Corner to Corner co-creates economic participation and growth with underestimated Nashvillians through knowledge, tools, and networks. We are based in Nashville, tackling economic inequity from its roots: through early opportunities for young creators and by working with early-stage entrepreneurs. We transform the joy of creation into economic flourishing. Starting in middle school, by increasing knowledge-based learning through Script to Screen. And then again with Academy participants, engaging entrepreneurs at the earliest stage. Script to Screen is a creative after-school program that helps kids fall in love with reading through their love of movies. Our young creators watch a popular film while reading the script at the same time and collaborate with their peers to create an entire movie – from plot points to dialogue and everything in between. Literacy is a key factor in predicting future earnings, with a solid proficient reader earning $29k on average more than peers not reading at a proficient level. In collaboration with Vanderbilt, pilot data found that our program boosted students’ confidence with reading, and 55% of our young creators grew a full grade level. The Academy is a 10-week program that equips community members with the skills they need to plan, start, and grow their own small businesses. The Academy helps neighbors create a sustainable economic engine for their families and community. The Academy has graduated nearly 700 entrepreneurs, each in various stages of small business ownership, and 88% of our Academy Alumni are Black women. In 2021 alone, our entrepreneurs were responsible for putting $13 million back into the neighborhood economy here in Nashville. The Academy Amplified is our supplemental program dedicated to offering our Academy Alumni continued support through opportunities like Business to Business mentoring, video marketing classes, and our new pilot small loan program, The Academy Invested, among others.
