Drug-Free Tennessee Always Working with Schools to Help Students

Drug-Free Tennessee has volunteers constantly out in the community to spread the Truth About Drugs and help students lead better lives.

Keeping Youth off Drugs has long been the message of Drug-Free Tennessee (DFT), which is the local chapter of the international non-profit The Foundation for a Drug-Free World. The group has promoted a drug-free life with education and prevention materials for young people.

The cornerstone of the Foundation’s educational program is the Truth About Drugs booklets, which enlighten all ages on the dangers of common street drugs.

The booklets can be passed out in volume, presented during lectures and seminars with adults and youth alike, or shared one on one to pass along the message. Volunteers are working in schools and communities continuously throughout Tennessee and the South to ensure young people can lead better lives without the grip of addiction or substance abuse.

The Foundation for a Drug-Free World is a secular nonprofit corporation that empowers youth and adults with factual information about drugs so they can make informed decisions to live drug-free. The Foundation’s Truth About Drugs campaign is the world’s largest nongovernmental drug education and prevention initiative.

The Church of Scientology and Scientologists support the Foundation, making it possible to provide these materials free of charge to community leaders, groups and educators for their use in dealing with this vital subject.

The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee Reminds People to Take Care of Themselves

The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee is working to help communities across Nashville.

The Way to Happiness, a book written by humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard in the early 1980s, is comprised of 21 precepts, each one predicated on the fact that one’s survival depends on the survival of others—and that without the survival of others, neither joy nor happiness are attainable. In the three decades since it was authored, more than 115 million copies of the book passed hand to hand, thus inspiring the movement which is making its way throughout the city of Nashville, Tenn.

Volunteers for The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee (TWTH-TN) are sending the message to people to take care of themselves amid the global concerns over the Coronavirus. “The Way to Happiness was written in the 1980s, but the very first passage you’ll read is Take Care of Yourself,” says Julie Brinker who coordinates local volunteers for TWTH-TN.

The passage is titled Get Care When You Are Ill, and reads: “When they are ill, even with communicable diseases, people often do not isolate themselves or seek proper treatment. This, as you can easily see, tends to put you at risk. Insist when someone is ill that he or she takes the proper precautions and gets proper care.”

“The message is simple, but powerful,” says Brinker.

According to thewaytohappiness.org, “This code of conduct can be followed by anyone, of any race, color or creed and works to restore the bonds that unite humankind.” In the three decades since it was authored, 100 million copies of the book passed hand to hand. "This book is based on common sense principles and acts as a moral compass,” says Judy Young, Director of The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee, “when people read it, they are able to easily put the concepts in it into practice to live a better life.”

TWTH-TN is making a true impact across Tennessee and reaching other parts of the world. To learn more about the program, or to order copies of The Way to Happiness booklet, visit twthtn.org.

Church of Scientology Volunteer Ministers Bring Aid to the Nashville Community

The Churches of Scientology Disaster Response worked alongside hundreds of volunteers from churches, neighborhood groups, and community organizations to provide help and relief to those affected by the Nashville tornado which ripped through the city early in the morning on March 3, 2020.

The storm, which struck out of the darkness early Tuesday, left a path of destruction across four counties, including hardest-hit Putnam County.

Utility crews worked to repair more than 600 downed poles and restore power to almost 50,000 Nashville residents.  Many survivors were left wondering how to rebuild after homes, businesses and schools that were damaged or destroyed. Communities turned out to help those left injured or homeless or simply to share their grief.

But what’s more than that is the now 20,000 who have signed up to volunteer through Hands on Nashville and began working to rebuild as early as Tuesday morning March 3^rd. While it was important to heed Metro’s call to stay out of damaged areas, neighbors began helping neighbors. And once it was time to start clearing away debris, volunteers assembled in masses across the city in the most devastated areas.

Scientology Volunteer Ministers began in East Nashville, clearing debris and working with community members who most needed help, and went on to Germantown and North Nashville where the damage had been severe for several neighborhoods. There, Volunteer Ministers were able to remove an approximate 5000 lbs of debris, as well as help dozens of people move furniture out of destroyed homes and into moving trucks.

“People are working together, supporting one another, and rebuilding the city one home at a time,” says Julie Brinker, who is coordinating the Church of Scientology Disaster Response teams in Nashville.

For more information about the Church of Scientology Disaster Response or Volunteer Ministers, visit volunteerministers.org. 

The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee Spreads Cheer for World Happiness Day

The Way to Happiness, a book written by humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard in the early 1980s, is comprised of 21 precepts, each one predicated on the fact that one’s survival depends on the survival of others—and that without the survival of others, neither joy nor happiness are attainable. In the three decades since it was authored, more than 115 million copies of the book passed hand to hand, thus inspiring the movement which is making its way throughout the city of Nashville, Tenn.

Volunteers for The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee (TWTH-TN) have been working to get the booklet into the hands of every Nashvillian through a series of events. Volunteers have distributed several hundred booklets to households near downtown Nashville, and are planning even more events in the coming months, the next such event to take place on March 14^th in celebration of World Happiness Day.

The United Nations proclaimed March 20 the International Day of Happiness in 2012, “recognizing the relevance of happiness and well-being as universal goals and aspirations in the lives of human beings around the world and the importance of their recognition in public policy objectives,” according to un.org. The theme for 2020 is “Happier Together,” and the Tennessee chapter of TWTH plans to incorporate this as they plan events around the day.

According to thewaytohappiness.org, “This code of conduct can be followed by anyone, of any race, color or creed and works to restore the bonds that unite humankind.” In the three decades since it was authored, 100 million copies of the book passed hand to hand. "This book is based on common sense principles and acts as a moral compass,” says Judy Young, Director of The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee, “when people read it, they are able to easily put the concepts in it into practice to live a better life.”

