Bastion, Inc, a nonprofit 501( C ) ( 3 ) organization registered in Tennessee, is filling pressing needs at home in Middle Tennessee, and abroad in the African Nation of Nigeria. The organization has two main subsidiaries, Bastion Nashville and Bastion Nigeria.

 

The mission of Bastion Nashville is topromote self-sufficiency and full achievement within members of the African community of Middle Tennessee. Bastion’s vision is a Nashville in which all African immigrants are fully integrated into the vibrant, dynamic and compassionate Nashville community.

The African immigrant community in Middle Tennessee is currently not living up to its full potential. When African immigrants arrive they tend to feel isolated, and unaware of how to fully integrate into their new society. Some of the consequences of this isolation include poor school performance and self esteem among African children, and poor health outcomes in African families as a whole.

 

Bastion’s important contribution to the local African immigrant community is that it instills hope, and reveals opportunity to community members. Bastion has the trust of the community, which allows it to reach those that are generally difficult for outsiders to engage. Because of its past successes, it also has the respect of the community, which ensures that community members will show up for events, and participate in trainings.