Rocketown of Middle Tennessee

Description

Rocketown provides a safe place to local youth to hang out, as well as opportunities to explore interests and passions in film, dance, skateboarding, music, and the arts. Rocketown has a "come as you are" approach to outreach and a fun-loving, welcoming staff.

Vision: Participant circumstances span the range of neglect, abuse, poverty, absent parents and normal peer pressures. Through a central location, unique programming, and scholarships for disadvantaged youth Rocketown creates an environment that is both diverse (racially, culturally and economically) and accessible for teens and their families.

History: Singer/songwriter Michael W. Smith founded Rocketown in 1994 to give teens a positive alternative to the many negative pressures they face. The first of its kind in the Southeast, Rocketown has grown into a regional outreach as well as a model for Christian-based relational outreach across the country.

For several years Rocketown operated as a teen club, then organized Sunday evening programming and special events for teens. Following the tragedy of Columbine in 1999, Rocketown's founder was inspired to grow the scope of programming and move to a central location in downtown Nashville. Mark Ezell co-founded the 6th Avenue South location which opened in 2003. In 2010, Rocketown relocated to 4th Avenue to allow for Nashville's new Convention Center. The current facility houses a snack bar; art, music, dance and recording studios; two stages for live entertainment; and an indoor skatepark and an outdoor basketball and skateboard park. On average, 800 teens from across Middle Tennessee participate in Rocketown programs and entertainment each week.