Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffany Rogers.
Hi Tiffany, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in middle Tennessee. I am a single mom of three amazing kids, 23, 20, and 12. I have a ministry I am called to; loving our homeless and at-risk veterans. I do so in order to give back for the ways veterans have stood by me in my life. My grandfathers both served and I always appreciated hearing their stories and seeing their photos. My grandmother actually lost two fiancés in WW2. I also have many friends that have served in the military.
In 2017, my children and I went through incredibly hard things. The people that showed up in our lives happen to be veterans. One for example was my dear friend Courtney. She let me talk in circles and never made me feel like I was a burden. Courtney is a Marine. I didn’t need anyone to fix my situation. I needed people to stand firmly by me while I gathered my thoughts, took care of my children, and picked myself up off the floor. In the veteran community, the thought of covering one while they reload is an understanding. That’s exactly what Courtney did for me. She stayed as others left. She held space for me to vent, cry, feel angry, fumble, and simply allowed me time to figure it out. That’s exactly what I did. I knew that God would provide, but I had no idea what that looked like. It was the darkest time of my life. When I started to come out of that dark place, I started looking for ways to give back to veterans.
I began fundraising and looking for small ways I could show up. Eventually I helped start the Middle Tennessee Memorial Day Ruck that has taken place now for five years. We gather and walk to honor our fallen heroes every Memorial Day weekend. Last year I was recruited by a friend to be the Director of Marketing and Development for a local nonprofit helping veterans.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Absolutely not. You know, the bible never promises us an easy life. It gives us, however, a guide to navigate the hard times.
Isaiah 43:2 says “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze”. It is my favorite scripture that reminds me that I am going to be okay. I have learned along the way that when you go through horrific things, it can help you deepen your faith and become a better version of yourself. I’ve certainly done it all wrong…but I have also learned to give myself grace. I am growing into someone I respect. I can sit with hurting people longer and identify a struggle one may be having a hard time admitting because I too have been there. I have learned to lean on others. Some people leave, but God brings new, wonderful people in that walk with you. I still have so much to learn! These difficult moments and lessons help me love the veterans we serve better than I ever would have without them. For that I can be grateful.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about We Are Building Lives?
We Are Building Lives is a dedicated non-profit organization based in Nashville, committed to assisting veterans on their journey to sustainable living. We Are Building Lives aims to end veteran suicide and homelessness. Our programs focus on providing essential resources, including housing stability, employment assistance, life-skills development, and ongoing support. By fostering an environment of accountability and encouragement, we aim to empower homeless veterans across Middle Tennessee who are ready to reclaim their independence and rebuild their lives.
We focus on two main programs and doing those two things very well.
The Academy
The Academy is a structured, facility-based program for male veterans battling addiction and mental health issues. The mission of The Academy is to provide veterans the opportunities and resources necessary to transition from chronic homelessness to sustained independent living. We have one transition house open currently. This fall we have a second house opening. We also plan to open another house in 2027. This program sets us apart from other organizations. We don’t believe in putting “Band-Aids on bullet holes”. Many organizations help veterans but without true interventions, they cycle back into homelessness and struggle with both suicide and addiction. We help them get the true support they need to get sober. Around 99% of the homeless veterans that come to us have PTSD and/or sobriety issues. Drugs and alcohol are the not the “problem”. They are the “solution” many use to cope with PTSD. Our programs truly work! We have a very high success rate of keeping the veterans that graduate our program both housed and sober. Before they graduate the program and transition into independent living, they have one or both disability income and a stable job. We track them for two years. We recently hired Dr. Eric Stanberry as our Clinical Liaison/Consultant. He is rapidly implementing new programs for mental health support, which is another in-house strategy that truly helps these veterans on their road to recovery.
The Four Step Process:
Orientation & Adjustment (6-12 months)
Program Commitment / Goals (6-12 Months)
Transition to Independent Living
Independent Living
Project Advance:
Project Advance assists single veterans and veterans with families in securing employment and permanent housing. Over the next 12 months, we will offer crisis intervention to 100 new clients and provide mentoring and follow-up support to 48 existing clients. The mission of Project Advance is to stop veteran homelessness before begins.
What We Provide:
Affordable Housing
Job Assistance
Apartment Furnishings
Counseling & Mentorship
How do you think about happiness?
I love being a mama. I absolutely love having a front-row seat to the most amazing kids. God hand-picked me, of all people, to be their mom and I couldn’t be more humbled or grateful for that! I am so incredibly proud of their kind hearts and level heads. They are resilient and loving. They teach me new things every single day.
I love all kind of hobbies: painting, decorating, shooting guns, hiking, trail running, weightlifting, and finding new thrills that make me feel alive! I grew up with two brothers, so running with boys led me into some active hobbies for sure. I am hoping to add skydiving to this list soon!
I had a friend tell me in the thick of my grief that I needed to get hobbies and go to therapy. I found both helped and I started a very long list of hobbies! They started off as healthy coping skills that quickly turned into a passion for life! When you have the right hobbies, you can enjoy them with friends or alone. You have to romanticize life, you know? Have something that you look forward to each new day, with or without someone to do those things with. Being able to do that is how I discovered my own joy and happiness. No one is responsible for your happiness besides you!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wearebuildinglives.org/
- Instagram: @wearebuildinglivesnashville
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeAreBuildingLivesNashville
