STRINGS FOR HOPE
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Our Mission

10/24/2019

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" Taking secondhand strings to provide second chances for survivors of addiction, domestic violence, and human trafficking." 

​You have probably seen our mission statement on the Home Page of our website, at the events we pop up at, and on our business cards, but what exactly does it mean?

It means that all of our products are made out of donated musical instrument strings, both played on and new, and every piece is handcrafted by a survivor of addiction, domestic violence, or human trafficking. 

Employment through Strings for Hope provides our makers with supplemental income while they are in transition, teaches job skills, and may serve as a form of art therapy. Because employment through Strings for Hope provides flexibility, our makers are able to focus on recovery while maintaining a source of income. 

Our makers are our priority and are the reason we exist. We have been able to provide over $100,000 worth of supplemental income to our makers and work with about 10-12 makers at a time. 

In order to become a maker, survivors must be apart of a transitional housing program and attend our jewelry making classes. By utilizing transitional facilities, we serve as an additional stepping stone for survivors while they are in transition.  

It is our hope that as we continue to grow as a company, we can provide more women with opportunities while breaking stigmas surrounding recovery in the workplace.  

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12 Self Care Tips Recovery Can Teach Us

10/7/2019

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It's no secret that self care is important for a healthy mind, body, and spirit. There are millions of podcasts and blog posts about what self care is and what it isn't. To some, self care may include bubble baths and facials; to others, self care involves cuddling with loved ones or creating financial budgets. 

Regardless, how we learn to take care of ourselves can make a huge difference in our self care routines. Our makers in recovery had unique insight into the self care process. Here are 12 tips they have learned while in recovery. 

1) Focus on yourself instead of what everyone else is doing.
Your life path is unique and specific to you, not to anyone else. Just because someone is moving a little faster or slower or is making different decisions, doesn't mean you have to change the direction you are going! Stay true to yourself and trust you are exactly where you need to be. 

2) Learn how to be alone.
 
While being with others is helpful and important, it is also just as important to spend quality time alone to reflect and decompress without the added pressure of someone else's thoughts or opinions. At the end of the day, all you have is yourself, so learn how to be okay with you.  

3) Stay open-minded. 
Change can't happen without an open-mind. Allow yourself to be open to things that make you uncomfortable. 

4) Be honest with how you're feeling.
Your feelings are 100% valid. Whether you're sad, mad, happy, or don't feel like doing something, it's your responsibility to stay true to yourself and honor your feelings. Not everyone will understand, and that's okay! 

5) Accept help and ask for it. 
Receiving help can be challenging, especially when you are used to fending for yourself. Remember that it is impossible for one person to know everything. You cannot move if you don't have the resources to do so. Remind yourself that everyone has to receive help sometimes; it's apart of the human experience. 

6) Surround yourself with supportive people.
Support is key to moving forward, and your tribe reflects your vibe! Be sure to surround yourself with people who support you. 

7) Take responsibility for yourself and your actions.
At the end of the day, nobody can force you to do anything. Your actions are yours and yours alone. Make sure you are making the best decisions for yourself without harming others. 

8) Reflect, pray, meditate. 
Spending time in reflection is a great way to relieve stress and sort through anything that may be holding you back or weighing you down. It's also a great way to plan for the future or create new goals. Try spending at least 15 minutes per day in reflection. 

9) Enjoy your life! 
Before you can make lasting change in your life, you must first begin to seek joy. You can find joy in little moments like a cup of coffee, a sunrise, or spending time with friends. 

10) Say no!
While difficult to do, saying no is one of the best boundaries you can establish with yourself and others. When you say no, you give yourself the space to honor your feelings and what you truly want. Whether you try to fake it or not, people can tell when you don't want to be somewhere. 

11) Forgive yourself.
We all make mistakes; it's apart of being human. No matter how many times you make the same mistake, give yourself grace and learn to practice forgiveness. Our mistakes can teach us valuable lessons when we are open. 

12) Love yourself.
Self love is the most important kind of love. People love you the way that you love you. Setting boundaries, saying no, and being proud of the person you are, are all ways to love yourself. Loving yourself is the most important aspect of self care. When you love yourself, you take care of yourself. 

If you try any of these self care tips, comment below! 



 



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Meet Our Maker, Chrissi!

