Oasis Center

Got Summer Plans?

oasisstaff — Thu, 16 May 2013 22:21:07 +0000

How about you hope on your bike in Charleston and ride it all the way to San Francisco? Two Oasis Bike Workshop volunteers are doing just that. Hudson and Luke will embark on a 3500 mile journey to spread the word about the important work the Bike Workshop is doing in our community. Their goal is to raise $10,000 for the workshop so another 100 or so youth can complete the 6 week course this year. During those 6 weeks, youth build a bike from the frame up, learn how to repair their bikes & how to ride safely and are empowered to become leaders in their own neighborhoods. The Bike Workshop was recently featured on CNN. To make a pledge or donation to the Bike America Ride, visit here: BikeAmerica2013.

Good luck Hudson & Luke!!!

Street Outreach Summer Needs

oasisstaff — Fri, 03 May 2013 17:52:57 +0000

Our Street Outreach team has an updated list of “most needed” items as we head into warm weather. If you aren’t familiar with the work of this team, they work with young people who are living on the streets in Nashville. We estimate there to be 400 youth under the age of 21 who are without housing in Nashville. Oasis Center is the ONLY resource available that serves only youth in this age range.

Oh, this photo has nothing to do with our list, it’s just a cute puppy!

If you or your group can help, please send an email to: mailto:kstone@oasiscenter.org or drop off items at our office, 1704 Charlotte Avenue, Suite 200, Nashville TN 37203.

Bottled Water (1 case or a 1000)
White athletic socks (1 to infinity!)
Men’s Shoes, sized 9-14 (sneakers & boots especially)
Hair brushes and combs (1-100)
Rain ponchos, the disposable kind are great (1-300)
SHORTS! (adult men or women)
Vinyl sofa or sectional (delivery please!) need 1 or 2

At this time, the only clothing we need are shorts. We struggle with storage so please no other clothing for now. Thanks SO much for your help!!

Divas Co-Chairs & Host Committee Announced!

oasisstaff — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:01:01 +0000

LATE BREAKING NEWS!!! Singer Erin McCarley joins the Divas Nashvegas Line Up!! Oasis Center is proud to announce that Divas Nashvegas, scheduled for Friday, May 31st, is being co-chaired by Grace Clayton, Hugh Howser and Stacie Sandifer. The Host Committee includes Laura Chadwick, Sissy Wilson, Collie Daily, and Stephanie Ingram, all of whom serve on the board of Directors for Oasis Center.Guest stars from the cast of “Nashville” are slated to entertain guests with a roster of singles from the show. “We are thrilled and honored that “Nashville” cast members are taking time to give back to the local Nashville community, says Tom Ward, Oasis CEO. While “Deacon” and “Scarlett” do a wonderful job of portraying our city on national TV, Charles and Clare clearly embody the giving spirit that make the real Nashville such a special place to live.”

Major sponsors of the event are: HCA, Nissan, and LP Corporation.

The full press release is available here: Divas Nashvegas 2013 and a printable invitation can be downloaded here: Divas Invitation

Make Reservations for Divas Nashvegas!!

oasisstaff — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 20:02:44 +0000

Divas Nashvegas is scheduled for Friday, May 31st! We are SO excited to be welcoming “Deacon” & “Scarlett” from the hit TV show “Nashville“!! Reservations are NOW available!

Friday, May 31, 2013
Evers Farm, Nashville TN

Divas Nashvegas is routinely voted “Best Party in Nashville” by NFocus, and consistently reigns as the Nashville event EVERYONE remembers! When was the last time it was absolutely acceptable to combine black ties and diamonds with jeans and boots? An event where an A-list performer had all the guests on their feet dancing?An event where you grabbed a Krystal™ burger
on the way out the door?!

We kick off the evening with a plush cocktail party followed with a traditional southern style dinner! “Deacon” & “Scarlett” from the hit TV show “Nashville” will then take the stage for an intimate performance you’ll never forget!

Premier Seating is available:

10 guests: $3,000
12 guests: $3,600

Individual seats are also available:
$300 per person

Make your reservations by calling 615.983.6863!
This event WILL sell out!

To download/print out details: Divas Nashvegas

The Teen Brain

oasisstaff — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 17:50:05 +0000

What this ad is pointing to is what we now know from neuroscience: that the brains of teenagers are NOT like adult brains, that teen brains continue to develop up into the mid-20’s, and that adolescence—much like early childhood— is a time of huge growth and learning.

