Smith, director of patient and family-centered care at Vanderbilt University Medical Center during her day job, originally began volunteering at The Next Door - which is literally "next door" to her church, First Baptist Nashville - through a group known as Wild Praying Women. This wasn't the first brush Smith had with helping the needy. As a young nurse, she worked in a Brazilian clinic for the Peace Corps. She says her favorite part of the volunteer work is when women who have graduated from the program visit her and tell her that her job advice was exactly on the mark and how their lives are totally changed for the better. "We have an incredibly low percentage of graduates going back to prison. It gives them back a chance of having dignity and self-worth," Smith said. "When they walk back in here, there is an air of hope and sense of renewal. It's beautiful to watch them gain that sense of self-respect."
Brazil RPCV Terrell Smith volunteers as a "job coach" for The Next Door Inc., a transitions program for formerly incarcerated women
Take a Bow: Brentwood mom helps ease transitions from prison
November 17, 2009
Sometimes rewards come to those who aren't even looking for accolades.
Brentwood resident Terrell Smith, who volunteers as a "job coach" for The Next Door Inc., a transitions program for formerly incarcerated women, enjoys the work just because she likes to make a difference in other people's lives.
"A lot of these ladies never had the skills to become successful, so this is literally the next door for them. What this organization does is it equips these ladies with a whole new skill set to be successful this time. If they don't have any other foundation, they'll go back to the old friends, the old environment, the old habits," Smith said.
The Bank of America Charitable Foundation thought that the Brentwood mom of two - one child goes to Ravenwood while the other is at Brentwood Middle School - contributed to her community so much that she was honored during a local heroes award ceremony through the bank's Neighborhood Excellence Initiative earlier this month. The Next Door will receive a $5,000 donation in Smith's name.
Brentwood student Kayla Miller, a senior at University School of Nashville, also was honored with a student leaders award at the same event.
"This is actually my favorite night of the year because it's such a wonderful moment. It's such a delightful opportunity to recognize these individuals for their passions," said John Stein, Tennessee president of Bank of America.
Smith, director of patient and family-centered care at Vanderbilt University Medical Center during her day job, originally began volunteering at The Next Door - which is literally "next door" to her church, First Baptist Nashville - through a group known as Wild Praying Women.
This wasn't the first brush Smith had with helping the needy. As a young nurse, she worked in a Brazilian clinic for the Peace Corps.
A major component of the program includes getting newly released prisoners into the job market so they can be productive members of society. Smith leads them through aspects of getting and keeping a job, including how to conduct themselves during interviews.
But the hardest part for these women is going to be how to answer that one question: Have you ever been convicted of a crime?
"Don't end the sentence with a period. Admit that you have but that you've learned from your mistakes," Smith said.
She says her favorite part of the volunteer work is when women who have graduated from the program visit her and tell her that her job advice was exactly on the mark and how their lives are totally changed for the better.
"We have an incredibly low percentage of graduates going back to prison. It gives them back a chance of having dignity and self-worth," Smith said.
"When they walk back in here, there is an air of hope and sense of renewal. It's beautiful to watch them gain that sense of self-respect."
Contact Bonnie Burch at 615-771-5421 or bburch@tennessean.com.
