Category: Education
Ana Sura: An Immigrant Serving Other Immigrants in Her Community
Immigrating to another country is an intimidating task that Ana Sura once completed. Now, with the nonprofit Better Options Tennessee, Ana guides new immigrants toward a future in her home state. Ana began her volunteer journey in 2007 when she moved to Franklin, Tennessee and opened a few churches alongside her pastor husband. There, she...
Shavonya Washington
Shavonya Washington has always had a big heart, and even before she started volunteering, she shared it with her community. From being her parents’ full-time caregiver to serving as a healthcare professional, she has a knack for taking care of others. In 2009 Shavonya was looking for a life change and a community that shared...
“African American history is American history,” says Natalie Bell
“African American history is American history,” says Natalie Bell, a volunteer forging her own path to preserve and teach history. Natalie has always had a passion for discovering and sharing stories. Her over 25-year career has included roles as a contributing writer for NPR and as an award-winning news reporter. Over time, telling the stories...
John Baker’s Effort to Preserve African American Genealogy
Countless people grow up without any knowledge about their ancestors or where they came from. For many African American families, this is because their lineage was fragmented by a history of enslavement, without ever having the chance to reunite. With the help of John Baker, thousands of African American lineages have been pieced back together...
Daisuke Suzuki: Self-professed Geek Volunteers
This New Yorker didn’t let the global pandemic get him down. In fact, COVID created the opportunity for Dice to volunteer. Had he not chosen to serve others during this time, he admits to being “in a very depressive mental state.” Therefore, early on during COVID, Daisuke Suzuki, usually called “Dice” by his friends, took...
Offering Opportunities, Reaching Potential
Growing up with a sister with Down Syndrome, Elizabeth Graham Pistole has a strong passion for helping individuals with special needs grow and develop. Her first experience volunteering was at her local church on “Special Saturdays” to serve church-goers living with disabilities broaden emotionally and spiritually. “The first time volunteering . . . was way...
Volunteering with Friends – It’s Just Fun!
Written by: Terri Seydel In many ways, Phillip Hyams is a typical American teenager, balancing his time between school, sports, and friends. He attends Brentwood High school and participates in the school’s sports program with the track, cross country, and basketball teams. Where he stands apart from other teenagers, is in what he chooses to...
Featured Volunteer: Robin Cole
Our featured volunteer Robin shares her story of why she volunteers with Read to Succeed!...
A celebration of the community
With the recent World Humanitarian Day celebrated on August 19th, we can appreciate the fundamental values of differences in one another. We look to encompass what that means as we reflect on ourselves during times of uncertainty, because out of despair comes ingenuity, and out of absence comes recognition. Doing Good takes the time to...
