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Brothers United Network Inc. is based in Nashville and is a nationally known, respected and recognized organization that was founded in April 1996. Brothers United is also a multi-award winning HIV Prevention Education program at Nashville CARES, the states largest & oldest AIDS Service Organization in Tennessee.​

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Brothers United Statewide Mission: 

To provide leadership skills, health referrals and services to African American Same Gender Loving Men, their partners and friends in the State of Tennessee. This Network will also supply an empowerment structure for personal growth, community building & positive self-actualization through programs based in Nashville and other statewide efforts.

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In the late 1990’s, the BU Network had four other statewide chapters located in Memphis, Chattanooga, Knoxville, and West TN.  Each city provided safe spaces to gather and hosted annual activities specific to their local communities for over 10 years. Currently the headquarters in Nashville sponsors a yearly December Winter Retreat that brings former chapter members, volunteers and friends together, as well as owns/hosts the annual Nashville Black Pride celebration in October.

 

Brothers United Network Inc. is based in Nashville is a nationally known, respected and recognized organization that was founded in April 1996.Brothers United is also a multi-award winning HIV Prevention Education program at Nashville CARES, the state’s largest & oldest AIDS Service Organization in Tennessee.

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In April of 1996, members of Brothers United Nashville met with Nashville CARES to address the HIV/AIDS Prevention needs of African American Same Gender Loving Men in Middle Tennessee.

The program coordinator and founder of Brothers United was hired at CARES on December 1, 1996, World AIDS Day, and for over two decades, the BU and Young BU programs received funding through different grants and continue to partner with CARES through a variety of projects including the BU & YBU Winter Retreat, and the Take Pride in Your Health Campaign through our annual Nashville Black Pride weekend celebration.

The Brothers United Network is an independent 501c3 Organization that is autonomous from, yet complementary to, the Nashville CARES in that all of the events and activities provide in-depth, longer term life skills required for success outside of, but essential to, HIV prevention, outreach and education.

Nashville CARES exists to end the HIV epidemic, promote comprehensive sexual health and end stigmatization and discrimination through prevention, education, treatment, support, advocacy, and strategic partnership. The vision is to see a world where HIV transmission is eliminated, those affected by HIV/AIDS thrive, and there is optimal sexual heal for all. For more information visit: www.nashvillecares.org

What happened to My House?!

The programming that My House offered was absorbed back into the Brothers United Network organization and will continue to carry the vision to bring love, compassion and support for the Same Gender Loving (SGL) male community to become self-sufficient by prioritizing health, wellness and a sense of individual value. 

The My House Project was originally funded by two different 5-Year Grants through the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) PS15-1502 and PS21-2102 focusing on  African American and other Gay/Bisexual Men for HIV Testing and PrEP Navigation.

Originally Nashville CARES, Street Works, and Neighborhood Health came together to provide a one stop shop Health & Wellness Community Center from 2017 - 2021. In 2021, after receiving their second directly funded grant from the CDC, Nashville CARES was awarded a non-partnership grant and restructured as the Nashville CARES Clinic now known as CARES 360 Community Clinic.

Nashville CARES has 3 locations:

Main Address: 633 Thompson Lane, Nashville, TN 37204

Antioch Address: 442 Metroplex Drive, Building D, Suite 100, Nashville, TN 37211

Robertson Address: 220 Northcrest Drive, Springfield, TN 37172

 

 

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CONTACT

For more information about the

Brothers United Program or events through

the BU Network Contact:

Dwayne Jenkins

BU NETWORK FOUDER/CEO

615-974-2832

bronetwktn@aol.com

Brothers United Network, Inc.

Post Office Box # 68335

Nashville, TN 37206

Nashville CARES Project Director:

GLBTQ Prevention Education & Services:  

Dwayne Jenkins  |  615 499-7409

djenkins@nashvillecares.org

THE HISTORY OF OUR CHAPTERS

 our 30+ Year CARES CONNECTION

© 2025 by Brother United Network 

Call or Text

615-974-2832

Location

Post Office Box 68335, Nashville TN 37206

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