Facility to serve as a hub for empowering older adults, young girls, women and local nonprofits
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (December 16, 2024) – A new community resource center anchored by two local nonprofits will soon be under construction in North Nashville. The construction kick-off for the Bordeaux Collaborative— which will house FiftyForward Bordeaux Senior Center and Creative Girls Rock®—was held on Thursday, November 21 at 3315 John Mallette Drive, the site of the former FiftyForward Bordeaux Center.
The event marked the official start of construction to transform the former 1,800-square-foot space into an 8,900-square-foot facility. Designed by Moody Nolan Architects, the new facility will provide meeting and activity spaces for FiftyForward Bordeaux Center members, along with dedicated areas for a new state-licensed adult day services program.
Additionally, the facility will offer space for girls and women participating in personal development and creativity classes through Creative Girls Rock® and include adaptable rooms for other nonprofits, as well as state and Metro Nashville government agencies that provide vital community resources.
“Today’s kickoff celebration is a milestone event after years of hard work,” said Sallie Hussey, FiftyForward CEO. “FiftyForward Bordeaux Senior Center and Creative Girls Rock® are grateful to so many individuals, our boards of directors, and our foundation partners who have supported this project. The space will bloom and grow into a beautiful community facility that will not only house both our agencies, but also provide opportunities for other community groups.”
Charmin Bates, founder and CEO of Creative Girls Rock® echoed her excitement for the project. “Creative Girls Rock® was founded to uplift, inspire, and empower,” said Bates. “It brings me immense joy to know that, with the support of FiftyForward and so many of you here today, we are taking a monumental step forward. This new facility will allow us to expand our reach and deepen our impact. It will be a space where youth and women in the Bordeaux community can come together, discover their creative potential, and find hope and healing through the arts.”
Supporters of the Bordeaux Collaborative joined the two nonprofits for the kickoff event and additional speakers included Melvin Fowler, FiftyForward Bordeaux Center Director; Dianne Oliver, West End Home Foundation Executive Director; Don Hardin, CEO of the Don Hardin Group and Bordeaux Collaborative construction project manager; Metropolitan Nashville Councilmember Kwonzte Toombs and former state senator, Brenda Gilmore.
“In 2006, the FiftyForward J.L. Turner Center at the Bellevue Family YMCA opened, marking a unique, first-of-its-kind partnership in the country,” said Gilmore, who has been involved with FiftyForward for over 30 years and served as the organization’s board chair from 1999-2003. “Today, we forge another unique relationship with Creative Girls Rock, and this is just the first chapter; the best is yet to come. It’s a powerful win/win for young people and older adults.”
“Daily, nearly 10,000 Baby Boomers mark their 65th birthday,” she continued. “The needs for this demographic are growing exponentially, and especially in Bordeaux and North Nashville. New things are on the horizon for FiftyForward Bordeaux. This new building is a long-awaited dream come true.”
To learn more about the Bordeaux Collaborative and support construction efforts, visit fiftyforward.org/thebordeauxcollaborative.
