What We Do

Stepping up for young adults as they are stepping out

The Problem

From Surviving to Thriving

The youth we serve have survived the instability of the foster care system. Now they need the support to thrive. Aging out means losing what little structure, support, and stability they had – essentially overnight. Without community connections and practical resources, these resilient young people face impossible odds.
Solutions
Housing
Transportation
Community
Our Solution

We step in where the system ends, and possibility begins

I AM NEXT transforms potential into purpose through community action. We begin with housing stability and transportation access, the foundation every emerging adult needs. We even run our own driving school, further equipping youth to achieve an important milestone in independence: having their driver’s license. From there, we build lasting connections, facilitating a support network that shows up, time and time again, as they navigate the challenges of independence.

Teens Embracing Each other
Housing

Home isn’t just a space. It’s a stabilizing force.

A foundation that supports hopes, dreams, goals and plans. It’s where we find ourselves and build a future. Home empowers us to shift focus from surviving to thriving. It lets us grow, at our own pace, into independence and autonomy.

So providing a home is where I Am Next begins.

Family posing for a selfie
Transportation

Pointing the Way Forward

For a young adult aging out of the foster care system, access to reliable transportation completely expands the range of possibilities.

Transportation services are an important part of the I Am Next program, and the support of our volunteers and donors allows us to expand and help more emerging adults succeed.

Teens Walking together
Community

A Steady Support System

I Am Next isn’t just a program. It’s a community movement built to level the playing field for young adults transitioning from foster care into successful adulthood.

Our team is committed to sustaining a dedicated, well-rounded community around all of our program participants – for this session of emerging adulthood and forward into the future.

We’re establishing a safety net that these young people can believe in and rely on. And our Community Connections make it possible.

Family in water posing for picture
Our Impact

Real support creates real change.

When young adults are trusted and empowered with opportunity, they flourish. These resilient system-survivors are getting education, launching careers, and creating new beginnings for themselves and future generations. Given grace, responsibility, and time to grow, they’re not just changing their own trajectories—they’re strengthening our entire Middle Tennessee community.

86

Safe Homes Provided

20

Driver Licenses Secured

400

Young People Impacted

What to Expect

Here’s what you’re probably wondering.

Need Help? Start Here.