Our MISSION
AWAKE advocates for the systemic advancement of women and young people in Tennessee through education initiatives and policy change.
Our History
Our issues-based, grassroots community began meeting informally in the fall of 2013 in Nashville. Only a few months later we successfully drafted, lobbied, and passed our first bill to make Tennessee safer for women and kids. We quickly earned a reputation for acting efficiently, strategically, and collaboratively. All of our projects are guided by our vision that women, young people, and other marginalized communities in Tennessee have an equitable opportunity to thrive.
Our Values
These core values guide our efforts toward gender equity in Tennessee. We are:
Collaborative, Inclusive, Intersectional, Grassroots-based, Strategic, and Non-partisan.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Since we started as a nonprofit organization in 2013, AWAKE’s mission has been to advocate for the advancement of women and children in Tennessee. The health, safety, and success of women and children have been under-prioritized in our state which is why we dedicate our work to education and policy change. There has been a collective reckoning in our country as we face the reality of violence, white supremacy, and systemic racism. This reality is not new. Racism and sexism exist at all levels of society.
Gender discrimination and violence against women are not exclusively gender issues. Multiple dimensions of identity, including race and class, compound with gender identity and result in experiences of discrimination and inequality. As a result, the health, economic security, educational attainment, and political participation of Black women and gender non-conforming people in particular are disproportionately impacted. We believe that our specific focus uniquely positions us to bring light to the ways racism and sexism work together to marginalize and disempower members of our society.
Theory of Change
AWAKE is distinctive because of its “house” model; an approach that focuses on issues that adversely affect women and kids on both the macro and micro level. The “roof” of the model is shaped by efforts to promote positive policy change affecting communities and the state of Tennessee as a whole. The “foundation” of the model is an educational curriculum that teaches children and vulnerable adult’s strategies for breaking cycles of poverty and violence. The “walls” in between are shaped through volunteer training and participation, which reinforce all the organization’s work. By addressing societal change from both a top-down and bottom-up approach, AWAKE is effectively improving the future of all Tennesseans.
Our strategic approach fosters unique partnerships with organizations, communities, & elected officials to ensure that the interests of women and children in Tennessee are heard and addressed.
What We’ve Achieved
Successfully researched, drafted and guided ten bills to passage addressing issues like health disparities, gender-based violence, and child exploitation;
Launched a state-wide educational campaign on child abuse prevention;
Developed a truancy intervention program;
Designed curriculum that helps middle and high school students learn about healthy relationships and financial independence;
Served hundred of youth and survivors in the Nashville-area with our I Am an Advocate curriculum
Led community trainings on the basics of advocacy and policy change.