In this episode of You Matter Nashville, we are excited to sit down with Erika Gorman, founder of the Three Strands Family Center in Columbia, Tennessee. Erika shares her incredible journey of moving from California to Columbia and her heart for creating a nonprofit that supports new and expectant families. The Three Strands Family Center offers classes, workshops, and resources that help families navigate pregnancy, birth, and early childhood while fostering a strong sense of community.

We talk with Erika about the challenges she faced as a new mom, her passion for building a supportive environment for families in Middle Tennessee, and how Three Strands is bridging gaps in local maternal and family care. Erika shares how her organization aims to make these services accessible to all families, regardless of income, through scholarships and partnerships with local businesses.

Join us as we dive into the importance of community, how Three Strands is already making an impact in Columbia, and what Erika envisions for its future. Plus, she offers a special discount code for our You Matter Nashville listeners to try a class for free!

If you’re looking for ways to support this amazing cause or want to learn more, visit threestandsfamily.org. And as always, remember, You Matter, Nashville!

Takeaways

• Three Strands Family Center aims to support new and expectant families.
• Community support is crucial during pregnancy and postpartum.
• Accessible resources for families are lacking in Columbia, TN.
• Erika's journey to Tennessee was driven by family values.
• The nonprofit model focuses on collaboration with local businesses.
• Classes offered include prenatal yoga, postpartum support, and parenting workshops.
• The importance of a supportive community for new parents cannot be overstated.
• Erika's personal experiences shaped her vision for the nonprofit.
• The launch party was a way to engage the community and raise awareness.
• Future plans include expanding services and creating a physical space for the nonprofit.

Three Strands Family
https://www.threestrandsfamily.org/

You Matter Nashville YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@YouMatterNashville

The Hoover Team
https://www.thehooverteam.com/

Welcome to another episode of the You Matter Nashville podcast! On this episode, we’re excited to bring you a conversation with Amy Saffell, Executive Director of ABLE Youth.

ABLE Youth is an amazing organization that empowers kids with physical disabilities to gain independence and confidence through adaptive sports. We dive deep into Amy’s personal journey, her passion for making a difference, and how ABLE Youth is changing lives through programs like wheelchair basketball, independence camps, and more.

Join us as we explore how sports and community can come together to create lasting impact and resilience in Middle Tennessee. Remember, every story we share is a celebration of you — because you matter!

Takeaways

• ABLE Youth helps kids with physical disabilities learn independence through adaptive sports
• Sports can be integrated with therapy to make it more engaging and effective for kids with disabilities
• Participating in road races and traveling to compete against other kids with disabilities can be empowering and help build social connections
• Providing specialized sports equipment for kids with disabilities can be expensive, and ABLE Youth relies on donations and grants
• Volunteers play a crucial role in supporting ABLE Youth's programs and activities
• Amy Saffell's personal experiences with spina bifida and adaptive sports inspired her to join ABLE Youth.
• Peer teaching is an important aspect of their programs, as older kids who have mastered certain skills can teach younger kids.
• The organization focuses on changing perceptions of disability and promoting inclusivity.
• Children with disabilities have the power to change the world by showcasing their abilities and living life to the fullest.

ABLE Youth
https://www.ableyouth.org/

You Matter Nashville YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@YouMatterNashville

The Hoover Team
https://www.thehooverteam.com/

In this episode of "You Matter Nashville," we have a heartfelt conversation with Kara Edwards, the founder of the Starfish Infertility Foundation. Kara opens up about her own challenging journey with infertility, sharing the emotional and financial hurdles she and her husband faced, including the lack of insurance coverage for treatments. These experiences inspired her to create the foundation, which provides financial assistance and emotional support to couples struggling with infertility.

Kara explains the mission of her foundation: to help alleviate the burdens of infertility by offering grants, and educational resources, and fostering a compassionate community. She highlights the importance of raising awareness and advocating for legislative changes to ensure better insurance coverage for infertility treatments. Throughout our conversation, she shares touching stories of families who have received grants from her foundation and have successfully welcomed children into their lives.

We talk about the significance of community support, empathy, and the power of advocacy in making a positive impact. Kara’s dedication to helping others on their journey to parenthood is truly inspiring, and her story serves as a reminder to all of us to support and get involved in meaningful causes.

Takeaways

• The Starfish Infertility Foundation provides grants and support to couples going through infertility who cannot afford treatment.
• Researching fertility clinics is crucial to ensure the best chances of success.
• Infertility treatments can be financially burdensome, and better insurance coverage is needed.
• Many people only need simple fixes, such as medication, to address their infertility.
• The foundation is named after the starfish story, emphasizing the impact of helping even just one person. The Starfish Infertility Foundation provides support and financial assistance to individuals and couples navigating the challenges of infertility.
• The foundation aims to alleviate the emotional and financial burdens of infertility by funding treatments, offering educational resources, and fostering a compassionate community.
• The foundation obtained its 501C3 status after about 10 months of fighting to run the foundation independently and ensure transparency with donors' money.
• The foundation offers major grants, up to $10,000, and mini-grants, which allow donors to connect with the couples they are supporting.
• The foundation has been involved in advocating for legislation to improve insurance coverage for infertility treatments and has successfully shown legislators the importance of coverage and the minimal impact it would have on insurance costs.
• People are encouraged to continue writing to their legislators to raise awareness and support for infertility issues.

Starfish Infertility Foundation
https://starfishinfertilityfoundation.org/

You Matter Nashville YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@YouMatterNashville

The Hoover Team
https://www.thehooverteam.com/