NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — On Saturday morning, Our Place Nashville hosted a "paint-the-mural volunteer day" to celebrate a coming milestone in their community.
In late January and early February, they will be opening 40 new affordable housing units for residents with developmental disabilities.
The mural was created by Andee Rudloff, and of the 50 some volunteers who help within the Our Place Nashville community, several showed up to support the project.
Our Place Nashville is a local nonprofit that provides adults who have developmental disabilities with homes that are affordable. They live alongside graduate students and other adults in communities built by Our Place Nashville, supporting one another while learning independence.
Their waiting list is continuing to get longer, according to Executive Director, Carolyn Naifeh.
They have grown from 12 residents in 2015 to 70 in 2023 — and with the new housing units, those numbers are going to double to 110 residents in just a few weeks.
Some of the volunteers who came to help include future residents and their families, Vanderbilt students from the Peabody Honors Program and neighbors who enjoy being part of Rudloff's work.
If you want to learn more about Our Place Nashville, visit their website! Artist Andee Rudloff also has a Facebook page with more photos and video of the mural being put together.
I am so inspired by Sheila Gann's love for her husband and her resilience. Anyone who has lost a loved one to Alzheimer's knows how cruel this disease is - not only for the patient but also for those who love and care for them. Mike and Sheila clearly had a remarkable love story, and she is now honoring that in the most beautiful way. Thanks to Forrest Sanders for sharing their story.
-Carrie Sharp