8/19/2019

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Chrissi has been making jewelry for us for 5 months! We have loved watching her grow through the program and are so excited to share her experience with Strings. 

Q:  What were your first thoughts on Strings for Hope?
A: I thought it was really cool and creative and charitable. It combines two of my favorite things: helping people and creating sh*t! 
Q: What have you learned thus far by being apart of the program? 
A: Making jewelry is a really good outlet to relieve stress and anger. If I feel angry, I just make a bracelet. I have also learned that this is the first thing I haven't quit. I hate doing things I don't get the first time, but with this and recovery, I keep trying. 
Q: What does hope mean to you?
A: Anytime someone asks me what a word means to me, my brain answers in 4 words to break it down... this probably comes from my writing nature. Hope to me means: heart open personified evaluation. 
Q: What is your favorite part about String for Hope?
A: the women
Q: Where would you like to see the company go?
A: I would love to see more jewelry wraps with crystals and other designs. 
Q: Where do you see yourself 2 years from now?
A: I see myself as a published writer. 
Q: Share a quote from an original poem:
A: "In a world with unrelated reality stars, she just wants to be the narrative in a human interest documentary." 
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Zero Waste Nashville

8/1/2019

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     Our CEO and Director of Operations attended an event hosted by Zero Waste. The event was attended by companies that focus on sustainability in the local Nashville area. We learned so much about how our community is bettering our environment and how we can do more to help! 

Here are some facts on guitar string break down!
  1. Since most guitar strings are made of mixed metals, they can range from steel, copper, brass, nickel, bronze, (being 80% copper) and nylon. This makes their range of decomposition anywhere from 50- 200 years. 
  2. If the strings are coated in plastic polymers, the string can even longer to decompose, up to 1000 years. 
    If you or someone you know has string they would like to get rid of, please contact us! We are always looking for donations and love doing our part in saving our environment. 


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Upcoming Events!

8/1/2019

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We have a busy fall ahead of us! You can find us at these upcoming events:

           The Tomato Festival
: 8/10 


           The Food Truck Fest
: 9/7


           Light the Nations
: 10/19


           Centennial Craft Fest
: 10/19 - 10/20


And great news, we have a new location for our kiosk. Keep an eye out for us in the Gulch coming soon!



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Meet Sarah! Our director of outreach & operations

7/24/2019

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     Sarah is our Director of Outreach and Operations. Sarah started working for us while she was in transitional housing and has since transitioned into working for us full-time! Each week, Sarah works closely with the women in the facilities we work with and is an amazing asset to our company! 

Q&A
Q: How did you feel at first about working for Strings for Hope?  
A: I knew a couple of women who were making guitar string jewelry, and I always thought it was so cool. When the opportunity presented itself for me to get involved, I was so stoked! I went to the first class and immediately knew this was something that I wanted to do. 

Q: Do you feel as if working for Strings for Hope helped you while going through a recovery program?
A: Absolutely. It afforded me the opportunity to be able to focus more on my recovery and my children. Also, the act of actually making the jewelry is very therapeutic for me. It relaxes me and helps me to focus on the present. 

Q: You have been working for us for a while now, how do you now feel about the company? 
A: Yes, I have been working for Strings for Hope for almost 2 years now. I started making jewelry while I was in a transitional living home. I was promoted after a year, and I now get to work with other women who are in a recovery program. I have been exactly where they are, and I love watching them change and grow. I've watched women graduate programs, get their own homes, regain custody of their children, obtain a driver's license, get their GED, and just become productive members of society. It's truly a beautiful thing to be a part of. 

Q: What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen in the company?
A: I love Strings for Hope. I love our team. It's a small company that strives to make a big difference, so we all tend to wear a lot of hats. I think the biggest thing I have seen is our growth as a company. We have started to do bigger/more events. We are partnering with more companies and individuals who have like- minded goals. Our staff has more than doubled since I have been a full-time employee.  We are employing more of the women in the facilities full- time. All of this means that we are making a bigger impact. I think as long as we continue to keep the mission our first priority, we will keep growing. The more we grow, the more lives we can touch. 

