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This podcast is brought to you by the Union, a middle school after school program. Listen along as members of the Union interview each other about drumline, mixed martial arts, and the Incredibles two. 

This podcast is brought to you by the Union, a middle school after school program. Listen along as members of the Union talk about the environment, the NBA draft, and mumble rap. 

There's only one Kindergartener in Nashville who takes the train to school, and his name is Orion.  We ride along with him one morning, and learn about how an extended family gets Orion to school, plus all the reasons why the train is the best way to get there.

Reverend Kadia Edwards joins us to talk about the holidays and reflection on the community performances at last week's Joyful Noise.

We visit Cliff's Cabinets and meet Darrell Coleman, an intern in our Chapter 2 youth employment program, who gets some good news.

Cheryl Horton and Marsha Edwards speak with Kristin Priesol of Community Health Matters about Martha O'Bryan Center's innovative parenting program, Tied Together.

We talk to Darius Horton, freshman at Middle Tennessee State University, and his mentor, Maureen Milam, about the college experience.

We relive the drama of the school board meeting where Explore Community School won approval to open.

Justin's poem: The best part of me???   The best part of me Is nothing I am a nothing But I will BE SOMETHING One day Like an acorn growing into a strong Sturdy tree Look, There aren't really any good things about me But I honestly, can only say The only good part about myself Is that I will always be here for you I can save all of you With God in me, I see heaven And hell at the same time I can only say The best part of me, Is my loyalty I am a medical healer in the art of Music That is the best of me  

A new series that will pop up from time to time within Break The Line, this is the first installment of How To Build A School, where we chronicle to journey of Explore Community School growing from an idea to a real school serving hundreds of elementary and middle school students.  We speak with Jon Driskell, founding principal of Explore, about the story so far, and preview what listeners can expect to hear in this series as we prepare for opening day in July, 2015, and growing and building for years after that. More about Explore at: www.explorecommunityschool.com And links to some of the inspiration mentioned in the episode: High Tech High: www.hightechhigh.org An Ethic of Excellence, by Ron Berger: http://elschools.org/about-us/staff-board

Georgeanne Chapman tells her story.

Kent Miller, Director of High School Initiatives at Martha O'Bryan Center, shares the improbable success story of our Academic Student Unions at the 2014 Conference of The Alliance for Strong Families & Communities.

We speak with Marsha Edwards, our CEO and Sara Green, community organizer with Cayce United, about relational poverty.

We interview folks around the Center about what it means to be home for the holidays.

We visit the November community circle at East End Prep, an elementary school that is part of Martha O'Bryan Center. We hear from Associate Dean of Students Yasmine Woods and the young scholars enrolled at East End, who give us a lesson about controlling our attitude.

You asked for more adorable children, and we deliver in episode 10. Brandie Long, our Literacy Coach, and some students in our Early Learning Center, help us learn about persimmons, and our Read and Eat program.

In episode 9, we learn about gleaning and food security.  We talk to Linda Tozer, Regional Director of the Tennessee Gleaning Network at the Society of St. Andrew. Learn more about their work at www.endhunger.org  We also talk to Jeff Poppen, aka The Barefoot Farmer.  His website is barefootfarmer.org, and the website of his Tennessee Local Food Summit is tnlocalfood.com. We also talk to amazing gleaning volunteer John Folger!

We speak with Nashville State Community College freshmen Justin Haynes, Robert Woodard, Kenneth Jones and Jodeci Sam as well as Martha O'Bryan Center staffer Ashlee Pippin, who works in our Postsecondary Success program.  Shout out to partners Oasis Center and Nashville Financial Empowerment Centers! Nashville Financial Empowerment Center: http://www.nashville.gov/Mayors-Office/Priorities/Economic-Development/Financial-Empowerment-Center.aspx Oasis Center: http://www.oasiscenter.org    

Marsha Edwards returns to the show with a story about abundance. But first, we introduce the team behind the podcast, including guest co-host Adrianna Flax. We share the history of the show, some feedback you have provided, and an exciting announcement as we celebrate our wonderful community of listeners.