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PRESS ROOM

For media requests, contact Leah Susi

lsusi@cistn.org | 615.812.4283

April 14, 2024

Metro Schools work to solve chronic absenteeism problem

Our CEO, Meredith Benton, and Dr. Battle. the director of Metro Nashville Public Schools have teamed up for an insightful op-ed featured in The Tennessean. Together, they are shedding light on the critical issue of chronic absenteeism and the impactful strides being made right here in Nashville.

"Our partnership exemplifies the power of collaboration in tackling chronic absenteeism. Through joint initiatives and shared resources, we leverage our respective strengths to target absenteeism at its roots,” they wrote. “We have a long way to go, but we know what works, and together we are committed to bringing this comprehensive support to more students and schools across MNPS.”

February 15, 2024

Communities in Schools of Tennessee Promotes Bingo + Bourbon Event

NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) Leah Susi and John Brittle (JB) of the Whiskey House shared about our upcoming Bingo + Bourbon event on Today In Nashville.

February 20, 2024

Connecting Students and Communities Through the Arts - Communities In Schools of Tennessee

Communities In Schools® (CIS®) of Tennessee Program Manager Karimah Taylor is an artist and arts advocate based in Nashville, TN. Karimah’s love for art developed in high school when she started writing poetry. Read more about a unique project she led for three schools in Nashville. 

February 15, 2024

CISTN's Local On 2 Story: Bingo + Bourbon 2024

NASHVILLE, TN (WKRN) CISTN's very own Chief Development Officer, Leah Susi took to Local On 2 along with John Brittle (JB) of the Whiskey House to promote CISTN's annual fundraising event. Give the segment a watch!

October 11, 2023

College fair held at Coalfield School

WARTBURG, Tenn (Morgan County News) We had a great turnout for our College and Career fair at Coaclfield School in October. Our program managers work hard to connect students with outside resources and opportunities to help them in school and with their post secondary plans. 

October 25, 2023

Spirits are being Summoned to support a Great Cause

NASHVILLE, Tenn (WKRN) We had a great time on Local on 2 promoting CAA's Young Nashville Party which benefits Communities In Schools of Tennessee. 

October 19, 2023

Governor, First Lady visit Hancock to give out 1,000 new coats

MORRISTOWN, Tenn (Citizen Tribune) Students in our “Girls on a Mission” volunteer group at Hancock County High School had the honor of handing out coats alongside Governor Bill Lee and First Lady Maria Lee this morning as part of the First Lady’s #TennesseeServes initiative. In partnership with the state, we expanded into Hancock County High and 22 other rural schools five years ago, and have made great progress supporting students and families. Thank you, Gov. and First Lady Lee, for your leadership and support!

October 20, 2023

CAA's Young Nashville Party benefiting Communities In Schools

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) We are grateful for the support of our longtime friends CAA and the CAA Foundation for hosting this amazing annual event. We are looking forward to a fun Halloween party next Thursday, 10/26 and you can catch our very own Barbie & Ken talking about the party on Today In Nashville.  

September 12, 2023

NFL Player LaTrell Bumphus Inspires Grand Junction Elementary School Students

GRAND JUNCTION, Tenn (Hatchie Press) LaTrell Bumphus’ visit to GJES was in conjunction with College Colors Day and students, faculty, and staff came dressed in the colors of their favorite college teams. Arrangements for LaTrell’s visit were made by the Communities In Schools® (CIS®), that has a mission to “surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.”

September 13, 2023

NPR: This school-based nonprofit offers extra help to families so that students can focus on learning

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WPLN) Providing daily student supports in schools is key to our program managers role in schools across the state. This story takes a deeper look into our Paragon Mills staff, Abby, and the impact she is having in the lives of students and families. 


August 31, 2023

NFL Star from West Tennessee Visits Grand Junction Elementary School

GRAND JUNCTION, Tenn. (WBBJ) Grand Junction Elementary School and Communities In Schools of Tennessee welcomed LaTrell Bumphus, a former University of Tennessee football star who signed with the Seattle Seahawks last spring, to speak at the school’s annual College Colors Day assembly. To celebrate the start of football season, students at Grand Junction Elementary have decorated their classroom doors in the colors of their favorite college teams.

August 25, 2023

Communities In Schools expanded partnership with MNPS

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) Communities In Schools of Tennessee (CIS) has expanded its partnership with Metro Nashville Public Schools to five new schools bringing CIS’s total footprint in Nashville to 19 schools. Watch this Today In Nashville Clip to learn more about the expansion. 

August 8, 2023

Nashville Post: Education nonprofit names CEO

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (August 8, 2023) – Communities In Schools of Tennessee (CIS of Tennessee), a nonprofit that works inside 41 schools across the state to ensure that every student has what they need to succeed in school and beyond, today announced that Meredith Benton has joined the organization as its new CEO. Benton brings extensive philanthropic and public sector leadership experience to her new role.

April 27, 2023

The Grundy County Herald: Children Helping Children

Grundy County High School students are helping to ensure that all children have at least one basic need, a bed in which to sleep.

March 23, 2023

The Tennessean: Nashville must make children and youth central to its vision | Opinion

Thirteen years ago, before Nashville was named the “it” city, cross-sector leaders authored a Child and Youth Master Plan that laid out guiding principles for what our youngest residents should experience in Nashville, and then established ambitious strategies to get us there.

March 16, 2023

WKRN News 2: ‘Transform lives for generations to come’ through CIS’s volunteer reading program

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — My journey in community service within the News 2 Gives Back initiative began with the group, Communities In Schools (CIS) at Tom Joy Elementary School in East Nashville. Many of the students are below the reading average, a lot of them are in single-parent households, and some are even experiencing homelessness.

February 23, 2023

WTVF Channel 5: Bingo + Bourbon event held Thursday night to benefit students across Tennessee

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — How about spending the day playing some bingo and trying some bourbon for a good cause? The Bingo + Bourbon event is happening Thursday night, benefiting students in our area. It is all for Communities in Schools Tennessee, and they connect students to resources to help them stay and thrive in school.

February 8, 2023

Main Street Nashville: Bellshire Elementary sees cultural transformation with help of Communities in Schools

Five years ago, Dr. Donald Black arrived at Bellshire Elementary School in North Nashville as the new principal. Staff turnover was high, few students were reading on grade level, fights were frequent and kids would often run out of the building. But Black knew the school could be better.

February 8, 2023

WSMV 4: "Bingo and Bourbon" - Details on the annual fundraiser benefitting Communities in Schools of TN

Chief Development Officer, Leah Susi, joins Channel 4 to share about upcoming Bingo + Bourbon, fundraiser that benefits Communities in Schools of Tennessee.

February 6, 2023

WKRN News 2: Bingo + Bourbon fundraiser to benefit Communities in Schools

Communities in Schools of Tennessee is an organization working to help kids get ahead in the classroom. Find out about an upcoming event benefiting the organization that is putting the fun in fundraiser.

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