Q: What is the biggest piece of advice you would give to someone considering utilizing Strings for Hope’s program?
​A: I understand how difficult it can be to balance everything that is so important in early recovery. Strings for Hope gives women the opportunity to do just that. We are adults, and we have to have an income to survive, but in early recovery, there are so many things that are equally as important. It can be so overwhelming, and I truly believe this is a huge factor in relapse. We provide a way to earn an income on an extremely flexible schedule so that things like meetings, therapy, and networking can still be a priority. If you get the chance to participate in Strings for Hope, absolutely take it. 


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DO you know our CEO?

7/8/2019

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​MEET EMILY WINTERS:

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 Q:  Why did you choose to take over Strings for Hope?
A: Once the former owner decided she did not want to continue on with the company anymore, I realized how many women would be out of work. the work is so important to their lives, and I couldn’t leave them jobless.


Q: How long have you been a part of the company?
A: 4 and a half years

Q: What has been the biggest change in the company since you have taken it over?
A: The structure of the company, I feel our focus has changed to the lives we are impacting and employing, rather than just making money. 

Q: What is your favorite part of Strings for Hope?
A: My favorite part is being able to see an impact in a measurable way. Being able to connect with my employees shows our strength and our vulnerability. 

Q: What have you learned about the company since taking it over?
A: It is hard AF. I’ve learned it's hard to trust people and "do good" when trying to run a company. It's easy to do a kind thing, but it takes a lot to devote your life to trying to change others lives, and I’m continuing to learn each and every day while running this company.

Q: How would you define our company culture?
A:  TBD, we are in a process of change right now. Culture is ever changing, especially in a company that employees a lot of different types of people that come and go for personal reasons. We have our WHY, but every day is different, and soon we will be at a point where we know for sure.

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Meet our full- time in house employee: SMILEY Q&A

7/3/2019

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Q: What were your first thoughts on Strings for Hope?
A: Honestly, it took me a minute to consider working for Strings for Hope. I felt a lot of shame from my past and the route of sex trafficking I had taken. I didn’t feel like I belonged here, so I had to change my perspective and realized by working with Strings for Hope, I am giving back to women.
Q: How has Strings for Hope helped you while in the program?
A: Strings for hope gave me discipline. I was able to save up for a car. I made money and I fell in love with the company and would rather be making bracelets every day than work at the job that I was at.
Q: How do you think Strings for Hope will help you once you transition out?
A: This is my career, not a job. I don’t plan on leaving Strings for Hope at all. I am just excited to grow with the company and see where it takes me and what doors it will open for me.
Q: What sort of impact has Strings for Hope had on you?
A: I never thought I would have a 9-5 working in an office with a desk. I love the staff, it's mind blowing. It has opened a lot of doors for me and gave me self- worth.
Q:  Do you enjoy working for us full time?
A: Yeah, I love working full time. It's different working somewhere when you enjoy your job. I don't think of reasons to call out because I actually want to be here.
Q: What advice might you have for people who are in the program now?
A:  They need to realize this is a job, not a hobby. What we're doing here is something way bigger than what it may look like. I hope they will take it seriously and they won’t take advantage of it.

Thank you for being such a huge part of our team, Smiley! We appreciate all of the hard work and dedication you put into each piece of jewelry that you make!





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Follow the strings

1/23/2019

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Hi String Followers, 

I just wanted to personally thank you for taking the time to come out and read our very first blog post. It's because of YOU and your support that we are able to continue our mission to provide opportunities and a platform to succeed for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and addiction. 
Do you know how to keep up with Strings?
You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter! There are so many ways that you can keep up with us, such as following our social media pages and by signing up for our newsletter on our website and now following us here on our blog. We are so excited about the amazing work that is going on here in Nashville, specifically with Strings for Hope, and we have so many amazing things in the works RIGHT NOW and we would hate for you to miss a beat! 

#followthestrings
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    Author

    Abbey Crane 

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Hours

We have two cart locations right in the heart of Nashville!

Broadway (next to Savannah's Candy Kitchen) 
Monday- Sunday: 11am-7pm, closed Tuesday

The Gulch (by the wings!) 
Monday- Sunday:
​10am-3:30pm 


COntact

info.stringsforhope@gmail.com
  • Home
    • Events
  • Shop
    • Categories >
      • Earrings
      • Rings
      • Bracelets
    • Jewelry Care
  • About Us
    • Contact
    • Resources
  • Wholesale
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  • Careers
  • Donations
    • String Drop Off Locations