Amy Richardson, M.P.H., was the recipient of the Nashville International Center for Empowerment's (NICE) 2013 Sonrisa Trippe Volunteer of the Year Award. In recognition of her support for NICE and the impact her work has had on the lives of refugees and immigrants in Middle Tennessee.
The Nashville International Center for Empowerment (NICE) is a non-profit, community-based organization dedicated to empowering refugees and immigrants of Middle Tennessee through direct social services and educational programs. NICE was originally established as the Sudanese Community & Women’s Services Center, the Nashville International Center for Empowerment was renamed in spring of 2010, a name which more fully represents the services they provide and the community they serve. Since their founding, they have expanded to serve people from more than 50 different nations across the Nashville area, with most of their clients being of African and Middle Eastern descent.
NICE aims to increase clients’ abilities to effectively read, write, and speak English, facilitating long-term independence and stability by leading to sustainable employment and self-sufficiency for adults and ongoing academic achievement for children, thereby addressing the underlying issues contributing to poverty in our community. Programs are offered to legal permanent residents with refugee, ayslee, or immigrant statuses.
Fundamental to the mission of NICE is the elimination of the root causes of poverty within greater Nashville’s refugee and immigrant community, the creation of opportunities for upward socioeconomic mobility, and the social integration of those it serves. Clients are encouraged and even challenged to think beyond their current circumstances and discuss long-term goals. NICE makes every effort to establish the foundation necessary to achieve these goals by placing clients in educational and employment environments that are conducive to ultimate success.
To get more involved with NICE and volunteer with them, click here.