Our Programs
Our programs at Legacy Mission Village support whole families through education, community, and relationship. Each of our programs meet specific needs, but together they form a connected Village where children, youth, and adults can grow, learn, and navigate life in a new country.
Kindergarten Readiness Program
Our Kindergarten Readiness Program supports 3-5 year olds as they prepare for their first classroom experience in the United States. This program is designed for children who may have little or no English, limited exposure to group learning environments, and heightened separation anxiety.
Classes meet four days a week, with each child attending two days per week in a small-group setting. The program takes place on-site at a nearby partner church.
While the classroom experience centers on children, parents are deeply involved. Families gain insight into what school will look like for their child and often participate in adult classes at the same time.
This shared learning helps smooth the transition into kindergarten and builds confidence for both children and parents.
Journey
Journey supports refugee high school students who have experienced interrupted or inconsistent education. Many students arrive several grade levels behind and are unfamiliar with U.S. academic systems such as GPA requirements, standardized testing, and college applications.
Journey meets four days a week across two locations and includes a combination of small-group instruction and one-on-one tutoring. Students receive academic support, ACT preparation, college and FAFSA guidance, and help with long-term planning. A lighter summer program provides continued connection and learning.
Adult Education
Our Adult Education program equips participants to confidently thrive in their work, further education, and everyday life. Class offerings include English at multiple levels, literacy instruction, GED preparation, and digital literacy.
Classes meet four days a week at various times to accommodate different schedules. Some classes even overlap with the Kindergarten Readiness Program so that parents can learn while their children are in class.
Most classes are group-based, with some one-on-one tutoring available. Programming runs year-round, with lighter offerings in the summer, and follows a semester-based structure.
Citizenship and Green Card Application Support
Legacy Mission Village helps refugee families navigate the complex United States citizenship process from start to finish—a journey that takes years, even decades.
Citizenship preparation combines classroom learning—covering test questions, civic knowledge, and interview expectations—with one-on-one guidance for completing applications correctly, tracking deadlines, and using the online systems required for U.S. Citizenship and Green Card processes.
This work is a partnership: participants study the material while LMV staff and volunteers walk alongside them through each step of the application process. Our focus on legal refugees enables us to provide thorough support to help them succeed in the naturalization process.
Life Together in the Village
Our programs are connected through shared activities. Families celebrate milestones like Kindergarten Readiness and Journey graduations and naturalization ceremonies together. Students and parents visit museums, attend performances, celebrate holidays, and take college trips together, giving families opportunities to learn, explore, and celebrate alongside one another outside regular classes.
Additional Outreach
Diaper distribution program
Legacy Mission Village distributes approximately 19,000 diapers every month to refugee families enrolled in our programs and to the broader Nashville community. Diapers are provided first to participating families as a supplement to ease early childhood expenses, with remaining supply distributed through a monthly community-wide event. In partnership with Nashville Diaper Connection, we offer consistent, low-cost access to this essential resource.
East Africa program
Legacy Mission Village provides ongoing financial support to the Itetero School for Special Needs Children in Rwanda, established in partnership with the Église Presbytérienne au Rwanda (EPR). Dedicated in 2013, the school serves approximately 20 children with special needs and is locally owned and operated. LMV remains a founding and continuing partner, contributing general support to sustain the school’s operations.
Volunteers in the Village
Volunteers make Legacy Mission Village possible! They work alongside students, parents, and staff in classrooms, tutoring sessions, and behind-the-scenes support, forming meaningful relationships and learning with the families they serve. We are always in need of dedicated people to join us!