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 states largest & oldest AIDS Service Organization in Tennessee.
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.
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.
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 was hired on December 1, 1996, World AIDS Day, and since that time, the BU and Young BU programs continue to receive funding through various CARES grants. .Both programs are currently working out of the My House facility.
The Brothers United Network is an independent 501c3 Organization that is autonomous from, yet complementary to, the Nashville CARES BU and YBU programs 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.
CARES Mission: to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Middle Tennessee. We work to achieve this through education, advocacy and support for those at risk of, or living with, HIV. For more information visit: www.nashvillecares.org
Mission: A diverse drop-in center delivering essential health and support for today’s ever-changing needs of Same Gender Loving (SGL) male.
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.
My House was funded through 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 as the primary focus 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 took ownership of and opened the My House / Nashville CARES Clinic.
After renovations are completed in 2024 our main Thompson Lane building, all CARES Staff, the Clinic and Nashville Pharmacy Services (NPS) will be under one roof
CONTACT
For more information about the
Brothers United Program or events through the BU Network Contact:
Dwayne Jenkins
BU NETWORK FOUDER/CEO
Phone Number:
615-974-2832
Brothers United Network, Inc.
Post Office Box # 68335
Nashville, TN 37206
Nashville CARES Project Director: My House
MSM Prevention Education & Services:
615 499-7409
THE HISTORY OF OUR CHAPTERS
THE CARES CONNECTION
Nashville CARES @MY HOUSE