A higher-paying job changes what is possible. What comes next determines whether that momentum lasts.

Through coaching, adult education, bootcamps, and certifications, we help neighbors move into higher-paying careers. But a full-time schedule can make it harder to access the supports that got them hired.

Our new Employee Advancement Pilot brings those supports to the workplace.

Employees refer themselves or are referred by their employer. They meet one-on-one with an on-site Employee Navigator to talk through strengths, goals, and obstacles, then build a personal success plan, from backup childcare to navigating benefits as their paycheck grows. Short check-ins fit around shifts instead requiring an appointment across town.

“Supporting and sustaining workers means recognizing how barriers to childcare, transportation, and housing, along with financial pressures, affect their ability to thrive at work and home,” says Raymond Mitchell IV, director of the Employee Advancement Pilot. “With an Employee Navigator on-site to build a trusted relationship, we can enrich the resource pipeline connecting employees with services, education, and career development opportunities.”

Employees gain steadier footing at home, new credentials, and a path to promotion. Our first partners, three of Nashville’s largest employers in health care and support services, gain stronger retention, more engaged teams, and a talent pool built from within.

“With a consistent partner at work, we hope to help employees address challenges before they become crises, maintain momentum, and turn new opportunities into lasting progress,” Mitchell said.

Thanks to donors like you, neighbors can start new careers without losing the supports that got them there.