GOAL Nashville

09/18/2026

Nine voices. One shared belief: adult education changes lives. 💙

This Adult Education & Family Literacy Week, we’re celebrating the educators, leaders, and community partners who help adults across Nashville build skills, earn credentials, strengthen their English, advance in the workforce, and create new opportunities for themselves and their families.

We asked members of the GOAL Collective community to tell us why adult education matters to them. Their answers reflect the many different ways this work changes lives — and strengthens our entire community.

Swipe through to hear from some of the people who make this work possible.
Happy Adult Education & Family Literacy Week!

09/17/2026

Great conversation with the GOAL Collective Community Engagement Working Group today!

It feels especially fitting to gather during Adult Education and Family Literacy Week — a week dedicated to recognizing the power of adult education to create opportunity for individuals, families, and communities.

Today’s conversation centered on how we can continue strengthening connections, increasing awareness, and engaging our community in the work of the GOAL Collective. I’m grateful for the partners who bring their ideas, experiences, and commitment to the table as we work together to expand opportunities for adult learners across Nashville.

Adult education is truly about growth, opportunity, and new possibilities — and it takes all of us working together to make those possibilities a reality.

09/03/2026

In July 2026, GOAL Collective began embarking on a strategic planning process. We’re excited to partner with Ascend Advisors to help us reflect on where we’ve been, where we are today, and where we want to go together.

Why a strategic plan—and why now? GOAL has grown and evolved, with Belmont University now serving as the backbone organization and our network continuing to strengthen. This is an important opportunity to clarify our shared priorities, strengthen our collective impact, and create a roadmap for GOAL’s next chapter.

We need YOUR voice. GOAL is a collective, and our strategic plan should be shaped by the people who make the Collective work—partners, practitioners, community members, funders, and other stakeholders. We want to hear what is working, where there are gaps and opportunities, and what GOAL can uniquely contribute to Nashville’s adult learner ecosystem.

Join us Monday, September 28 at Vannie’s Table. We’re hosting an informal strategic planning gathering designed for conversation, connection, and candid input. Come share your perspective while enjoying appetizers, desserts, and drinks.

This is about building GOAL’s future together. Your experience, ideas, and perspective will help Ascend Advisors and the GOAL community identify priorities and shape a strategic plan that keeps adult learners at the center—and helps us continue working toward getting the right learner in the right seat at the right time. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/goal-collective-strategic-plan-social-tickets-1999411398315

08/29/2026

We’re excited to spend the afternoon connecting with adult learners and community partners at today’s Adult Learners’ Connection, hosted by our GOAL Collective partner Adult Literacy at the Nashville Public Library! 💙

Today’s free event brings together current and prospective adult learners in ESL, HiSET, and other education programs with organizations and resources that can help them take their next step.

This is what the GOAL Collective is all about: building connections across our community so adult learners can find the right opportunity, the right support, and the right next step for their goals.

We’re grateful to Adult Literacy at NPL for bringing learners and partners together today—and thrilled to be part of it!

08/28/2026

What happens when you bring the GOAL Collective community together? Connection, collaboration, shared learning, and a lot of great conversation! 💙
We had a wonderful Full Community Partner Meeting this week, bringing together organizations from across Middle Tennessee that share a commitment to helping adult learners access the education, training, resources, and support they need to reach their goals.
These gatherings give us an opportunity to learn from one another, strengthen connections across our network, share updates and ideas, and continue thinking together about how we can get the right learner in the right seat at the right time.
A special thank you to our GOAL Collective partner Tennessee Language Center for graciously hosting us—and for the wonderful hospitality!
We are grateful for every partner who showed up, contributed to the conversation, and continues to make the GOAL Collective stronger. This work truly is collective.

08/25/2026

It is our pleasure to remind you of the Collective’s Full Community Meeting this Wednesday, August 26th, 10am-12pm at Tennessee Language Center (TLC) Training Center.

As GOAL Collective continues to advance in a number of exciting projects, please keep in mind the importance of attendance and participation in Full Community meetings. With October housing our Fall Networking Luncheon, the Collective will not have an opportunity to do business together as a Full Community until December. Working Groups and leadership teams will continue to meet in the weeks and months to follow, but Wednesday is our prime time for doing business that will carry us through the end of 2026—your presence makes a difference!

Directions and Parking:
Tennessee Language Center: 193 Polk Ave, Ste D Nashville, TN 37210
We will be meeting in Suite D (the Training Center), park in the side lot with black, iron fencing around it. There is one door with an orange UT logo over it. Enter and immediately get on the elevator to the second floor. Once you exit the elevator, there will be signage directing you to the correct training room.

08/21/2026

Our Networking Luncheon brings together partners, community leaders, educators, employers, and others who share a commitment to creating opportunities for adult learners. Whether you are already connected to the GOAL Collective or are learning about our work for the first time, we hope you’ll join us. Invitation and details to follow!

06/26/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for today's GOAL Collective Community Partner Meeting! We appreciate the ideas, collaboration, and shared commitment to expanding opportunities for adult learners across Middle Tennessee.

📅 Save the date: Our next Full Community Meeting will be Tuesday, August 26. We hope you'll join us as we continue building momentum together.

💻 Meeting notes, resources, and updates from today's meeting will be shared in Basecamp in the coming days.

❓Questions? Reach us anytime at [email protected].

Together, we're creating stronger pathways for adult learners through collaboration, innovation, and shared impact.

.adultliteracy

05/26/2026

05/20/2026

I am excited to share that Ben Sweeton has joined the Belmont Fast Forward team as Program Coordinator supporting the GOAL Collective! His first day was Monday.

This new role will help strengthen coordination, communication, and partnership efforts across the GOAL Collective as we continue building momentum together around adult literacy, education, and workforce development in Middle Tennessee.

Originally from Middle Tennessee, Ben graduated from The University of the South in Sewanee, where he earned a B.A. in International and Global Studies. Outside the classroom, he facilitated community action and civic engagement as a Bonner Leader and explored the Cumberland Plateau through the Sewanee Outing Program, participating in activities including hiking, rock climbing, and caving.

After graduation, Ben completed a post-graduate fellowship with National Student Leadership and later served as Director of International Operations for Moondance Adventures, combining his passions for service, leadership, and the outdoors.

Ben is excited to return to education and looks forward to supporting the Nashville community through his work with Belmont Fast Forward and the GOAL Collective. We are thrilled to welcome him to the team and know many of you will have the opportunity to connect with him in the coming weeks.

Please join me in welcoming Ben!

Best,
Bridget