The Heart House, a free resilience center for survivors of mass violence, has quietly but decisively opened its doors this week in Brentwood. An open house is set for Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., giving visitors a chance to walk the space, meet staff, and get a feel for what organizers describe as a trauma-informed, family-friendly hub for healing. The center offers therapy, peer support, and community programming at no charge for adults and children across the Nashville area who have been affected by shootings and other mass-tragedy events.
According to NewsChannel 5, Tennessee Voices for Victims will operate the Heart House with funding from a federal grant. The group hopes to reach survivors from local incidents in Green Hills and Antioch, as well as people now living in the region who were displaced from mass-violence events in Las Vegas, Orlando, and Boston. The outlet reports that the center is designed to provide specialized counseling and group support tailored specifically to mass-violence trauma.
What the Heart House Offers
The Heart House website outlines a menu of services that leans heavily into long-haul recovery rather than quick fixes. It lists trauma-informed therapy, specialized counseling, peer support groups, and wraparound programs such as after-school activities and book clubs, all provided at no cost. According to The Heart House, the center also connects visitors with resources for criminal injury compensation and national recovery tools.
The site’s staff information names Annie Wortham as director and Maddie Boerste as therapy director, and notes that a main contact number is available for referrals and appointments. The setup is meant to make it as easy as possible for survivors and families to get in the door and then stay connected over time, not just in the immediate aftermath of a crisis.
Local Roots and Survivor Leadership
The concept for the center grew out of outreach by mothers of Covenant School students, who pushed for a dedicated space where survivors would not have to explain or justify their trauma. Tennessee Voices for Victims co-founder Valerie Craig told NewsChannel 5 that those parents were “a voice in this process.” She added, “I think the validation is what helps people feel maybe I can recover from this,” emphasizing that simply being believed can be a turning point.
Wortham, who has been personally affected by the Antioch church shooting, described the facility as “cozy and wonderful” in the station’s reporting and said the center hopes validation and community will help people rebuild. The idea is that survivors will recognize pieces of their own story in the people leading the work, not just in the brochures on the table.
For those who cannot make it to the open house, the Heart House notes that referrals do not require an in-person visit to get started. According to The Heart House, the center can be reached at 629-800-5149 or [email protected], and the site includes age- and incident-specific resources for students, families, and survivors looking for a first step or some steady support after the headlines fade.