TWTH-TN is making a true impact across Tennessee and reaching other parts of the world. To learn more about the program, or to order copies of The Way to Happiness booklet, visit twthtn.org.

Church of Scientology Celebrates its 35th Anniversary in Nashville, Tennessee

The Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre in Nashville, Tennessee is preparing for its 35th anniversary celebration, which will take place in its home – the remodeled Fall School building on 8th Avenue South.

“We go all-out to celebrate our anniversary, but this year will be particularly special,” says Pastor of the church, Rev. Brian Fesler.

Director of Community Affairs, Julie Brinker, is organizing the affair: “Our aim is to give our parishioners and community guests a wonderful time. From live music, to authentic Nashville fare, this will be a night to remember.” Each year the black tie soiree brings its parishioners together with dignitaries and community leaders to rejoice in a year of growth and achievement. Attendees delight in an evening of fine dining, inspirational speeches and exuberant entertainment.

“There is certainly a lot to celebrate,” Fesler continues, “since our 2009 opening in the Fall School, our parishioners have been more active than ever in reaching out into the community with our social betterment programs.”

Among the church’s community initiatives are The Truth About Drugs, a campaign to enlighten youth and teens on the dangers of street drugs. Another is a human rights program which educates about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights signed into existence in 1948 just after World War II. Each of these campaigns has booklets for general distribution and enlightenment, along with public service announcements. “It’s all about education and improving the world we live in,” says Fesler.

Parishioners have gone straight to schools in Tennessee to teach kids about the dangers of drugs. They have visited more than 30 counties and delivered over 230 seminars. Fesler described the church’s involvement in the annual celebration of International Human Rights Day in Tennessee. “We work with agencies to put together the event, which includes an education portion about the Universal Declaration’s list of rights, speeches and an award ceremony for those who have demonstrated a life-long commitment to human rights.”

The church plans to have its private 35th anniversary celebration in May. Located at 1130 8th Avenue South, the church is open 9am-9pm Monday through Friday and 9am-6pm on the weekend for tours of its public information center. For more information, visit http://www.scientology-ccnashville.org.

Meet a Scientologist Transforms the Look of Reality With Christy Lee Rogers

Scientology Network’s MEET A SCIENTOLOGIST, the weekly series spotlighting the everyday lives of Scientologists from around the world and all walks of life, announces an episode featuring renowned photographer and fine artist Christy Lee Rogers.

MEET A SCIENTOLOGIST airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Scientology Network.

Christy Lee Rogers creates breathtakingly beautiful photographic works of art using a novel underwater technique. By blending a baroque aesthetic with modern technology, her work is winning prestigious awards and fans all across the world.

Born and raised in Hawaii, Christy Lee Rogers grew up in and around water, developing an affinity for the element that would play a pivotal role in her future career. As a teenager, Christy became passionately interested in photography, spending hours in a darkroom developing her images. After finding the courage to pursue her passion professionally, she presented her first collection—models submerged in water, surrounded by billowing gowns against a solid black background. As her artwork defied conventional categorization, Christy found gallery owners hesitant to take her on. But the stunning luminescence, color and composition of her work garnered admirers and clients, and quickly become a gallery favorite. Today, Christy’s art is world-renowned, and the story of how she got there is a picture worth a thousand words.

The Scientology Network debuted on March 12, 2018. Since launching, the Scientology Network has been viewed in 240 countries and territories worldwide in 17 languages. Satisfying the curiosity of people about Scientology, the network takes viewers across six continents, spotlighting the everyday lives of Scientologists, showing the Church as a global organization, and presenting its social betterment programs that have touched the lives of millions worldwide. The Network also showcases documentaries by independent filmmakers who represent a cross section of cultures and faiths, but share a common purpose of uplifting communities.

Broadcast from Scientology Media Productions, the Church’s global media center in Los Angeles, the Scientology Network can be streamed at Scientology.tv and is available through satellite television on DIRECTV Channel 320, mobile apps and via the Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV platforms.

In 2019, The Way to Happiness held its inaugural event to observe World Happiness Day. This year, volunteers plan to ring in the occasion with an event to acknowledge the work of a local neighborhood that is working to end violence. The Way to Happiness Association wants this event to bring people together who care about all people, so they can connect and do bigger things. The Way to Happiness Association was formed around the book The Way to Happiness, written by humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard.

The Way to Happiness is filled with twenty-one precepts based on the fact that one’s survival depends on the survival of others. The book begins with a message under the heading Why I Gave You This Book: “Your survival is important to me.”

When copies of this book are widely distributed in communities, crime rates plummet. According to TheWaytoHappiness.org, “We live in a world of increasing immorality and rising criminality. Anyone who has had to rely upon the good will and honesty of others—police, insurance companies, merchants or banks, in particular—have experienced the harm resulting from the lowering levels of morality. The Way to Happiness was written to fill this moral vacuum in society.”

World Happiness Day occurs each year on March 20^th and is celebrated by the United Nations. According to un.org, “Since 2013, the United Nations has celebrated the International Day of Happiness as a way to recognize the importance of happiness in the lives of people around the world…The United Nations invites each person of any age, plus every classroom, business and government to join in celebration of the International Day of Happiness.”

The World Happiness Day in Nashville is set for March 14, at noon, and will take place in the community hall of the Church of Scientology, 1130 8^th Ave South, Nashville, Tenn.

For more information on The Way to Happiness Association, its upcoming events or if you would like to participate, visit twthtn.org.