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Vanderbilt Outreach Initiative for Community Empowerment

Program Highlights

The Vanderbilt Outreach Initiative for Community Empowerment (VOICE) provides students with the unique opportunity to engage with the Nashville community through service. This year-long immersive experience gives students the opportunity to complete service with a local community partner, engage in facilitated discussions to enhance their service and leadership development, and gain 1:1 mentorship. Students in the program will:

  • Identify personal and professional connections made through the cohort and community partner site;
  • Find belonging by describing how their identities shape their worldview and connect to the Nashville community;
  • Illustrate compassion through a dedication to the community and resolving issues facing their respective communities;
  • Foster development by effectively communicating how they acquired different skills/experiences;
  • Promote innovation through their own personal leadership philosophy plan to practice sustainable community engagement.

Service

Students will be placed with a local Nashville community partner organization. Students will be required to complete 40 hours of service a semester. Options of service can include being in-person, hybrid, or remote. Transportation will be provided for most in-person service opportunities through Lyft codes. For the 2025-2026 VOICE year, there are six community partners:

  • BELL Garden: BELL Garden is a hybrid school and community garden located on the Bellevue Middle School Campus.
  • Black Voters Matter: Black Voters Matter is dedicated to expanding Black voter engagement and increasing progressive power through movement-building and engagement. Volunteers support these efforts through data analysis, organizing, and facilitate virtual events.
  • Water Walkers: Water Walkers uses watersports, educational enrichment, and mentoring to help underserved youth. At Water Walkers, volunteers support by providing tutoring in English and Math and other activities to engage with the students.  
  • Ronald McDonald House: The mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Nashville is to keep families close by providing essential resources and a “home-away-from-home” for families.
  • Creative Girls Rock: The mission of Creative Girls Rock is to educate and empower young girls and women to utilize their creative talents to enhance their lives and the world around them. 
  • Martha O’Bryan Center: The mission of Martha O’Bryan Center is to support education goals for learners of all ages, empowering youth and adults in their careers, and providing stability and support services for individuals and families.

Leadership

Students will meet bi-weekly to talk about a multitude of topics focusing on different community engagement, service, and leadership development skills.

Eligibility Information

To be eligible to apply, applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • All majors are welcome to apply!
  • Can commit to completing 40 hours a semester for both semesters.
  • Can commit to attending bi-weekly cohort meetings
  • Strong interest in community engagement, leadership, and public service
  • Freshman, Sophomores, and Juniors may apply

Application Process

The application for the 2025-2026 VOICE program is now open until March 16th at 11:59pm. After applying, final applicants will be selected to interview in the beginning of April. The application to apply is here.