We were blessed to learn about one of the newest — yet still highly impactful — organizations in the Nashville area, as we welcomed Tim Forbes (pictured, center), Executive Director of the Judge Dinkins Educational Center (JDEC), to our Breakfast Meeting this week!

Forbes presented some background on JDEC, which was founded in 2021, and its value to the community. He shared that the mission of JDEC, which provides juvenile vocational training in Davidson County for adolescents who might be at risk or engaged with the juvenile or criminal justice system, is twofold: decreasing recidivism — the tendency of a criminal to reoffend — and helping young adults enter a vibrant workforce.

With the pending arrival of Oracle and the construction of the new Nissan Stadium, opportunities abound for meaningful employment for these individuals. That’s why JDEC aims to blend vocational skills — offering classes and internships in pre-construction, automotive repair and more — with soft skills like budgeting and banking.

“Their goals have to be bigger than their excuses,” Forbes said.

Thanks to all who attended this week’s meeting, and we look forward to seeing you on September 12 for our next Breakfast Meeting!

Also: a special thank you to Barney Zeng, who spoke in advance of the meeting to discuss his role with the Nashville Institute for Faith and Work!