New club works to meet the needs of Trevecca’s neighbors
Walden Club, a relatively new African American student club on Trevecca’s campus, earned its namesake from Walden College, a historically black college that once sat on the hilltop that’s now home to Trevecca. Founded in 1865 under the sponsorship of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the college served freed slaves.
The club came to fruition last year through the work of Brodrick Thomas, director of community engagement and reconciliation, and two motivated students, Tynaisia Rush and Javionne Smith. All three shared a vision to continue Walden’s work of serving others.
“I wanted to help students understand that the DNA of Trevecca is with African Americans and are infused through the culture of what was started here,” Thomas said.
Last semester, Rush and Smith, who serve as president and vice president of the Walden Club, came up with an idea for a service project that would benefit children at Napier Elementary, located in a neighborhood adjacent to Trevecca’s campus.
They went to the Napier Family Resource Center (NFRC), where they came in contact with Patrice Whitaker, director of the NFRC.
“The two young ladies came to me at the first of the school year and wanted to do something for the school,” Whitaker said. “I explained to them about how we want to be intentional about the things we get.”
That meeting led to the idea of raising money to purchase uniforms for students at Napier Elementary.
Jamie Casler, the club’s adviser and director of Trevecca’s J.V. Morsch Center for Social Justice, recommended hosting the fundraiser during Homecoming, which would allow the club members to reach out to alumni.
“I thought this would be a good idea because alumni coming back would be familiar with Napier and would have resources,” Casler said.
During the November 2018 Homecoming celebration, Rush and Smith hosted a booth at the Alumni Market. The students were able to raise $400.
“It’s neat to see alumni and current students and the Walden Club all coming together to support Napier Elementary,” Casler said.
With the money raised, the club was able to go to purchase $200 worth of uniforms and deliver another $200 check to the NFRC for the kids of Napier.
Whitaker says she was elated to see their neighbors working together for a great community.
“The Napier community is a wonderful place that pulls at your heartstrings when you give back and give the kids a little attention and love and minister to them on that level,” Whitaker said.
Meeting the needs of the Napier community, having conversations and listening to their neighbors was a profound experience for Smith.
“When we first went over there, we didn’t take into consideration what they needed,” she said. “Being able to have a conversation to hear their needs and meet those needs felt great.”
Rush, who grew up with several siblings, says growing up wasn't always easy for her.
“This experience felt more personal and to be able to fulfill that need was a moving experience,” she added.
By Blake Stewart
Media contact: Mandy Crow, mmcrow@trevecca.edu, 615-248-1695