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College of Social Work Honors Hands On Nashville

Hands On Nashville (HON) received the University of Tennessee College of Social Work’s Light the Way Award on May 27. The Light the Way Award honors an agency or community organization that exemplifies the values and advances the mission of social work.

Hands On Nashville logoUT College of Social Work Dean Lori Messinger recognized HON for its commitment to the Nashville community. “Hands On Nashville is a key resource for the thousands of people who want to help their neighbors in the aftermath of the recent tornadoes and during the current COVID-19 crisis,” she said. “HON’s immediate response connects those affected by these emergencies with the resources they urgently need.”

Dean Messinger noted the strong partnership between HON and the College’s Nashville campus. “We’re proud of our association with HON,” she said. “Our students gain valuable experience through field placements with the agency, and many faculty, students and staff find volunteer opportunities there. We’re also proud that Lori Shinton, president and CEO, is a graduate of our Nashville MSSW program.”

Kim Crane Mallory, Assistant Director of Field Education and Associate Professor of Practice at the College of Social Work on the Nashville campus, nominated the organization for the award. “I’ve been lucky enough to be a recipient of HON’s good work after the flood and tornados devastated my neighborhood, and have been on the other side of the services they provide by volunteering in the community with my family,” she said. “They are a great organization and an example of what happens when people lead with social work values.”

Below is Prof. Mallory’s nomination video:

Hands on Nashville was founded in 1991 as a grassroots effort to simplify the process of finding meaningful volunteer opportunities in the Nashville area. Today, HON connects thousands of volunteers with more than 300 service projects each month.