A lot of that growth goes on in the front part of the brain. The brain of our teenagers are laying down neural pathways in the Pre-frontal Cortex which is associated with:

-Planning, decision making
-Dealing with conflicted thoughts
-Identifying cause & effect
-Identifying future consequences
-Supressing impulses

These are just the kinds of skills the TOP® program challenges youth to use. When youth have the chance to plan a service project or do most of the talking in a TOP® group, it’s like taking their brains to the gym! They are literally building key cognitive capacities when we give them:

-Opportunities to practice through role playing and group problem solving
-A chance to put their thoughts into words
-A chance to say how they arrived at the thoughts or conclusions they express
-Open-ended questions to encourage healthy debate

So, when you see youth talking, planning, debating, and thinking in TOP®, you are seeing them giving their brains a work-out, just the kind of work-out needed to build capacities for adulthood!

Camp Anytown Application Available Now!

oasisstaff — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:24:27 +0000

Ready for a life-changing summer camp experience? Camp Anytown applications are now being accepted!

What is Camp Anytown?

Camp Anytown is hosted by the Oasis Center and offers a week long human relations and leadership program for high school students in the Nashville area. AnyTown participants have the opportunity to live with and get to know people from many different racial, ethnic, religious, cultural and socioeconomic groups. AnyTown helps students explore their own identities and biases and create a model community based on respect, understanding and peace. From this our young citizens develop skills that they can use to positively impact their communities!

Who Can Attend?

Camp Anytown is open to any high school student in the Nashville area. Private or public school students are invited to apply.

What Is the Deadline To Apply?

Applications are being accepted now and will be until the session is full. Be sure and complete your application SOON!

ALL other details are in the Delegate Packet.

Make this the summer you join us for Camp Anytown! Download the delegate packet here: Camp Anytown Delegate Packet. If you have any questions, call Tasha Fletcher at 615.983.6827.

Pass the Ramen Noodles Please…..

oasisstaff — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 20:30:53 +0000

Nashville blogger Lora Stevenson Obrahta shares a great post about how 1 dedicated Oasis College Connection mentor, armed with a few packages of Ramen noodles, is changing the outlook for Nashville State Community College students!

http://lorawrote.com/ramen-noodle-logic/

Risk to the R.E.A.L. Program

oasisstaff — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 18:57:55 +0000

On Monday evening, April 1, 2013, Nashville local ABC affiliate television station WKRN featured a story about the R.E.A.L. Program here at Oasis Center, and it’s plight to stay financially afloat. Funding provided by state and national government resources for the R.E.A.L. Program end on June 30, 2013. This link takes you to the film: Grant Ending for R.E.A.L. Program

R.E.A.L. Program Makes Headlines

oasisstaff — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 21:06:32 +0000

In the past, the young people that Ron Johnson works with in the R.E.A.L. Program have made headlines for reasons that were less than positive. But front page news in The Tennessean today featured the R.E.A.L. Program and it’s incredible success in working with juvenile offenders! Nearly 300 young people have gone through the program in the past 3 years, with approximately 2/3 of the graduates leaving the paths that were headed towards violence. For the whole story, visit: Finding A Better Way

Love In a Zip-Loc Bag

oasisstaff — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 20:03:40 +0000

We seem to have experienced a generous amount of giving as of late. Last week, the Nashville Hiking Meetup Group came to the center loaded with individual packages of high-protein snacks. At least a dozen or so hikers spread out the goodies and began to assemble snacks for our Street Outreach team. Before the evening was through, nearly a dozen large boxes were filled with 354 zip-loc type bags we call “Protein Packs”.

Our Street Outreach Center opens it’s doors M-F from 11am-2pm to serve youth under the age of 22 a hot meal, offer a hot shower, and laundry facilities. A tremendous and caring team of counselors do everything from offering job leads, getting clean clothing, to finding resources for medical help for our visitors. When these youth leave us at 2pm and on Friday afternoons, they likely will not see a square meal until the next time we are open. So these protein packs are offered as sustenance until they can get back to us. In addition, we load them up a few times a week and hit the street to give out to youth we encounter who are trying to survive on the street.

Surviving on a “Protein Pack” may seem impossible to you, but for many of the youth we serve, it’s a very important ingredient to street survival! Big Oasis thanks to all those who are a part of the Nashville Hiking Meetup Group for recognizing the importance of this gift!

If you or your group is interested in having a “Protein Pack” build, give us a shout! Email kstone@oasiscenter.org!