us at 615.327.4455 or you can donate now here. In the comments area of the donation form, make a note: Adopt A Family.

As always, we are so very grateful for support YOU give to our youth and their families. We ask, and you give. You’re amazing!

WHY Oasis Campaign Begins!

oasisstaff — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 22:44:13 +0000

Our fall campaign, WHY Oasis” begins this week! Donors will receive the “Why Oasis” brochure in the mail by November 19th, 2011 & our Facebook page will begin promoting and sharing stories related to the “Why Oasis” story immediately. “We chose this theme because in the end, “Why” is the basis for every program and offering here at Oasis”, stated Mark Dunkerley, Director of Development.

The mailer features community leaders, philanthropists, and recognizable faces throughout. Judy Fruendthal, Director of Youth Engagement in Action shared, ”It’s interesting that every one of these people had their own reason of why they were Oasis supporters and why what we do is vital to the youth of our community”.

Over 20 video clips from young people, staff, board members, and community leaders documenting “Why Oasis” have been recorded and will be shared in the upcoming few weeks on Facebook and the website. A banner has been hung in one of the corridors for visitors to share their own story of “Why Oasis” in their own voice.

The campaign will continue through the end of the year with a goal of raising $100,000 for The Oasis Center.

College Access for Black Males A Huge Success!

oasisstaff — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:12:08 +0000

Our College Access for Black Males was a HUGE success, with nearly 200 young people, parents, and supporters filling our conference room to learn about post high-school opportunities. Speakers and presenters challenged these young men to build relationships with a caring adult and to find positive ways to interact within the community.

Thank you to those who donated to ensure this event was successful, the speakers & presenters who shared their time, and to all the attendees who proved once again that Oasis is about changing the odds, not just overcoming them!