NIA ASSOCIATION GRAND OPENING

Anna James & Diamond Padgett Derrick & Carol Stevens Gwen Stevens & Annie Gray Valencia Hill & Deja Long

Joe & Debbie Cangora.JPG

Tinasia & Lyanna Martinez

Story & Photography by Tony Centonze Clarksville’s NIA Association recently held an open house, where the community was invited to visit the facility and enjoy an afternoon of music, food and fellowship.

“Nia stands for ‘purpose’ in Swahili. It’s one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa,” NIA’s Valencia Hill said. “We try to do this periodically, just to open up to the community, our families, friends, and other businesses. It’s an opportunity to let them know we’re here. We’ve been pillars of the Middle Tennessee region for the past 23 years.”

NIA currently serves 42 individuals, also providing service to people in Nashville, Springfield, and beyond. “It just depends on their level of need,” Hill said. “Our specialty is a holistic home health care approach. It’s non-crisis care. We are trained through the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Services. We do a lot of verbal deescalation. We work with adults and children with moderate to severe behaviors, as well as physical and intellectual barriers.”